Reviews (page 13 of 15)
I've always loved her stuff when I've heard it but have never delved into an album. This one was fantastic. Very cohesive.
I actually enjoyed most of this. Other parts I didn’t care for at all.
Eclectic, epic, sprawling. Too long? Too much symphony and overtures? Overall pretty good. Lots of good ideas. Could have used some editing.
I’ll be honest only listened to the first 3 songs. Not bad actually. Fun fact she went to school in my district in KCK. Anyway 3 stars because I didn’t finish.
Who doesn’t love a concept album?? This album is a mixture of Michael Jackson and Prince. Production on this album sounded great. Amazing. 4.5 out of 5 stars
Album had great energy in the first 4-5 tracks where the songs were transitioning into one another. Liked the Afrobeat/world music theme throughout, but the album lost momentum on some of the more digital/techno songs where her voice was distorted. The high points were the songs where her incredible vocal talent was uninhibited, I liked Locked Inside, Cold War, Oh, Maker, and Say You’ll Go the best.
I liked her in Glass Onion but not sure if her music is for me. Some catchy songs but overall, not for me.
Fine album.
Genre: Pop, modern soul. Review: Another pleasant surprise. I knew of Janelle Monáe from the movie "Glass Onion", but never ever considered the possibility that she was also an amazingly talented musician. Loved the diversity of musical genres within the same album, especially the tracks "Dance or Die" and "Tightrope". Rating: 8/10
Eclictic funky vocalist
Suprising to me how much I enjoyed it.
Really cool
Love. Tiptoe into magic. SMASH. As children we used pot lids as cymbals and our bodies felt the orchestra truly there - here this sound is the reverberation of the other ships passing through the universe of space and time. Collision as creation art.
Didn't enjoy it at all. Wasn't "unlistenable" but was glad when it was over.
Overall: 3/5. This was a very Interesting and fun listen but mostly not up my personal alley. She has Undeniable talent, and I don't regret listening to it at all.
Buena producción, excelente sonido pero no es de mi gusto.
ok
J’ai vraiment aime l’album et j’ai reecoute plusieurs fois. C’est tres bine produit et la musique est bonne 5
Nice cross over between old cinema type of music and the funk. So better than average Prince album. Still not in my street.
Some bangers
I knew she was talented but never really listened to her. This blew me away!
2.9
I think this was all very well done. Would I necessarily go back and listen to this? No but it’s super theatrical and felt very cinematic. I respect it a lot
4.3 - A wildly creative triumph of afrofuturist funk with a concept that spans across albums (her debut LP "Metropolis" sets the stage). After a symphonic opener, the first half is marked by an onslaught of high-energy dance party tracks broken up by the pretty ballad "Sir Greendown" where the Cindi Mayweather played by Janelle Monae mourns her human lover. Downbeat interludes ("Neon Gumbo", "Suite III Overture") carry the flow through this 68 minute opus. Through the eyes of this android, we explore love ("Mushrooms & Roses"), loss ("Oh, Maker", "57821"), existential ennui ("Come Alive...")...This is a deep and dense record that demands a close listen.
Pop, soul, música clásica... Recuerda a Michael Jackson en parajes. Un 4.
Sorprendida me hallo. Mezcla de R&B, cósmico, música parafraseada.
Zu lang. Und langweilig. Redet viel, sagt gar nichts.
Before today, my familiarity with Janelle Monáe was limited. I enjoyed her in "Hidden Figures" and "Glass Onion," and I *love* "Make Me Feel" (the best Prince song Prince never wrote), but other than that I just had the vague idea that she was kinda weird (in a good way). So when this popped up I figured that, if nothing else, it'd at least be interesting. My first thought upon seeing the cover was "Hey, that sorta reminds me of the poster for 'Metropolis.'" Turns out that's what she was going for, as a visit to Wiki informed me that this album is parts 2 and 3 of her Metropolis concept series (the first part being her EP "Metropolis"). Very cool. I hadn't even listened to a single note, but we were already off to a good start. I fired the album up and saw that the first track is titled "Suite II Overture." Despite that, I was surprised to hear that it was literally orchestral music. Awesome. I love an artist with broad tastes, and as I progressed through the album it became clear that her musical sensibilities are broad indeed. So much so that it was tough to classify just what the hell I was listening to. But fuck classification: all that needs be said is this album's a work of art. It's bold and eclectic and gloriously idiosyncratic, and the further into the album I got the surer I was that I was listening to genuine greatness. And just when I thought I couldn't be any more impressed, she blew me away by seamlessly throwing some of Debussy's "Clair de Lune"—one of my all-time favorite pieces of classical music—into "Say You'll Go." Transcendent. Game over. Mic drop. Standing O. It's rare that I come across new music that takes me by surprise and leaves me vibrating with childlike excitement, but "The ArchAndroid" did just that. It's nearly 70 minutes long, but I listened to it, listened to it again, listened to "Metropolis," then bought both and listened to this album a third time. Ms. Monáe has herself a new fan.
I wanted to like this more because I like her & she's great live...maybe I just wasn't in the mood. I'll try again another time.
I honestly was not a fan or even aware of Janelle Monáe until we were into the pandemic. I don't even remember how her music crossed my path, but I instantly became a fan and tracked down more of her music. She just seems to approach music from an angle that's so different that it immediately caught my attention. I enjoyed this so much that I listened to it twice, which I never do.
I've heard this album before. This go around, I recognize some sampled parts. Greendown was sampled by Mndsgn somewhere and Cold War was sampled by Clams Casino. This album gets a lot of praise and has influence on some of my fave producers and should be something that's right up my alley but for some reason it's not - just something about it that feels a bit empty. Can't explain it. Overall it's a good listen though - not something that I'd keep listening to.
Has some cool points – feels like they're trying to be too cool/fancy
Holy shit it is so good her voice is so good the music is also so good
Fun electro/pop/funk album. Pretty cool concept of the archandroid too.
Njen izdaleka najbolji
More traditional instrumentals, futuristic lyrics and vocals. Interesting.
Love the thematic album concept. Monae really did this well. Will listen to again
Nice surprise. Especially liked the more soul-oriënted songs.
Quite a statement. It’s a bit too much for me, but I am impressed by the musical and conceptual range here.
Ok album
Loved the upbeat tracks at the start and the theatrical ending, but it lost me at some filler in between
Opens up very funky but it kinda dips later on. Overal a decent album but won't listen to it as a whole again.
That was awesome! Large variety in genres, artist has a great voice. Several songs stuck with me after they ended. Wondaland, BaBopByeYa, Tightrope especially.
- Come Alive!, Mushrooms & Roses
Really great. Not my style for sitting and direct listening, but awesome life accompaniment 4/5
I had only heard a few of these songs before, so I appreciate the impetus to give it a full go. In terms of influence, this to me sounds like a natural extension of what André 3000 was doing with The Love Below mixed with Prince at his most futuristic. Not surprisingly, it shares the strengths and weakness common to both, which means when it’s firing on all cylinders, it’s brilliant and when it’s not, it’s a bit of a mess. It also goes on way too long and while individual tracks are still good at the end, I was fatigued by the end even with breaking up the listens. A hard album to assess to be honest as it probably rewards repeat listens, but that’s not going to happen today.
