Reviews (page 5 of 14)
A surprise! Somehow, I never even heard of this album, but it was great. I'm usually not a fan of R&B, but this has some quality that won me over.
Pretty interesting album. I liked it
Every musical genre is on her debut album. She is incredible. Glad to see her recognized on this list.
Muy sorprendente,una mezcla de todo.
I love her. Are her albums full of filler? Yes, but it's pretty interesting filler. A song like Make the Bus executes proggy turns that would make Queen proud. This is Monae getting all her half-baked ideas out before buckling down to the great albums to follow.
A bit long but engaging
Mostly upbeat neo-soul ear worms.
An extra point for that little bit of Satie.
I've wondered why Janelle Monae isn't a bigger star. Singing, composing, acting, and dancing all seem to come naturally to her and she excels at all of them. Giving this one only four stars because I think her subsequent records are even better.
Just a bit too much dicking around to keep this from being a 5.
Never heard of this (or her). A mixed bag of songs and styles - but on the whole positive. Might listen again at some point.
Strong open, one lull, at least three surprises, will listen again
disco-pop album. it has nice drive and melodies, sometimes it's too repetetive. it has a combination of disco, pop, african-american things and western stuff
Now this is the good stuff. I'd heard snatches of Monáe's work before and was vaguely aware that their work was built around a science fiction Metropolis concept, but hadn't fully listened to an entire album. Now that I have, you can definitely hear all the influences in here, there's definitely undertones of Prince and both Janet and Michael Jackson in here. I'll be honest that I didn't really follow how the concept all tied in, but ome songs like "Dance or Die" were just absolute bangers.
Good album, cool afrofuturism sci-fi concept, nice groovy beats.
Great, didn't know this one, and it's indeed a great album!
Gr8 4.5 if I could. We'll see how I feel about it when the newness factor wears off
Pretty nice
(6/7) fun stuff
enjoyed it! i had her previous album on my ipod but never followed up. 3.5
God I love Janelle Monae. For being from 2010, it's not aged nearly as cringe-ily as one might expect
Seeing the Tightrope music video was always totally enrapturing and I love Janelle Monae completely but this album does start to drag
very good i need to relisten tho
3.5/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/janelle-monae/the-archandroid/ Quite cool, but also absolutely too long. Ballzy to do that for your first album, I do have to admit. I really like a lot of the songs quite a bit, but then there are also too many songs that do nothing for me (as is often the case with 60+ min albums).
A modern R&B album from the perspective of an android? I approached this with a lot of skepticism and was delighted to be proved wrong. Monáe has an incredible voice as a singer and both dexterity and humour as a rapper. The writing was compelling and heartfelt and the record took me on a musical journey through hip hop, funk, soul and some hints of folk. It’s a bit of a kaleidoscopic record. I had mixed feelings about the autotune on Mushrooms and Roses but the guitar was great on that track so I’m not mad.
Een naar boven afgeronde 4 sterren voor mij. Knallers van jewelste, maar ook wat net-niet nummers, het schrappen van 2/3 nummers had misschien geholpen daarbij
Very interesting! Big pool of tracks I like and some I think are okay.
Damn this album was just non stop bangers, might even be a 5 on a relisten
album #55 whilst it's a 4★ for me, it is definitely a 5★ debut album. janelle monáe is an artist through and through, and her work is incredibly deserving of its place on this list. this album is unique, grandiose, and fantastically crafted! i love the storied aspects throughout - the way every track works together to make this beautiful, alice-in-scifiland painting. i love janelle monáe, and this has only encouraged that! ꩜ average track rating: 3.7/5 ꩜ favourite track(s): cold war, come alive, mushrooms &roses ꩜ least favourite track(s): say you'll go ꩜ album rating: ★★★★☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 1,034 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 31 (+1 The ArchAndroid) ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 12 (+1 The ArchAndroid) ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 43
I haven't listened to this album, and I think I only recognize 1 or 2 tracks by title. This is interesting and I enjoyed it, but it's maybe just shy of a 5.
Andre 3000 and Frank Ocean merged to form an archon, and the resultant extra dimensional being identifies as a woman with cybernetic enhancements.
Так, это определенно будущая пятерка. Но мне надо быть уверенным!
This is what they call afrofuturism. Sério, a variedade de texturas que a Janelle apresenta aqui me lembra um pouco os álbuns clássicos da Janet Jackson. Só que... alguém aí sabe se ela algum dia vai concluir essa narrativa?
Is good
really well produced, but not always interesting
Far from my taste, totally new artist on my radar but was quite entertaining and good. Liked it.
