Talk That Talk
by Rihanna
  • Record Label: Def Jam
  • Release Date: Nov 21, 2011
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 27
  3. Negative: 1 out of 27
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  1. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    Feb 9, 2012
    91
    Musically, this is pop without shame‑-her hookiest and most dance-targeted album.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Nov 17, 2011
    83
    True, she's still got two token I-like-it-rough tracks--"Birthday Cake" and "Cockiness (Love It)"--but they're just filler on an album that's all about dragging you out of the bedroom and onto the dance floor.
  3. Spin
    Nov 21, 2011
    80
    Where last year's Loud had a hefty helping of unshakable singles, this album's arc, however simple--sex, love, sex, repeat--is cohesive and sweet.
  5. musicOMH.com
    Nov 21, 2011
    80
    Sure, like much of the album, Rihanna is mining her past glories all over again, but she does it with such swagger, such enthusiasm, that the end result is a definitive thrill-ride of a success.
  6. The Guardian
    Nov 17, 2011
    80
    It works best when the music hall bawdiness is left aside in favour of bleak euphoria.
  7. The Telegraph (UK)
    Nov 17, 2011
    80
    An adrenalised behemoth of a record which reasserts her position as one of pop's most compulsive pleasures.
  8. No Ripcord
    Nov 29, 2011
    70
    It's easy to criticise Talk That Talk but it's actually a fun and enjoyable record.
  9. AllMusic
    Nov 23, 2011
    70
    Behind Good Girl Gone Bad and Rated R, this is Rihanna's third best album to date. Minus the fluff, it's close to the latter's equal.
  10. HipHopDX
    Nov 23, 2011
    70
    It's another solid collection, complete with radio hits, club bangers, and introspective ballads on her favorite subjects: love and sex.
  11. DJ Booth
    Nov 22, 2011
    70
    Talk That Talk is both a sharp departure from her dark, rock-infused last two albums Rated R and Loud and a more easily enjoyable work.
  12. Boston Globe
    Nov 22, 2011
    70
    We turn to Rihanna for kicks, sure, but also, thanks to a voice whose limitations give her a supple vulnerability, for a tinge of bittersweet pain. Talk That Talk is at its best when it's working that angle.
  13. Rolling Stone
    Nov 21, 2011
    70
    Rihanna's sixth album is her tightest, most assured yet--a relentlessly catchy and danceable pop album, with first-rate contributions from top songwriter-producers (The-Dream, No I.D., Dr. Luke, Stargate).
  14. The New York Times
    Nov 21, 2011
    70
    Rihanna's version of this sound [dance music] dates to the club music of the early 1990s, an era in which she would have shined. The best songs on this lively and often great album sound synth-perfect for that time.
  15. Sputnikmusic
    Nov 21, 2011
    70
    It is meant to be fun, catchy, sexy, and danceable, and while it isn't groundbreaking by any means, it succeeds in reaching all of its goals.
  16. The A.V. Club
    Nov 22, 2011
    67
    It seems erratic, but it somehow works, at least musically.
  17. Pitchfork
    Nov 23, 2011
    60
    Talk That Talk tries too hard to send a more one-dimensional message and ends up falling flat: Rihanna's obviously going for sexy here, but her music's at its most alluring when she's blissed out in her own reverie, not taking the time to spell it all out for us.
  18. NOW Magazine
    Nov 21, 2011
    60
    When she's not challenging herself in that way [trying to emulate the established RiRi formula], she can sound a little bored, but you could argue that's part of her ice-queen R&B appeal.
  19. The Observer (UK)
    Nov 21, 2011
    60
    The emphasis on loud, clubby production means it lacks the progression of Rated R or the bombast of Loud.
  20. Consequence
    Nov 22, 2011
    50
    This album is lacking fiercely in the big-time, gargantuan smashes Rihanna has made her career on. Even still, there are a few sonic creations on Talk That Talk that give the listener something to celebrate.
  21. New Musical Express (NME)
    Nov 21, 2011
    50
    A so-so album which suggests it may be time for Ms Fenty to take a holiday.
  22. Chicago Tribune
    Nov 21, 2011
    50
    "Talk That Talk" sounds like a rush job designed to keep Rihanna rolling through the holidays.
  23. Los Angeles Times
    Nov 21, 2011
    50
    For all the innuendo and introspection, Talk That Talk contains little sweat, slobber or fluids and a lot of plasticized, inflatable insinuation.
  24. Slant Magazine
    Nov 21, 2011
    50
    Talk That Talk is pretty easily the worst Rihanna album yet.
  25. BBC Music
    Nov 21, 2011
    50
    Familiar tropes surface in the lyrical content (sexy times being the core focus), and musically it's a smorgasbord of European dance trends and contemporary RnB production, showy but soulless.
  26. The Independent on Sunday (UK)
    Nov 21, 2011
    40
    As off-the-peg as Primark, the Rihan-droid returns with more dancefloor fodder which has all the right bleeps in all the right places, but nothing to make you go "wow".
  27. The Independent (UK)
    Nov 17, 2011
    40
    "Cockiness" is barmy enough to stand out from the routine dubstep/electro beats cooked up by such as Stargate, Calvin Harris and Dr Luke.
  28. PopMatters
    Nov 30, 2011
    30
    It's sure to sell on brand recognition alone, but I doubt a series of mannered and soulless hooks are going to find much life outside of the European remix circuit.

Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Most Discussed Album of 2011
57
#57 Most Shared Album of 2011

User Reviews

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User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 609 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 401 out of 609
  2. Mixed: 113 out of 609
  3. Negative: 95 out of 609
  1. AlleeX
    Nov 21, 2011
    10
    Rihanna's sixth album in six years. Impressive! And she still has that something. With this album, she will surely confirm her spot in the topRihanna's sixth album in six years. Impressive! And she still has that something. With this album, she will surely confirm her spot in the top of the music industry. As for the album, it has a similar "Loud" concept, with a few club bangers, heartbreaking ballads and R&B songs.
    The strongest songs are, in my opinion Where Have You Been, a song that is definitely going to be a bigger success than We Found Love and maybe, but just maybe, Umbrella. Another very good song is Drunk On Love, a great mid-tempo song that shows the power of her vocal. As for the singles, I think that she could've chosen another song to be second single, but the choice was obvious, trying to repeat the success of What's my Name. Of course, there are some shockers, that are no shockers when we hear them on Rihanna album. Song **** is, I must say, one of the weakest from the album. Another very playful and dirty "song" is Birthday Cake, which would've been great for a urban single if it wasn't long for less than 80 seconds. Overall, it's a good album that will keep your attention until she releases a new one, and that could be very, very soon.    … Full Review »
  2. Cherrybomb
    Nov 21, 2011
    8
    After last year's disappointing Loud, my hopes for this album weren't very high. But this has a lot of catchy and great pop tunes - even ifAfter last year's disappointing Loud, my hopes for this album weren't very high. But this has a lot of catchy and great pop tunes - even if some of them sound like retreads of earlier hits. Not as good as Rated R, but still impressive.… Full Review »
  3. Georgehullyer
    Nov 21, 2011
    1
    There is no Doubt that she rushed this album, having her world tour and all, made the outcome of it her worst album out of the six. withThere is no Doubt that she rushed this album, having her world tour and all, made the outcome of it her worst album out of the six. with little if any originality to it , Think of this album as a ''Rated R Part 2 '' :/ ''Loud'' and ''Good girl gone bad'' will always be the best :)… Full Review »
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