The ArchAndroid

Listened to it while sitting on the porch. Nothing really broke through. Good songs, but not a record I'd go back to.

Completely new album for me--thanks for putting it on the list! All the songs are great and the groove on "Dance or Die" is hard to beat.

Afrofuturism!

Janelle is a firecracker. I saw her on the Archandroid tour (at the Sydney Opera House, she had everyone on their feet after the first song) and thought her live show was a million times better than the record. Shameful that this album isn’t in my regular rotation. A bit hit and miss at the tail end of the album. 4/5

Never heard anything like it before!! this is why I'm glad i joined the 1001 album challenge

It felt very art deco to me for some reason but I did enjoy it, nothing new to my playlist but it was quality music

See, now this is what I'm talking about. Albums that I know maybe one song from but never got around to checking out, and then it turns out to be great. This record is super fun, Janelle Monae is super talented, and I had a great time listening. It's to the point where I'm a little worried I'll never put in the time to properly appreciate everything going on here. A concept album with a... retro future theme but blends a good dozen genres together? And it works? Wild work, really phenomenal.

Some great songs but overall not for me

I love everything about this album.

hahaha mmhmmmmm

Not my bag but I think they are a cool artist.

4.2/5

Definitely need to give this another listen at some point. I don't think I was as focused on this as I needed to be for it, but even then I can recognize how excellent it was.

At first I thought this was going to be a Beyonce knock off, but it turned into a surprisingly varied album. Still not fully my cup of tea.

Very interesting album. Pretty dancey, but not cheesy. Originality factor is pretty high here. Genre bender big time. Heard some disco/motown, lots of indescribables for me as this is not typically one of my main genres.

Very good, varied.

My music service categorized this as R&B, which I thought was odd since I consider it Alternative. Anyway. This is an amazing piece of work that turned me into a Janelle fan. On a re-listen there's a lot of what I'd call "LA Chic" but it's still holding up well.

Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

4th April 2026. 6pm. Really pleasant, idk if I'll listen to it again tho. Maybe it just need to grow more on me 7/10

Well this was completely new to me and I thought it was incredible…. It’s probably a 3.5 on first listen but it’s definitely something I will listen to again.

Momentos súper enérgicos, me gustó la vibe. No es algo que escucharía siempre pero está buena, la fusión musical y los arreglos que tiene

With such a long and varied list of albums, it’s an inevitability that you’ll run into some you just aren’t compatible with. Hip-Hop simply isn’t my genre. I’ve come a long way in the last few years in regards to it, I actually listen to it in my shuffle, but not in any great quantity, and only really interspersed between other stuff. It is the antithesis to my natural habitat of metal. Even if I liked the genre, I’m not sure I would have liked this album particularly. The quality of music on display was strong certainly, and I found myself enjoying the initial tracks just fine, but 18 tracks is just bloat, especially with some of the songs making up that bloat. You could cut half an hour here and not lose anything of value, you could cut more with minor concessions. Half the runtime and you’ll double my enjoyment, if not the score.

Good album

Hell yeah afrofuturism and tightrope used to be my JAM but it's more than that. Great album. Forgot the of montreal song until is started playing. Hell yeah.

Super cool concept, loved the production and energy on this one

Sounds like the soundtrack to an animated movie. Has like 5 genres in it.

I enjoyed this quite a bit. RnB, but with enough of a rock sensibility to keep me engaged. And I always appreciate it when there's an attempt towards higher art, which I can hear here.

This was surprisingly good, and covered a lot more musical ground than I expected it would.

It's a little over long, and there are several songs that don't really move the ball forward, but there is so much to love on this record. First, Black Futurism is cool and I like a lot of branches of that tree. Second, the fact she can make dance club bangers like Cold War & Tightrope but also a super cool dreamy 50s era track like Sir Greendown or Stevie Wonder-esque folk/soul/pop like Oh, Maker is pretty amazing. I was between 4 & 5 and rounded up for the ambition and kickass album cover.

After a painfully slow start, this really got going in the middle with Cold War, and from then on it had impressive variety even if I didn't actually like most of the songs.

4/5 - This was a revelation for me. Definitely need to listen to more of it. I knew Tightrope, which is a really fun song, but the whole concept and package sounded great.

I actually really enjoyed another song by her that I realized after I started the album. The album was interesting, different, and fun, but I didn't love it as much as I know I like some other stuff by her. I'm curious to check more of her stuff out, though. This will definitely put it more on the map for me. Album was decent, but not great.

Really enjoying this, energetic pop with several surprises ranging from hip hop to punky tunes. Janelle has a great pleasant voice. I just feel it’s a bit too long. Between 2nd and 3rd overture I loved pretty much every single track. After the 3rd not so much anymore.

It’s cool, but a bit all over the place Stand-outs - Cold War - Mushrooms & Roses

9/10 – Great

Very talented artist with a beautiful voice. Album is inventive, safely experimental, and rich, but not really my personal cup of tea (other than Sir Greendown, which has been a fav song for years). Emulating a variety of styles, genres and artists is cool and shows an impressive knowledge of music, but then you’re that artist that sounds like a bunch of other artists rather than your own unique style. Nothing wrong with that.

love the egyptian like sound

Surprisingly fun to listen to. I just feel like the singer had so much fun recording this. Took me two days to fully enjoy it. The songs are very diverse and some of them are iconic and timeless. I think what makes a good album is indeed the timeless characteristics. Something you can enjoy even decades later. The vocals in this one surprised me and it is very inventive.

Theatrical in a way I’m not sure if I love or hate

Melodías increíbles, se siente la continuidad del álbum cómo si fuese eso una pieza completa y no un tema por separado y que se le diga álbum. La voz de Janelle es hermosa y no había tenido la oportunidad de escucharla.

fresh

There were a few cool songs on this album, but it didn't hold water as a concept piece, and the lyric quality was often really basic. She does have a great voice, though.

While not quite as fully realized as her later work, this is still an exceptional album the flexes Janelle’s incredible talent for blending pop sounds with high art. Her singing, rapping, beat-poeting, all of it is performed at a sublime level. The mix is also superb considering all of the interwoven elements. Listened to: walking to downtown Denver. Favorite tracks: Tightrope, Cold War, Come Alive, Make the Bus

Not my fav but can see where it’s fits and has a few songs I’ll go back to!

