Music Of The Sun

Fairly Decent Debut

All you have to do is read the tags and whatnot here on Amazon to figure out that if there's one person these days who seems to inspire more haters in music is has to be Rihanna. The reasons are fairly obvious on the surface;she was a scantily clad teen star with a on syllable name and a clipped,nasaly singing style at a time when that seemed to be the standard style in contemporary R&B female artists. Nonetheless the reason Rihanna has maintained such staying power is because of how much of a tease she is in that way. She's not a songwriter/producer at least here (she does on her backup vocals-that's about it) so the slew of producers who are directing her career apparently only had her imput in as much as they didn't make a typical album with her. Rather than creating a very typical contempo R&B album with song after song in the electro overkill variation of the British 2-step style this album thankfully makes a lot of nods to the Barbados born singer's roots in the Caribbean as well. "Pon De Replay" completely anticipates the sound Beyonce' would achieve several years later on her blockbuster Single Ladies,although this song is more call and response chanting and doesn't have such a composed song attached to it. The same feeling is recaptured later in the album on the funky percussive "Let Me" which comes straight from the Miriam Makeba/Ladysmith Black Mamboza school of south African township pop. "Here I Go Again","If It's Lovin' That You Want" and "You Don't Love Me (No No No)" have a pop-reggae sound that is not all that typical in modern R&B outside perhaps the then popular genre of reggaeton. The title song has more of a latin American flavor and reminds me of something J.Lo may have done somewhat earlier in her career. There are...well a handful of generic,throw away modern R&B songs here that I'll choose not to mention because they plain just don't stand out but "Willing To Wait" takes the electronics and puts them with a purpulsive rhythm and has all the sounds in a context where it's neither too mellow nor does it knock you over the head with too heavy a beat. In short,just about a perfect electro,Jam/Lewis style early 80's midtempo jam. The album ends on a wonderful note on the soulful piano ballad "Now I Know" which gets a powerful vocal from Rihanna. As with most albums released in the past decade,and a lot of debut albums throughout history for that matter this is very uneven and sometimes has the feeling of trying to reach as many types of listeners as possible but when it cooks it really gets going and possisioned her in the place of someone who'd be good for some great,jamming singles. At least...that's the impression you'd get at this point.

Not as good but still five (5) stars!

This was a great CD, there are some songs i don't like, really only one! it still deserves 5 stars though! A girl like me was a better cd then this. on the other hand i plan to listen to this again :] she really did a great job on this CD! you should really get this!

Music of the sun

I thought this album was really nice. It Makes you feel good and relaxed. it also has a lovely beach vibe throughout the album, which is also nice. Here is my review, song by song:
Pon De Replay-10/10-A great dance track, makes you feel excited and ready to have fun
Here I Go Again-10/10-love the beach vibe! Rihanna's voice is really good in this song.
if it's loving that you want-10/10-really catchy and fun!
you dont love me-6/10-aright
that la la la-9/10- a FABULOUS dance song! Crazy cool beat.
The last time-7/10-good to listen to after a break up
Willing to wait-8/10-a nice, relaxed song
music of the sun-10/10-it tells how music lets you escape into a new world. wonderful!
let me-9/10- good dance track
rush-5/10-ok
theres a thug in my life-i dont know...
Now I know-10/10-Beautiful. All about love and accepting it. Flaw less.
Pon de Replay ft. "Elaphant Man" 9/10-good but not as good

Over all, a good CD.

kay book worm/movie addict

Love the Cd cant quit listening to it put it on my MP3 playes to listen while mowing the lawn

Puts the B in boring

Sounds like Beyonce with the flu. Nasal and flat and desperate. I wonder how this girl got a record deal as there is ont a single stand-out track here. very like the Pussycatdolls in many ways.