In a nutshell: After a year full of headlines for the wrong reasons, the Barbadian pop princess returns kicking and punching with an angsty album that’s fitting for the times. Chris Brown better watch his back.

High notes: Everyone’s dying to hear what the girl has to say after the whole Chris Brown debacle and she has said it with style and an irresistible tune. With track titles such as ‘Rude Boy’ and ‘Stupid in Turn’, Rihanna’s not letting anything slip under the radar on this one. With top notch compositions from illustrious peers such as will.i.am and The Dream, Rated R is a complex pop record that shoots for the stars but does not compromise on the basic necessities of a brilliant tune. Just check out the absolutely delectable ‘Wait Your Turn’.  

Low notes: Not much. The girl’s kept things tight and classy throughout.

Verdict: Rihanna is angry and she’s not hiding it. Rated R completes a transformation she started in Good Girl Gone Bad, properly burying the naïve pop artiste she once was. The new Rihanna’s a little feistier and certainly not one to take things lying down. It’s right that she should let her music speak for her after such a tumultuous year and it has spoken. With an array of dance-floor burning beats and shiny pop tunes, Rated R is going to set a new standard for this meteorically rising pop star. From the usual dance pop numbers to searing heart-wrenching soul ballads and less orthodox collaborations (ex-Guns N’ Roses axeman Slash on ‘Rockstar 101’), Rihanna has the pop Midas touch at the moment. If anything, the recent events have added a new layer to this talented pop diva, one that will surely hold her in better regard in due time. For now, she has delivered a snappy pop record that is sure to satisfy.