The ArchAndroid

What a breath of fresh air. Maybe I should complain about the composition of this list more often. This is the one Janelle Monae album I haven't heard. Our first album from the last decade, and from this century! A concept album based on Metropolis...and it's a debut album. Immediately, I'm struck by how eclectic this is, spanning so many different genres and transitioning between them so effortlessly. This feels monumental. I love so many songs here, and a very special shout-out to "Cold War," which Santoma unknowingly SAMPLED (via Clams Casino) on his/my first ever track "Go to Town." This is just fantastic all the way through. I'm going to retroactively add it to my Top Albums of 2010 list. [Side note: this was nominated for a Grammy but lost to Usher's Raymond v. Raymond. Yet more proof the Grammys are wet garbage.] Janelle, if you're reading this, I just watched Antebellum last night--the movie wasn't good, but you're great. I was already a big fan of you, but this seals the deal. Let's see if Bowie can top this. Favorite songs: Cold War, Dance or Die, Mushrooms & Roses, Neon Valley Street, Come Alive, Faster, Wondaland. Album art: The framing and text and everything is very much a product of the early '10s, but I love the picture of Monae and the golden metropolis as her crown. Talk about a chrome dome. 5/5

This is crazy good. I knew Janelle was talented, but this album really blew me away at how good, cohesive, and yet varied it is. Each song is amazing and there are no duds.

After the Overture, this album starts and just keeps going. Great energy, vocals, big band mixed with some synth/electronic that give a bit of a Wizard of Oz vibe. Really liked this, could see this being an excellent live performance.

Truly, the greatest tragedy here is that this album was generated for me on Friday, and for an entire weekend I was cursed with the knowledge of how amazing this album is; and yet anybody who happened across my stats page would pity me for either never having experienced it, or for not recognizing it as a masterpiece. At last, Monday has come, and my anxiety can finally be dispelled.

Wow! What was this? Is it hip-hop? Is it Enya? Is Santana playing guitar in the background? No idea, but it was awesome. Jumping from catchy dance beats to sweeping string-led anthems with Star Trek 60s vibes, I could never anticipate what was coming next. Rachmaninoff-style classical? Check. Movie soundtrack vibes (LOTR, anyone?). Check. Bass-infused jazz rifts? Check. Gap shopping trip background? Check. The illegitimate love child of Lauren Hill and The Bee Gees (Locked Inside - wow!)? Check. Going back to listen to it again, right now.

Funny coincidence - yesterday was the first time I'd ever heard of Janelle Monae. They had her singing in the street out of one of those US morning TV shows. The TV was on mute so all I could see was Janelle's Michael Jackson ripoff outfit and a bunch of never-been-kissed type girls waving signs in the crowd. I rolled my eyes, assuming she was some kind of X Factor singer or some other yank shit. Then today, THIS is the album. Buuuuuuuut.... it's really fucking good? I wasn't expecting that at all. The Michael Jackson influence is pretty clear musically, maybe a bit of Jamiroquai-ish jam in there too, and I guess it's shouldn't be a surprise that an album called "ArchAndroid" has a bunch of electric sheep references. This is what modern pop music should sound like, not the lowbrow shit filling the top 50. What a shame - this should be way better known. It has vision, ambition, variety and it's incredibly well written. I actually listened to it twice - this for an album over an hour long, in a genre I don't usually like. That's saying something. I think it even cured my hangover. Or maybe that was the codeine, not sure. Either way this is a fucking 5/5.

This one was nowhere on my radar. Awesome album. Need to listen to more Janelle Monáe.

Oh my god. From the first Overture I immediately thought, "This is beautiful." I was worried to have high expectations so early; little did I know that the rest of the album would exceed any expectations I had set up. Janelle Monae has an amazingly beautiful voice, and the album is simply electric. She mixes genres as styles flawlessly intermingle with one another. The energy burns you from the inside and doesn't give you a break. Production is top notch. What is there to criticize about this album? It feels like a real work of art.

this album earns its grand presentation for sureee— the songs are just so good and somehow they all feel connected even as they pull from such disparate influences. janelle monae’s singular presence acts as the uniting force between these separate ideas,, like genuinely i don’t think anyone else could pull this album off. and also she’s a robot which is sooo awesome

There's some interesting performances and production, but that couldn't save this album from being incredibly dull and boring to me. The kind of music that you hear in Target. Not for me.

