By Matt Scotto

“Feels so good being bad / There’s no way I’m turning back.” Rihanna’s new studio effort, “Loud,” begins with an idea that she has beaten to a pulp, but it works. We know she’s bad, we know she’s so hard, and we know she’s a rock star. This time around, she’s a dance queen that wants to feel like she’s the only girl in world, as the better part of “Loud” wouldn’t be out of place at your typical dance club. I’ll take anything over the depressing mess that was “Rated R,” her much-criticized previous effort.

The album kicks off with “S&M,” a head banger with lyrics worthy of a Facebook status: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me.” Fast-forward to “Cheers (Drink to that),” and you’ll recognize the first few seconds immediately. The song samples Avril Lavigne’s “I’m With You,” quite cleverly, in fact, and successfully turns a ballad into a drinking anthem. Other highlights include “What’s My Name,” a collaboration with rapper Drake, the radio smash “Only Girl in the World,” and “California King Bed” a sweet ballad that shows off a surprisingly good vocal from the red-headed singer.

The album hits a speed bump, however, when Rihanna goes back to her island roots with “Man Down,” an awkward reggae-tinged track that seems to get lost in a sea of dance beats. Things quickly get picked back up with “Raining Men,” featuring Nicki Minaj, who never disappoints. Rihanna manages to include a fantastic dance ballad (“Complicated”) and a sultry sex-themed track (“Skin”)

    Unfortunately, the album ends with an unnecessary follow-up to “Love the Way You Lie” that adds nothing of value to this otherwise fantastic album. This is the Rihanna we’ve been wanting back, and although it’s no “Good Girl Gone Bad,” she hits the ball out of the park with “Loud.” You’ve been warned, this one will be on replay for quite a while.