Reviews (page 12 of 15)
Fine, idk
Nightsky luxurious dinner with gentle social commentary.
wow loved this
every song was different. some good most weird. sounded almost like a movie soundtrack.
hmm, another unheard album for me. Artwork looks like its gonna be Soul/R&B. Was not expecting it to open with a classic orchestral piece lol. oh wow, just noticed the runtime, is a long one for sure; just under 70 minutes. Smooth lyrics for how fast paced it feels, good production, a TON of musicians listed on this project damn. The two singles on this album sound veryyy '2000s' to me; kinda like a hoppy trance beat over motivational feminine 'fight song' vibes. I liked the start of this album, but mannnn I am not a fan of these anchor songs.... they are very artificial and def drops my score. Well made album, but def not my thing, not really a fan when contemporary crosses the line pretty far into traditional rock; I like them separate but I just don't think they mix well. I liked the songs that were "low-key" and following the 1920s futuristic theme.
This is a great example of why I wanted to do this project - to discover artists that I had never heard of before and end up really liking their albums. Over a decade old and I'm not sure how this passed me by but such a rich work with numerous styles and clear influences bleeding in. One caveat is that Apple music only let me listen to the 'Deluxe' version, so I'm not sure how much embellishment from the original work there is. Stand out tracks: Cold War, Oh Maker and Say You'll Go
Verrassend! Paar nummers die ik echt zal blijven luisteren.
Brash, bold, beautiful Love this one. Great vibe from start to finish. Finding this kind of thing is what this project is about for me. I could go 5 but it's borderline so I will say a very very high 4/5
Not for me.
YES. THIS ALBUM. LOVE Janelle Monáe.
Tantalizing head nods of musical influence featuring groovy dance vibes. Fun and inspiring
Holy shit dude. I’m high
Pretty cool
This was... unexpected, to say the least. It's the first 21th century record on my list, and it's an R&B/Soul concept album about futuristic dystopia. What caught my attention was how diverse and extravagant this one was in terms of music and genre. From fast-paced pop fun of tracks like "Dance or Die" and "Tightrope" to ballads like "Sir Greendown" and "Oh, Maker", from short orchestral instrumental "Suite II Overture" to a 9-minute grand finale "BabopbyeYa", this album's sheer scope and ambition is remarkable. That said, although Suite II flows very nicely and is well paced, Suite III can feel like an extra or bonus rather than a continuation of a single record. That is probably intentional, but it does loses me when trying to listen to it top to bottom. Highlights are the aforementioned "Dance or Die", "Locked Inside" (great chorus and song structure that never lets one lose focus), "Oh, Maker" (again, unpredictable song structure and key change), and "Wondaland" (just a fun and cute little track). Overall, it was an adventure that really showcases how talented this woman is, but is at times hard to swallow fully.
76 Based on this new scale (my previous ratings are now all inaccurate): 1 - 0 to 19 2 - 20 to 39 3 - 40 to 59 4 - 60 to 79 5 - 80 to 100 I had to look this artist up. When I did, I did not expect that I'd enjoy this very much, as I'm not a fan of R&B, which was the first genre Wikipedia used to describe this artist. This is actually a pretty genre-less album and I found it to be a refreshing, enjoyable experience.
banger
Interesting 3 stars
How is this gorgeous masterpiece already over a decade old?!? I was hoping Janelle was in here. Love that for us all.
Some epic moments worth another listen
The production value on this album is phenomenal. I really enjoyed listening to ArchAndroid. It was like a psychedelic, sci-fi trip meets the Great Gatsby... it was a blending of genre's I've never heard before. I really enjoyed the big orchestral sections and the "HUGE" cathedral choral sounds on the album. Definitely not a typical top-40 pop album. Pleasantly surprised and a good reason to continue to break out of the typical genres that I listen to that I think constitutes "Good Music."
a great listen. ive always enjoyed her stuff
I already knew and loved this album.
10
Didn't finish it. It was ok.
Interesting pop concept album with some trippy moments like backwards audio, but not super compelling.
Echt bijzonder verrast door dit album. Ken haar wel, maar was altijd niet zo onder de indruk. Heb denk ik nooit echt goed geluisterd. Wát een album dit! De invloeden van andere artiesten zijn duidelijk zichtbaar, maar op geen enkel moment wordt het kopieren of vervelend. Als geheel is het gewoon compleet. Losse nummers heb ik niet opgeslagen, want het past echt in de context van het album. Dit album kan niet wegkomen met anders dan een 5, ik ga dit zeker vaker luisteren!
Weird mix of classical music, strange instruments and boring generic songs.
This was a seminal album. This deserves all the praise it gets and more. The vibes, the concept, the features, the variety, the fun. No notes.
I don't think this is my favorite of all time, but this might be a perfect album.
Fun stuff
I wasn't expecting to like this but it honestly goes kind of hard? The second half isn't as good as the first but this was a pretty good album.
This is clearly cool and interesting. But I like music that fits some life situation or feeling. This is too all over the place and crazy to feel that way. So I'll never listen to it again. That's my problem with avant-garde records. I recognize them as cool but they make me feel nothing. Still better than lots of stuff though so I'll go 3.
Jag förväntade mig nån tidigt 2010-tal pop-schlock som skulle få mig att vilja dö, men albumet var faktiskt mycket bättre än så. Några låtar kan jag faktiskt säga att jag gillar. Resten av låtarna vibar jag inte riktigt lika mycket med, men de har alltid nåt nytt att säga vilket hindrar det från att bli tråkig/ointressant. Jag blev ofta imponerad av sångarens färdighet. Älskar vocal slides. Locked Inside var kul. Låter som nån mario kart låt Cold War var banger. Hög energi. Come Alive (War of the Roses) var bara helt okej, men den var ändå märkvärdig. Värsta spooky halloween skeleton castle mr oogie boogie vibes man får. Make the Bus, Wondaland och BaBopByeYa var kankse lite roliga, men förtjänar inte några egna kommentarer
Låtar som stack ut : Cold War och Neon Valley street. Känsla: Soul / funk, vocals var "lite" som Gorillaz dock utan allt det roliga som de gör. Musiken: Lungt och med synth samt funk trummor och lite elgitarr ibland. Var helt ok, det var en sorts lo-fi känsla under hela albumet. Slutlig dom: Ett lungt album med soul vocals och groove trummor. Det var inte riktigt min grej varken lyrik eller musikstilen som jag inte hade några känslor. Lite mindre än okej inget jag kommer lyssna på igen.
Hände inte så mycket. Kanske ok på radion
Listened to this then forgot immediately.