Familiar with Janelle Monae and may have come across some of her songs, but never this album as a whole. Soulful funky dance pop with some rap. That’s what I’m getting here. Very fun. Very different from the usual albums I’ve been coming across here. Every song flows into the next. There’s a defined sound on a lot of it and it’s high energy music. Then slow atmospheric song like Sir Greendown comes on, which reminds me of an old school Bond song. There’s a lot of that here. This album sucked me right in. This is the kind of music I would love to explore more of. Guess I’m a new Janelle Monae fan. Tightrope! What a jam. The slower ballad songs after the heavy dance pop songs really stand out. Oh Maker is great. There’s a mix of genres. Come Alive is like a post punk rocker. Treating this like two sides for each suite, and the first half is practically perfect. There’s such a mix of genres. It’s all funky and soulful but then there’s rock and rap and everything. It’s great. Her voice works with every sound. There’s killer funky guitar behind a lot of this. The album ends strong with a few of those Bond theme sounding songs. Just a great unique album with every song and genre working. What a discovery. This is a 5 for me. Sometimes you listen to something that’s outside your typical listen and that’s where something really blows you away because you don’t know what to expect. This is great. I hope everyone who encounters this gives it a fair listen.

This album really surprised me. It has so many different genres flowing together, and the storytelling is fantastic. Even though it’s outside of my preferred musical flavors, this is one of the best concept albums I’ve had the pleasure of listening to.

P: me sorprendió el estilo solo una canción me gusto

meh

As a 70-minute concept album, you'd really expect me to be dreading this one. And yet, it totally grabs you from the Suite II overture and never lets go! I can't say that I really follow the story of the album, but I can tell you that it's got several of the all-time best songs I've heard, and that it's easily the most creative and gorgeous album of the 2010s onward. Its length keeps from listening to it all too often, but every opportunity I get to sit down and listen to it is one that's worth treasuring.

This is an interesting album. A very wide range of styles done well. I don't know the base material and I didn't listen closely enough to figure out the concept. There were a couple of standout songs, specifically Come Alive. I think this would grow a lot on me if I listened to it more.

She has talent, no doubt. Just not my demographic. Tried to listen to it two times through, but couldn't make it the second time. 4.3/5 Top song Dance or die

Slick debut album but…. too much going on. Lots of bells and whistles, possibly too many. Tightrope is a massive ear worm. A very talented musician/show person. On my “must see live” list.

I don't really listen to contemporary R&B at all, and this was probably one of, if not THE best introductory album to it as someone who would call more "prog/progressive" genres his favorite. It's psychedelic and progressive/art pop leanings always kept me guessing throughout my 1st listen, and definitely earned a couple repeat listens after. Suite II is just a non-stop rollercoaster with 2 different multi-track runs that I adore, and Suite III is no slouch either. 9/10.

It's real strong as a concept album even if the lead single (Tightrope) is a little obvious. Love the gradual shift in sound from start to finish, too. Comparing BaBopByeYa to the first few tracks is night and day but it was real smooth getting there.

10/10 I've already listened to this album in full like 50 times. This album's strongest suit is the constant change in sound going from R&B to psychedelic pop to funk. Just an amazing debut album.

lowkenuinely really good

Expected to like this a lot more than I did. Found it to be extremely long and tedious at times. Some bangers, I think says a lot about growth in curation for future albums.

This album was beautiful. I have not heard of her and was very impressed.

Didn’t know what I was expecting, but definitely not this! What a wonderfully beautiful surprise that I have been blessed with! No bad songs, ALL bangers.

Hmm… nice voice, easy on the eyes. Just another in a long line.

this flows so well, feels like one really really long song. brilliant, glad i've heard this now, because this been on my listening list for years now

4.5

She’s great. The album is expansive

Not my vibe

This album is cool, i will listen to it if I have time.

This record often sounds cinematic, especially in the overtures, which is appropriate for the level of ambition on display here. The best song is Tightrope, which is not just a perfect pop single; it unspools into an extended vamp reminiscent of Wanna Be Starting Something. It’s among the best songs Big Boi ever raps over, and that guy has a Super Bowl ring on every finger. Other enjoyments are everywhere: a spaghetti western detour (Sir Greenspan), a Sufjan Stevens number that immediately gets highjacked by Prince and driven to space (Mushrooms & Roses). Bowie is all over this thing (she would go on to record an amazing cover of Heroes). Despite subverting nearly every expectation she sets up, it remains fun and accessible. If this record has a serious misstep, it’s Make the Bus, which in typical Of Montreal fashion is twee and frantic and too much. I just can’t with that guy. Anyway, love it. 5/5.

I’d never heard of this artist. A bit of reading revealed the album to be a sci-fi concept album. I listened without reading the lyrics and wouldn’t have picked up on the narrative without having known about it in advance. The album is beautifully produced: it sounds great. I was less excited by the musical content (which, genre-wise, is a bit of everything) but this is a clearly a talented and imaginative artist. Overall, I found it more impressive than likeable, but that’s probably just because the music and theme isn’t really to my taste. Glad to have become aware of the artist though.

Interesting album that I've not heard before that includes a variety of styles. Lively vocals and good music to go along with them. I'll probably listen to this one again sometime.

Album #59: The ArchAndroid - Janelle Monáe Genre (W): Progressive soul, alternative R&B, psychedelic pop, psychedelic soul Singles: Tightrope, Cold War I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: I love the concept of this album and the lyrics which are largely metaphorical, but my favorite part is the versatility of the music influences, and Monáe’s vocals and performances. This album reminds me of Tom Tom Club’s debut album, in that the influences range from any sort of source, each song sounds amazing and unique, yet they all fit together seamlessly. Favorite songs: All of it!!

Lost my notes! The start was really bland/weak and I settled on 3 stars based on the first half of the album. That might have been premature, I really enjoyed the second half. The range of genres really is engaging. She is just SUCH a better singer than rapper, and every song early on was high BPM high-energy. I'll keep it at 3 stars because it's SO long and there was plenty I didn't like. But it should be closer to a 4 than I'm giving it credit for.

Falls off a bit in the back half for me but had a couple bangers. That shuffle feel on the 2nd HITS

This was fab and new to me. Keen to explore her further.

A very, very good album. I enjoyed this a lot. I'd heard the name but couldn't remember listening to her before. Brilliantly varied and thoroughly entertaining

Wow. What an incredible listen. Starts with an orchestral suite, ends (almost) with an excerpt from Clare de Lune. And in between is some of the funkiest, most alive, R&B recorded. Great stuff

top tier, this funky soul gender bending stuff is where it is at tunes to dance to, to get lost in the bass lines and the little ear candies, the most produced album so far but in a good way, the sound selection is so great, fantastic track after fantastic track you know when something is so good it makes you giggle? this album does it for me kinda weird i cant rate it until monday but i feel this is a 5 star

Never listened to this before. Really enjoyed it, so much fun and very diverse. Love her voice. Great production firework, however at times it felt a little overproduced…

It was good but not great.

