Rihanna ‘Unapologetic’/‘Anti’ SYNC LISTEN (25/11 @ 9:45pm) (1 Viewer)

[Pipo]

Singles like "You Da One" she quickly ditched because they didn't immediately connect, but generally I think she stuck to one single at a time collabs notwithstanding...

I think she benefitted from streaming and downloads in a way like for example California King Bed wasn't meant to be a US single but eventually charted? Seeing its Wiki entry page seems to show so or like Raining Men which ended up being a US only radio-single. No wonder she has a gazillion of Billboard entries.

 

[POP!]

07 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss it Better
06 Work
05 Desperado
02 Woo
09 Needed Me
06 Yeah I Said It

 

[Jark]

Yeah I Said It is really pretty. a nice little breather moment. love the vocal samples and piano line. a hot experimental moment of whatever.

08 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss It Better
10 Work
10 Desperado
08 Woo
07 Needed Me
08 Yeah I Said It

 

[Pipo]

"Now or Never"

now that was DREARY indeed

 

[POP!]

"Yeah I Said It" is a bit nothingy, nice but wouldn't have missed it if it weren't here.

 

[RJN]

08 Consideration
07 James Joint
10 Kiss It Better
10 Work
10 Desperado
05 Woo
10 Needed Me
05 Yeah I Said It (more filler)
09 Same Old Mistakes

Even though it is a direct copy of the Tame Impala () song, her voice really really works! Sometimes stealing is good!

 

[POP!]

Love "Same Ol' Mistakes", so moody!

 

[Tisch]

Thought I might see this album differently doing a relisten but I've just got bored in exactly the same place as I always did and am more interested in @Soldi's sex life right now.

Like the ethereal sound of Same Ol' Mistakes though. Will stick with it

 

[Jark]

I didn't care that much for Same Ol' Mistakes at the time. Then I got into Tame Impala. and now I love his version. I don't know if Rihanna necessarily brings anything new to it (well, she doesn't) but it fits well into the album's soundscape. slightly outrageous that he is not credited as the sole producer though.

08 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss It Better
10 Work
10 Desperado
08 Woo
07 Needed Me
08 Yeah I Said It
09 Same Ol' Mistakes

 

[GNL]

'Same Ol' Mistakes' is one of my favourites. I like the ones that are more of a VIBE than a SONG.

 

[Pipo]

Love "Same Ol' Mistakes", so moody!

10/10 even if is a straight up cover version

 

[RJN]

Rihanna is TEASING @Tisch with the next song being called Never Ending

 

[Pipo]

slightly outrageous that he is not credited as the sole producer though.

I love how batshit crazy credits on this album are. 10 people as songwriters for Needed Me AND 4 producers? Sure why not!

 

[POP!]

07 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss it Better
06 Work
05 Desperado
02 Woo
09 Needed Me
06 Yeah I Said It
09 Same Ol' Mistakes

 

[Tisch]

Rihanna is TEASING @Tisch with the next song being called Never Ending

You say that, I'm FIVE AND HALF MINUTES into the previous song. I've moved off from the red wine and am onto FOOD now.

 

[POP!]

Had no idea SOM was a cover.

 

[RJN]

I don't remember "Never Ending" at all, but I'm LOVING IT. Rihanna really can do such a variety of sounds well

 

[Jark]

the pleasantly warm guitar balladry of Never Ending is quite jarring after Same Ol' Mistakes.

it's a beautiful song though. feels like dusk on the beach at the end of summer.

08 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss It Better
10 Work
10 Desperado
08 Woo
07 Needed Me
08 Yeah I Said It
09 Same Ol' Mistakes
09 Never Ending

 

[POP!]

"Never Ending" is a nice campfire moment, forgot about it.

 

[RJN]

08 Consideration
07 James Joint
10 Kiss It Better
10 Work
10 Desperado
05 Woo
10 Needed Me
05 Yeah I Said It (more filler)
09 Same Old Mistakes
10 Never Ending

 

[Pipo]

Had no idea SOM was a cover.

complete with the very same backing track from the original too

 

[POP!]

"Love on the Brain" seemed like such an unconventional "Rihanna" single release but it makes complete sense now. Can't believe she hasn't released a single as a lead artist since!

 

[POP!]

