Music Review

A Girl Like Me (2006)

Details Release Date: Apr 25, 2006; Lead Performance: Rihanna; Genre: R&B

That squawky synth sample from Soft Cell's ''Tainted Love'' on sexy single ''SOS'' isn't the only thing that screams '80s on A Girl Like Me — a sophomore disc which drops a mere eight months after the modestly successful Music of the Sun. The 18-year-old also unwisely invokes the chest-pumping days of Diane Warren-ified soap-pop balladry. And since Rihanna's no Mariah (or Taylor Dayne, for that matter), her thin, still-maturing pipes are better suited for effortlessly cool reggae-lite confections like ''Dem Haters'' and ''Crazy Little Thing Called Love.''

Originally posted Apr 21, 2006 Published in issue #874-875 Apr 28, 2006 Order article reprints

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.

500 characters remaining
Advertisement