Such amusing lack of depth from something that wants to be “conceptual” no less (and progressive, futuristic etc). Bonus penalty points for parts that sound like classical music, especially opening with Suite II Overture. Did you try to pretend you’re more elaborate or posh than you actually are?

As my daughter would say Janelle Monae is a di-va, It's all in the pronunciation and meant as a massive compliment. The cover hints at diva tendencies from the start but then in the course of about an hour and ten minutes, which never drags, this masterfully combined soul, pop, r&b, classical and more. Great listening 4 out of 5 stars.

faster is really fun :) this whole thing is pretty great. i’m definitely going to be revisiting this. i haven’t finished it yet but i liked it a lot so far. it’s very late and im very high.

KANSAS CITY’S OWN, JANELLE MONÁE Janelle Monáe is like if Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill and Prince had a baby that invented being bisexual. this album is incredible and so diverse. can’t believe it came out in 2010!! ending with “BaBopBye Ya” is such a flex. not only does it show off Monáe’s jazz chops, it ties together both overture themes with a nice little bow. and, on top of everything, Janelle Monáe is also crazy hot. if you haven’t checked out her latest album “The Age of Pleasure” i highly recommend it

Very interesting range of styles and I enjoyed a number of the tracks. Can’t give it anywhere close to the five star rating many have given it, but she is talented.

This was a little surprising. The album contained a mix of music with the arrangements being reasonably sophisticated. Although I did not completely love the album, I enjoyed listening to it.

I’ve only ever heard her name, and was glad to get to hear this album.

My God this is cool as fuck man. Completely defies any sense of coherent genre but still comes together into one beautiful, awesome concept album. Impossible to argue with the artistry here. As long as there are musicians like Monáe, unafraid to push the bounds, art will live long and well.

ko da sam u slastičarnici. možda bih i dao trojku jer je raznovrsno i nije toliko bezveze, ima potencijalno fora dijelova, ali predugo je i jako mi je dosadno i tupo ovo bilo. bleh

Fucking awesome

I loved this album when it came out and there are still some fun tunes in the top half but some of the shine has definitely worn off and the drop off in the back half is pretty rough.

I love Janelle's world building prowess, but I never got into this album. A relisten didn't move me either.

Uppgötvaði þarna nýjan listamann sem mér líkaði

Góður fyrri partur, en seinni hlutinn náði mér algerlega.

The world needs more Janelle Monae. Super excited to see her on this list. I don’t think this is her best album but it’s still damn good.

Loved it. Great tunes all around, super creative and interesting record. Not a single track felt boring, the album has a very cohesive feel and theme throughout but somehow each track feels unique in its own way too. So many memorable moments. Will definitely be returning to this in the future. 5/5.

I can hear talent and inspiration and effort, I just dont like most of it.

LOVED this. Finished it and immediately put it straight back on. So rich and imaginative, I love a concept album and this grabbed me from the start.

not a bad album, was a drag to get through. id call it average at best

2/3. Really enjoyed this one. She has a great voice, and I don’t know if it’s just because of the album cover, but I definitely feel the vibe of almost steam/cyberpunk meets roaring ‘20s on this. Great production overall.

pretty cool, interesting mix of themes and beautiful vocals

I think this might be the first album past the original 2005 edition of the book that I actually enjoy properly. Maybe those later editions aren't a complete waste of everyone's time.

Ehhh, very pretty voice but still not for me

I am more of a Dirty Computer guy myself so I might swap the album by taste but this is definitely the more important listen. 9/10 [KEEP]

Veľmi zaujímavé. Za introm nasledovala pecka, preto som od ďalších piesní čakal trochu viac, ale nenudilo to.

Favorite tracks: Dance or Die, Come Alive, Wondaland WOW this is exactly why I'm going through this list. I had a really hard time narrowing down my favorite tracks because I truly loved every single one. Amazing variety, but all of them land excellently.

some nice and sexy tracks, saved

Not my cup of tea

A breath of fresh air! I hadn't heard Janelle's music before, although I did know it was eclectic and different. She blends genres so easily: one minute I'm bopping along, the next I'm listening intently to the story that's woven through the album. 5 stars.

Wasn't sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed this one.

Wanted to really enjoy this one, but honestly the theme didn’t do a lot for me, and while it’s very well made, only a couple of songs stood out to me. Those songs are very good, but the rest of the album was just decent.

Ambitieus project, waar je moeilijk een vinger op kunt leggen. Dat komt deels door de vluchtigheid van stijlen, waarbij je soms richting een rock-opera gaat en soms meer naar een broadway show lijkt te luisteren. Maar ook deels door het concept wat in zijn moderne composities best sterk naar voren komt, maar voor de rest qua storytelling een beetje over m'n hoofd vliegt. Momenten als Mushrooms & Roses, en de gitaar in Neon Valley Street, grijpen aan, en doen me ontwaken uit een enigszins wazige luisterbeurt. Die eerste is heel erg Eddie Hazel-Funkadelic, I like it. Zo zijn er wel meer momenten die breken met de iets wat gezapige rode draad, maar voor een album van ruim een uur hielt het niet echt over. Ik denk wel dat dit een plaat is die valt na meerdere luisterbeurten, en ik zie ook wel de creatieve intenties. Voor nu hou ik het op een 6,5. 6,5/10 Highlights: Tightrope Mushrooms & Roses

Bijzonder figuur die Janelle. Super poppy maar op één of andere manier wel weggebleven uit de echte mainstream. OOR heeft haar platen ook altijd hoog in de eindlijst staan. Zelfs een keer op 1 als ik het me goed herinner. The ArchAndroid vind ik eigenlijk niet zoveel aan. Gekke mix van stijlen. Sommige dingen klinken erg als 2010 Rihanna. Andere songs (zoals Make the Bus) zouden wat excentrieke/alternatieven moeten zijn maar spreken me niet echt aan. 5/10 Highlights Oh, Maker

amazing. so influential from the jump.

Its good. The symphonic parts are good, we love an Of Montreal crossover, great vocals, wide range of songs, interesting beats. Didn't fully connect and nothing in it became an earworm, but solid all around.

Excellent! No I notes

Very long and ambitious album. Well executed but a tough listen at times.

Naff cheesy pop. And it seemed to go on forever. Not for me.

No pop, no style. That's me. And this was just too poppy for my tastes. I'm sure it's very accomplished. The production doesn't hold back when throwing everything into the mix. But I'm afraid it's not for me.

Songs like "locked inside" definitely deserve the comparison to some Michael Jackson stuff. It sounds like a sequel to a specific song that I think has the "mama say mama sa" part. Overall, this was very nice. A wide journey of sounds, but I enjoyed it.