Loved it

Top-tier, cohesive album.

Wow. I'd definitely heard of Janelle Monáe and knew she had already made quite a mark on the music front when I started hearing about her as an actress (and I saw her in a recent movie; she is excellent on that front, too!), but I'd not listened to her music before. This album is superb. What a variety and all composed, arranged, performed, and recorded so well. Her voice is spectacular. So much thought behind these tracks. Such precision and energy yet also infused with passion. I'll be sure to listen to more of her work. Stupendous!

I was starting to get tired of this challenge, thinking I was getting burnt out, because for two weeks almost all my scores were 2s or 3s….and then this came up, and within a couple seconds I realized, no, all that was really mediocre music. Because this was INCREDIBLE. Always enjoyed Monae as an iconic figure, the look, the music videos, the acting. Shamefully never listened to this in whole, even though I’ve had 15 years to do so (Jesus Christ where does the time go). WOW. Every song is a lovely delight, I never knew exactly where it was going, and they’re all so singular. I cannot wait to listen to this over and over again!

I Love all stuff like this, soul and electric THAT'S FIRE!!

THE FUCKIN BESSSSST. Janelle Monae does not miss on this album. A beautiful voice and wonderful, amazing songs. An honest treat to listen to.

I own this one!! :) I have a nostaglic attachment to this album, so I'm going to be a bit biased. I feel like the songs have a lot of variety to them, which makes it a fun album to listen through all the way.

Frantic, mad in scope. I'm not sure one listen does it justice.

Only knew Tightrope - this was way better than I expected. Really liked this album a lot - beautiful lush sounds throughout and some bangers. Only negative is it's a little long but I guess it's a double album?

Wow, never expected to enjoy this album so much. Didn’t know much about Janelle M - I had half listened / watched the “Dirty Computer” video, and thought it was pretty good. Excellent throughout I liked suite II a little more than III. Tightrope was the standout track, and I also really liked “Oh, Maker”. A lot of genre shifts were cool. Ilthought “Come Alive” could have been an X cover. 4.5 Stars, and rounding up.

The music grabbed my attention right away! Really enjoying this album

Started off strong with an odd overture which is uncommon for a 2010 album but with futuristic sounds which fits the album. Where is suite 1? Not what I expected, I did not expect her to rap. Song 2 is a banger. Song 3 blends well with 2 at the start. This is the first album that seems like an album, not just a collection of songs. song 4 Funky jackson drums, catchy and continuation of the story. song 5 change of pace, cool mix of classical medieval style callbacks in the lyrics in a song/album about android/human lovers. song 6 - starts slow and then picks up but again a change from last song. song 7 - fits in with the album theme but also about herself/music great double/triple meaning. song 8 - big boi banger, great continuation / other side of previous track. "You gotta keep your balance Or you fall into the gap It's a challenge but I manage Cause I'm cautious with the strap" Great high and low vocals while singing about highs and lows. song 9 - what is she singing? https://genius.com/Janelle-monae-neon-gumbo-lyrics fits in with the album but bit too much for me in the middle of an album should be an outro to a song not a song in itself song 10 - yet another style. Cool how it could be about either cyborg or human to either "maker". another style on the outro of the song. song 11 - harder style. big juxtaposition to the last. Fits in with her several mentions of schizo in this song and the whole album. vocals are wild, wonder how this is live. song 12 - sex and drugs very psychedelic. A more modern sounding lucy/strawberry style beatles song as in the distorted vocals and druggy feel. song 13 - another example of how this album is meant to be listened to with the album liner / internet with you but works also on its own. song 14 - another good blend from last song. She is a good rapper regardless of her singing and songwriting which is odd. "Confusion is a walrus" song 15 - what? so out of left field. Not mad about it. song 16 - dreamy/childlike very jarring with that previous song. Could be a tomtom club with the lyrics and less android references. song 17 - 57821 odd title, apparently a android reg number. "magical" sound and another blue reference. song 18 - "Love is such a novelty A rarely painted masterpiece A place few people go or ever know" very mellow/serene song, very zen great lyrics, flows very well song 19 - very orchestral/theatrical, odd bit of spanish. lyrics call out music and movie as ways of describing their love which is very cool, very good closer. https://genius.com/Janelle-monae-cd-booklet-annotated to tell the background story Metropolis is a good film, worth a watch also.