Unfamiliar with this album. Stream of thoughts: Dance or Die is a jam. Singing on Faster is a little timid. More passion on Cold War, she lets go. I can see why Tightrope has the most listens. Great beat and breakdown with the horns. I dig the intro on Oh, Maker. Retro folky-soul. Would love to hear a full stripped down version of it. Oh, Maker --> Come Alive --> Mushrooms & Roses is a very impressive run of songs showcasing different styles. Don't like Make the Bus Gets a little same-y at the end. Overall enjoyed it. 3/5
I love Janelle Monae, not sure if ArchAndroid or Dirty Computer is my favorite of theirs. Could this probably be a few songs shorter? Yes. Still a 5 from me though.
favs: BabopbyeYa, Locked Inside, Come Alive least fav: Make the Bus (ft. Of Montreal)
Metropolis Suite: The Chase was a fully realized statement from an artist who arrived confident and ready to change music. The concept was continued into The Achandroid which, unlike The Chase, is not concise and a little half baked. Its one real problem is it’s long. Metropolis feels like the elevator pitch and ArchAndroid plays like the three hour blockbuster and two hours in your bladder is really begging you to do something about the gallon of coke you drank. You kind of have to disengage but you don’t want to. Also like that summer blockbuster it’s a little all over the place. Like Coldwar really fits the concept but does Tightrope? It never lacks in inventiveness or swagger though. Like their idol Prince, Monáe actually does need a little editing and I think Diddy just threw them the keys to the studio. He was probably all like I’ve got this train wreck over here I’m trying to figure out, I don’t have time to edit your whole space thing. I don’t even know what Genorape means but you do your thing.
I'm not really looking forward to this next hour. I prefer her singing than rapping. I'm liking the ballads more than the songs trying to be big dance floor bangers. She's got a great voice. This is quite the toe tapper (Come Alive (War of the Roses))! There's some good fuzzy guitar playing on this record!! This is about 20 minutes / 6 songs too long, bored now. 2 / 5 stars.
Meh it was all meh
Basically as good as everyone says it is.
This album is the first one I got and it's actually quite good and has a couple of really strong, catchy songs. I like the vibe~
This fucks.
4.25
Absolute 5 star cover art. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume this is a concept album. Yeah, this is cool. Two thumbs up.
It's a fantastic album, a journey, "take me back to wonderland." I've listened to this many times over the years, and just bought it on vinyl a couple months ago. "I've got a terrible fixation..." "Say You'll Go" hits me every time.
"The ArchAndroid" is the debut album by American singer and songwriter Janelle Monáe. This is a concept album with two parts telling the tale of a messianic android freeing citizens of oppression and stresses themes of love, identity and self realization. It was inspired by the 1927 film "Metropolis." The scope of the music is very impressive incorporating elements of funk, hip-hop, folk, electro-pop, glam rock, big band, jazz, rock and classical music. She carries this off very smoothly too. The first part, Suite II (Suite I is on her first EP) is about self-identity and self-realization. "Dance or Die" adds spoken word of poet Saul Williams. It starts out with a hip-hop beat and an ambient sound which goes to more a Latin pop dance song. The minority needs to speak up (dance); the messiah is coming. "Faster" picks up the pace with a funky melody. "Locked Inside" sounds like Michael Jackson's "Rock With You." More pop with strings. People locked inside society. Big hooks and great production highlight the second single "Cold War." Monáe's voice is front and center. Big Boi joins in on the big single "Tightrope." This is a great song. More funk. Yeah, this is a lot like "Hey Ya." Not a bad thing. Suite III is mostly love songs. "Make the Bus" has a pyschedelic type of groove. The band Of Montreal contributes. Big backing vocals. I have no idea what it's about but it sounds good. "Wondaland" has a easy groove and Janelle sings in a high pitch/tone. More synth-pop. Another guest appearance with Deep Cotton on "57821." Gospel backing vocals. Acoustic guitar. 60's folk sounding. Hey, spacey folk. The android finds out she is an android. This is quite a spread of music. It's very likable and to me she nails what's she's trying to do. I don't know if the concept was the easiest to follow. Definitely not hardest. But, the music and Janelle's singing is worth checking this out for.
Can't top Janelle.
Bien, ecléctico, qué lindo canta esta mujer.
If her album dirty computer is also on this list, I will probably give that a 4, but this one is a 3 for me.
I think I didn’t understand what Janelle Monáe was, before.
An exceptional record. I'm impressed at so many levels, the arrangements and her impressive vocal range in particular. I'm never really comfortable with "concept" albums, but here it doesn't get in the way of just enjoying the tunes. When I saw the album cover my immediate thoughts turned to the possibility of calling occupants of interstellar craft, but no it was ok on that front, phew... Younger son made the very good point that Neon Gumbo has echoes of Revolution No.9, Oh Maker is beautiful, like a 21st century Sandie Shaw. Come Alive could walk off any serious rock album with that bass riff and I really like her work with Of Montreal on Make the Bus. I've gone back to listening this straight away as it has so much, in fact I reckon old Serge G would have loved this record. Brilliant stuff.
A really interesting listen. Monae is super talented, and a couple of her songs are on high rotation in our house. But I've not listened to any of her albums. This one was pretty epic in scope, lots of enjoyable-enough songs, but not one that I'd be likely to come back to. Keen to listen to her later work though (including whichever album has my favourite song of hers, "Make Me Feel" - possibly THE best pop song of the last decade, IMO).
Great album. I’ve always admired her work. I own & really like the cd that followed this, but I’d never heard this album before. It’s an absolute knock-out. There are so many styles here & she masters them all. The beautiful lyrics of Oh Maker & 57821, the rip-it-up approach of Come Alive, the gorgeous piano ending to Say You’ll Go, with the nod to my fave Claire de’Lune. Love her voice. Love the disc.
This is a massive survey of Janelle Monae and her (many, many) ideas and (plethora of) influences. It's like every idea she ever had, all highly polished in their baroque finery and glossy perfection. There are some cracking tunes on here (Cold War and Tightrope in particular), but I found the overwhelming quantity of stuff in this feast too rich for my blood. And it is all so much! Overtures! Psychedelic interstitials! Cabaret! Madrigals! Jazz! String quartets! Choirs! Orchestras! Pyrotechnic rock guitar solos! Some is good, but more is better! I love her voice; and when the songs are a little more stripped back (eg Say You'll Go), you can really hear the quality of it. I wish she would just simplify a bit. Less high concept, fewer embellishments in the arrangements, just a bit more straightforward. A little bit more... human. I guess that runs against the 'artistic vision'... Instead of being a jewel box, it is a massive treasure chest. Trying to consume this whole album is like eating a 5kg box of chocolates in a single sitting. I needed to consume this is small portions.