Suite ii overture - 3 Dance or die - 4 Faster - 3/4 Locked inside - 3 Sir greendown - 3 Cold war - 4 Tightrope - 5 Neon gumbo - 2 Oh, maker - 4 Come alive (war of the roses) - 4 Mushrooms & roses - 2 Suite iii overture - 3 Neon valley street - 3 Make the bus - 3 Wondaland - 3 57821 - 3 Say you'll go - 3 Babopbyeya - 3

Incredibly inventive. It's hard to believe this is her debut album rather than something someone works up to over a career. Not every element works and at times the styles shift so much it feels a bit bewildering. But really, in a world we all complain about things being formulaic it's great to hear someone going for it

Janelle Monae should be appreciated way more than she is. And I think all of her albums after this one are better even

I probably like Dirty Computer a little more, but The ArchAndroid is fresh-sounding and full of creativity.

Very ambitious album that combines many things I love. Funk, sci-fi synthesizers, psychedelic guitars, theatrical orchestrations and magical melodies. Most of it works perfectly, but it has a few lulls. I just slightly prefer Dirty Computer over it, which would easily earn 5 stars from me but isn't part of the 1001 Albums list - a huge shame. And we're ranking ArchAndroid here, so alas, I'm giving 4 stars with a heavy heart and hope that I'll be able to one day give Dirty Computer 5 here. Faves: Faster, Cold War, Tightrope, Oh Maker, Come Alive (War of the Roses), Mushrooms & Roses, Wondaland

REAL pop music

It’s been so long since I’ve heard this in full, and I think I either forgot or didn’t appreciate at the time how much of a masterpiece this is. Even as someone who has loved a handful of these songs and has been sprinkling them into playlists for the last 10+ years, they sound totally different to me in the context of the full concept album (”Dance or Die”, “Faster”, “Cold War”, “Tightrope”, “Oh Maker”). Pretty much everything I want to say about the marvel of how many genres she effortless blends together here can be shown by the list of genres tagged with this album, but to add a few more: I love the Greensleeves-esque tone of “57821”, the blues-infused “Come Alive (War of the Roses)”, the “Claire de Lune” piano moment on “Say You’ll Go”, and overall classical orchestral instrumentals/format of the whole album which pulls everything together. The only mark for me is the song with Of Montreal (”Make the Bus”) because his voice doesn’t sound like it works that well with Monáe’s and makes it feel out of place. But besides that one moment, the stylistic risks on the album really work for me. The album is perfectly complex but never feels like too much, and even when there’s an unexpected element, it still feels like it belongs. Fav tracks: Cold War, Tightrope, Oh Maker, 57821, Say You’ll Go

Elle sait (quasiment) tout faire, et ça se ressent dans l'album. La plénitude d'instruments utilisés augmente ce constat vu qu'elle arrive à faire ressentir ça dans un contexte pop, rock, classique ou hip-hop Par contre : - Certaines chansons trainent dans la longueur - Certaines chansons sont oubliables et n'ajoutent pas grand chose sur l’ambiance générale de l’album Mais les chansons qui, je trouve, sont dans aucune des catégories au dessus, sont très très bonnes Un album qui passe bien

This is the debut for Janelle Monae. The album exceeded my {low) expectations. The arrangements were good and there was a wide variety of musical styles here. My only criticism is that some of the later tracks were mediocre. I think if a few of those were eliminated the album would be stronger.

When this came out, I didn't like the singles. I also read her book recently and thought it was just OK. But I do admire the vision of this project. Starting off with an orchestral overture is cool. It's not for me in practice, but it could have been in theory, so that's worth 3 stars. Highlights: 'Faster', a little backwards decoding fun on 'Neon Gumbo' Today in "there are only 5 bass lines": I thought 'Come Alive' had sampled 'Blister in the Sun' because it sounded so similar, but Wiki mentions it also sounds like 'Rock Lobster', which made me realise 'Blister in the Sun' sounds the same as 'Rock Lobster' :o

It’s hard to believe this came out over 10 years ago. Clearly Janelle Monáe is talented and has a vision. There are some gems on this album. I have to wonder if she wasn’t a woman if the album would have received more attention.

I admit I rolled my eyes when looking at the runtime of the album and assumed the worst, but that feeling went away early on in the album. Suite II was pretty killer, on the other side, Suite III was not the best to be frank and seemed to drag fairly hard. The album is a good evidence of music as an art-form. Janelle's vocals are superb which are backed by the luscious instrumentation that JUST infects this release. I appreciate the cohesiveness this album radiates, cohesiveness seems to more of a thing left mostly in the 70s, so always glad when a modern release brings it back. Highlight Song/s: "Faster", "Cold Love" "Oh, Maker" and "Wondaland"

This is a long time favorite of mine. I love Janelle Monae's early music and I'm glad this project made me revisit it. I love the variety of music and instrumentation that never gets boring. The world building is subtle and super enjoyable to dive into throughout the album. 5 stars!!

Downright magical.

Sympa à écouter mais ça ne m’a pas marqué au final

16/20 Plutôt une belle découverte

Bello, anche abbastanza vario

Great potential and incredible voice, but the songs don't hold up.

Quite an eclectic mix of different styles. Quite enjoyed this, good production with a few really catchy songs.

Pretty good, very different genre to what I’ve listen to so far!

Debated this one and gave it a couple listens. The highs are not that high and it’s way too long. Overall not for me.

A few tracks at the end slow it down but overall this is amazing

Quite good, with a varied sound. Bothered me how often she used "schizo" as some sort of generic adjective

Really fun album! In concept, sound, and production, Janelle delivers a really unique pop album that still remains catchy and fun throughout. Solid recommendation!

In my English class in 2012, I distinctly remember one of my friends hyping up Janelle Monáe often, saying I needed to check her music out expeditiously. I never did. WHY DIDN'T I SOONER?! THIS WAS INCREDIBLE????? THIS is why I have kept up with this album generator for over 300 days. I have had to endure countless albums that had no business being anywhere near a top 1001 list, but this deserves to be there. What a fun ride.

