A By special request -Rihanna – Anti (2016)

My daughter recently sent me this text: “My work boys are requesting a review of the latest Rhianna album.” I was confused by this request:

• Nobody has ever requested a review – I am amazed anyone reads my blog let alone request a review.
• I have never listened to a Rihanna album in my life.
• I am pop music literate enough to know Rihanna hasn’t had a new album in a long time. When she performed at the 2023 Super Bowl everyone assumed a new album and/or tour was imminent – neither materialized. So what new album? Turns out they were referring to 2016’s Anti.

So I will give it a go. Let me remind you I have no context. I listened to the top streamed Rihanna songs and I didn’t recognize any of them. I have obviously heard of Rihanna. I know she is a huge pop star and she is in the contemporary R&B/hip hop lane. I know what she looks like. That is about it. 

My reactions to Anti:

• I don’t hate it.
• I see how Rihanna is influential – Anti’s “Same Ol’ Mistakes” could be on an Arlo Parks album (and I am a huge Arlo fan). Interestingly enough this song is a Tame Impala cover of “New Person, Same Old Mistakes.”
• We used to call this kind of R&B “quiet storm” – a style of R&B that I like. It is R&B music to sway to vs. dance to.
• On Anti Rihanna has an interesting mix of somnolent beats and narcotic vocals – she has a hipster slacker vibe to her performance that comes off as cool. When she copped this attitude at the 2023 Super Bowl I was unimpressed, but now that I understand this is her schtick I get it. Listening to her hits on streaming, Anti seems like a change in direction.
• Some of these songs, for example, “Love on the Brain” could be presented in a more conventional R&B arrangement and would be old-school bangers – I can imagine Aretha or Tina doing this song. This second half with a retro arrangement could be an Amy Winehouse album.
• It is a pleasant sound, but personally, I don’t find it engaging. I could easily nap to this album. It would be nice background music at a dinner party.
• Again I don’t hate it, but it is not my thing. A few rotations through the album for this review are enough for me. I won’t be buying any Rihanna LPs anytime soon or returning to her catalog for pleasure (although it is a bit of a grower – every listen sounded more appealing).
• I appreciate the challenge from my daughter and her friends, I feel a little irresponsible as a musichead that I have had this blind spot.

Beyond these initial reactions, I don’t have much more to say about Rihanna or Anti. That being said, I can imagine hearing one of these songs in a movie, a TV show, a club, or a store and liking it enough to Shazam the song only to be surprised it is Rihanna.