This surprised me. I felt theat every song changed genres. Classical, then salsa, R & B, new pop, grunge, rock, classic rock. This women is super talented. Only one song i was like i could click next, i wont but i could.
Love the grooves and the storytelling is nice. Composure and production are great!
Kind of long. But very good.
She’s in a film I saw recently so that’s cool Cold War bad song
Helemaal niet mijn ding, wat een gezeik. 2*
I really enjoyed this! I’d never heard any of Janelle Monáe’s music until today. The whole album had me intrigued and wanting more. 4.5/10
Fun and unconventional blend of soul, hip-hop, pop, and classical elements! Feels like a movie.
Holy damn, this is good! I love the funk/rock/hip hop/everything vibes throughout the first half of the album, and when I thought the second half might not live up, suddenly Say You'll Go and BaBopByeYa keep me hooked till the end. Her voice is spectacular when she gets a chance to highlight it, but there are so many other things going on in this album that I don't even mind that I don't get to hear it solo
Whoa, I was not expecting this album. I went into it expecting some kind of cookie cutter music I would quickly forget about. I’d heard of Janelle Monáe but didn’t know her music. Listening to this album for me was the experience that I think we all hope for from this challenge. It wasn’t on my radar before but I couldn’t believe how good it was. This album borrows from many genres and inspirations. I couldn’t believe how good every track was, and how diverse this album was, while still maintaining a cohesive sound. Overall, I am very impressed with this and will be revisiting this album.
Interesting… all over the place… mostly pretty cool though. The constant switching of genres is a little distracting but Janelle pulls quite a few of them off really well. I would’ve liked a few more straightforward pop cuts but can’t complain too much. 7/10
this SLAPS okay it slaps. i made my mom listen to janelle monae's entire discography in the car one time. sir greendown and neon valley street>>>
Almost disco like! Enjoyed this a great deal
p929. 2010. 2.5 stars. Well done and definitely varied, but distinctly average. Very little of it stands out. Would not listen to it again.
excellent. love her
Just not my kind of music. I sampled 4 or 5 but couldn't finish them. I'm beginning to think 100 Albums Generator is not for me.
A debut double concept album telling the story of a world seen through the eyes of an android. This is suites II & III of Monáe's seven-part Metropolis concept series. It's packed full of ideas, styles and contemporary themes. Ambition doesn't begin to cover it, but Monáe pulls it off. This is an increadible and outstanding piece of work. It definitely makes me want to dive deeper into this artist's discography. Rating: 5/5 Playlist track: Cold War Date listened: 17/12/22
It was good but not really my style.
Interesting at times, but too long. 3/5
Very ambitious. Very very good. A great find. I am now a new listener of Monáe.
Nostalgia job straight back to 2010. This was in my phase where I thought I was pure cool listening to different music. Decent album though.
This one was tough. I really was not a fan, but it grew on me over the course of the hour.
This was fantastic! I feel like concept albums haven’t been in vogue for a good long while, so I really really loved how big she went with it here.
I'm glad I experienced this.
Very excellent, with some surprisingly Christmas's tracks
it's the female version of bruno mars. to be fair that's probably a bit derogatory, she's clearly got more to her than he does. i enjoyed this way more than i expected, what a mad hotch potch have a go at every style album this is. produced really well and very easy to listen to.
A record that made me want to jump out of a moving car. An incredibly low moment in my week.
Don't know. 2? Yeah, 2
Funky
I am utterly, totally shocked at how much I like this record. Didn't think it was going to be my thing but wow.
I quite enjoyed this, it's eclectic, and all over the place, but there is a charm to it. Not every song is a winner, but enough are, and even those I didn't enjoy are still good.
I know she’s got a cult following and all, but it’s not for me. I heard the hits and they were fine, but I’m not flipping for them. Meh.
Not for me
7:mäs biisi. Rapperin kanssa yhteistyö. Samalla tavalla kuin kirkko teki yhteistyötä. Toisessa maailmansodassa. Siunattiin molemmat puolet. Likasta touhua kun rapviikit rappii. Tämä rääpperi oli kuin elastinen. Paitsi toisin kuten tässä 30-40 vuotiaiden suomalaisäitien rakastamassa voima jaxu-hali laulajassa, oli tämän rapperin vasenkin palli leikattu irti. Ei kovin maskuliininen naisia alistava, ei ei... HÄVETTÄÄ kuunnella miten nätisti sitä lauletaan KUIN MITÄKIN BALLAADIA "biittiin" POPPI BIISIIN!!!!! ALISTAPPA VÄHÄN NAISIA KUKKOMAISESTI!!! HANKI LIKANEN NULJAKE BIITTI!! myyny herra viimeiset maat.. säkkissä elää.. pieni poppi naikkonen peggaa.. reiät isoina... Femdom.. kiltiisti odottaa vuoroaan.. "nytkö sanon".. okei mä laul.. räppään nyt! Hypnoosia yritäne.. 13:sta biisi.. "May this song reach your heart" "May this song reach your heart" "May this song reach your heart" Noh.. Hehe.. ihan hauskahan se.. kiv aettö yrittää.. Heh, Wonderland hyvä biisi.. Lolitasque.. The police: /that book by Nabokov/ Thematic concepts.. Mitä vittua tarkoittanee.. ENGLANTIA EN OSAA ENKÄ TULE OPETTELEMAAN..kirjotuksissa E... 95/99p essee... Muistakaa! On sivistymätöntä.. Suomen väki.. kaupunkipestyä.. siellä kaupungeissa.. uudet arvot elämälle.. Sontaa ei osaa kukaan niistä kaivaa.. ummetusta kärsivästä lehmästä.. NAURAA NE OSAA... Minulle.. aina naurettu kun.. kun isoommille pitäjille.. menty. YMÄRTÄVÄISIPÄTHÄN.. eivät... eivät..
Very 2000’s R&B. Talented
I loved it from start to finish. I can hear so many references from Michael Jackson to Donna Summer, even rock! bringing funk and soul to a fresh sound. I loved the production for each track, the interludes, the lyrics! Such a great body of work. I will definitely get back to it!
Modern R'n'B is not really my turf, apart from obvious hit singles aimed at making you shake your ass on a dancefloor. So I feel like judging albums in that style released after the nineties onwards is a little difficult for me. That being said, I can respect the artistry involved in such a record. There's tons of it, to be honest, especially with all the different styles outside said R'n'B that are infused in those songs, from roaring 20s charleston in "Faster" to punk rock in "Come Alive", not to mention the well-crafted orchestral arrangements in between. The thing is, there are TWO huge problems plaguing this sort of album: the first is that as nice and stylish as its different components are, I can't help but feeling that the flourishes on those songs are way to "functional" to make this a record one for the ages, even with my lack of knowledge or appetite for that sort of music. Case in point, the scratches at the start of "Faster", or the guitar solos and the dated rapping parts there and everywhere else. Those ingredients seem to serve a decorating "purpose" rather than being tought-out as part of the compositions from the get-go. As a consequence, everything sounds way too "calculated", there's no sincerity in that type of production, even if you take into account its mainstream pop context. And therefore, everything has aged terribly fast in this record, and this in only 12 years, to boot. Listen to what is done in this overall genre *today*, and the difference will strike you hard. The second problem is easier to explain: the songs are not catchy enough. Their choruses, particularly. The tunes in Monáe's later LP "Dirty Computer" will show vast improvement in that realm (maybe because the production team is different?). There are songs that remind you of the catchiest Prince, Madonna or Beyoncé/Destiny's Child songs there. So maybe that's the album that should have been included in this list, instead of *The ArchAndroid*, as "original" as the latter is. Number of albums left to review: 725 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 135 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 65 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 76 (including this one)
Wish I could give this 3.5. Not quite a 4 but definitely more then a 3. What a voice she has!