This is excellent! What the hell is a pop R&B album doing with orchestral suites and disgusting guitar riffs? And it somehow stays cohesive through it all, even transitioning seamlessly between a few tracks. Love it from a production standpoint, a consistently enchanting pairing with Janelle Monáe’s gorgeous singing. Standouts: Faster • Locked Inside • Cold War • Tightrope • Mushrooms & Roses • Neon Valley Street • BaBopByeYa

Extremely strong 4 but yet another point in my column that your album does not need to be over an hour long. The fast songs are absolutely relentless and I would argue everything up to Come Alive is perfect, but the slow songs don't add much and start to stack up in the second half.

the truth

Wow! Such a wild, complex album. So many good things and so many things that are going to require several listens to work through. Nice new discovery

2.5 I like the first half better than the second.

Amei

A nice surprise by an artist I had barely heard of, and would certainly not have given a try on my own. It's not really my kind of music since some songs are a bit too much on the pop and R&B side for me. But it's still a fascinating record - a sprawling cathedral of genres held together by a talented singer with a modern take on soul and funk. The numerous jazz, hip hop and even punk and cabaret influences make it a stylistic UFO. It's certainly an album with a personality - no other modern R&B artist would dare put a song like "Come Alive" in the middle of an album. It's not something I'd listen again spontaneously - it's a very long album that touches on so many genres and moods that it can be exhausting, and some of the songs left me indifferent. Still, it's one of the best post-2010 records on this list, with killer tracks like Dance Or Die and BaBopBye Ya. Extra points for the Afro-Futurist theme. A subjective 3* for me - but I'll add 1 extra star for creativity and originality. 6+1/10

I wouldnt have bet 2 pennies on a positve review for this pop object made by an unknown (to me) artist. Oh I did think "nice tits" when I saw the bare chest picture depicting th eartist in spotify. It's always invigoriting to get an apriori proven wrong in a positive way. Although not all my cup of tea, it's a musician album with credit half a page. There are solid lyrics and the album is even conceptualized. Musically I particularly love Come Alive...and BaBopByeYa with strong Dizzy Gillepsy's Night in Tunisia resonances.

Compared to yesterday’s album, this one feels like a gem. Sadly I only had time for a single listen, but I like a few things here, mainly how incredibly eclectic and hard to pin down it is while still staying accessible. Some tracks sound really good, I like how versatile is her voice, and I will definitely give it another spin and it might even deserve 4 stars. Not sure yet.

Not my thing. Couple of decent tunes, but overall not something I'm gonna revisit.

Hmm...why is this 68 minutes long? Why does she rap like it's 1988? Ok this is actually quite varied and interesting. I'm not convinced it's actually good, though it's really hard to tell on first listen given the sheer amount of 'stuff' and ideas. It's an album that clearly takes multiple listens to adequately dissect, but I'm not sure I really want to invest the time to do so.

The only negative I have about this record is the length. I know that it's a concept album, and as such is meant to be listened to in a single sitting, but once I get about halfway though here I just tap out. Nice vocals, great production, and a couple of catchy songs, but a front to back listen for me is exhausting.

Not used to this kind of music, but is was an easy listen ; it is well done

Not usually the type of music I listen to but I was pleasantly surprised. I could feel the emotion all throughout the album from the tonal shifts and motifs. Genuinely had me walking with joy and whimsy one second and then rethinking life the next. Not my typical genre but so glad I gave it a listen.

Absolutely insane! Fantastic album. I wasn't expecting much going into this one and I was very delightfully surprised.

Much slower and chill than I expected. Tightrope is a jammmm

Very diverse album with many different moods and beats. Some songs weren't exactly my style, but I still enjoyed most tracks. I'll have to give it a relisten both to add a few songs to my playlist and to take a closer look at the lyrics.

Lo amé

It wasn't for me. I didn't even finish it. I liked the one with big boi

This is the first album to really challenge my rating system, and is making me have to think about how it is codified. On one hand there's a LOT to like about this album. On the other hand, that "LOT" is a double edged sword too, I think. There's some great funkiness, guitar and it's very creative. but it's also all over the place which makes it hard for me to immerse in it, and there a couple songs that make that immersion more difficult. It's like it tries too much. It's very artsy/theatric. I guess you risk that with a concept album. Concept albums rarely get beyond something in the 3 range because I personally cannot lose myself in them. Generally I'd lean 3.5, which would round to 4, because honestly it, as an effort, is overall quite good. But per my own rating system, 4s would see themselves in my rotation pretty often. I don't think this would. I could definitely queue songs from this album though, which would make it at least a 3, and I guess from artistic and production perspectives, it might get a bump as well. Perhaps future listens would move this to a 4, I don't know. It is really making me wish we had half stars here, though. I'm going to have to give it a 3.49 and be satisfied with that. There's a lot of strong stuff on this album, but as a whole I would not be listening to it a lot.

Some brilliant songs and some filler. Was a defining album for her. Just overblown a little.

..

Muy interesante con sonidos que recuerdan a Withney Houston. Las historias de las canciones muy futuristas.

This album is like a ride on willy wonkas magical boat but instead of Oompa Loompas there are little robots playing percussion instruments. Instead of the terrifying images shown on Willy’s boat, this one has images from 1960s American history.

It was somehow better at times than what I expected but also worse at times. Not bad, but not good.

Good.

skjønner ikke at denne er her.

The Overture is a dumb into but the two songs after it are good. This feels both futuristic and like a throwback to 60s R&B at the same time. You can hear the Outkast influence throughout the album...beyond just the Big Boi guest spot on Tightrope. Tightrope is a great song. I'm really liking this album. You really realize what a pretentious ass Robert Christgau is when you listen to this album and read his review of it. At the start Oh, Maker had me thinking it was the beginning of a downward slide, I was wrong about that. But starting with Come Alive (War of the Roses) and Mushrooms & Roses has me thinking I was just one song too early. The overtures feel like a nod to this being an "art&B" album more than an integrated part of the album. The balk half of the album is not as good as the first half. It's hard to get 9 songs right, let alone 18. Also, concept albums are almost always, hat tip to Ziggy Stardust, an annoyingly contrived restriction on quality rather than an invitation to tell a compelling story. Say You'll Go is an improvement. An almost 9 minute closing effort...I do not understand why artist after artist insists on having an irrationally long final track on what in some cases is already a long album.

Nein, Nix für mich! Überambitioniert!

que increible janelle monáe <3

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Very inventive and it had a nice flow.

This is how to make a modern day concept album. It's camouflaging elevated artistic philosophies and avant garde orchestration as relatable lyrics and pop hits. Suite II is, on vibes alone, so upbeat and danceable that it's easy to overlook the thematic elements being introduced. Suite III adds a nuanced depth and stretches the musical landscape to cover the larger story being told. Tightrope

9/10 Favorites: Cold War Oh, Maker Neon Valley Street

I oscillated between a high 3 and 4, due to the album feeling a bit longer in places. But throughout that I imagined what an amazing stage show that this could be. Especially with the cover art.