I loved the continuation on this album - felt like one long song/journey. Not to mention there is everything you’d want - pop, rap, funk, guitar work
I really think this woman is the heir apparent to Prince
это было интересно и заставило одну мысль породиться в моей голове...
Вот это снос башни тотальный. Я думал, что это будет сюита про Линукс, но оказывается, был отчасти прав! Потрясает многообразие того, что получилось здесь сделать. И лаунж-соул вставочки есть, и какие-то симфонические интерлюдии, и РнБишечка (которую в целом даже в хип-хоп можно записывать). И всё это сделано с упором на футуристичность происходящего (ржу с этого всратого вокодера в Mushrooms & Roses; трек кстати напомнил предыдущий альбом). Длинновато, но сойдёт на самом деле. За эти приколюхи и эксперименты вокруг чёрной музыки мне всегда хочется 5 поставить.
Un impresionante disco de Soul, con una muy bien lograda estética retro-afrofuturista. Con una gran variedad de sonidos, Monáe se luce con una impresionante voz que resuena fuerte en instrumentaciones sumamente poderosas y pulcras. Un indispensable de la música afro-norteamericana del nuevo milenio.
This album, like Janelle Monae, does so much and does it all so well. you can hear all the influence from artists like Prince, Bowie, Jamiroquai, the beatles and so many more dripping through this. add to it Monae's incredible ability to weave genres with her lauryn hill-esque vocal abilities... whats not to love? Tightrope is the headliner for me, that song with of montreal is a bop, and she puts a cap on it by showcasing her jazz chops with bebopbyeya.
Yeah, it's good.
Nice beats and melodic flows. Empowering lyrics, overall really good!
Pretty solid, catchy, enjoyed, rated is as 3 because it is a first album so I can't compare it to anything. Loved the storyline and worldbuilding and her voice is amazing.
3.5 demasiado largo
Add one star for the opening and Sir Greendown
Fantastic album, from start to finish. Although I do slightly prefer Suite II. I recon Janelle Monae is her generation's answer to Prince.
Never heard any of her music before but i will say this was a mighty fun listen.
Metropolis is one of my favourite films, and I love her experimental musical interpretation of it.
Thought this was brilliant. Didn't fancy it when it came up but glad I listened.
I admire the ambition on this and there’s some good tracks, but a few too many fall short
Favorite Track[s]: Sir Greendown Cold War Oh, Maker Make The Bus Wondaland 57821 Say You'll Go BaBopByeYa
I like: Locked Inside Tightrope Come Alive (War of the Roses) Suite III Overture Neon Valley Street
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
Great Sound/Voice, just not my type of music
Decent open Gives me R&B Age of Adz vibes Some interesting songs, some more poppy I'm not fussed at. Of Montreal one was great Wondaland decent
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.
Suite II Overture NR Dance or Die 3/5 Faster 4/5 Locked Inside 4/5 Sir Greendown 2/5 Cold War 5/5 Tightrope 5/5 Neon Gambo 2/5 Oh, Maker 4/5 Come Alive 3/5 Mushrooms & Roses 3/5 Suite III Overture NR Neon Valley Street 5/5 Make The Bus 2/5 Wondaland 3/5 57821 3/5 Say You'll Go 3/5 BaBoyByeYa 3/5 Average: 3,38 Innovative album, really liked some songs. Others just weren't my cup of tea
I feel like there’s an album that is released that redefines a genre of music every 7 years or so. This is that album. You can hear the RnB, jazz and hip hop per track but Janelle opened up this album with classical overture. The rest of the album just flows from track to track. This is indeed an infectious album and experimental. But Damn it works on so many levels. This isn’t an album that is ahead of it’s time, more in the sense of “why hasn’t this been done yet?”
Futuristic Funk/Jazz. A lot of the tracks blended together seamlessly and made for an interesting listen. Standout track for me was Make The Bus.
Not my style but really good production and vibey
Some of this was okay but it wasn’t really my style.
stand out track - Cold War
I enjoyed the cohesiveness of this album, to me it sounded like it was meant to be listened to in the order the album is structured in.
Pretty cool album
Starts well, falls a little on the middle and ends well again. Great song transitions, overall good album from an artist I never heard about. Favorite Tracks: Dance or Die, Faster, Locked Inside, Tightrope Least Favorite Tracks: Neon Gumb, Wondaland
crazy cool outkast sexadellicfunktasticjazz
Unique sound, spans multiple genres, don't like a couple songs. But overall ok.
I hadn't heard this album, but I knew about it, and I knew Janelle Monae was a sellout. The first song of hers I heard was "Americans," which I liked, and which prompted me to listen to her "Dirty Computer" album, which that song is from. I hated it. Very simplistic and unimaginative pop, with way too in-your-face sexual lyrics. I heard people saying this album was better, and I believed them, but had no particular desire to listen to it. They're right, though. This album is WAY better in every way. It's intelligent, and ambitious, and beautiful. It calls back to the sounds of last century, but is also unique. Most of the lyrics are well written. The vocal melodies are so unusual and unlike anything you usually hear, and the whole thing really made me appreciate what a powerful, soulful voice Monae has. Also, the album is so varied! It does that beautiful thing that a lot of my favourite albums do, especially the older ones, where it moves between completely different and unexpected sounds, often within the same song. And as always, that somehow makes it more cohesive instead of less. I didn't like every song. I particularly disliked the "underpants" line in "Wundaland," which sounded like it would've been more at home on "Dirty Computer." The melody of that song being so much more interesting than anything on "Dirty Computer" makes up for it, though. And there were several songs I loved. The concept was a little hard to follow at first. I only really picked up on what was going on in the narrative towards the end. And also, while I inevitably appreciate a dystopian concept album, the whole concept of an android falling in love is inherently flawed. You cannot "be" an AI. AI is just a computer program that emulates consciousness rather than actually having it. It can't experience the world or feel human emotions such as love. Unfortunately, I found it a little hard to see past all that. But there was something cool about the concept, too. It had a lot of the elements I love in a story. Oh, what the industry does to the breaths of fresh air. Favourite tracks: BeBopByeYa, Sir Greendown, Cold War, Mushrooms & Roses, Oh Maker, Locked Inside, Dance or Die
Wild Musical Journey, expanding many genres. Great fun to listen to.
Esperaba más después de ver que alguien que también usa esta web lo compartió como uno de los grandes descubrimientos. Suena bien y me ha gustado que sea muy ecléctico al mismo tiempo que eso me ha despistado ya que pensé que era un disco conceptual. En cualquier caso me guardo Faster y Cold War y lo mismo lo escucho más adelante. Dudo entre 2 y 3 estrellas pero seré benévolo.