Not what I expected but I enjoyed it.
Eclectic. If I dig around a bit I find lots of little bits I like. 2.75/5
Sounds like someone trying REALLY HARD to make a CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED album length artwork. Good attempt but doesn't quite hit the mark.
A very elaborate at tines over wrought, album with a few gems on it and a unified, interesting, yet not wholly engaging sonic landscape. 3/5, I'd score it a bit higher if a few more tracks landed better with my mood/energy levels.
of montreal cameo???
4.5/5. Really incredible work, the song transitions flow so seamlessly.
Some enjoyable bits but too long and too many ideas for me
Very strange. Idk. Some great bits but I just dont feel the cohesion somehow, lite galet.
Love it.
9/10 - really damn good I heard her first three albums so far, I think her style improves with each album and I just really love the way this second one sounds a few of the songs are a bit boring and not really my style but I really loved most of it especially that interpretation of Clare De Lune, so cool!
Not my thing. Some cool moments on here tho.
I like this a lot more than I thought I would!
This was shockingly excellent! So much energy, so cohesive, unique theme!
Stórkostleg plata, stuð, dramatískir strengir og vísindaskáldskapur. Ótrúlega fjölbreyttur og flottur hljóðheimur, og frábær rödd og flutningur. Algert æði.
something good
It was my first album of Janelle Monáe and on this cite. I like how there's some folk/70s vibe to it. I loved rnb/soul parts. Also a lot of tracks felt like disney soundtracks. Loved eclecity of tracks. I felt like I watched a movie. 5/5
liked it
+retro futuristic sound +strings +themes -interludes maybe bog it down -could be tightened a bit especially in the back half
Alltaf gaman að hlusta á þessa. Snilldar verk!
What an interesting find. This draws inspiration from various genres and combines all of it amazingly to the RnB baseline. Top tier production and ideas for days. Some of the songs try to present more classic RnB sound, and that just falls so flat in contrast. Just nothing new there, mainly the vocals start to fall flat. Also, the fact that this is second (and third) part of something and I had to listen to it without knowledge of the first part (still this being a proper debut while the first segment is in a form of an EP) triggered my anxiety.
I like the idea of the ArchAndroid. But try as I have, it seems impossible to warm to. Too clinical and calculated for my liking
Amazing voice, few nice tracks, but not really my scene
Ambitious, eclectic, and thoroughly enjoyable. Standout tracks for me: "Dance or Die," "Come Alive," "Make the Bus," "Wondaland," and "57821."
I recognized Janelle Monae from the album cover as an actor. Was not familiar with her as a singer / songwriter / musician. I was pleasantly surprised by this album and thought it was well rounded and diverse. Well done.
3.75
Not my jam but I can respect it
A spectacular and ambitious album that effortlessly spans multiple genres to tell stories from another world. There is so much to talk about, but I particularly enjoyed the seamless inclusion of Debussey on "Say You'll Go" which arrives halfway through the track and is set up so well it feels inevitable before you even hear the notes. The introduction of a new vocal part to the piece feels amazingly natural and beautiful. 4.5/5
Have heard a lot of acclaim for this album! Suite II Overture- Definitely sets theatrical sound Dance or Die- This is so catchy and also very dense with worldbuilding👍 Faster-starts new ‘thread’ of story, solid but.. Locked out- I like this better👍 Sir Greendown- still sounds cohesive despite its difference, very dreamy Cold War- Catchy Tightrope- Bit too much going on here for me Neon Gumbo- Weird segue Oh Maker- Performed extremely well, cute little ditty👍 Come alive- That scream is impressive but unpleasant Mushrooms and Roses- Cool psychedelic track, very full with guitars Suite III Overture Neon Valley Street- Another cute change of tack Make the bus- Basically someone else’s song? Still good tho👍 Wondaland- Bop tbh👍 57821- the harmonies on this are top tier👍 Last two songs are long and grand Definitely an experience, need to revisit when I’m a bit fresher. 5/5
After all the albums from Lorde, Taylor Swift, Solange, Adele, CTRL, Christine and the Queens, etc. etc. finally, the list generates an album from the last 15 years that can be viewed a modern classic.
This was a new artist for me. The album sounded pretty good, with lots of variation and influences, but with many of the songs I felt I heard something like this before. A bit like a tribute band, but paying tribute to many different artists. A respectable effort, but just short of 4 stars for me.
So inconsistent and lacking flow that one could easily oversee some good songs. I found them mainly in the second part: e.g., come alive, neon valley street, and 57821.
Ok
Not a fan
This was actually really good. I’d been meaning to give a listen for a long time.
Fun album, really didn’t know it at all but recognised the lead single. Sort of a prog funk epic and enjoyed it.
Always been kinda salty that Janelle’s never really followed up on the promise of this record and has segued into straightforward pop.
Så tajt
Both chill and uplifting. Beautiful symphonic bits, beautiful voice. Love the sci-fi theme interspersed throughout as well.
I thought “damn! Who’s rushing here?” But by the 3 track I was hypnotized, this was going with a 4 but damn! It is a debut album! 5 star for me
Call me surprised. I enjoyed a lot of this album. Faster was particularly engaging.
Admittedly most of exposure to Janelle Monae is through films and seeing her on SNL ... and this is her debut album you say? Impressive. I liked Tightrope, although it reaaaaaly is bugging me as it sounds like a revamped Pharrell "Happy" track. "Faster" and "Cold War" are also pretty good. Overall, trois stars!
Amazing. A masterpiece.
In the top 10 albums of the last 20 years, without a doubt. Almost every track is a masterpiece and the overall project is simply amazing and undoubtably memorable.
surprisingly beatlesy but a light 4
groovy and clever stuff!
Weird and wonderful
Excellent, j'adore comment toutes les musiques s'enchainent bien
I am vibing, I think that the album is a tiny bit too long mostly to listen in one go as I usually do. I feel that I had a bad feeling on my first listening. but it grew to me and there are some pretty catchy songs so I might go back to it in the future. 3.5 / 5
Good album overall with some good songs that really turned my vibe on, some unexpected things but it was a bit all over the place.... I would still recommand it... But also it was really long and hard to go through 3.5/5
It's always a pleasurable day when I listen to Janelle Monae. I absolutely love her work and this debut album is only a taste of what is to come. It's just great fantastic music and if you liked this, check out the follow-up albums. They take this concept and get even better. Absolutely fucking banger and sounds so fresh.