WOWWW this is so good idk how i havent heard of this album or any of the songs before. Literally fucking amazing, feels very new and fresh and unique. I think the slower songs in the second half are weaker, but theyre not bad. Just not nearly as good as the first half

My favourite discovery so far. I only knew them from their singles. This album as a whole is such a trip. Donna Summer, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Barry Manilow, Barbra Streisand, Leonard Bernstein, Pink Floyd. They’re all in there but this is a complete original too. Big 5 from me

this shit is the future

Nothing sounded the same but it did feel like a cohesive piece. Really amazed by it, maybe they weren't all winners but overall 5 stars

Truly Janelle's best album: conceptual, explosive, erratic, fun, and overall just an enchanting and captivating album.

Finally an artist I had never listened to blew me away.

Beautiful voice and what a unique concept album. It really showcased her range as an artist, blending genres together. The production is so cinematic and takes into the world she was trying to create with this album. Especially the last song, it sounds like a score. It’s nice to get some more albums on this list from this past decade!

“We’re all virgins to the joys of loving without fear” What an absolute delight to listen to. Melodic and rhythmic, high energy through the fast and slow songs. I feel like this hit the perfect balance of lead vocals / percussion / synth and pads / other rhythm and vocals. It was long but thoughtfully made, with great transitions and song order, awesome choice of samples, and most importantly just a bunch of groovin songs. The vocal effects were a bit distracting once or twice, but I actually liked those moments in the same way I like the non-scary moments in a horror movie. They’re necessary for the scary moments (great songs in the album) to have full effect. 10/10

Probably the most Work Of Art album I've been assigned so far. Absolutely incredible, never boring, fuckin' cool.

This album was phenomenal. Her voice is amazing, the amount of genres is incredible, the album is dramatic and well sequenced. Great listen and an easy classic to throw on repeat. 5/5

ArchAndroid is an absolutely belting album with a mixture of every genre you could possibly think of: there are elements of soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, RnB, synth pop and goodness knows what else. She also has a real ear for a melody. The long running time and slightly niche sci-fi concept could make this a bit inaccessible, but it's really not. You can easily enjoy this album simply for the catchy hooks and danceable grooves if that's your bag. Awesome!

Never heard Jonelle before. Loved this album. So many different genres covered

I can't believe how different each track is on this album! It's a fantastic sound, with catchy songs and a consistent musical theme. It's a very eclectic group of songs, spanning so many different genres and transitioning between them so effortlessly. 'Locked Inside' is a funky sounding track. 'Sir Greendown' is more relaxed and psychedelic whereas 'Cold War' starts off and you're wondering where it's going to go, and it ends up being a dance track. 'Tightrope' goes back to funky. These four songs all come in succession! 'Come Alive' is my favourite here. I can only describe it as a kind of rock and roll burlesque sound which really shows off vocal Janelle's vocals. She hits and holds a high note at the end of this track for a good twenty seconds before ending it with a great rock sounding "Ow!" 'Wondaland' is a sweet and sparkly pop song with a catchy chorus and the final one 'BaBopByeYa' sounds almost like a modern James Bond track. This album keeps you guessing what's coming next with everything sounding so different genre wise, yet sounding so similar and fitting together so well.

Phineas and Ferb music if they had the budget of seven trillion golden doubloons. Holy shit. I've known of this album's existence for less than 24 hours and I can safely say that this is my favorite R&B album of all time. I didn't even know the girl from Glass Onion was a singer. Uhh five outta five!

Somehow met the dude who played keyboard on this album at a bar the same day I got it on the generator. Weirdly cosmic.

I knew who Janelle Monet was, but never listened to her before. Pleasantly surprised by the album, not to R and B, not to funky, just fun to listen to.