Not sure I've ever listened to any of her music before, very cool album.
Who? I feel like I've heard of her name before, but I have no idea. Suite II Overture - cool but I assume unrelated overall. Dance or Die - would have done numbers in the 1980s I think. Fun song. Faster - very fun, noice. Locked Inside - wouldn't be a proper album without mentioning genocide, ya know? Sir Greendown - obligatory downtempo to space things out, some tones were interesting at least. Cold War - and we're back with something upbeat. Like the electric guitar later on, but it's a nice song altogether. Interesting lyrics from what I can pick up. Tightrope - not as keen on this one, anything mentioning "haters" is always gonna be mid at best, and idk if I needed the rap at all, it brings down the song relative to what was previously on the album. Neon Gumbo - for a song with such a provocative name this is SADLY just an intermission. Oh, Maker - it's OK but didn't quite land, at least not now, didn't catch my attention. Come Alive (War of the Roses) - SCHIZO MENTIONED?? Immediately a more evocative tune. Oh wait, no, why is she singing like that? I guess this was for her soul and/or artistry and/or to test herself, but it does lower the simple enjoyability of the song. Impressive length there I guess Mushrooms & Roses - oh no now we're in the ephemeral zone. It's alright. Suite III Overture - uhh yeah well uh transition. Neon Valley Street - the album has kinda lost me now, no strong feelings here. Make the Bus - what the hell? Figures it's a song about the bus that goes off the rails. Hah, get it? Realm of fantasy indeed. Wondaland - quaint, but I prefer the style of the earlier tracks, they really got me grooving and moving. 57821 - lovely song, instantly made me envision a beautiful Arthurian landscape. Say You'll Go - Uhhh Christmas-y? BaBopByeYa - James Bond-y? But then it keeps changing and transforming in unusual ways. Fun listen, evocative.
1 - Suite II Overture (sweeping and cinematic, this opener practically plays the album's opening credits on top of its slinking and mysterious sounding woodwinds and dramatic crashes of percussion. It really sets the stage for a varied and eclectic experience as found in the songs to follow it) 3.5/5 2 - Dance or Die (following a cinematic classical opening, we get an Afro-Caribbean beat moving conscious lyrics ever forward. There's a wonderful mix of genres on display here with a catchy chorus featuring as a center pin. Quite moving for an opener!) 4/5 3 - Faster (transitions from the previous track, which is a production trick I'm quite fond of. This one keeps a vague skeleton of the predecessor's beat but now turns it into a swing song! It effortlessly shuffles along before reaching a breakdown and bringing back a guitar heard earlier to give it a funkier edge. Impressed with the many genres on display here; it really feels like a dance challenge scene, again referencing the cinematic scope of this album) 4/5 4 - Locked Inside (transitioning once again, this one is a more conventional R&B song and abandons all previous elements save the funky guitar, which has returned to the background. This one could easily be confused for a cover of a Michael Jackson song. It's a bright, sugary sweet song full of joy. This album has been on a solid track so far) 4/5 5 - Sir Greendown (slow and contemplative, this song reminds me of a slow walk down a night time city street. Monae's voice floats and dances over the electric piano and subdued beat to call to mind an smoky jazz club performance. Very pleasant and succinct, continuing the momentum despite the slow tempo) 4/5 6 - Cold Water (I was immediately snapped out of the dreamlike atmosphere when the breakbeast-esque drums popped up. Monae is now shouting about freedom (whichever kind you'd like to interpret.) I like to think this song is a splash of cold water to wake the listener up. This is the strongest Monae's voice has sounded on this album so far. Fine song but the first one to be a slight step down for me) 3.5/5 7 - Tightrope (a classic Motown opening with the stomping drums and Monae's 1:1 rendition of a quintessential Motown verse. The chorus keeps this up to really make this feel like a long-lost underrated classic that wouldn't sound of its place in Motown's heyday. This is the first song to really play it straight with no wild genre shifts) 4/5 8 - Neon Gumbo (this is an interlude filled with voices played forwards and backwards, backed by some synths and possibly guitars played much the same way. Nothing else to report on here) 3/5 9 - Oh, Maker (now at the halfway point of the album, Monae gives us the first proper ballad. It has a very theatrical quality to it and it makes me think it almost featured on the soundtrack for a Broadway musical before being repurposed for this album. Another strong performance from Monae herself of course, though this is admittedly another song played completely straight, to a fault really) 3.5/5 10 - Come Alive (War of the Roses) (now THIS one is definitely a show tune! I can easily picture this being a Disney villain song. Monae sounds absolutely manic on this with a shredding performance that takes the listener to the most extreme edges of her voice. Truly a powerhouse performance from her and all those involved, in a song I could only call the supernova performance of the album(!)) 