Janelle is an incredible performer and the last two songs are so much wonderful, but it's occasionally spotty and too complex for its own good
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.
10/10! Probably the best album I’ve listened to so far (including albums by the Beatles and Aretha Franklin). This is tremendously creative and expansive in sound for a debut album. You can tell Monae was inspired by older artists (felt like Parliament and Prince were inspirations here), but not so obviously to sound like a copycat. This album is all her own. Favorite songs: Oh, Maker (favorite overall), Sir Greendown, Dance or Die, Make the Bus (this one sounds unlike anything else on the album, kinda like a blend of Bowie and MGMT)
Great album. The upbeat songs have a great groove, the album gets all of its emotion moments right, and the sequencing is masterful. Only issue is it gets a little heavy handed at the back half.
absolute bollocks
SO -- Cold War, Tightrope, Locked Inside, Wondaland
I really like Janelle Monae. I love her style and her ambition/ But overall this just leaves me a bit cold and I’m kinda disappointed. 3.5
Not my cup of tea
Pleasantly surprised. Never thought I would be very into a "pop/soul" album, but the song writing is top notch.
Het eerste nummer is heel theatraal en is een beetje de ge-upgrade versie van StarTrek muziek. Daarna wordt het album zeker beter met 'Faster' bijvoorbeeld, lekker catchy en goed nummer. Ook 'Cold War' is een klassieke banger. Daarna wordt het album wat anders en wat mij betreft minder, wat alternatiever en zweveriger. Bij 'Come Alive' zit dan wel weer een heerlijke gitaar en het wordt dan bijna rock met de geweldige rauwe stem van Monáe. Verder is '57821' nog wel een leuk nummer. Al met al is het een leuk album maar zitten er ook veel "skipps" in.
I'm all for combining genres in an attempt to create something unique, but this is too much. It's a hodge-podge of musical styles that don't really seem to gel in my opinion. And it's too bad because - by all accounts - she has a great voice. It's just too weird for me. I didn't get it. Although I did dig Say You'll Go.
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
Long. Get past the first 1-2 intro songs and it's good.
Good one
Lively, varied, and easy to listen to.
Don’t really know what’s going on here
Agradável sem empolgar.
I wouldn't call this a music album. This is a performance. Ioved the energy and uniqueness of each song. It seriously felt like I was listening to Michael Jackson again. Loved everything about this album. Not quite pop, not quite jazz, not quite rock or rap or R&B. I'm definitely going to relisten to this album until I'm sick of it.
Not for me
No es mi rollo pero es impresionante la diferencia de géneros conviviendo en un mismo álbum. Dance or Die y Faster favourites. Me salte un par de canciones pq hay géneros que no me gustan y por ejemplo Come Alive se la pasa gritando media canción. Disney vibes tbh. 5/10 teniendo en cuenta que no me curre entender la letra.
This was a fantastic album!
I enjoyed this. A lot of interesting beats.
Lovely but not my taste
4 Fresh, entertaining and unpredictable!
Eigenlijk best een episch album dit man. Ken haar alleen van zo’n nummer van Fun. Volgens mij. Ik vond Cold War echt een lekkere banger
Somehow met the dude who played keyboard on this album at a bar the same day I got it on the generator. Weirdly cosmic.
Inventive, bold, and defintiely ahead of it's time. On revisit I notice it's bloat a bit more and it clearly fades as it ends, but man the highs are so high. 4/5
A rare instance where talent and mainstream pop appeal intersect in a once-in-a-generational phenomena. 5 unicorns out of 5 🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄
Mulla oli sellainen mielikuva etten jostain syystä diggailis tätä, mutta kyllähän tää on aivan mukiin menevää poppista, jossa on jopa vähän sielua megessä! 4/5
Jee mukavaa, että tää on kestänyt aikaa ja kulutusta näin hyvin. Eipä ole huonoja biisejä. Vahva 4.
Ihan kiinnostavasti monipuolista poppista, mutta ei oikein noussu ykskään biisi myöskään helmeksi. 3/5
Love how the album flows together from track to track. Gorgeous instrumentals. Vocal achievements I did not know were possible for Janelle. The album lagged/lulled a little at the end, but enjoyed this as a concept piece. Favorite tracks: Dance Or Die Oh, Maker Mushrooms & Roses Wondaland
I have never heard a single note from this album, or even from the artist. It was not clear what genre he would like to play, but it was almost everything: classical, jazz, rock, country, disco, musical, pop, hip-hop, new-new-wave. But whatever style prevailed within a song, sooner or later they all became inevitably swamped by the upper edge of mediocre commercialism. Despite the professional musicians, the perfect sound and the brilliant vocal skills, this is a mediocre album that can be completely forgotten in a week. It's probably destined to be, I wouldn't have lost much if it had stayed out of my life.
This was really unique and I like how there are many different styles. It's a versatile album. Some sound like grunge, some sound like pop, some sound like orchestra. Interesting. I'm saving this one so I can listen to it all the way through again. It's good.
A ratos música más bailable, en otras ambiente más relajado. Me ha sorprendido gratamente, aún sin ser un estilo que me guste especialmente. Buena voz y buenas melodías. Instrumentalmente, muy bueno, con variedad de estilos
103 albums in and we have our first that I was not familiar with going in, and is going to end up as one of my favorite records going forward. Holy shit this is incredible. I'm falling behind because I keep listening to this on repeat instead. An eclectic masterpiece.
Eclectic and jazzy, reminded me of a jazzed up Beyoncé of sorts. Very cool, def would not have found her on my own but glad I did!
Quite wild that this was her debut album, it was bold and close to being brilliant. Enjoyed lots of this and appreciated the scale, even if a few songs lost me. Fav Song: Mushrooms and Roses Strong 3.5
A big deal concept album that hit for me. Justified the extended runtime by being sonically broad, traversing a number of genres, but still cohesive in its sound. Politically charged and cinematic, but often catchy too - no forgoing the pop hits. Strong three and a half. Fave track: Locked Inside
Lots to enjoy here, even if perhaps stretched a bit thin by the end. Monae delivers some great vocal performances, but the runtime by the end for me didn’t quite have it all there for every track. Three and a half. Fave track: Cold War
LOVE
Didnt really know she did music. This was really good.
How have I been sleeping on this for so long!? What a total surprise. I was so put off by how long it is but I loved EVERY SECOND. Even with 18 songs, none of them seem superfluous nor do they drag on at all. So much energy and originality and passion and fun. Great stuff.
förväntade mig piss men det var ganska bra och originellt
Not bad. Fait changement du brit pop. Rien de fou, mais ecoute agréable. 6.5/10
Musically eclectic, smooth wonderful voice, various moods. I liked it, it was a surprise!