My first thoughts when The ArchAndriod popped up was “wow this looks different” when looking into it i remember Monáe from her feature of We Are Young from fun. The first song gives off an adventurous vibe kind of from a Disney or Pixar film. Dance or Die, Faster and Locked Inside felt like a breathe of fresh air with its pop and R&B mix which boosts the mood. Wow the next track, Sir Greendown really changes the mood and shows the versatility of Monáe with her vocals shining on this track Cold War, really epitomises what music was like in the 00’s and 10’s with its dance beat and catchy hook Tightrope had a feature of Big Boi who i am very familiar with due to his work with André 3000 (OutKast) and once again it’s a very 00’s vibe with a female lead and a hip hop feature which a lot of songs during this time had and worked. this song is no exception with the funky vibes and the chorus being very catchy and has feel good vibes( it’s definitely gonna be added to my playlist) Tracks like Neon Gumbo and Oh, maker really add to the dystopian vibes Monáe was going for with this album. Come Alive switches the vibe to a more pop-punk which compared with the previous tracks is a sweet surprise and she really rocks out. Mushrooms & Roses is a very dystopian track with great vocals and amazing guitar riffs which really makes me see the Prince inspiration. The switch of the album into Neon Valley Street is well worked with Monáe’s soft vocals along with the ‘Android’ voice halfway through really directs the album’s dystopian vibes. Make the Bus has a feature (Of Montreal) which are new to me but they fit well with Monáe on the track and carries on the albums feel. Wondaland really surprised me with the high pitch but soft tone of Monáe‘s voice giving me a futuristic feel just like many other tracks on the album. 57821 feels very polished with harmonies and instrumentals making the track very heavenly. The penultimate track Say You’ll Go is a very heartwarming song with an amazing performance from Monáe which is a really emotional combined with the piano keys in the background. The last track, BaBopByeYa starts with a jazz type of feel with the instrumental mixing well with Monáe’s soothing voice. Overall this album is a breathe of fresh air and really surprised me, with previously never hearing a solo project by Monáe, her dystopian album was impressive and is considered underrated in the 2010s. 5/5.
This is amazing, I love it.
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.
I really liked this, i'll need to listen to more, it's pretty good for cleaning the kitchen to, but what about blasting in the car? I think it would be pretty good then, too, but it's cheerfulness may get tiresome. I have never ever heard of this Janelle Monae, but I get she gets pissed when people email her and they don't use the á. I'd be like, bitch I'm an underappreciated artist, at least you can take the time to google how to insert an a with a comma on top of it, or copy and paste the á from somewhere else. That's how I'd be.
This was a pretty interesting listen. The first track set some good vibes going in. Cold war was a damn good song. Tightrope and mushrooms & roses were also very good. I don't think the last two songs were very good and they were wayyy too long. Interesting but not great. 5/10
Some songs I really liked on here but there were some weird ones + too long
this album is a sex bob-omb. this is what i want from high concept orchestral scifi rigamaroll. wow. give me more of this modern fusion of all the cool old styles. this album is r n b’d out, jazzed up, jammed down, movie scoreesque shit. dayum. where we at toto? listen… but, wait, whats this incredibly unnecessary and bloated ending i hear? horns and farewells for nearly a quarter of an album, you say? nay, no more, go back to where ye came from foul funkless blend of boredom. goodnight. 3/5 ooohhh, some fuck funk to boot! bounce that bass on this boys dad yooooo.
4. Solid RnB, really fun album. Incredibly diverse sounds, good guest appearances. Standouts: Dance or Die, Faster, Cold War, Tightrope, Neon Valley Street, Wondaland.
this is an album that was so artfully created. a lot of effort went into this, and i so appreciate and respect it. i knew a little of janelle monáe's music before, but now i really understand all of the hype behind her. she deserves it. and i do love a concept album, especially since monáe doesn't beat you over the head with that fact. progressive soul is an interesting genre to use, and monáe does it well though she does float around. but despite that, the album is seamless, flowing from one song into another. a majority of these songs are catchy as hell. some of them (especially "tightrope" and "come alive" and many others) grabbed me, and i couldn't get away from them. the hooks are strong. i'm a sucker for "clair de lune," so when "say you'll go" included its melody, i nearly had a breakdown. the song used a popular melody without depending on it. it makes for a beautiful song. the suites are a perfect touch to start each cd, and are quite beautiful regardless. including classical music? i love it. when she has the opportunity to belt out a song, get out of the way. when she raps, she's brilliant and so fast. honestly, there isn't a bad song on this album or any musical decision that was bad. i'm looking forward to listening to monáe's other music to hear the entirety of the metropolis story.
So, I love surprises. And I was actually legitimately surprised with this album. I wasn't sure if the progressive soul and R&B was going to be something I dug, but I did. Speaking of the progressive soul and R&B genres, they are absolute perfect fits for the futurism (specifically afrofuturism!) and science-fiction concepts that make up this album. Janelle has a clear picture of her goal here, as the music and lyrics perfectly aid in building the concepts for this album. To tie it all together and enhance the concepts, the album permeates with various sci-fi sound effects. Janelle expertly derives inspiration from some of the great futurist music artists of our time and finds ways to adapt and make these sounds her own. Her work here just evokes creativity and originality, and I like her fascination with all things digital, computer, and space age.
A spectacular discovery, love the ecclectism and the beautiful voice.
Usually isn't my favorite genre but I really liked this. Sounds something like an evolution of the 1970s R&B sound.
amazing album 5/5 gets you right into the album and an amazing world, atmosphere and vibe
Good !!!!
Really good album. Also loved the Art Deco / Metropolis style album cover. Belter.
20th September 2022 Listened during the day while working from home. Supper at mum and dads with guy, Victoria and Richard. She mixes jazz, funk and hip hop with a big band structure. A real piece of ingenuity and originality with a gorgeous voice.
Is it RNB? Am I on a spacecraft? Is this an opera or is the orchestra tuning up their instruments? Somewhere in between?? Although I really dislike RNB, I found myself somehow entranced by this album which passes somewhere from this halls into another intergalactic dimension and it held my interest. I feel like I could give this one a few more listens as it was pretty fascinating.
Wow. I was not expecting that. After so many ho-humdrum listening experiences, it's albums like this that reestablish my belief in this project. What a refreshing change from most everything else that I've listened to here. Highly recommend.
Very enjoyable. I never knew what was coming next, but "The ArchAndroid" excelled in every genre it touched.
Janelle Monae strikes me as someone exceedingly creative and the album is eclectic and interesting as a result.
Love. Her.
This album is quite the accomplishment. The alien, Android theme is interesting and shines through. If I were a critic, this would be a 5 no doubt. The variety of musical styles is impressive and engaging. However, I’m not a critic. I’m just me, being critical, and there’s something missing in this album for me. A lost connection. Maybe the theme is too high falootin for me. I don’t really know what it is. I recognize the feat, but it’s for others.
pretty fun. listened to this when going through the pitchfork 200 of the 2010s and should revisit more often (listened previously) 2 albums heard/listened previously
Bit samey, skipped through a few because I got a little bored. Fave was Dance or Die, think I'd probably like some of her other albums.