I like: Locked Inside Tightrope Come Alive (War of the Roses) Suite III Overture Neon Valley Street

Favorite Track[s]: Sir Greendown Cold War Oh, Maker Make The Bus Wondaland 57821 Say You'll Go BaBopByeYa

Orchestra!?! I like the transition into a more modern rap/club song. Oh hey I know Tightrope. Come Alive is like an alt rock song. Oooh Clair de Lune appearance in Say You'll Go!

This was really great. I’d never heard of Janelle monáe and decided not to look her up when I heard anything. The first track made me wonder if it would be a classical album before the second track had her showing her skills as a rapper however she is not just a rapper and she’s a a singer too, with some songs like sir greendown sounding like lana del rey. There was also a lot of prince and outkast influence in there. This could have been shite and it absolutely wasn’t so will actually listen to more of Janelle’s releases after hearing this

The future was once an exciting place, a vision where anything that can be thought of as possible to achieve, looking backwards to understand how to move forward. As the ArchAndroid, Janelle Monae found a stellar way to fuse past, present and future together into a package that bursts with consistent energy and cohesion. The second and third part of a five part suite, heading into just this without digesting the first part feels like cheating yet this is a pretty good introduction to someone who may still very well turn culture on its head. Nearly fifteen years on, it's still electric. Favorites: Dance or Die, Faster, Locked Inside, Sir Greendown, Cold War, Tightrope, Oh, Maker, Come Alive (War of the Roses), Mushrooms & Roses, Make the Bus, Wondaland, Say You'll Go.

Another cool post-punk pre-alternative album. I thought this one was interesting. There are times when it sounds like Bruce Springsteen, albeit with much different subject matter. It's easy to see the seeds of a lot of the music I grew up with in the 90s in this album. It goes by really fast, but every song is solid 4/5

Eclectic, epic, sprawling. Too long? Too much symphony and overtures? Overall pretty good. Lots of good ideas. Could have used some editing.

Very solid album but admittedly the second half felt not as exciting as the beginning. I think it is an album that I probably wouldn't listen to again but if it came on I would enjoy it. Very cool use of percussion on a lot of tracks. Definitely did feel a little pushed with it's message at times but waaaay better than some artists. Overall id give it on around the same mark at about a 7.6

2 of 5 (10/30/20) Well, this was unexpected. This is very much not my genre. It's dancy and poppy with smooth vocals and slick production values. I have been known to call this kind of stuff musical exlax. There's something about this album that keeps it from tripping over into the diharrea zone, though. Maybe it's the conceptual nature of the thing that keeps it on course. It does feel like every track leads into the next in a cinematic storyarch. Perhaps that's what makes this work. Somewhere around track 6, it picks up and findsome funk and that was a lot more enjoyable. That said, it never really got anywhere interesting for me.

This was a very mediocre album to me and there were no songs that really stood out. it’s not really for me and I will probably not return to this album. 5/10

Ikke min type musikk. Men e det bra eller dårlig? Vet ikke!

Should I be listening to this before I die ?......... No I shouldn't

Lots of ideas, many of them good, but neither the tunes or her voice have the strength the carry all the dicking around.

Eclectic. If I dig around a bit I find lots of little bits I like. 2.75/5

Just too much going on here - too many songs, too many style changes, too much in general. Some great songs - Cold War is fantastic, Say You'll go Good but it sorely needs an editor. Just lost me too many times.

Another one of these alleged experimental albums... I just found it bonkers eclectic random swings in style and sound that was all very much sounding computer generated with absolutely nothing memorable. There were some good parts to some of the tracks, but you shouldn't have to study a track to enjoy it. I've read a lot of rave reviews about this album, with lengthy disection of each track and what it means... ya de ya de ya... but I just don't get it what they're on about, I found the whole thing massively boring, never gonna listen to it again.

Nothing to fault but nothing I like about it.

One of those albums I've been meaning to check out forever, but never did. Always knew Janelle had a big Prince influence, but I think it's unfair to just stop there. OutKast, Disney movies... feel like I can gleen a LOT from this album. Only one song I feel like doesn't fit ("Make the Bus", which is a shame, cos I enjoy Of Montreal), but other than that, the album flows at a relentless and wonderful pace. Amazing piece of art. Favorite tracks: "Wondaland", "Say You'll Go", "Dance or Die"

Love this! Never heard any of these songs before but this is definitely something I plan to listen to more.