SuperFunkyDanceAlicious! Elebenty stars.
Surprised me. Creative and different.
Dit is niet helemaal mijn muziek dus ik vind het lastig om dit op waarde te schatten. In de eerste helft hoor je vooral iemand die wil bewijzen dat ze hetzelfde kan doen als Beyoncé, Kelis en Outkast. Redelijk hoog tempo. In de tweede helft besluit ze dat dit een te klein hokje is en wil ze graag laten merken dat ze ook nog andere artiesten kan nadoen. En dat bedoel ik niet eens denigrerend, want ze kan het wel allemaal. Ook heeft het af en toe iets wat me aan kinderfilms doet denken. Dat Mika-achtige. Kleine zeemeermin, Wizard of Oz. Laatste track is een verschrikkelijke musical. Niet slecht, maar gewoon niet voor mij. Een milde 3.
Not my taste
Vorsichtige 2, weil ich nicht an das Genre gewöhnt bin und es mir hin und wieder recht „kitschig“ vorkommt. Bisschen zu sehr easy listening mit teilweise aber richtig guten Tracks. Muss ich definitiv nochmal hören.
Sorprendida me hallo. Mezcla de R&B, cósmico, música parafraseada.
well done. Not my everyday time
Hit and miss songs. Too much filler. Gv. Good voice. 7/10
horrendous length. cold war
Catchy and good
The second half has some good stuffs. I like the rock elements and how more experimental it was. It was, however, an overproduced and over-polished album overall.
Shows her versatility and it's interesting. It's a little like watching a kid excitedly running around a new toy store or something. Nice to hear some variety in this genre though.
Haven't gotten all the way through it yet, but I've really enjoyed what I've heard.
I hadn’t heard of Janelle Monáe before. Apple Music says that this is R&B/Soul, so I’m unsurprised about my lack of knowledge here as it’s one of my least listened to genres. I will say that I like this album cover though - it looks very cyber-Egyptian which is a term I can’t say I’ve ever used before. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Dance Or Die, Cold War, 57821 Firstly, it’s definitely unfair to consider this as R&B/Soul as this covers such a broader scope than this. The classical music sections side lovely, and contrast great with the other tracks. Oh Maker shows clear influence from Kathy’s Song by Simon & Garfunkel which was an unexpected delight. Overall, this is quite easily my favourite album that comes under that R&B/Soul label. This was fantastic.
A great album, I've listened to this quite a bit over the years, but everytime I listen to it, it sounds fresh and new!
Creative? Yes. Music that speak to me? No.
Loved this, immediately added to my library to relisten.
Ikkje dumt
65/100
I love her.
One of the most ambitious and immaculate albums of the last decade, and Monáe’s magnum opus. High-concept genre-bending brilliance
I get it, just not for me. Next.
Weird. Don't like the vocals. Too fast-paced for me.
🐍
That just blew me away! She takes a range of disparate genres, does them better than anybody else, and manages to make a cohesive piece of magic.
better than I thought actually.
Something different and that made their record stand out from all the same rock albums.
Great variety and original production. Songs range from catchy to moody, and I will need a longer time to digest. It goes into the playlist though.
9 absolute vibes only slows down near the end I love this
3.5
Interesting and unusual, although it didn't speak to me
One of the most creative and expansive pop albums I’ve heard. I knew and loved Tightrope, but the whole album took me fore a ride.
Un album de facture et de réalisation impeccables. J’admire particulièrement l’éventail de styles et d’influences, bien maîtrisés et fluides, qui forment quand même un ensemble cohérent
Inte alls tokigt. Blev positivt överraskad. Flera sköna och bra låtar.
Heard a few of these songs before but the construction of the album is brand new to me and I love it. I’m a sucker for a good concept album and this is a great one; messianic android music made me want to rewatch Blade Runner. The sharp transition from classical music to techno/dance at the beginning first two songs really set the tone and greatly improved my Thursday morning sauna (pretty sure I even saw another dude at EoS bopping his head to my music). She blends the R&B, dance, and rock elements so well I struggle to put her neatly into a box and that is a great strength. Also she was surprisingly good in Glass Onion.
Janelle Monáe never disappoints with her creativity
I didn’t know what to expect in The ArchAndroid beyond a satisfying taste of R&B, but Janelle Monáe gives us far more than that. “Dance or Die“ is packed yet not overbearing, so she makes sure we know she means business from the get-go. You might as well keep dancing if you’re not gonna run! She proceeds to sample a variety of genres in the following tracks, from pop in “Faster” to R&B in “Locked Inside” to hip hop in “Tightrope” and even psychedelic in “Neon Gumbo.” Just when I thought she couldn’t surprise me, I perked up at “Oh, Maker” and its seemingly continental European-influenced instrumental. Then she’s right back to rock ‘n roll in “Come Alive,” funk in “Make the Bus,” and gospel in “57821.” Oftentimes an artist’s greatest works are their eight-minute behemoths that take on multiple structures and a long story arc. “BaBopByeYa” is Janelle’s masterpiece, with a complexity reminiscent of rock operas like Tommy, A Day at the Races, or The Wall. To more fully appreciate the power of this concept album would require several deep listens, but alas, we have only 24 hours. Janelle Monáe incorporates around ten different genres in this record (if not more), and while that sounds like it should be messy, she somehow pulls it off.
I feared this would be another one of those scenarios when a celebrity pursues a completely different artistic medium to prove they not only have depth but also range. Like when Kylie and Kendall wrote a novel and it was bad. But this is a bit different, because Janelle Monae actually honed her craft. My point is, this impressed me a lot and I'm going to keep coming back to it.
This was beautiful actually. A modern version of Ms. Lauryn Hill's Miseducation, there was real vision here. A solid storyline that felt almost like a R&B take on a rock opera, I was genuinely impressed by this album. Not quite top tier but this will be revisited and shared with others.
C+ Suite II Overture - 3 Dance or Die - 2 Faster - 3 Locked Inside - 3 Sir Greendown - 3 Cold War - 3 Tightrope - 3 Neon Gumbo - 2 Oh, Maker - 3 Come Alive (War of Roses) - 3 Mushrooms & Roses - 4 Suite III Overture - 3 Neon Valley Street - 3 Make the Bus - 3 Wondaland - 3 57821 - 3 Say You’ll Go - 3 BabopbyeYa - 3 Janelle Monae is pretentious af. I intentionally left the accent off your name you self-centered snob.
