Rihanna - A Girl Like Me Review

'SOS (Rescue Me)' with it's combination of retro-electro pop 'Tainted Love' sample, urban cool, Bahama-infused reggae-pop style and superb dance credentials is undoubtedley the song of the year criss-crossing genres and so stubbornly refusing to be pigeon holed it's almost offensive. It promised that 'A Girl Like Me' would be a sensational album.

Second track 'Kisses Don't Lie' is no let down, equally impressive, again mixing the guitars and drums of pop-rock with the beat and jaunt of reggae-pop. On the faster tracks Rihanna, who is no Mariah Carey (thank god) or Anastacia, can handle the song and the pace. On slower songs like, for example, rumoured second single, 'Unfaithful', Rihanna's voice starts to sound weak. It's not that she has a bad voice, just not one strong enough to handle it. At times 'Unfaithful', which was written by Ne-Yo, requires a roar and the best Rihanna can manage is a purr. But don't let that take away from 'Unfaithful' which is superb, touching, unique song about infidelity. At times the weakness in her voice almost helps.

The album's second proper ballad, 'Final Goodbye' is a lot more understated than 'Unfaithful', though it is more romantic than traumatic. It is all quite morbid though. Rihanna sings "it's you that I live for/For you I would die" and then "I'll rest in peace, for the final goodbye". Rihanna's coming over like a Shakespearean protagonist. Much like 'Unfaithul', it's heart breaking.

'We Ride' and 'Dem Haters' are much more grounded, clearly belonging to Rihanna's familiar r&b-pop and reggae-pop roots. Both songs are mid-tempo, there is a beat there, but it just doesn't mule-kick you like 'SOS' does. But don't consider them dull, 'We Ride' is merely subtle and understated. Like much of the album, I think the sun has to be shining and you have to be on a beach with a ice-cold drink in hand to fully 'get' this song. On 'Dem Haters', which features Dwane Husbands, Rihanna's Bahamas roots come rushing like a good piece of surf and that unmistakable reggae bounce is present. It will have you swayying.

The reggae tones are continued on 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', which at first I thought/hoped would be a cover, and refreshingly honest 'Selfish Girl'. They smolder, they burn, they bounce, they're cool, but there's the constant feeling that a beach and an ice-cold beverage may be required to truly appreciate it all. Bring on the summer!

On 'Break It Off' Rihanna collaborates with the King Of the Carribean, Sean Paul, and affirms her position as the Queen. 'Break It Off' has to be one of the higlights, though it is seems to be more of a Sean Paul featuring Rihanna track than the other way around. This should most definitely be a single. Clubland would love Rihanna's sultry vocals, Sean (A) Paul's raps, the flitting melody and the overall Carribean-cool meets New York-hip hop sound. Stunning, if you like that kind of thing. And lots of people do.

The album is bookended (bar the bonus tracks) with three ballads, the brilliantly named 'P.S. (I'm Still Not Over You)', title track 'A Girl Like Me' and 'A Million Miles Away' all of which seem within Rihanna's grasps and vocal depth. 'P.S.' is simultaneously hopeful and hopeless, wanting an old flame back and yo-yoing between her own feelings and the brutality of reality. 'A Girl Like Me' is, unfortunately for Rihanna, not an Emma Bunton cover but is instead an r&b ballad of longing, yet again yo-yoing Rihanna between hope and reality as it closes with the fairytale refrain of "Mirror mirror on the wall". I'm beginning to feel a bit sorry for Rihanna, the only songs in which she's not longing, infatuated, tragic, cheating, being cheated or generally being unjustly treated are 'Break It Off', 'We Ride' and 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'. No wonder there's five ballads on here, the sun may be shining but in the Bahamas but for Rihanna it ain't half grim. No more so than on 'A Million Miles Away' where Rihanna has obviously lost a connection with her love. Poor mite.

'A Girl Like Me' contains previous singles 'If It's Lovin' That You Want', that just IS summer and the crunking, reggaeton, marmite-effect 'Pon De Replay'. I say Marmite-effect as you either love it or hate it. Personally, I think it's chuffing amazing.

'A Girl Like Me' is an album full of tragedy and heartache but at no point becomes 'tragic' (excluding maybe 'Unfaithful') as the tragedy is instead beaten down by the shining hope on the horizon, fading like the setting summer sun, but still ever present in the warm evening air. Come August this will be sensational but right now, on May day as I look out at the dreariness, I can't help but feel a little jealous of the summer vibes.