Concept album, very neat!

Holy shit this album rips. Just so man kickass tunes. Stand out is Cold War.

This was stellar. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in other than that I knew Janelle always had a ton of praise. Her voice was insanely beautiful and I didn’t think one track was boring. The concept is really interesting and the fact that she covered so many genres kept it engaging. Would listen again.

40s dance/lounge and 60s retro feel. Upbeat songs give a fun groovy mood where slower laid back songs come on smoothe and clean.

Here we go! For a while now this has been one of my top 10 my favorite albums of all time, so naturally it's an absolute joy to listen to again. This album is a masterpiece through and through. So many musical styles and themes are explored and crafted into fun and interesting songs. This album starts out very theatrical, which drives the theme of a fictional story in a sci-fi world based on Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis', with social issues mirroring the ones we face in our world. In Janelle Monae's world, the android fighting for it's freedom is her as a black woman navigating a similarly hostile environment. The vocal and musical range that Janelle Monae traverses in this album highlights just how talented she is. We see art-pop, R&B rock, punk, jazz, hip-hop, folk, and a series of amazing features that give each song such a distinct life of it's own, while still contributing to the narrative of the story. Despite how different each song feels, the songs flow together so well, with the same musical motifs revisited in new ways. Overall, I love this album and I'm glad it exists. It's an important album that both encapsulates the struggles of a black woman but at the same time shows her strength, and overwhelmingly impressive talent through good music and good story telling.

Amazing! Loved this album. Never listen to Jenelle Monae before and I really enjoyed it. She has incredible range and I love the mix of Jazz, Rap, and pop. it made for a unique sound!

one of my favorite albums of all time. front to back. as an aspiring musician it’s the album I wish I could’ve made.

It's so fuckin' cool to see sci-fi and concept album tropes applied to a pop album like this! The orchestral intro and varied interludes throughout plus the extended outro song just let you know you are not in for just pop and bookends it all well! Outside of the theatricality of it, I loved the mixing and blending of genres throughout. Faster, Cold War, and Oh, Maker were favorites. It's still a feel-good pop record! Just with some wild afrofuturism in its bloodstream! This might be a 4 in reality, but I'm a sucker for theatricality and want to celebrate concept albums and sci fi stories like this finding success!

Such a talented artist

HOLY SHIT FINALLY A GREAT ONE

I really liked this one. There were some sections that seemed a little bland, and it would have been nice to have more overarching themes, but it was still interesting as an album. A low 5 from me.

Vital

4.5!! Production is really good, a ton of fun to listen to. Fantastic vocals and pretty cool lyrics!! There are some weaker songs on here but the beats are always cool enough to keep me interested. i love the android/future theme and I wish it were a bit more cohesive, without something tying it all together it feels like it goes on a bit long, maybe it’d be clearer with another listen.

I'm a lot more familiar with Janelle Monae's later albums so this was fun to explore. It was a fun album to fully immerse myself in! She has such fun creating concept albums that span a wide array of musical compositions. Gotta love the bass in some of these, and how much she changes her voice from song to song. I really like some of the featured artists as well like Of Montreal on Make the Bus. Submitted this before listening to the last few—what a mistake! Wrapping the whole thing up with a Shirley Bassey style jam?!? Now demanding Janelle Monae be the next Bond soundtrack.

Good album

Es completamente diferente de algo que haya escuchado antes, en verdad es buenísimo, lo recomiendo demasiado. Se siente tan actual, además las letras son preciosas, todo el álbum es una obra de arte y lo adoro, es de lo mejor que he escuchado y definitivamente uno de mis álbumes favoritos. Cada canción se siente diferente pero al mismo tiempo conectada con la anterior. No hay palabras para describir lo magnífico que es este álbum, lo amé.

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Dance or die, Faster, Locked Inside, Tightrope

Far more weird and interesting than I expected. Very cohesive and excellent flow to the whole thing.