Best Song: Dance or Die. I didn't realize that Monae had such a killer rap flow, so this track was a pleasant surprise. Worst Song: Sir Greendown. I just don't think there's a need for such a lowkey, buzzkill song in the middle of such upbeat tracks. Kind of kills the energy. Overall: An incredibly well-produced, slick, wide-ranging album. Sometime the range feels a bit too wide, with the slower songs dragging down the album somewhat, but overall it's refreshingly diverse, with a consistent groovy theme underlying it.
"The ArchAndroid" has some well-crafted songs. "Tightrope" and "Dance or Die" are good tracks. "Come Alive" sounds a bit like the B-52s. The best entries are the "overtures" and "interludes" - "Suite II", "Suite III", and "Neon Gumbo" - as they add an element of surprise and experimentation to the album. The whole thing is a superb mix of R&B, funk, and rap, and the musicianship is excellent throughout. Even though the musical genre is not really my thing, I enjoyed listening to "The ArchAndroid".
I’ve heard about this album plenty. Now I think I haven’t heard about it enough. Pop masterpiece
Interesting and intriguing album.
No idea what to expect, but... mind blown. So many obvious influences from Prince to Outkast, but a wild overall journey of sound in all its permutations. An amazing debut album to rival just about any other debut album. Quite the tour de force one might expect from a seasoned veteran.
Some fantastic production and wild variation in genre but can also be really self indulgent at times and all over the place, there's probably a great pop record in here but needs to trim it way back, the singles are hits
I liked some of it, but it wasn't all for me. It didn't flow the way I found other albums of hers flow to my liking.
So the theme of this album already was fascinating from the start. A concept album about a messianic android who falls in love with a human being, with themes of Science Fiction, Afrofuturism, Gender Roles, Sexuality, Social Issues. It's a tall order to go into this one blind. But this record is flat out tremendous. There's a wild array of genres all over this thing, from the hit single Tightrope which sounds like the production was lifted from Outkast and has a funky soul vibe, to the psychedelic ballad Mushroom and Roses with it's nods to Prince, to the new wave and gospel vibes Faster gives off, to Locked Inside which has a ton of Michael Jackson influence, to Oh Maker with almost a regal english sound, and don't forget the multiple orchestral arrangements peppered throughout. The record is the definition of genre hopping, but does so effortlessly and smooth like a newly paved highway, changing lanes into each track like they are all connected as one. Heck the first 4 tracks can be listened to without any break at all as they all flawlessly segue into each other. And Janelle is at the helm, crooning, belting, and working her vocals and charisma into every track extraordinarily well along with top notch production It's hard to believe this is technically a debut album for her, but it was, and I'm baffled she isn't more well known after this came out. I guess it was somewhat too experimental for the general public to latch onto. This just makes me want to listen to it again to see how much I missed.
I don't even know where to begin with this. One of the greatest debut albums of the 21st century.
Uhh, este me gusta mucho
Funky Funky Funky
it was all right for what it was memorable lyric: "I'm shaking like a schizo"
I remember being absolutely blown away by this when I first heard it and it remains just as amazing today. It’s almost impossible to predict what genre is coming next on this constantly inventive and surprising album. Fantastic guitars and singing throughout Love this album
Not exactly something I would listen to normally, but it did catch me by surprise in a good way. Pretty upbeat and groovy, although a bit too much on the pop side. Missing a bit for a 4/5, but it’s a solid 3.5/5 (that I wish I could rate)
3.5
Ambitious debut album from Janelle Monáe. Such a wonderfully eclectic mix of music. I don’t normally like albums going over the hour mark but this one made use of all that time without ever getting stale.
Yeah, not for me.
Discovered Monae fairly randomly a few years back and this, album an absolute stand out which continues her themes and makes funky music with it.
The beginning of the album is excellent. I love: Dance or Die and Faster. Wondaland is also great. The album is innovative, diverse, and memorable. Wow
I've never really heard anything like this before. Full on eclectic, fascinating and you can never know what comes next. It's a mix of everything, but somehow it still makes sense as a whole.
Damn, it takes courage to start album with full classical track and it made me keep attention. I really appreciate music diversity.
I knew of this album prior to getting it from not only my partner getting it and loving it, but also seeing it on multiple "best concept album" lists, and I definitely agree that it is amazing. The range of genres and making it all sound so good is fantastic, and the length isn't even noticeable, which is quite a feat with me. Amazing album.
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah, it was something a bit different. Favourite song: Track 9 - Oh, Maker
Grea Album. First half is excellent.
In the background, pretty good.
I have been meaning to give Janelle Monáes music for the last few years now. I heard a bit of her second album once and was really intrigued. Crazy this is her debut LP. I know she has an EP and couple singles before this, but what a statement piece.
A ridiculously cool 2010 pop and soul album that I've somehow never heard before. In fact I've only recently found out who Janelle Monáe is, from her recent single "Lipstick Lover" getting a lot of love on BBC Radio 6. Back to ArchAndroid though - It's amazing how creative and vibrant this album is, giving off a real opera and musical kind of energy. It's just a great concept album that's varied enough to never go stale, and the instrumentation and production was simply excellent. Mix up generous measures of pop, soul, jazz, classical and electronic, sprinkle with some Broadway musical flair, and you have this amazing album. Favourite: Faster
one of the best albums of the last decade
riquísimo, lleno de música. súper alegre. merece ser su propio género de rocanrol.
I could have sworn that I'd listened to this before, but I think I was remembering listening to Janelle Monae's Dirty Computer. Regardless, I thought this was a really good album, and I really enjoyed the rock opera structure (I'm not sure if this is technically a rock opera, but I don't know what else to call it). I'm not very familiar with the movie Metropolis, but I was still able to follow the story arc of this album. The music was just overall beautiful and pleasant to listen to, and Janelle has a great voice. I loved that this album was able to utilize a wide variety of sounds and instruments, but it still managed to sound cohesive from start to finish. Some of my favorite moments on this album: -"Locked Inside" was beautiful and melodic, and I loved when the guitar kicked in towards the end of the song. -"Cold War" was awesome, and I loved the drumming, lyrics, and the guitar outro. The drumming actually reminded me of Outkast's "B.O.B.", and as fate would have it, the next song, "Tightrope," features Big Boi. -Speaking of "Tightrope," that was probably my favorite song on the album. I couldn't help but bob my head along to the great beat, and Janelle sings incredibly well on this song. Big Boi's rapping was fun as usual, and in an album full of great lyrics, this song still manages to stand out with its theme of balancing the the opposing forces in life. In summary, this was a solid album, and Janelle Monae is an incredibly talented artist.
Love Dirty Computer, had high hopes for this, and whilst it was good, it was too long, could have been edited down to make it hit harder. Still enjoyed it, but my enjoyment started waning!
