The deluxe edition of Rihanna’s new album, Unapologetic, is 17 tracks long, an exciting prospect that turns to disappointment after realizing that more than half of these tracks should never have made it on the album in the first place.

Unapologetic begins with “Phresh Out the Runway” a pulsating, repetitive beat that one can barely a song. In fact, most of the rest of the tracks are like that- “Numb”, featuring Eminem, is a track that appears promising, but ends up living up to its name, turning the listener themselves numb. “Pour it Up” is another song whose title seems to promise an energetic club beat- but instead, one is left with a flat tune that never takes off. “Loveeeeeee Song” seems impossibly monotonous. However, this song seems exciting compared to the sleep- inducing “Get It Over With”.

However, not all of Unapologetic features songs that are mindless tunes. “Diamonds”, the album’s single, provides some relief, although the song’s two remixes leave much to be desired. Rihanna also nails it on “Stay”, a surprisingly soft song at the piano, filled with emotion that shows her vulnerable side.

By far the best two songs on Unapologetic are “Half of Me” and “What Now”, both of which serve as a breath of fresh air, showcasing a wider range of Rihanna’s voice, something one wishes she would show off more often. These tracks soar high, leaving you confused as to how such songs and a track like “Get It Over With” are doing on the same album. Overall Unapologetic lags, and fails to live up to the potential that it exhibits on key tracks. The biggest shock Rihanna delivers on this album is not the sometimes-explicit laden songs or the collaboration with ex Chris Brown on the telling “Nobody’s Business”. It’s the fact that Rihanna has done something one never thought her capable of- she has managed to bore.