4.5
me encantó y AL FIN un poco de pop y also una mujer!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 la segunda mitad del disco me gustó mucho más. 8,5 /10
3.5/5. Fluid and groovy, the first 4 songs combined and flowed seamlessly. Into it.
Funky, loved it
Fantastic concept album. Loved the meshing of styles.
Eclectic and cool rnb. Lots of great songs and moments. It just lacked cohesion a bit to me.
-Awesome driving bass riff in "Dance or Die" -Respectable catchiness in "Faster" and "Tightrope" -"Tightrope" also has a sweet groovy bass and Big Boi has some cool flows -I really like the punk-ness and intense, screamy vocals in "Come Alive (War of the Roses)" -"Mushrooms and Roses" has a cool, spaced-out type vibe and the guitar jam at the end is solid -"Make the Bus" has cool David Bowie and Prince influences -Overall some really cool and strong stuff. A few calmer tracks that were weaker in my opinion, but a really strong showing for a pop-ish album
Impressive
Better than I expected
Surprising operatic
Would like to listen again. Had some definite bops.
First half incredible, second half drags
This one surprised me. Never heard of her before and not my genre, but it was very enjoyable. The continuity of the concept throughout was exceptional.
Wow, I am quite surprised I liked this one. It was not what I was expecting and I liked it. Good variety of genres. Only thing I'd say is it got a little long by the end.
Awesome really new music. Didn't expect that and was pleasantly surprised
Already love this but happy to listen again.
I kinda dismissed this after the first couple of track but then kinda got drawn to its esoteric batshit nature. Her voice is great but her vision is pretty astonishing for a debut. Funk/soul is not really my genre but I have to admire.
Great listen for being in your feeling. Water under the bridge was my favorite.
Kinda good, just not my type
Honestly, very much liked it, though I can't really expound why. Lots of just really good music. Not much else to say
Very interesting album, as is the predecessor. Definitely worth listening to a few more times.
Muy bueno. Ya conocía a la artista de antes.
Afrofuturism meets Metropolis meets chart friendly funk/hip-hop/electronic/R&B/Pop. Lots of ideas here and though it's meant to be a suite songs sound a lot like one another. Bonus points though because it's at least trying to be different unlike other R&B/pop acts of the time - and be aware, no matter how much it may try and pretend it isn't a R&B/pop album, it is. It lacks soul, just like an android. Music that's been bleached and steam cleaned. Best Tracks: Faster; Tightrope (feat. Big Boi); Come Alive (War of the Roses)
This was a really fun listen. I had to listen to it more than once to take it all in. Best track: Cold War
Pop eletronic, algumas boas e muitas ruins
Ok
Funky, super catchy, very cool pop. The fact that the album has a futuristic sci-fi theme makes it all the more amazing. Get LP.
Very eclectic. This is the kind of album that I'd have never found on my own, but I enjoyed. Almost like a movie soundtrack.
Playlist "This is Janella Monae" had way more hits
3/5 Pretty good, i enjoyed listening to it and the nice mix of hip-hop, soul and funk.
I really liked it, nice, different made me feel good
11/10 beys slayed
Este disco es un viaje de géneros y sonidos muy, muy agradable.
Me sorprendió mucho el disco porque esperaba un pop plástico y Beyoncésco, pero no, y así es como debe hacerse el pop: Es divertido, lleno de cambios que apenas se sienten y con un gran sonido en todas las capas. Si quizá le sobra algo son unos cuantos minutos hacia el final del disco, pero incluso la rola que tiene a Of Montreal de invitados es muy buena.
The concept is incredible, the songs are great, the lyrics are amazing, the mood is fantastic, and I don't know enough good words to describe it. I've heard some Monáe songs before, but this album surprised me, and it's already on my favorites list.
Sometimes brilliant, sometimes awkward and dorky, this album just barely squeaks into the four star slot. When it's on, it's one of the best R&B albums of the last 40 years. When it's not, Monae still has enough charisma to stick the landing with only mild turbulence.
This album is all over the place; a hover car run through districts in some Bladerunner-inspired future. The rush, flashes of so many different styles, bumpy jerks of the turns, and the crashes into carts as you drive wildly down a market street are all here. It’s almost too much but a thrill.
Idk. This one didn't do too much for me. It's in that category where I recognize it's a good album but there were very few standout tracks for me. Enjoyed the experience but wouldn't listen again aside from 1-2 tracks. Fave track: Tightrope. It will always be Tightrope.
Not a fan.
So happy to see this one on here! I loved Janelle Monáe in high school and still do today. The ArchAndroid was probably the first album by her I listened to. It’s part of a series of concept albums about a robot who falls in love with a human — seemingly an allegory about queer relationships, as Janelle is pan and non-binary. That was my interpretation in high school, but now I’m glad to do a re-listen of the full album and recalibrate. First, we start with an overture. I’m no connoisseur of classical music, so I’m not sure how people think this holds up on its own. In context, this sets the musical scene and plot, perhaps musically detailing the war that’s sung about later on. It’s short and quickly leads into the Fela Kuti-esque “Dance or Die.” In this song, the Androids are headed to war to find the escaped android. While she is describing the plot of the story, the lyrics seem to double as a social commentary about the real world. We move into the fast-paced “Faster.” This song details the relationship between the protagonist and the human she loves. Great chorus. “Locked Inside” - a song about how love is a necessary ingredient for freedom. In a hateful and intolerant society, you can’t help but feel “locked inside,” looking at the free land in your mind. I think this song is the weakest of the first three, so I didn’t remember it much. “Sir Greendown” - has a 60’s feel. A simple little song in which the protagonist yearns for the calm company of her love, Sir Greendown. “Cold War” has a much more 2010’s feel. I think this particular song leaves much to be desired and I’m surprised it was one of the singles for this album. This one sounds what I’d expect a pop singer singing about war to sound like, while the other songs accomplish that with more finesse and intrigue. “Tightrope” - this is the other single that I didn’t listen to much when I was in high school. This one also has a clear 2010’s feel, which isn’t necessarily bad but this feels like sensory overload even though nothing is really happening! It’s a shame that the two singles are the worst songs on the album! Okay now that those two songs are over we move to “Neon Gumbo,” which is an ambient interlude with backwards lyrics (you can read them backwards and see what she’s saying) — seemingly a coded message from the main Android getting past the Android censors. Now one of my favorites: “Oh, Maker.” I really do believe this is one of the best songs on the album and maybe one of Janelle’s best. Next to “Come Alive” — another strong one on the album. The little bell and chorus interlude between verses gives me chills. The previous song and this one really demonstrate her vocal range and agility, as she’s able to do controlled runs as well as grating screams. I’m really interested in the balance between electronic and analog instruments in this album, and the literary reasons for the shifts. On “Mushrooms and Roses,” the singer’s voice is completely caked in a tremolo underwater filter, while the rest of the music is not electronic. Anyway, this psychedelia-inspired song is great — still more interesting than the two singles. We take a second with the next overture, which introduces the final part of the Metropolis story. “Neon Valley Street” - neo-soul tune with Prince influences. “Make the Bus” - I listened to this one nonstop in high school. I was a huge of Montreal fan. I think the melody and arrangement of this song is great (it’s basically just an of Montreal song slapped into a Janelle Monae record). The lyrics are fun and endlessly compelling. “Wondaland” - bubble gum poppy Jesus Christ Superstar meets Aqua. A dream you didn’t know you dreamed of - Janelle’s voice on this one has a comedic android-inflected affect to match the lyrics. “57821” is about Cindi and Sir Greendown being in waiting for each other. The melody again is impeccable. I think I skipped over this 6 minute song when I was in high school - “Say You’ll Go.” A strangely hypnotizing love song. The last song is “BaBopByeYa,” a jazzy noir tune also super long but compelling. An ending that leaves you wanting more. This record is an incredible work of Afro-Futurism, though its modifiers and influences don’t at all stop there. An array of different people could find a song they like on this album, and perhaps a few of them would even stay and listen to the story. This album can be analyzed on countless levels, and it also stands as entertainment, too. I listened to The Who’s rock opera during this project, and I regret giving it a 5, which I did so almost out of obligation to it’s supposed legacy. I strongly feel that, as far as literary concept albums go in rock music, the ArchAndroid is seriously one of the strongest. This is one of the best albums of the 2010s without a doubt. Janelle Monae brings you into an immersive world that causes listeners to look at the world we live in with new eyes. Aside from the two singles that I think don’t hold up as well as other tracks, this album is an easy 5, in its literary pursuits, the many musical explorations, and Janelle Monae’s captivating and inspiring persona throughout.