Many good grooves but the high concept songs made the album uneven
This was a fun listen, an interesting theme and some great guest appearances. Love Janelle's voice, however the mix seemed a little too vocal forward. Still a stellar project from my hometown pop sensation.
Janelle seems like she's just great at everything she does. The album was a large endeavor and hit all over on the spectrum of music genres, which works well for a movie soundtrack but not as well as an album only to sit down and digest. In the end, I thought it was really cool and I'm glad I listened to it.
Good album. She is so talented. Kansas City kid has done well.
i liked some songs and hated some songs, only one was great, otherwise was very unpredictable. felt like all genres
i thought that the album started off quite slow but once it going it was one of the best albums i’ve ever listened to, loved this album 10/10
I can see how people would like this but it's just not for me. It all feels very focus-grouped and inorganic to me. Maybe it's because I know she's an actor as well but this feels like an actor pretending to be a musician. I know that's not fair because I believe she's a talented musician but it's just the vibes I get from the album. Rating is just where I land on the music. I like Janelle Monae as an actress from what I've seen, just never been into the music side of her work. Standout Tracks: Cold War, Tightrope
3/5
I wasn't expecting to like this one as much as I did, but damn this is good! Janelle shows so much versatility and creativity here, no 2 songs sound quite the same and there's not one dud in the track listing. Really good album. 4.5/5
While it is a bit indulgent, it’s an overall good album with a little bit of something for everybody, from Bowie fans to Outkast fans.
Eklektiskt värre men väldigt spretigt. Hade blivit riktigt bra om hon vågat hålla kvar lite längre vid färre idéer.
Need to come back to this
I love Janelle Monáe, such a beautiful voice and a unique sound. Even now there isn’t much that sounds like this and not many writers who I find as interesting lyrically. The album jumps around genres but still manages to be very cohesive and thematic.
Not unpleasant but, also, totally forgettable. Yesterday it was Sade and tomorrow it's somebody else. In, between? I don't remember.
this album was super cool, I liked it! funky and fun. some of the tracks (especially Dance or Die) reminded me of Sonic Adventure 2 music that would play during Rouge's levels. Great stuff! Favorites: Cold War, Tightrope, Say You'll Go
Quite a trip but overall a lot of fun.
This was a fun album with a different sound. I enjoyed it
I dunno. It felt weird but also not bad at times? Definitely different. Maybe 4 is generous. 3.5 rounded up
A lot of it is really good, but man is it long. It is too self-indulgent - where a lot of tracks could have been edited out to make a stronger more condensed album. It also tapers heavily at the end, losing steam and because of its length, you are left without remembering the gold nuggets at the start of the record. It's a shame.
Soy imparcial con ella. Hay algo de esta obra que retoma el afrofuturismo de Sun Ra y similares que lleva el tema más allá de solo lo musical. Para mi es u ndiscazo por las referencias al futuro, a la negritud de una manera muy madura y profunda y a Metropolis.
It's the Monáe.
rise of the r&bots
Liked this a lot. Many genre many song
A fun and melodic mashup for an hour and change. A techno jazz odyssey!
Very good and loved the flow between songs. Rating: 4.2
Not sure about this one, it's disjointed imo. Very young and feminine sound. It's definitely enjoyable and I would listen to it again, but it also sounds like she listened to every popular genre at the time and did her version of it, which no doubt requires serious talent... just needs more flow
I loved the musical eclecticism on this one. From the electric bop ‘Come Alive (War of the Roses)’ to great R&B songs like ‘Faster’ and ‘Say You’ll Go’ to ‘BeBopByeYa’, which sounds straight out of an old-timey movie. One of the best discoveries I’ve made so far.
Quite strangely lovely
first I think that this album is strange and maybe not for my taste... ...but it's hella good, have chilling beats and her beautiful voice.
She’s talented, and the music is unique. Orchestral hip-hop is a fun combination. I’m just not sure it was executed with much more than 1 or 2 songs coming away with a compete sound. The rest is kind of boring and tame considering the grand ambition of the mash-up.
baita som , voz e epolgante instrumentaçao top
I don't know what to make of this album. I was not familiar with it or the artist. It is a little long at almost 70 minutes. It is not bad and I did not skip any songs. I liked orchestrated parts as it the album a much older feel to it. The lyrics were alright but unremarkable. I am not sure I would totally revisit the album though. I will round up.
Classic for a reason
I'm not the biggest fan, the music is kind of erratic. I give it 2.5 stars
Such a good debut album!
It was crazy
Peppy and fun
KINGA!!
Very pleasant surprise. A lot of styles under one umbrella, a new kind of progressive music. The spirit of the best prog rock, but with modern and non-rock musical elements. And what a great voice.
yeah this was pretty cool I suppose. its broken into two definite parts and the second one is definitively better than the first.
A couple songs I really liked, a couple I didn’t. Really interesting sound that was a cool a blend of soul, jumpy pop with r&b
Just wild this was her debut album. Sprawling but cohesive, very ambitious, great voice, solid variety. Not a daily listen to type of album but definitely belongs on this list
I enjoyed it
It was fine. The album, being the last two movements of her retro futurist concept work, felt a little stitched together at times. Quite a dance through different genres and refreshing that she had such a high amount of direct production input, major vibes going on in some tunes. A few felt a bit unfinished or with slightly forced chordal progressions that didn't quite work. But on the whole, I can see why this was lauded for being an excellent work but didn't garner immediate mainstream success. It's an album for JM to be proud of though and clearly states her artistic intent, some of which is referenced and reintroduced with great success in her subsequent albums.
Surprised me
Not my bag
Way better than expected, some warbling
would it surprise people to know im familiar with this already lol what a boring self-indulgent meandering waste of time. there is a part in 'come alive' where im just being screamed at (2:12). i feel like hank hill putting on bobbys headphones. tightrope is a tune and the rest is so sporadic and devoid of any focus - yet still the songs are still too long. the orchestra sounds synthesised and soulless and the references to classic music are so lazy and unmusical. do you really deserve introductions like 'suite 3'? is this a suite? and the lyrics are insufferably platitudinous. i expected this would get a 2 but upon closer inspection it cannot be.
U know i enjoyed this! Some really nice funk progressions and she's a talented vocalist. Nice songwriting. The collabs and being a double album didnt seem to really add much though. I do have a soft spot for jazz progressions without solos. I will say i prefer my suites a little more deliberate but i have the utmost respect for hitting lots of ideas without committing fully to any of them when a good 50% of the explorations are meaningful.
Amazing!
