Record Revue: Rihanna

Talk That Talk   3/5


  Talk That Talk leaves the dark, hazy sounds of Loud and Rated R for dancefloors soaked in neon lights, and sexy, flirtatious R&B/pop tunes. After exercising her demons on Rated R and discovering her sexual ethos on Loud, Rihanna finds comfort in her own skin and a more carefree approach to her sound.

Single Selections: Oct. 18, 2011

Arkells - Bloodlines   3/5   iTunes


   Hamilton, ON's Arkells have dropped their latest, Michigan Left, with their track "Bloodlines" as iTunes Single of the Week. A pleasing jangly rock tune that's radio-ready and like cohorts Tokyo Police Club or Hey Rosetta!, Arkells seem destined for bigger and better things.

Record Review: Rihanna

Rihanna - Loud   4/5

Myspace

Rihanna is arguably the only pop act aside from Lady Gaga with such mass appeal, a fact forgotten after last year's Rated R, a dark and uneven record. Loud is about as literal a title as there is, and a return to form as the Barbados vixen turns up the mic and rocks the speakers at sonic levels full of bravado and plenty of grooves.

Single Selections: Shakira

Shakira - Loca (feat. Dizzee Rascal) 3/5

Myspace

Shakira moves beyond She Wolf, with 'Loca', a salsa infused hip shaker featuring a bold choice in MC Dizzee Rascal, a welcome change from atypical American rappers. 'My Hips Don't Lie' it is not, but it is catchy, latin dance-pop, and that's rarely a bad thing.

Rae Spoon - We Can't Be Lovers With These Guns On Each Other 3.5/5

Myspace

Calgary's Rae Spoon can be found climbing CBC Radio 3's top 30, with thumping drums and subtle electronic elements, this garage rock track is heavy on a hooky chorus. It's only a matter of time before Grey's Anatomy and every other television series are picking apart Spoon's latest disc, Love Is A Hunter for gems like this.

Rihanna - Only Girl (In The World) 4.5/5

Leaked

Ditching Jay-Z for Euro glam, Rihanna makes a comeback of sorts, though she never really left it's a return to Good Girl Gone Bad form. Rihanna seems to have switched to an Ace of Base heavy dance-pop diet, guaranteed to be rocking dancefloors from Bangkok to Halifax to Milan, it's a transcontinental hit. Period.

Sky Ferreira - Obsession 1/5

Myspace

While her European single 'One' is quirky enough to capture our curiousity, Ferreira's North American single 'Obsession' plays to the lowest common denominator... forgettable... you're really not missing much.

Ruby Coast - Creep Me Out 4/5

Myspace

The playful, jangly indie pop tune is a short and sweet hand-clapper that's instantly charming. Put on your dancing shoes for a bit of crazy fun, it's a welcome return of the Aurora natives.