Anti [Deluxe Version] [CD] [PA]

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• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  ANTI is the ANTI-thesis of the Norm from Rih

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  ANTI IS FINALLY HERE and its...STUNNINGLY GORGEOUS, proving to be worth the wait, and what a wait it was. The road to experiencing ANTI was a LONG and annoying one (did I say long, I meant torturously long). Full of rumored release dates, chilling AntidiaRy video teasers, three random and diverse singles (Four Five Seconds, American Oxygen and Bi+ch Better Have My Money, which unfortunately did not make it on the album) and thirst-worthy studio snippets, which made the road to the album even more twist and turn filled. For awhile, it felt like the album was just a haunting mystery with no happy ending, that teased restless fans. Thankfully, Rih finally ended the wait and surprised everyone by releasing it on January 27th on TIDAL...FOR FREE with a download code for her NAVY, for ANYONE, even the haters. Which only proved how much of a "G" Ms. Fenty truly is (also I must mention that the RIAA certified it platinum!). Other digital retailers (Amazon, Google Music etc.) soon followed and then news of a physical CD release set for today. Now, finally with all that out of the way, lets dig deep into this timeless music and groundbreaking physical album. Rih said she needed to focus on making "timeless...soulful" music this go around that would not feel stale, or distant to who she is now. She did just that and more with this SOLID album that took years to make. ANTI feels like freely travelling through a lush fantasy realm where time is non-existent but FEELING is all that matters and beauty both light and dark is abundant in certain spaces. The album opener 'Consideration' (which features the honeyed vocals of SZA and fiery voiced Rih demanding/questioning why peace seems to escape her/them) sets the perfect tone with it's Alternative/Hip-Hop snap. Then the album moves to a heady and euphoric place of lovelorn coos with 'James Joint' (which needs to be longer, because it feels decadent in every way, with its production reminiscent of something Stevie Wonder would do). On ANTI its clear what Rih had on her mind these past few years of her musical absence: DEEPER artistic/personal exploration and LOVE with all of it's many shades and shapes. On the sweet yet frustrated 'Kiss It Better' she demands her lover to "phuck [his] pride/ just take it on back.../ [asking him] what are you willing to do/ kiss it, kiss it better baby". 'Desperado' finds her staying in a no-strings attached dalliance "[where] there ain't nothin' here for [her] anymore/ but [she] don't wanna be alone". ANTI finds here shifting between three love-related moods: vulnerable ('Work', 'Never Ending', 'Close To You'), feverish ('Yeah I Said It', 'Love On The Brain', 'Higher') and stubborn ('Woo' and 'Needed Me') which in turn showcases her vocally at her MOST UNTAMED and ABSOLUTE BEST, this go around the moods bring out richer "characters" in her voice, and each one is unforgettable. There is also a woozy, free flying cover of Tame Impala's 'New Person, Same Old Mistakes' which only heightens the fantasy aspect of the elegant body of work. The deluxe version has three additional tracks: the sinister and sneering quasi-instrumental 'Goodnight Gotham' which was also used in her Dior campaign Secret Garden, Punk inspired hip-hop/electro warble of 'Pose' and dirty carefree romp '$ex With Me'. Physically the album matches the music by being a TOTAL work of art. The front and back cover collaboration conceived by Roy Nachum and Rihanna has actual braille on both sides and the inside as well (pure genius, peep the written poem hidden on the back of the album's poster included inside that perfectly captures Rih's mindset for this album and those to come after it). As great as many of her albums are (Rated R, Talk That Talk and Unapologetic in particular) this one just feels especially EXCEPTIONAL. In a way ANTI feels like Rihanna's RE-DEBUT to music and I must say I love meeting this new musically fully-realized Rih, cooler and even more relatable.

  Posted 9 years ago by SUGAHOOH22

• Rated 4 out of 5 stars

  Meh nuh cyar!

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  That's right! "Meh nuh cyar" if people keep complaining they don't understand half of the lyrics on this record. This album is on FIYAH! There are so many potential singles, Rih could literally release any song off this album and it would become a smash. Favorite tracks include "Never Ending", "Close To You", the sassy and in your face "Needed Me", and "S E X With Me." I would have given this album 5 stars, but the fact that I purchased the DELUXE Edition and it's missing every single song she released as a single last year, such as: "FourFiveSeconds", "American Oxygen," and "BBHMM", I'm deducting a star.

  Posted 9 years ago by Dagtanan16

• Rated 4 out of 5 stars

  Rihanna’s most ARTISTIC album to Date

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  I've always been a Rihanna fan but at some point, in the last few years, I grew tired of the same old formula. Sure, each album always had some killer songs but they seemed to be all over the place. This album is SO MUCH BETTER. I don't know if it's because Rihanna is more in control of her music and she finally gave herself the time to make the record she wanted to do, but I love the different sound, the lyrics, everything. If this album means the beginning of a new era for Rihanna, I'm all in.

  Posted 9 years ago by musicman3