Best Bits from Rihanna's Rated R Album

I know, back-to-back posts about Chris Brown and Rihanna...

I could write a review about Rihanna's new album Rated R, but I feel like I would be writing the same review that I wrote for Kanye's 808'S and Heartbreak.

What I can say is that this is her best album to date, her darkest album by a mile, her best vocal performance by seven miles, and one of the best pop albums of the year.

After listening to this album for a week and a half, I have come up with what I call "the best bits" (I'm really adopting the British culture):

Fire Bomb - The best song on the album, no question. Probably should be a single, if not the first. It's a midtempo pop/rock track that uses a burning car as a metaphor about an ending relationship. The lyrics match the sharp, industrial-sounding production perfectly, and Rihanna sounds absolutely stunning. My favorite part of this song is the heavily-altered vocal run after the chorus, which is excellent in its own right.

Rude Boy - It's the most uptempo song on the album, and the most fun. Rihanna teases her lover about being in control and whether they can really satisfy her (she even asks if he's "big" enough, pretty ballsy, pun intended). It's a lively R&B track that reaffirms Rihanna's strong presence.

Te Amo -  A lot sexier than "I Kissed a Girl", this latin drum-fueled pop track has Rihanna singing about a dancefloor encounter with another woman. The lyrics are pretty hot, but the the drums and the accompanying synths will make you want to hit the dancefloor yourself, with whatever gender you choose. Chances are, though, you won't have as much fun as Rihanna's dancefloor dalliance.

Russian Roulette - Rihanna's lead single couldn't have been a bigger surprise. Instead of releasing another "Disturbia" or "Umbrella", she drops this dark, dramatic ballad in the laps of the public. With the Chris Brown incident still fresh in our minds, we couldn't help but relate the shockingly abusive lyrics to her personal life. Setting that aside, the single ranks amongst her best, with a career-defining vocal performance and a powerful arrangement that ends with a shuddering gunshot.

Cold Case Love - Rihanna's interpretation of Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight". The song, which can be most appropriately applied to her drama, starts off slow, but it continues to build with more layers of instruments with each second. It finally breaks into a full-throttle track, following the Collins-esque drum solo. It's surprising, but very cool.

Hard - Probably the album's only, truly radio-friendly track, "Hard" sees Rihanna kicking her victim persona aside and taking control. The hip-hop-styled song, featuring a verse from Jeezy, may seem a little forced at first listen, but the hook is too bombastic and excellent to ignore.

Honorable mentions: Wait Your Turn, Photographs