What about this new Rihanna single then?

OK, so it's a ballad. To be precise, it's a spooky, powerful ballad called 'Russian Roulette' that begins with an eerie guitar solo and ends with a gunshot. In between there's an 'Umbrella'-style "trigger, trigger, trigger" hook, a chorus that swells elegantly, beats that mimic the human heart, some heavy breathing and lots of scene-setting lyrics.

Our favourite line: "And then I get a scary thought - that he's here means he's never lost."

This isn't what any of us was expecting, and it's hardly the most instant thing Ri-Ri's ever recorded, but after six or seven plays we're happy to declare it a real grower. For a comeback single from such a huge popstar, it's a pretty brave choice, which is definitely worth applauding as far as we're concerned. To give it a listen, just press play on the widgety gizmo below.



What do you think of Rihanna's 'Russian Roulette'? Does it live up to the hype? Use the space below to have your say.