4.5/5 11 - Mushrooms & Roses (the mellotrons and booming drums on this set a prog rock mood, especially Yes. Monae's verses are heavily processed and phased through a flanger or talk box of some sort. The choruses are very Prince as are the searing guitars in those sections. It pushes even further into Prince territory with the spoken verse 2 minutes in. The guitars only get more intense and are similarly phased as they solo all over the place while the song fades out. I didn't feel this song's 5 and 1/2 minutes at all) 4.5/5 12 - Suite III Overture (this interlude returns to the cinematic classical sound that so clearly defined the first track. I would normally consider it the second act opening but we're a little past that. This one has a few more voices appearing and they're a little clearer than they were previously; once again, it sounds like the intermission of a classic epic movie from the 1960s. Pretty enough though not super memorable at the end of it) 3.5/5 13 - Neon Valley Street (smooth and very trip hop in its sound, this one is a nice change of pace. It's lush and full of very nice string passages, and Monae sells the relaxed delivery. Main highlight for me is that distant, underwater sounding guitar solo that leads to the brief outro) 4/5 14 - Make the Bus (this one is a piece of driving indie electronica featuring Of Montreal. There's some nice layering of harmonies on the hook that recall Queen. Honestly this whole things sounds like a mismatch of Queen, Bowie, and a third new wave I can't quite put my finger on. All I can say is nothing I've heard sounds exactly like this...!) 4/5 15 - Wondaland (a fun trip hop beats underpins a fun little song. There's a cutesy fantastical aesthetic on this song, offering another change from the otherwise serious and fully convinced album. It's a great piece of funky modern R&B played totally straightforward, even with the brief "Hallelujah" interjection at the very end) 3.5/5 16 - 57821 (and now the most mechanical title on the album is an entirely acoustic folk tune(!) No end to the surprises and fusions on this album I suppose. It has a choral feel throughout its runtime, and the reverb makes it sound like it's actually coming from the upper floor of a church. Very interesting choice to make for this album) 4/5 17 - Say You'll Go (the final sequence of the album kicks off with an elaborate artsy pop track referencing spirituality and liberation through love and actualization. It builds little by little but never really leaves the mellow, low-key pace it establishes right at the start. It keeps at this until the electronics and rhythm dissolve and leave Monae alone with a piano and faraway backup singers. A pretty piece to be sure, but it's a little overlong and uninteresting considering how late it comes in the album) 3/5 18 - BaBopByeYa (the nearly 9-minute closer opens with a smooth, slinky jazz verse from Monae. It's so heavily based on swirlings strings and rhythms bubbling under it that it could be reworked into a Scott Walker song. The song then transforms into a danceable (?) piano tune that sounds like Monae is singing alone from a dancefloor, tangoing to the melancholy the instrumentation conveys. This half ends with an almost tribal beat and low-register chants, so we've already gone through several moods in less than 5 minutes. The cinematic instruments return for a spoken word performance that sort of becomes jazz poetry set to classical music. A lone violin leads us into the final section, which simply ties everything together in a climactic, theatrical "I must go," signalling the titular android has now fulfilled its duty of spreading its message among people (this whole album has been a reference/continued imaging of the Metropolis series, and it might only hit you at the very tail end of it.) All in all this is undoubtedly the best way to end the album; one last giant genre fusion) 4.5/5 OVERALL - 7.6/10
Oh man is she a genius, breezing through styles and juggling them all with grace. Could easily be a 5 if it made the right length cuts or if the bottom half had a bit more flash to it. There's hardly a bad song though (I think Come Alive sucked), and besides her genre surprises, features like Big Boi and Of Montreal on the same goddamn album are insane. Probably gonna binge all her stuff now.
incredible rnb album. very groovy and deserving of a strong 9/10. First listen tracklist ranking: 1. Cold War 2. BaBopByeYa 3. Mushrooms & Roses 4. Tightrope 5. Dance or Die 6. Locked Inside 7. Come Alive 8. 57821 9. Faster 10. Oh, Maker 11. Say You’ll Go 12. Neon Valley Street 13. Wondaland 14. Make the Bus 15. Sir Greendown 16. Neon Gumbo 17. Suite III Overture 18. Suite II Overture
Weirdly fantastic album tho totally caught me off guard. I was so ready to disappoint but no no no. I don't yet know how much I like this weirdness but quite much.