Amazing production and shows a mastery of everything from hip hop to soul to funk to pop and R&B without ever allowing the standard to drop. The talent levels are unreal. The only thing stopping this going higher is that the album doesn’t have a clear vision on what it wants

A solid 4 for me. Really took off from Sir Greendown. My favourite moment was when Say you'll go morphed into Debussy's Clair de lune. Very ambitious and mostly successful. Obviously a very talented artist.

A monumental step up from her debut EP. A tremendous amount of work has been put into this far stretching range of songs. Her “suite I” compositions were very densely detailed, but here that is pleasingly dialled up to eleven. Her songs have become maximalist creations, some with a frenetic pacing, others with dreamy, reflective qualities. Throughout the record there’s an “anything goes” sense of play and experimentation. You could never guess what’s coming next, but it all works well together.

Janelle Monae gets a solid 4 from me today, the first half had me wondering about a low 5 but this long and ambitious record didn’t quite keep me held the whole way through Great mastery of various genres here though and i appreciate the conceptual theme and substance

Janelle Monae never disappoints in her approach to albums. They always feel as much a work of art as just an album. The tracks manage to quite varied (see the step change from Sir Greendown to Cold War) but also cohesive. Tightrope adds in a dose of hip-hop royalty in the form of Big-Boi and is an infectious clap along feel good track mixing jazz club vibes with Big Boi’s smooth delivery. Oh maker starts like a classic singer songwriter tune from the 70s and throws up elements of Everybody’s Talking. Before the deep beat kicks in and Janelle lets their vocals fly to a sound more akin to Beyonce. Come Alive see a rockier approach whilst retaining the jazz like vibe that runs through the entirety of the album. Only for another handbrake turn with Mushrooms & Roses providing a far more ethereal listen. Suite iii ushers in a more sweeping orchestral feel, whilst retaining that core spirit that runs through the album. This is just a brilliant listen

This just wasn’t for me. I don’t do well when a record isn’t coherent - I’m not of the opinion it makes someone “out there”; it makes them a bit flighty and confused in my book. There were all sorts of influences competing here - from traditional pop, to jazz, to the sort of thing the B-52s would have come out with. And it just didn’t work for me. “Tightrope”, however - excellent pop song.

I enjoyed this album a lot. Highpoints: - I adored Come Alive. - The melody in the chorus in Locked In sounds like Mario Kart, which somehow made me like it more. Also, I'm always a sucker for clap-clap songs. - I enjoyed Big Boi turning up on Tightrope. - It's so diverse in sound, surely there's a track for everyone here. Bond-like in places. Full pop in others. Plus a bit of pure soul. And 50s TV shows. Parts that are channelling Prince. And Bowie. - I really like her voice. - "Classy brass". Lows - Honestly not too much. - A whole track of reversed lyrics wasn't too fun (Neon Gumbo). - Say You'll Go morphing into Clair De Lune was not my favourite. - And it's pretty long. This was another album I'd been meaning to listen to for ages. And it was really good, so I'm glad the Generator was benevolent. 4/5

Idk why but this was quite good

Production is top notch. Really eclectic.

Her music sounds like a cacophony to me. Never liked her.

Rating: 8/10 Eclectic with amazing production.

I bought this album when it came out but forgot about it for years (except for Tightrope). This is a flawless listen, Janelle is truly the new Bowie: a genderfluid hot talented weirdo. Who else but Janelle could put both of Montreal and Big Boi on an album? Proof you can make experimental yet danceable music.

Powerful voice, funky vibes (not sure if in a good way)... like futuristic 80s techno mixed with jazz. 2/5

First 2000s album of the 1001 albums generator. It’s really upbeat and exciting. Not really something I can sing to, but seems like it could be a movie soundtrack. (18 songs, 108 mins) 2/28/26

I don’t think I will ever return to this album. I did save a couple songs, but I don’t think I I will ever sit through this whole album again and it’s an entirety. She did provide some great performances and it’s just nothing that stuck with me if that makes sense like the song that I did like are probably gonna end up on my liked song playlist and then I’m gonna be listening to this cool

Was pretty solid but a bit long to stay into it the full time, would visit a couple songs again like Dance or Die, Faster, and then Tightrope has been a song I’ve heard and enjoyed previously. Album seems overproduced at times.

I like this album. Not sure I would call it influential but it's fun.

I’m not always a huge fan of her stuff, I was really ambivalent on Dirty Computer, but one thing you can’t say about her is that she doesn’t have big ideas. This is a really grand album, it feels like it wants to do so much and I find it really impressive. It also just has fun instrumentals and catchy melodies in a way that I think Dirty Computer didn’t. Plus J. Cole sampled her on Friday Night Lights, so bonus points for that. Favorites: Dance or Die, Tightrope, Neon Valley Street

I liked it, it reminded me of the love below quite a lot, it was too long tho

finally a modern album lol. i actually love janelle but have never listened to their music so i am really excited. okay 1/3 through and i am enjoying the album even though its different than i had originally expected. okay im loving this way more than i thought i would.

Definitely a very impressively made and ambitious album, but I did find the theatricality and upbeat nature of the whole thing to be a bit too much. Maybe a weird thing to say but I'd much prefer this album as a video game soundtrack. Giving it 2 stars, maybe deserves a 3.

An interesting album. It takes some big swings and risks. Not all of them pay off, but more hit than miss. I like it.

It takes incredible ambition and foresight to produce a conceptual suite like this for her first releases, and I gained an appreciation for Monáe beyond her general status as a pop star. Musically I found it to be hit-or-miss, some of it with too much of a musical theater aesthetic for me, but I absolutely loved the psych-groove of “Mushrooms and Roses.” I generally enjoyed things after that, as the tracks got more and more trippy. Ultimately an enjoyable story that left me wanting a bit more that fit with my curmudgeonly tastes.

Very very cool. I remember when I first saw this all over streaming services and gave it a try. Way too much dance-pop for my taste. I never gave it a second thought. In this analytical listen I can really appreciate Janelle's creative style. As I've stated in the past, I'm a sucker for any good concept album and this is certainly a good one. Still too "dance-poppy" for me. 3.5

A new to me 5er always makes my day. Phenomenal vocal writing and producing chops, phenomenal album. I played it once this morning and started again from the beginning - which I think I've done twice before in my life. I'm hearing Stevie Wonder all over the place, Janet Jackson's Rythm Nation, Queen, Doris Day, every James Bond theme song, yeah - Clare de Lune (thanks ksigz, couldn't place it), Kate Bush, Snow White era Disney, John Hartford's Gentle on my Mind, and one review cites Rogers and Hammerstein, Hendrix, Bowie and Lauren Hill, none of which I've noticed and there's probably a few dozen more in there. Top tracks: all of them.