Incredible album, Janelle has always delivered with concepts and versatility while pushing artistic limits, and this album is no exception

wow amazed this is a fucking album

so cool. great range of song styles, her voice is amazing and gives me 2010 pop ‘now that’s what I call music’ nostalgia but with r&b n funk notes 😵‍💫

LIstening to this album and reading about Jenelle Monae in the process was an absolute joy. What an artisit, with this album reflecting someone who may just be one of the more underrated artists of the 21st century. I can't wait to spend more time with this album and for it to be a part of my long term listening repitoire.

Beautiful voice, great album from front to back.

Incredible, such a cohesive album

This was great. A brilliant mash of genres with interval tracks that didn't intrude at all. The first and last tracks are excellent as well, which probably helps. Some of the middle tracks were weaker, or a bit weirder, but I'll definitely be returning to this one.

Покашьто лучший из тех, что был тута. Хоть я и прям все песенки не прослушал

Top tier album and I feel it only gets better with subsequent listens

Goes from 4 to 5 just because of Come Alive.

Terrific album both lyrically and musically. Janelle Monae manages to cross genre effortlessly without it being jarring or intrusive. She also subverts traditional pop and R&B chord progressions and allows there to be unresolved tension in her music to reflect the lyrical themes. Overall, a super impressive album all around.

Screw it. 5.0. If I could rate higher I would. I've not listened to much of Janelle Monae, but I am wowed by this album. It's hard for me to pull the trigger for 5.0 on something thats new to me like this without it being a groundbreaker or iconic artist. But wow, this was a great disc to end the week on. I'm going to relisten now.

I loved the song Make the Bus (feat. Of Montreal) because I love Of Montreal. Kevin Barnes' musical thumbprint is so pronounced it was like an Of Montreal song was somehow mixed up in the recording booth and placed there by accident. All the featured songs on this album were recognizably distinct from the beautiful R&B Janelle solo tracks, yet wove in to the album expertly to take the listener on a journey through the afrofuturist story of The ArchAndroid.

Ok, I honestly don't understand this album, but I think I love it. It's just so out there in terms of mix of styles, lyrical concepts. Viewed as an album, the sheer scope and ambition of it is fantastic. Viewed as a collection of songs, it's hard to believe this is all one album. The best thing about this is the seeming ease with which Janelle Monáe pulls off all of the different style on this album - with all of them sounding good. I even enjoyed the rap on this album - something I enjoy only very rarely.

love janelle, she's queen

Очень круто. Аранжировки супер. Есть чему поучиться.

Funky. No la conocía, me está gustando :)

an absolutely beautiful album. the vocals, the lyricism, the instrumental. everything about this album screams beauty and grace. it sounds like the soundtrack of a thriller or adventure movie. the transitions between songs is flawless and had me thinking i was still listening to the same song. the cohesiveness of the album whether that be through, lyrics or sounds is incredible. its like a journey. the introduction "suite II overture" sounds like something out of indiana jones or some other action movie song composed by hans zimmer. the powerhouse vocals monáe uses in many of the tracks showcases her passion. overall this album seems very feminine to me and expresses this in a subtle way. i think the use of string instruments like violins further supports this as delicate instruments. the title of the album is very fitting. in the second half of the album, monáe seems to use something like auto tune and increases her pitch making her sound like an android of sorts.

Timeless, passionate, groovy, funky, soulful, rockin', romantic, powerful, intriguing, classic, relatable, subversive, splendiferous, seamless, flowing, masterful, genius, classy, supreme, and I wanted to come up with more, but thinking of adjectives is really hard, so I'm just gonna leave it there and say this album is very very very good.

Great diverse album

Janelle Monaé is so much cooler than I’ll ever be and I’m kicking myself for never having listened until 2022. This album is somehow orchestral, soul, jazz, pop, hip hop, rock, rhythm and blues, it’s a really fun listen that I absolutely will come back to again. Cold War and Tightrope are BOPS.

This is straight fire. Hot damn.

Amazing, interesting, experimental but still enjoyable to listen to.

that janelle monae is one talented broad

This is excellent. Some fabulous rap, some amazing soul - all very varied, very experimental. Her voice is amazing, and although I think she might be reaching the edge of her talent on one or two of these tracks, that talent is way, way, way better than 95% of the other talent in this list. I might be a convert.