Lots of modern pop here, with plenty of funk, soul and hip-hop sprinkled in. Some of the tracks I like, but mostly the tracks have too little substance and there is nothing really standing out. 2.5/5
i wasn’t expecting much because of the title but this was a lot better than i expected
Not my music
Sorprendida me hallo. Mezcla de R&B, cósmico, música parafraseada.
If a debut ever was a tour de force, this is it. Monáe incorporates elements from just about every major genre in popular music (okay, maybe not dubstep), and she does it completely effortlessly. It is an equal parts retrospective and futuristic bombardment of the senses. 'Cold War', 'Tightrope', 'Come Alive (The War of the Roses)', and 'Make the Bus' are all exceptional.
A masterclass In modern songwriting. Beautifully drawing inspiration from Prince, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie to OutKast, drum and bass, orchestral scores and even big band and Afro funk. Janelle Monáe is truly one of a kind and just makes everything work on this epic journey. Also - “Cold War” is easily one of the greatest pop songs of the 2010’s. Also also - how fun is “Wondaland”?!
Loved it, so groovy!
I love Janelle Monae and I don't care who knows it. This album hits me very much like Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. I didn't listen to everything on it, but several times the sound of it pulled me in. What a weird mix of stuff. I'll have to give it a closer listen.
Wow - another lengthy album but one that throws loads of ideas against the wall. Many of them stick! The whole work could be summed up as dream pop, but it takes excursions into territories such as torch songs, hip hop and even freak folk. Now, Monae doesn't always convince, but seems to have fun wearing each mask; and there's a winning freedom to proceedings. It doesn't hurt that she possesses a fantastic, versatile voice. Highlights for me are the Ron Isley-esque zap guitar workout 'Mushrooms and Roses', the twisted candy of 'Wondaland' and the Roaring Twenties-on-steroids thump of 'War of the Roses'. Altogether quite extraordinary.
First time listener, long time caller. There’s enough here that’s interesting and enjoyable for me to give a solid three stars. Really liked “Locked Inside.” It’s funny to me how weird modern pop music gets at times. Like, could you imagine Whitney Houston ever putting out an android themed album? Not a chance. Times have changed. Pop singers today embrace the weird and it’s better (probably) than the alternative. Biggest complaints? Too long. Obviously. And, while I haven’t listened to a ton of Beyoncé… a lot of this sounds to me like Beyoncé.
I know it's become cliche by this point, but I actually enjoyed this album more than I expected to. In a way, it feels kind of out of its time, like an album I'd put on if I were looking for a more pleasant Jazz album with good vocals. Janelle Monae is a name I've heard a lot, but couldn't pick out of a lineup, so it's good to finally have this context. Solid album, if not a bit long. Standouts: Locked Inside, Cold War, Neon Valley Street, Say You'll Go
Glass Onion has joined the chat. So has Moonlight. Two great movies with great performances by one Janelle Monaé. We could be looking at a modern day Streisand here. The album is ambitious in the same way that Kiss' Music From The Elder was ambitious, in that it's biting off more than it could possibly chew. That's not too disparage the album (Monaé is clearly more talented than any member of Kiss, and I'll take this album over The Elder any day). It's just an overreach in terms of creating something epic, which is quite bold for one's first complete album. But take the sci-fi shit away and this is sprinkled with bangers.
interesting. I was surprised by the many changes of genre. seemed like a real mixed bag, but in a good way.
Not my sort of thing, but it wasn't too unpleasant.
I recognise the album cover but don’t think Iv ever heard Janelle Monae before, no idea how I missed this album, it’s absolutely brilliant such a beautiful mix of different styles of song that all just flow together on the album. I will be listening to this a lot this year. A modern day masterpiece.
Creative, funky, and downright refreshing. Sticking to one genre? Nah. God, I really really loved listening to this.
enjoyed it. It's not her best album, in my opinion, but I understand that it was her debut. I would give it 3.5 stars, maybe pushing 4, but I don't see that this needs to be on the 1001 list, so I'm going to round down. (Part of the issue may be that 1001 is too big of a number to use for an "essentials" list.)
Outkast+Prince
Funky and interesting. Not my favorite thing tho.
Not a fan
Really really good.Weird blend of classical,pop and jazz.her voice is beautiful and the songs are great.A but too long but I really enjoyed it,might give it a Relisten
Not my usual thing but I find this delightful. I'd give it a 4.5 but a handful of songs were kinda weird and not fun to listen to which brought it down.
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.
There’s a lot happening on ‘The ArchAndroid’. It’s sprawling, ambitious and brimming with ideas, but not of all of them stick. That’s not to say there aren’t flashes of brilliance, or great songs, but because Monáe is trying to cram so much and so many styles in, the records impact ultimately feels diluted. Some editing really would’ve made a difference here. Special shout out to ‘Mushrooms And Roses’, the best track on the album.
Yeah okay. So, I admire Janelle Monae as an interesting, artistic person, but wasn't expecting to really like this. And there was some I didn't like. But it was pretty alright. Avant-garde, jazzy, and a mostly cohesive album.
This was quite impressive, if maybe a bit too long. I wish all albums would fit on a single LP.
What a debut
This is, quite something. We've strayed pretty far from my own musical tastes here and I would be lying if I said I liked it. Sure, there were parts which I liked, beginning with the overture which was pretty impressive and well done. But as a whole it was just all way too manic for my tastes. At the same time I would be remiss if I gave this anything less than 4 stars. It's incredibly creative and original in the way it blends various genres. And while various different influences are often strongly and unmistakably present (like Michael Jackson to name just one), it still manages to come across as authentic.
So interesting. This is a really unique album that I've never heard of before. Glad it was recommended.
She has a beautiful voice and the production is amazingly polished and clean. The music is smooth, soulful and easy to listen to. Though i could appreciate certain aspects, i didn't engage too much with it.
Great vocals and production but a tad pretentious
Freaking classic Janelle.
Alert! Prög! Handclaps please me. Disco pleases me. Afrofuturism can be ace.Janelle Monãe can turn an enunciation on a dime - she’s sharp. But a few tracks in I was wondering if this was all nice concept, clever production, no tunes. The prog curse: pulsing cerebellum, tin ears. However, “Cold War” did the trick for me. “Tightrope” also has a decent hook, and speeds us up, and throws in the cockiest use of brass I’ve heard in a while. It’s a fun record. Not much lingers on first listen, but it’s never less than diverting.
I regarded the hour-plus runtime with a heavy sigh, but this went by very quickly and was highly enjoyable! So many different sounds and styles in here, including unexpected dalliances with folk music and showtunes, with the occasional bad English accent for some reason. Hints of Outkast and Prince keep it poppy. Not the kind of record I expected to be made these days, will check out her other work
Ik verwachtte niet deze grooves. Best goed en divers album.
