The long wait for Rihanna’s eighth studio album, Anti is finally over. On Wednesday, Anti accidently leaked on Tidal and later in the day, it was available for streaming. As of now, the album has been streamed more than 13 million times. This album shows Rihanna focusing on artistry instead of mainstream airplay. Being a diehard Rihanna fan, I was dying for new music. But I’m glad I waited so long for Rihanna’s best album.
So are you ready for Rihanna’s experimental stage? Here is my track-by-track review of Anti.
1. “Consideration” featuring SZA: This short two-minute song is the perfect intro track. This base bumping “I’m back” track is a good blend of Rihanna’s Barbadian accent with alternative R&B singer SZA’s smooth voice. Rihanna asks in the song, “Why will you never let me grow?” saying she doesn’t care about the media or people, she’s doing things her own way. This song sets the mood for the experimental sound we will hear in the album.
2. “James Joint”: This slow interlude was released last year on 4/20 and I still wish it was longer. This song about smoking weed is simple and whimsical and it leaves the listener wanting more.
3. “Kiss It Better”: Rihanna posted a preview of “Kiss it Better” on Instagram in 2014 and I instantly knew I would love the song. The electric guitar riff and catchy chorus makes the song seem like a 1980s/1990s ballad. This song should have been released as Rihanna’s first single from Anti because it’s so catchy.
4. “Work” featuring Drake: The single was released hours before Anti and it’s hard to digest. Rihanna and Drake gave us magic with “What’s My Name and “Take Care” back in 2011 but this song falls flat. This lowkey song is highly repetitive and you can hardly understand what Rihanna is saying. Drake’s verse couldn’t save the song. “Work” wouldn’t traditionally be considered mainstream but it’s the only mainstream song on Anti.
5. “Desperado”: The album transitions to somber “Desperado”. Rihanna’s somber, moody vocals usually excel but it takes a while to digest this song. “Desperado” is a song I would skip on the album because it’s subpar.
6. “Woo”: If you go to clubs, you will probably be hearing “Woo” in the future. This uptempo song was produced by Travis Scott and the Weeknd. Rihanna’s muffled vocals are clashing with a guitar/keyboard sound with ghostly backing vocals going “woo”.
7. “Needed Me”: This DJ Mustard produced track has the same tone as “Woo”. The lyrics are the best on the album with Rihanna saying “Didn’t they tell you I’m savage?”
8. “Yeah, I Said It”: “Yeah, I Said It” takes the tempo down a notch sensually. Rihanna starts singing in a whisper then gradually transitions into a high-pitched voice. She asserts in the song, “We don’t need a title” and repeats “Man f*ck a title” throughout the song.
9. “Same Ol’ Mistakes”: Rihanna covers Tame Impala’s “New Person Same Old Mistakes” and does it justice. “Same Ol’ Mistakes” shows that Rihanna can bring great vocals to a different genre of music.
10. “Never Ending”: This acoustic guitar ballad mixed with Rihanna’s raw vocals makes this Rihanna’s best alternative work.
11. “Love on the Brain”: “Love on the Brain” is a doo-wop song that has Amy Winehouse and Etta James vibes. Her falsetto voice makes you feel her pain in the song. The vocals and lyrics hit you right away.
12. “Higher”: Higher continues to reiterate Rihanna’s powerhouse vocals. Her raw, raspy calls to a lover gives you all kinds of feels. This interlude needed to be longer and you feel robbed after the song is over.
13. “Close to You”: “Close to You” is Anti’s “Stay”. Rihanna ends the album with smooth vocals on a piano ballad. It’s a gorgeous album closer.
None of the 13 songs have the pop vibe Rihanna songs have had in the past. None of the songs are really radio-friendly and it shows that she is going in a different direction with her music. Each track shows off Rihanna’s vocals in different ways. Anti is the real deal and shows that Rihanna has matured vocally, musically and creatively.
You can stream Anti on Tidal and buy the album on iTunes.