2010 - Progressive soul; alternative R&B; psychedelic pop; psychedelic soul;
I'm still not sure what to think of this.
Perhaps ambitious is the word? Some great ideas but I feel that this would be bettter cut down to half the length.
As far as my ears can tell, no one else is making pop concept albums like this nowadays. So I'm sad to return to Metropolis and still not get it. There are excellent cuts from this album; Someone made me a really nice mix with some samples from it. However, I never thought The ArchAndroid was bad and this time around I no longer think of it as forgettable. That second half and its escape theme is a little more distinct. Both are musical-ish to their detriment.
Beautiful, soaring vocals. Interesting instrumentation. Great vibes.
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.
I had heard of Janelle Monae but wasn't familiar with her music. She is a real talent and her music is ambitious and unique. It's like the offspring of Octavia Butler and Prince. I won't give this 5 stars because I felt that it lost steam in the second part.
I don't like this record, which is a shame because I really like Dirty Computer, but this does nothing for me. Her voice is amazing, but the backing tracks just sound over processed and too mechanical. I feel like this would be a good soundtrack to an 80's movie.
How is this 12 years old!? Definitely a 21st-century album that deserves its place here. Delightful and texturally unique.
Never totally clicked for me. Didn’t give it a fair go.
This album was surprisingly enjoyable. I liked the psychedelic aspect of various songs and the concept aspect works great. 8.5/10 Favorite tracks: Locked Inside, Cold War, Oh Maker, Mushroom & Roses
Felt this album was pretty long and didn’t find monaes singing that enjoyable. She is talented and the overtures were pretty good but her albums aren’t all that much for me. 3.6/10
DNF
What an eclectic album. Symphony, bangers, soul, rap, pop. Totally enjoyed.
This album is so... theatrical! I mean, the intro song alone (Suite II Overture) was straight out of a climatic build up in James Bond or something. Then the first few tracks just had me jamming and dancing in my living room. So interesting how the instrumentals of this album meld so well with Janelle's Soul/R&B voice, without the songs feeling like soul or R&B. This is was such a fun album that I had no idea about before. Janelle has always been such a unicorn to me, like I have heard of her, but never really heard her.
Performance: Great Concept Album: Doesn't feel quite fully fleshed out Music: Exceptional Great stuff!
Come alive is good
Vraiment très nice, je m'attendais pas à ça. Un album avec un super bon flow, des très bonnes chansons, très bon vibe.
Not my thing, on to the next one
Beautiful voice and creative music, but it suffers from the same problem all concept albums have. You have to buy into the concept in order to reconcile the sometimes wild shifts in style and feel. I had to take a couple points off for that
It's that rare beast, an album on this list I have never heard of but is deserving it's place. Everything is great: the production, songwriting, vocals and a variety of different musical styles that compliment each other. Favourites were 'Sir Greendown,' 'Oh Maker', 'Come Alive' and 'Mushroom and Roses'.
This I really enjoyed cool upbeat modern soul with a bit of Android thrown in. Listened to it all day.
Lots going on here, enjoyed all of it. Great new discovery
Love it. Not as good as Dirty Computer, but literally fantastic.
Lots to unpack with this album. It was absolutely not what I was expecting. I enjoyed it, although got a bit lost in the music that I missed many lyrics, will revisit.
8/10
Wow. Never heard of her before, but this was amazing. What a journey! Can't wait to get to know this one better. 3.5/5 (For now).
Okay this isn't my usual style, but wow this album was fantastic! It's so rare for me to be so impressed by an album that isn't my style, that I knew nothing about. I was dazzled by the diversity of styles here. A+ for creativity. This could be the greatest pop album of the 21st century. This album is better than anything I've heard from other female mega popstars. Better than Mariah Carey, better than Madonna, better than Whitney Houston, better than Taylor Swift, better than Olivia Rodrigo. I didn't like the second track, so I was doubtful for a sec. But basically every other track was great, and some were just plain fantastic. I really thought it got better as it went on.
Great album. I'm a big Janelle Monae fan and love all her albums. This is the most 'concept' album of her arsenal, packed full with great pop/rnb/soul/funk and memorable tracks 5*
So it starts off really good and then it divulges into kinda boring pop tunes. I really had high hopes for this .
Starts out with some decent tunes, but I lost interest along the way.
It has a bit of everything. I only knew Tight Rope going in and i was expecting more of a pop/r&b album. This is a lot more then that, i'm not even sure how to define it. Pretty great, i'd listen again.
It's an interesting record. Very pop, but with a ton of styles crammed into it. This is not one I would've ever listened to before, and one I can't see putting on again, but I didn't dislike it while it was on, either.
A nearly perfect album. Loved it when it was first released. I was worried it might not hold up but it did not disappoint.
Heel gevarieerd album. R&B, wat rock soms, wat soul, wat klassiek... Net iets te 'all over the place'. Wel een straffe zangeres en songwriter
Lots of ideas, many of them good, but neither the tunes or her voice have the strength the carry all the dicking around.
