That very public incident makes it harder than usual to separate the universal themes of “Rated R’’ from the events in the music maker’s life, and Rihanna doesn’t attempt to - nor does she need to - disguise or skirt the connection. The last album may have had the naughty title, but it is this one that feels like it addresses a loss of innocence.
If seeking sanctuary was the stated reason for heading into the studio, comfort was not on the musical docket. What was, understandably, was anger.
With the help of the usual phalanx of A-list co-writers and producers, Rihanna channels a frenetic energy into the tunes. Most retain the core of the evolving hip-hop dance pop of her earlier albums but also step toward a more jagged edge by piling on the squalling electric guitars and unsparing images. At the album’s most interesting she finds her fury in power chords and emotion-choked questioning. Although she also takes less convincing stabs at hitting up the club as usual, you will find no “Pon de Replay’’ replay here.
If songs like “Hard,’’ “Stupid in Love,’’ “Russian Roulette,’’ “Photographs,’’ and “Cold Case Love’’ don’t refer to the incident directly, the recurring themes of attack, betrayal, survival, and inconsolability certainly resonate.
Some are chilling, like the Ne-Yo co-penned “Stupid in Love.’’ A circular piano riff echoes the singer’s confusion as she sings, “Don’t understand it, blood on your hands, and still you insist on repeatedly trying to tell me lies.’’ A female backing chorus offers a kind of support and relief.
But what works as therapeutic psychodrama for the singer doesn’t always work quite as well as pop music, which, from the shiny surfaces, it’s clear everyone here is still striving for. (Self-expression is great, but there’s money to be made, after all.)