The height of retrofituristic cool.
Loved it and man she is a heater!
I love Janelle Monae but I’d never listened to this before - its delightfully weird and innovative, as you’d expect from her. Cold War is a BOP - the album really picks up after that.
Some hits and some misses for me. Just slightly too wacky
She’s so cool 😍
First time listening to Janelle Monáe, and I must say this is a great introduction. Now I don't know what an archandroid is, seeing as the only thing I know about androids come from movies like I, Robot, Blade Runner and Ex Machina, but if the real thing is anything like the album I hope the androids take over the world. From the funky beats to the soulful vocals, Janelle has got me dancing and singing along like a fool. And let's talk about those lyrics for a sec. I mean, "Tightrope" has got me feeling like I could walk a tightrope over Niagara Falls and not even break a sweat. And "Cold War"? I didn't know it was possible to feel both empowered and vulnerable at the same time, but Janelle somehow manages to pull it off. Overall, if you're looking for an album that will make you feel like a powerful, futuristic cyborg, look no further than The ArchAndroid. It's like listening to the soundtrack of a sci-fi movie, but with better dance moves. Five stars, two thumbs up, and a robot fist bump!
Ik moest het even opzoeken, maar nee, Janelle Monáe is geen pseudonym van Beyoncé, maar in mijn beleving (van iemand die er niet echt verstand van heeft) wordt hier uit hetzelfde vaatje getapt. Is dat erg? Nee hoor, ik vond dit een sfeervolle en afwisselende plaat. Het lijkt een staalkaart van stijlen: naast de te verwachten R&B is er wat orchestraal spul, sommige dingen lijken singer-songwriterachtig, er wordt zelfs een beetje gerockt. Nog even een frisse luisterervaring voordat we volgende maand weer de diepste krochten van de jaren tachtig in duiken.
Een aangename verrassing. Dit album verkent de uithoeken die een pop-zangeres kan bieden. Soms is het stereotype pop, maar meestal ligt er een andere muzieksoort als basis achter. Zo word je meegenomen van rock naar big band naar filmmuziek. Waarbij vaak ook nog een soepele overgang tussen die nummers wordt gemaakt. Ook met haar zang varieert deze dame er flink op los en zo vindt ze soms best interessante combinaties.
Heb ik net Glass Onion afgekraakt, krijg ik prompt dit album met dezelfde hoofdpersoon. Het algoritme loopt met me te sarren, dat kan niet anders. Maar dan gaan we ook de complete Janelle Monae ervaring omarmen en zet ik vanavond nog een film met haar op. Metropolis had misschien ook gekund, vanwege de invloeden daarvan op dit album(hoes), maar die klassieker heb ik al gezien. Qua muziek zal dit denk ik niet zo snel een klassieker worden. Al zit er wel van alles in, het is in ieder geval buitengewoon interessant om te luisteren. Het gaat van funky wereldmuziek naar zuurstokpop, er zit Prince in en Beyonce of Taylor Swift, maar vervolgens ook Santana en James Brown, Daft Punk, Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young. En het mixt op een of andere manier al die verschillende stijlen en weet het ook nog redelijk met elkaar te laten samensmelten. Al klinkt het soms ook wat te druk en te aanstellerig. Het is een kakofonie aan stijlen, waarbij ik de indruk krijg dat deze getalenteerde jongedame een enorme drang heeft om te laten zien wat ze wel niet allemaal in haar mars heeft. Wat dat betreft mist er focus.
Sacrilege I’m sure but I feel this album is a little overrated. Undoubtedly talented and yet the influences of Prince, Parliament/Funkadelic, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder weigh heavy like an overcoat, never quite breaking free to feel fresh. And if I was in the mood for that groove there’s no way I’d choose Monae ahead of these. And whilst Monae doesn’t have to be in the same league as these artists, she does have to distinguish the music far enough away from them not to be constantly thinking of them whilst listening to this album. Nevertheless, an artist who will surely make an even greater impact to come.
Incredible, no notes.
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 pulled a list of albums that came out in 2010, and man, I always forget just how stacked of a year that was. MBDTF, This is Happening, Plastic Beach, Age of Adz, The Suburbs, good gravy! Anyway, this one is a behemoth. Throw it in there with some of the all time greats of the 2010's. Janelle has that style that transcends target audiences. There's seriously something for everyone here; from callbacks to Prince records with soaring electric guitar, blended perfectly with pop production and slick vocals. But it's also a concept album that feels incredibly cohesive, every track serving a purpose that lends to the overall record. Not to mention a great feature from of Montreal (my absolute favorite band).
An expansive and eclectic achievement, from an undeniable talent, that’s not quite for me.
I knew I was probably going to end up liking this, given that it is compared to many musical artists that I like, but damn, there's a lot of bangers on here. This album does not let you rest until the album is already half way over. This was awesome. I think the last couple songs lost me a little bit, but the rest of the album was so good that it doesn't really matter. Those last songs may grow on me with time. It is really hard to pick favourites, as it always is with 5 star albums, but I think my favourite songs were Locked Inside and Oh, Maker.
I chose a great day to take a bit from the cactus. Such an eclectic set of soul and funk that could only be matched by Outkast. So many songs like "Sir Greendown" and "57821" sound like they came straight from the 60s. I'm hearing afrobeat, modern classical, Prince-like funk rock, sunshine pop, and even rockabilly. A true concept album of afrofuturism, every song has something grand and exciting to display. There's really only one small complaint. As much as I love the sequencing for many parts, especially how smooth the first few transitions are, there are a couple of screw ups like the sudden jump from the the slow, entrancing "Sir Greendown" to the loudest, most energetic track "Cold War."
Lite hc men semi chillll
Delightful album. One of the few picks post-2000 that’s really deserved and not prematurely chosen to fill out the book
Bra skiva! Första halvan e bättre thou men de va aldrig annat än bra!
I really like it, very interesting and original
Talk about coming out of the gate swinging! Janelle is fearless, endlessly inventive, and absolutely revels in getting weird with it.
Diverse and long pop album that I unfortunately did not enjoy at all. I appreciate the ambition but it’s very long and the vast majority of the songs are very average and not memorable at all. Her voice is ok, variety is ok, but not a fan.
Great album, but a tad long.
Very "all-around" album. Monae shows she knows the music from jazz through classical music to hip-hop.
The have been worse albums on this list.
This is a strange album for me. It's kinda likeable and listenable, but there is this "look how hard I'm trying" and "look how creative I am" piece that I find distracting...