I've got the album and absolutely love it, from start to finish. It's so deep, dark and meaningful and is a really good listen if you want to feel empowered. The only downside for me is that intro track is so short, I love it and would have wanted it to be a track in its' own right!

A fantastic step up by Rihanna, showing she is head and shoulders above her peers!

#11 in the midweeks. Hope it gets into the top 10 by the end of the week!

11 aint bad considering no promo or even a hit single. Her performance on x factor should make her rise next week.

Oh she will Once the lacklustre sales for Rated R kicks in, her record company will have her back working on GGGB part 2 and all the better for it too I must say.

hows it doing stateside?
the whole album seems depressing.. deffo a complete change of direction from GGGB.. that was much more lighter... This era is more Gothy/Emo eh, not really my thing.

G4L <3

Well it only came out today so maybe first day sales tomoz.

I love the album, think she's done a great job. Definitely a grower though too.

Downloaded just Russian Roulette from the album yesterday.

Rated R isn't even in the top 10 albums itunes in the US. But that does not really mean anything. It could be selling a lot more physically.

Aren't def jam giving it away for like 99cents?

shame it's not doing so brilliantly sales-wise coz it's a fantastic album!! people are so fickle, they just want commercial tunes, no interest in an artist's expression...shame

Yeah it's so annoying. People need to try and be more open minded. This is a really good album, I also think her voice has improved a lot as well. Guess people want a 'GGGB' pt 2, which I wouldn't mind mind, but it's nice to have a change. Their loss I guess.

I think the albums edgier sound is a good thing, she's been more involved in the song writing and it's the direction she wants to go, growth like that is essential for her longevity in the industry or she risks her fans outgrowing her... we don't like to believe it, but the next generation to fill her demographic will likely think she's old news... I'm pleased she's being true to herself.



It's actually available in a parental advisory version as well as the clean one you're listening to.

First week US sales aren't as high as one would expect from Rihanna this time around. Hit's Daily Double is estimating first week US sales to be between 160 - 170k. GGGB debuted with sales of 162k in 2007. Susan Boyle is projected to do well over 500K this week, Lady GaGa about 200k (350k when the deluxe editon is added to the mix) and Adam Lambert will do about 225K.

First week US sales aren't as high as one would expect from Rihanna this time around. Hit's Daily Double is estimating first week US sales to be between 160 - 170k. GGGB debuted with sales of 162k in 2007. Susan Boyle is projected to do well over 500K this week, Lady GaGa about 200k (350k when the deluxe editon is added to the mix) and Adam Lambert will do about 225K.

Is the parental advisory one available in shops or is it just online? I won't be buying it again seeing as I've already got now, but it is a bit annoying.

I love this album. Pleasantly surprised!

Favourites are Wait Your Turn, Rockstar 101, Russian Roulette, Fire Bomb, Rude Boy, Photographs, Te Amo, The Last Song.

The fact remains that Rated R is....well....a fairly rubbish album Don't be fooled by the supposed "mature new sound" I think Rihanna has released this at the wrong time. We are living in GaGa times right now where electro 80s pop rules and that is what the public wants to hear.

I like a lot of Gaga's songs, but I don't see why there should only be room for one kind of music.
I respect Rihanna for making a real honest record and not just going for what everyone says the "public" wants to hear. The so called public is made of of individuals and everyone has different taste in music.

True but Rihanna could have been a little more original about it. I mean she didn't have to go down the literal downbeat, depressing song mode to show what kind of mood she is in. Sorry to use GaGa again as an example but she showed on Fame Monster how to take serious subject matters but not make them sound so damn depressing - see Dance in the Dark as an example which is a song about death (a theme Rihanna seems preoccupied about right now) but GaGa made the song into a pure disco stomper without the meaning of the song being compromised. Watch and learn Rihanna..

Come here rude boy, boy can you get it up!!!!

I like Lady Gaga, but I don't feel her songs are genuinely about her. There' s no honesty or real emotion.
People say Rihanna is too depressing or dark, but maybe that's how she felt at the time.
Everyone wants to hear positive and happy, but sometimes thats not how you feel. Sometimes you feel depressed and sad. Honestly, I can relate more to Rihanna.

Depressing can work. Amy winehouse's Back to black album is no happy record and look at the huge success of it.