Featured On: PrefixMag.com
Alright, first things first; let me get this out the way because, quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing it...
Yes, the song is dark.
There. Take that in. I refuse to turn this blog into a rant (maybe later!) but I will say that just because a song has a dark or somber tone does not automatically disqualify it from being enjoyable. There's a time and place for everything, that included. Now if this was a summertime single, I could be more receptive to the complaints but it's wintertime, it's cold outside. Bring on the darkness!
Then again, this is the opinion of a guy who's last CD was entitled "So Cold" so take that with a grain of salt...
Now regarding the song, it's hot. It's fresh. And I think that combination really sews up my anticipation for her album, Rated R. Rihanna has consistently kept herself in my CD deck (er, iTunes library, this is 2009) because she continually puts out fresh music with interesting angles. The content is such that many can relate to and comprehend, but she and her team approach her work from unique angles which makes her songs interesting to say the least.
Russian Roulette is no different. A slight glimpse between the lines of this song will give you a pretty clear view of the underlying message (which I will leave for the avid reader to interpret for themselves), but the angle she approaches dressing that message with this sort of theme is fantastic.
The technique is also nearly perfect. Light piano keys complement the strong bass drums cleverly mimicking a heartbeat. Familiar cymbals add exclamation points to a very strong chorus of orchestral instruments that bolsters, but doesn't overtake, Rihanna's strong performance. The final icing on the cake here is the deep chilling breaths that Rihanna takes at the beginning and end of the song, signing, sealing, and delivering an impressive front-running effort for her upcoming album.
Of course, with all the reviews I post here, I advise you to give the song a listen and form your own opinion. But it's certainly worth the play. Enjoy!
N. Talekt
(Update: YouTube link died, found a live link.)
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