This is the first time I’ve heard janelle monae outside of features and movie soundtracks and it was solid. Very different from what I’ve heard before but also good in its own right. Definitely can tell it’s inspired by metropolis
4.0
Wow, what a fun album, blending elements of R&B, swing and pop. Definitely will be back for more!
what a great fun album. I've always been intrigued by Janelle Monáe and enjoyed diving into this album. Fave tracks: Cold War, Mushrooms & Roses, Wondaland and Say You'll Go.
Damn, this is a hell of an album! Opening with an orchestra tuning up is a ballsy move but Monáe has the goods to pull it off. Fave track - a lot of great tunes on here, but the use of "Clair de Lune" on "Say You'll Go" was just b e a u t i f u l . . .
3/5 nice but not enough
Some tracks are seamless in their transition making it more like one long piece with movements, which is interesting given the album starts with an overture. The songs themselves are love letters intertwined with political statements or statements about society as a whole. A great album.
the diversity in the music is amazing and her voice is so good. some of the music didn’t appeal to me but overall i think it was good.
This is a required multiple-listen album. I don't even know how to categorize it - it's dense; so many melodies happening within each song. There are elements of alt-rock, modern pop, 70s r&b, traditional folk, psychedelia....all within some odd idea of an android concept throughout? The production and sound are excellent - I don't think it's immediately-accessible enough for it to be a 5 but it's a minimum slamdunk 4 keeper because I feel like each time I've listened I've discovered new favourites (currently: "Tightrope" and "Neon Valley Street"). 8/10 4 stars.
A very interesting experience indeed. Cool concept for an album and it made me listen to her debut ep for suite 1.
odd, but had some songs I really liked, Cold war especially jumped out
Rubbish
What an exciting album to listen to! The use of various instruments such as horns was a nice surprise. Will be listening to more of her music in the future. Standout Songs: Tightrope, Faster, Cold War
Wow. Just wow. Something for everyone here. I didn’t expect to like it but I LOVED it.
That album was amazing. The supporting artists on it, the song choices, just everything.
not bad. had never heard of Janelle
Stellar album, covers so many different genres flawlessly. She has such a great voice. This album was wonderful. You can really hear the funk influences.
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.
Not sure what to make of this. There are some great tracks, and some terrible tracks. It's as though she's tried to fit every genre in one album, an homage to every influence. You can pick the similarities to Bowie or Outkast tracks, they're so faithful to their influencers. In the end a lot of it sounds messy, like it needs trimming of some of the sounds going on. More selective production maybe. It's so close to being great.
I loved loved loved this! Super creative and interesting. Great performance. Super bold and it just never let up in its awesomeness!
This was fantastic!
05/02/2022 She's one of the greats. Sweeping vocals and instrumentals; with top-tier production value to die for. Absolute fire from start to finish.
A wonderful surprise. Never heard of this one but will come back again in the future. Covering so many styles and genres I even won’t bother to listen it all here. It does make me think that a lot of my ratings are based on expectations. This is getting 5 stars partly because I was not coming in with a high standard to meet. Some of the world’s most iconic albums have received a low marks because they didn’t live up to the legend that preceded them. Not sure if that’s totally fair or not…?
Only heard good things about Janelle Monáe so I expected this to be decent, but didn't expect to enjoy it so much personally. I thought it might be more straight up funk/soul but there's a smorgasbord of styles and a good mix of invention & bangers. Suite II in particular is a great ride.
I remember this more fondly than I felt visiting it again. First third of the album is as good as any, it is bolstered by the two singles of the release and is genuinely fun. The last 2/3 is riddled with some baffling production and style choices that seemed to have little to no direction in terms of making this a sonically cohesive album. After Neon Gumbo the producers chose to go into business for themselves because the composition legitimately distracts or does not accentuate Monae's wonderful vocal abilities.
First handful of songs are great, then you really start to feel the length of the album with it's inconsistent sound and quality throughout.
listened to again truly a wonderful journey, silky smooth
no
Great!
This is a massive survey of Janelle Monae and her (man) ideas and (plethora of) influences. It's like every idea she ever had, all polished int their baroque finery. There are some cracking tunes on here (Cold War and Tightrope in particular), but I found the overwhelming quantity of stuff in this massive treasure chest too rich for my blood. And it is all so much! Instead of being a jewel box, it is a massive treasure chest. Trying to consume this whole album is like eating a 5kg box of chocolates in a single sitting. I needed to consume this is small portions.
Very cool. Wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did. Different in a good way.
Eclectic and wonderful. Wonderful singer. Sometimes very reminiscent and familiar, other times strange. Lovely atmosphere, especially the roomy reverb vibe. At some points a little too out there, e.g. the operatic parts aren't really for me. Like a cabaret show in a holographic suite.
This is a great example that good music is still being released after 2010
Damn! She can sing. What a voice! Really enjoyed this album. Great writing, great vocals. Poetic. Creative. Worked in and out of the box. Quite impressive. Def listen again. Did feel like I kept hearing voices. That was weird.
Amazing voice, amazing beats, a great find
This was a neat discovery.
le métro a ouvert ses portes à Gare du Nord sur les applaudissements du premier morceau, et après je me suis endormie dans le thalys
A kaleidoscopic trip.
I'd never listened to Janelle Monáe before... Incredible. It's got funk, psych, punk, jazz, it's conceptual, it's got outstanding singing and above all else, it's the catchiest shit you'll hear in a while. One of the best I've heard
Wow, great! I had heard people raving about this album but hadn't sat down to listen to it before. Definitely starts out stronger than it finishes, but a really creative and artistic set of songs, lots of variety, great musicianship and interesting overall vibes. No wonder it never got the credit it deserves!
Experimentellt, ganska spretigt
Cool, has good moments.
During the first song I was worried we had another offering from the "soundtrack without a movie" genre. After hearing Barry Adamason's Moss Side Story, I thought that one offering from this "genre" was one too many. Once the Suite II Overture is over the album picks up with Dance or Die and some lovely melodic R&B and other adventurous fusions. Cold War and Tightrope and others are all quite good. The album does drift in and out of the "soundtrack without a movie" genre but generally stays strong.
Highly eclectic and way out of the box. I give kudos to the record company for financing this debut LP with its orchestras and choirs. I was a fan of Tightrope and Cold War, which I used in my spinning classes, but the rest I was unfamiliar with, and wasn't aware that it was a far-out concept album. She reminds me of early Bowie with the SciFi shtick and not being afraid of sound completely different. There's lots of musical influences and moods from classical to James Bond to Gospel to Star Trek. The Vocal arrangements are complex, especially on the second half. Its an ambitious debut LP. The top 12 songs would get a 5 from me.
This brand of progressive soul / alt R&B isn't my cuppa but when this album was released back in 2010 I remember that my socks were blown off when I first listened to it. I was really impressed by her ambitious audacity and her creativity. To base a series of albums on the 1927 Fritz Lang film Metropolis featuring a messianic android sent to free the citizens of Metropolis is pretty damned ambitious. The production of this album, the music videos, costumes and orchestration are also top shelf. I wonder who was bankrolling this debut album?
Not quite what I expected from her. Had an almost old-timey feel to it?