Queen

Wow, this was really excellent! I wasn't expecting that. The only Janelle Monae song I knew before this was Tightrope and I don't like it (not because it's bad but because I don't like a certain type of upbeat/cheerful music - I'm just a curmudgeon lol). The amount of variety on this album is wild... and all of the different styles are well-executed. There are elements of jazz, classical, choral music/church hymns, rock, pop, folk, r&b, and so much more. I don't love the poppy stuff (personal preference), but everything else is fantastic. The orchestral moments and choral harmonies are so lovely and are highlights for me. I also like when Clair de Lune is sampled in Say You'll Go. I have only listened once but I need go through again and pay closer attention because there are so many little details!

Great stuff!

Yeah, this gets a 5 from me.. On first listen I thought the only dip was Wondaland, then on my 2nd listen, I thought that the song actually fit quite well. No bad songs on this album. Plus the first like 6-7 songs just have this untouchable energy to them. I love all of the meticulous details throughout, with the spurts of classical and sci-fi. Really engaging with the storytelling aspects that top tier albums have, very artistic. I feel as though this is what the Kalele album was trying to be... (or whatever her name was) But Janelle just did it WAY better. Every song had intention, rather than just being all of this over produced mumbo jumbo. Will definitely re-listen at some point, really enjoyed this one. 9/10

Qué mujer tan talentosa, qué álbum tan... diferente. Cada canción estuvo brutal Primera vez que un álbum me hace sentir tan asombrado, no porque no haya pasado antes, pero por ser tan versátil y original. Buenísimo

ahead of its time!

Música de H&M

What a revelation this album is. Bouncy, sexy, and just all over the place musically. I adored it. The sheer creativity of craft here is just stunning. I'll definitely be revisiting.

So you can’t tell an album from its cover! I saw the image and thought, “some stupid, lame R&B thing”. I was 100% wrong! Janelle is the real thing. I haven’t heard anything this fresh in a LONG time! I’m a big fan now and will be buying this record and checking out more of her work! 5/5!

Definitely not my cup of tea, but it's clearly well made pop music, and a product of its time. Favorite Track: Dance or Die

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Väldigt musikaliskt album med influencer från allla möjliga håll. Produktionen känns mycket välarbetat och man blir imponerad av Janelles musikalitet. Svagheten med albumet är att det är lite som att man blir mer imponersd än att man går ihång på musiken.

Ehhhh

Not for me

Really overproduced stuff that starts off sounding like sonic the hedgehog music (non-derogatory) before ascending to transcendent with Tightrope and then coming back down to Earth with tepid concept album filler. Really uneven, not a very coherent blend of styles. Listened to this in college and liked it more then but has really lost its luster as time passes over it. Favorite Tracks: Tightrope, Oh, Maker, Wondaland, 57821

This is not what I was expecting at all. It was so diverse and fun, I had a good time listening to this record. A fun mix of R&B, hip hop, jazz and a bit latin infused, truly fun album overall. Great vocals as well.

Outstanding. Time absolutely melted away listening to this record. At once fun, soulful, deep with just a splash of hip-hop edge.

Remember it coming out and still great.

This one really blew me away. I couldn't listen to it in one go, due to life getting in the way, which will end up impacting the score, but I looked forward to revisiting it every time. Really good album, best one of a new genre I've heard for a long while.

4 - great album

Lots of good music here, I just couldn't get into the flow of the album, it's too long with too much variety. Maybe it's unfocused or maybe I wasn't focused enough on it, idk

High concept with some lovely vocals in places but just not engaging enough for me.

I'd listened to this before but it was nice to pay more attention this time. I think I may be getting converted to the idea of concept albums, which is surprising. Quite an achievement to make something this wildly odd and geeky and creative, and make a commercial success out of it.

Great album, eclectic pop. Really enjoyed the mix and Janelle has a great voice and delivery. There’s a lot here to like cutting across many pop genres from rap, r&b, dance, singer-songwriter styles, and more. Notable tracks include Dance or Die, Faster, Locked Inside, Cold War, Tightrope, Oh Maker, Come alive, Neon Valley Street, Wondaland, Say You’ll Go.

This was a bit too long but very good

Big band drama one minute, android liberation manifesto the next. Love myself some afrofuturism

I enjoyed this. It became more bizarre and unhinged as it went on and that is how I think life should be

Class, chaotic and unpredictable, unbelievably ambitious for a debut album, hook it to my veins

If you’ve loved any pop or R&B music made in the past 70-some years, you will find something you love here, I guarantee it.

Not my cup of tea, interesting that all the songs were all together and it’s cinematic vibe was unique I just didn’t really enjoy it

I’m absolutely blown away by how incredible this album was.

pretty cool

Ful sm hotla da bi mi bil vsec ampak je tok stvari na kupu tak mess je vse skupi

Outstanding album. Simply superb. Having only heard and liked her radio singles, I slept on Janelle’s full length albums. Holy cow, I’ve been missing out

fireee made me want to dance

Started off well enough but it went downhill from there. Well, at least for me. Not really my cup of tea.

Pretty fun pop album with some unique sounds and fun songs.

What an album! I’ve never heard of this artist before so I didn’t know what to expect! Bravo! Will for sure listen again. I love suites II and III!

Decent musicality backing a great vocalist producing tracks that I do not find entertaining - got a little Mariah Carey style wailing in there, but no writng of note.

It was a very different style than I usually listen to, but I liked it! One day wasn't enough time to make a decision about the rating because I feel like it would definitely grow on me the more I listen. Reminded me of the Great Gatsby soundtrack with the big band sound.

Liked it quite eclectic. Not something I would have listened to if it wasn’t in this list.

eh, not my thing.

"Locked inside" Sounds all to similar to "Rock with you" by Michael Jackson. Thats all I have to say about this album.

didn’t listen

very cohesive and well put this album for the variety of different sounds and styles it has. this album exceeded each and every of my expectations.

Better than expected

Very Good. Soul but different from a lot I've heard lot of funk worked into it all the tracks had their own appeal and stood out.

It’s really great occasionally but there is a bunch of misses on this album

Попса Чуть сложнее аранжировки и атмосфера чем обычно в жанре

This was just okay for me. Nothing special, but not atrocious or hard to listen to. Not my style, though.

Would’ve been a 5 but the back half wasn’t as strong as the front. A super fun and creative album overall “Cold War” rips.