07 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss it Better
06 Work
05 Desperado
02 Woo
09 Needed Me
06 Yeah I Said It
09 Same Ol' Mistakes
08 Never Ending

 

[RJN]

08 Consideration
07 James Joint
10 Kiss It Better
10 Work
10 Desperado
05 Woo
10 Needed Me
05 Yeah I Said It (more filler)
09 Same Old Mistakes
10 Never Ending
09 Love on the Brain

Love on the Brain is very raw sounding for such a big radio hit. There's just something very personal and specific about it

 

[Pipo]

Can't wait until we get to Higher and THAT chorus

 

[Jark]

WHAT is there to say for a song like Love On the Brain? it really speaks for itself. such an unexpected detour for her sonically but god if it isn't the most transcendent thing on this record - I remember the first time I heard it being AGOG at the things she was doing with her voice. it's like hearing god! how far we've come.

my only criticism is that it's CRYING OUT for a longer edit with a middle 8 and final chorus. it's over too soon.

08 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss It Better
10 Work
10 Desperado
08 Woo
07 Needed Me
08 Yeah I Said It
09 Same Ol' Mistakes
09 Never Ending
11 Love on the Brain

comfortably top 3 Rihanna for me.

don't quit LOVIN' ME (LOVIN' ME)
just start LOVIN' ME (LOVIN' ME)
HOOOOOO!

 

[POP!]

07 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss it Better
06 Work
05 Desperado
02 Woo
09 Needed Me
06 Yeah I Said It
09 Same Ol' Mistakes
08 Never Ending
08 Love on the Brain

 

[Jark]

"Love on the Brain" seemed like such an unconventional "Rihanna" single release but it makes complete sense now. Can't believe she hasn't released a single as a lead artist since!

what a way to retire!

 

[POP!]

Is the vocal on "Higher" purposely this awful? It's unlistenable

 

[GNL]

The NOX

 

[Jark]

there's a really great JAZZ RECORD in Rihanna's imaginary album-recording future. her voice is like butter on Higher and Brain.

08 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss It Better
10 Work
10 Desperado
08 Woo
07 Needed Me
08 Yeah I Said It
09 Same Ol' Mistakes
09 Never Ending
11 Love on the Brain
08 Higher

 

[RJN]

Is the vocal on "Higher" purposely this awful? It's unlistenable

Maybe she's supposed to sound drunk and incoherent?

 

[POP!]

07 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss it Better
06 Work
05 Desperado
02 Woo
09 Needed Me
06 Yeah I Said It
09 Same Ol' Mistakes
08 Never Ending
08 Love on the Brain
01 Higher

"Higher" gets a point for only being two minutes in length!

 

[RJN]

08 Consideration
07 James Joint
10 Kiss It Better
10 Work
10 Desperado
05 Woo
10 Needed Me
05 Yeah I Said It (more filler)
09 Same Old Mistakes
10 Never Ending
09 Love on the Brain
07 Higher - I need more listens to decide if I just like it, love it, or hate it

 

[Jark]

I think we should do the 3 bonus tracks too since Sex With Me is so essential.

although @Tisch seems to have dropped off already

 

[POP!]

08 Higher

Who paid you to say this

 

[Jark]

oh this album ends so strongly. she sounds like an actual angel on the verses of Close to You. I adore her lower register.

08 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss It Better
10 Work
10 Desperado
08 Woo
07 Needed Me
08 Yeah I Said It
09 Same Ol' Mistakes
09 Never Ending
11 Love on the Brain
08 Higher
09 Close to You

 

[POP!]

I think we should do the 3 bonus tracks too since Sex With Me is so essential.

although @Tisch seems to have dropped off already

Yes! After party playlist:

1) Goodnight Gotham
2) Pose
3) Sex with Me
4) Half of Me (bonus on Unapologetic)

 

[RJN]

I think we should do the 3 bonus tracks too since Sex With Me is so essential.

I've never heard these

 

[POP!]

Don't remember "Close to You" at all, but it's sweet. Maybe I'll try it again later.

07 Consideration
06 James Joint
10 Kiss it Better
06 Work
05 Desperado
02 Woo
09 Needed Me
06 Yeah I Said It
09 Same Ol' Mistakes
08 Never Ending
08 Love on the Brain
01 Higher
07 Close to You