Chuck Harmony, who produced Russian Roulette from the new Rihanna Album called Rated R, is doing his best to explain how great the song and album are after a poor rating by fans. Harmony says the album will prove Rihanna is the Madonna of her generation.

"I sat through mix sessions and I heard some of the songs on the record. It fits in well," he said of "Russian Roulette."

Just saying it doesn’t make it true. In fact making such comparisons raises expectations, and makes a failure seem that much more like a career killer. There really is no comparison between Rihanna and Madonna, since Madonna created much of her own material, whereas someone else created Rihanna’s material. There is also nothing original about Rihanna. It’s all been done before.

Harmony then tried to explain how the darkness in Russian Roulette doesn’t reflect the entire album, because there are better songs than this one:

"I think Rihanna has captured what her old fans are used to, as well as the growth of an artist. Russian Roulette, to me, is a shining example of her growth and her artistic expression. Russian Roulette is definitely taking her to another level. I think she’s a pop icon, so her music should reflect that."

Here we go again. "Taking her to another level" is another statement that isn’t supported by the lack of spark in Russian Roulette.

Harmony then went on to explain how the half-dressed Rihanna on the cover of the album is "genius."

"It fits in with the song. The way it’s unfolding is so genius. Like, ’The wait is ova’ [message on her site]. I was waiting too. I wanted to see the cover, I wanted to hear the song. It’s one of those records where you just don’t know. It’s not a faith record. It’s one of those thought-provoking records."

We think the idea with the cover art was the old s*x sells. Maybe for the impulse buy, but there are better pictures of Rihanna wearing nothing at all on the Internet.

If you have "explain" how great a performer is, and how great the album is, you’ve already failed.