Front half is a five, back half is a 4. Overall, this album BANGS. First one on this list I know for sure I'll return to often.

decent

Amazing! I really enjoyed this. Not a "throw this on to dance to" record, but it has such range! Makes for fun listening

“So you think I’m alone? But being alone’s the only way to be When you step outside You spend life fighting for your sanity” An impressively eclectic mish mash of genres showcasing the full breadth of Janelle Monáe’s vocal chops and creativity (as well as the musicianship of Nate Wonder who is credited with playing every instrument on the album). “The ArchAndroid” is funky and danceable whilst having its slower, more chilled and pensive moments. The guitar tone Wonder achieves across the whole album is fantastic and the mix is near enough perfect. The underlying narrative works really well and the music fits the theme perfectly. Monáe is clearly an incredibly complex person who pieces everything together exceptionally well here to convey that complexity in a meaningful unpretentious way. I will almost certainly make an effort to listen to the remainder of her catalogue and am really pleased to have given this a chance.

Some songs got a little too artsy-fartsy for me, but overall a very solid album. Janelle Monae is incredibly talented, there’s no doubt about that. 3.5 stars.

Cool concept, but some songs are a bit gimmicky with the melodies, maybe not for me There are a lot of standouts, just some im on the fence with.

203/1089 just an excellent project, the references, styles, flow. I just really enjoyed it all, Janelle has a great ear for the types of genre crossovers and experimentation that are on this album faves: Wondaland, BaBopByeYa, Say You’ll Go, Cold War, Dance or Die, Tightrope 93/100

I absolutely loved this. First half is better than the second though.

Never heard Janelle Monáe before. I was pleasantly surprised by how diverse this album was.

DAMN! Every track was tight as hell, yes even the backwards one. & the one that sounds like a Mighty Boosh song. Surface level they were all really great & also had a lot of complexity & depth if you wanted to look for it. Glad I didn’t hear this in 2010 cuz I wouldn’t have appreciated it. Can’t believe it was 3 hours long tho. Oh wait I listened to it three times. Instant top like 50 albums. (Well, if I exclude Tobacco)

Will I seek out more Janelle Monae? Probably not but this certainly made an impact on my day

I know her. She is a great all around talented woman. I have always seen her in a festival setting and her music always sounds soulful and fun. Which this has been so far.

i liked it! it’s objectively good, not really my thing but i feel like it’d grow on me

WOW. My favorite album I've reviewed so far. As a fan of classical music, I really loved the suite overtures and all the classical sprinkled throughout the album. The music seems to transcend eras in the most beautiful way. When I texted my daughter that this was my next album, She responded, "the GOAT." I have to agree. Incredible. 5/5 stars.

This album is absolutely loaded with incredible songs in a wide variety of genres, each executed perfectly. There are a handful that I see myself putting into my regular rotation, but a lot of the tracks aren't ones I would listen to in the background during work or a long drive. That doesn't mean they aren't enjoyable, it's just not the kind of music that's easily digestible. Definitely a fun album to listen to all the way through.

9/10

Not my kind of vibe

This is good maybe a little to cinematic for me

I quite like this! Cool combination of classical and electronic elements.

I miss music like this.. So contagious ✨

A little too abstract for me, but good and creative

It's clearly good, but for some reason I don't feel the soul behind it, only the brilliant commercial production. This is probably the reason of me forgetting this album has ever existed despite really liking it when it was released.

Þetta var hressandi og margt mjög gott. Ömurlegt record lable samt.

Afskaplega vandað og þægilegt.

I really enjoyed this album. Janelle Monae is so talented. I've only heard one album by her prior to this but wow this one might be a new favorite.

A varied and enjoyable album. A second listen may reveal how much I enjoy this album

A cool quarky album.

10

Nice pop record. Bit too polished for my taste sometimes. 3.5.

love janelle, not this album tho

Not sure how or why this is on this list tbh. Fairly dull and boring. Not to my taste personally, nothing to make it stand out as a decent album, no stand out songs, lyrics, music, anything.

Superb...undeniable. 5 drama-free and dancing stars

BIGGEST SIDE NOTE: first female artists i get to listen to in my 25 days of doing this :// slightly insane, but happy its Janelle Monáe :)) God, she is cool, even though i dont like the album cover, the rest is so coooolll. Heard the album is based on Metropolis. Should have done the album cover justice cause this is not it. Great album, great voice, great aesthetics, great collabs I LOVE OF MONTREAL Love: Come Alive (War of Roses)

Not really fond of movie/musical sounding r&b.

This looks like a modern-day R&B singer making a concept album in the vein of the 1970s prog scene. There are even overtures, just like on 2112 or Close to the Edge. Yet, this is a different musical beast entirely; where prog is characterized by long, extended passages, this focuses on tuneful hip-hop and R&B. However, it's not afraid to mix genres, combining funk, electronica, and hip-hop into one grand, cohesive beast. The most beloved prog albums were known for their fearless ambition and musical experimentation, and this has both of those in spades. I can't help but love it, as both a fun, poppy R&B album and as an eclectic, adventurous showcase of Monáe's musical ambitions. A genuinely good album that manages to hold its length(and coming from Mr. Hates Long Albums, that's saying something).

Eclectic worth a second lustef

Love a funky bit of Nu Prince. Tightrope is an obvious standout but the whole thing is an impressive soundscape/cyberpunk opera/work in 18 movements

fun album, good for you Janelle

Bit long, but very pleasant.

Exceptional pop, but still pop. Not my genre but I could appreciate it on some level.

great album, lush and expansive. Soothing and melodic.

ok this was a lot better than I was expecting

Not too mutch to say other than a great album thats i feel like has inspired a lot of music that came after it. It is one of the few albums long albums i dont mind listening to. Amazing.

This record is an absolute treat. Janelle somehow combines elements of many different genres such as R&B, Funk, Hiphop, Pop, classical, brassband and probably more and puts it in a sci-fi concept album. Very daring, but the spectacular execution pays off. This woman deserves to be one of the most well listened to women. I'll now promptly listen to this record again and afterwards listen to her entire discography.

What an incredibly fun journey this album is. Starting at classical music, and going through soul, funk, jazz all the way even to what almost feels like prog-rock with screaming guitars and back to soul again. Experimental and new, yet still keeping it in a very digestible pop style, without removing anything off of it. Definitely a keeper and going to check out more from Janelle. 9/10

3 out of 5. Took me pleasantly by surprise and great production.

bijo vabshe ar velodi rom aseti nichieri iqneboda dzaan momewona

Franchement un excellent album qui mélange teeellement de sonorités avec une identité extrêmement bien travaillé, c'est vraiment très impressionnant pour moi alors que le style et l'artiste sont complètement indiférents à mes yeux en temps normal. C'est une très bonne surprise et même si je ne reviendrai pas dessus, j'ai adoré.

Overall Rating - 3.81/5 (7.61/10). Not necessarily something I would think I'd enjoy, but this turned out to be very enjoyable, very well done, and richly produced.