Day 265 Could have done with being a few songs shorter but really fun album Highlights Cold War Mushrooms and Roses Wondaland
Another surprise. Had it pegged as a 2 or 3 in the first half, and then it got way more weird and interesting and fun. There was a random Of Montreal song somewhere in there? Cool record.
This was actually pretty great. Going in, I was thinking this would be a light to decent 3, but it ended up being a high 3, light 4. Going 4 here, but probably my least favorite 4 so far.
Still really good. Wish I thought it was great.
so energetic and fun. I think this album quotes both Claire De Lune and Boulevard of Broken Dreams
There’s a 5 star 45 minute version of this
8/10
Wowsers! She has some vocals. I love the variety of music & sounds, everything from rap to smooth melody to pop.
Really good!
Surprising album. Good singer, a lot of creativity and different songs. Quite good.
Enjoyed that more than i thought i would
Highlights: Suite II Overture, Dance or Die, Faster, Locked Inside, Tightrope, Come Alive (War of the Roses), Mushrooms & Roses, Suite III Overture, Neon Valley Street, Wondaland, 57821, Say You'll Go, BaBopByeYa
I liked this album a lot, it fit into my own personal tastes way more than I expected!
1) Suite II Overture - My favorite album opener so far. and then the transition into 2) Dance or Die is PHENOMENAL!! I literally gasped out loud hearing it come up after Suite II. I love it when music can give you those "wow" moments. 3) Faster - I really love the energy in this song! Monáe's vocals are SO crisp and wonderful. Thank you music 4) Locked Inside - UURRRGHHH THIS CHORUS! MWAH MWAH MWAH! This makes me want to dance down the grocery store aisle and I mean that in the best way possible. If this was the music that played at my job as a cashier maybe I wouldn't have wanted to quit. I have to say again that the vocals are so GOOOOOD!!! Buttery smooth. 5) Sir Greendown - Slowing down here, but that's not a bad thing! I'm really impressed with the range of this album. In my opinion, the best albums have both a range of sound AND a cohesive feel, and ArchAndroid is nailing it so far. 6) Cold War - "KELLINDOOOOO!!!!!!!" AND THEN THE GUITAR GOES CRAAAAZYYY YES YES YESSS! even with not liking this song as much as the others it's still really good! 7) t-t-t-tip on the Tightrope - i think that this song would make a good DDR map. It has solid rhythm. the album is DANCING! 8) Neon Gumbo - i am a SUCKER for reversed songs! 9) Oh Maker - huh! oh i LIKE THIS! the slower pace doesn't make this any less of a vibe! i reallllyyy like the way the song introduces itself, and it stays warm and wonderful the whole way through. Monáe can SING! my only fault with this one is the outro, but I think it might have been necessary to make this work next to 10) Come Alive (War of the Roses) - the other thing I have to fault Monáe for is the ableist language, which jarring at best, but it was also 2010. unfortunate because otherwise i REALLY LIKE the sound of this song, especially the guitar and the louder vocals. 11) Mushrooms and Roses - the intro is pretty solid, I like the percussion and then the voice effects are REALLY FUN. a classic Song About A Location. we love to see it. 12) Suite Overture III - similarly to the other overture, it might not be a song I'd listen to in any other context, but in the context of the album it works perfectly. I like the fuzzy sort of vocals. A much stronger song than the first overture. 13) Neon Valley Overture - the breakdown in this song is so GOOD. urghhh. and once again the guitar comes in clutch as the best instrument of all time. sorry i don't make the rules. 14) Make The Bus - oh this is FUN. lots of cool stuff happening with the vocals. kevin barnes was right to give this song to this album, it adds a lot to it! 15) Wondaland - this is so dreamy and peppy. wonderland indeed! 16) 57821 - I really like the echo-y sort of melancholic feel of this song. With all of the energy in this album, I think the slower bits really complement it well. 17) Say You'll Go - My least favorite song of the album, but still a good song. 18) BaBopByeYa - slow and confident and SMOOOOTH. a stellar way to end the album! i'm ALSO a sucker for songs that have several distinct Parts. this is a long song that EARNS AND RELISHES in its length! urghh. THANK YOU MUSIC. ArchAndroid succeeds at tying everything together despite each song sounding so distinct!! After a few albums I wasn't much of a fan of, this was a WONDERFUL surprise. this is absolutely something I would listen to again!! concept albums my BELOVED.
The ArchAndroid is a record that is perhaps too ambitious for its own good. When it lands, the highs are incredible, but it’s also a flawed project held back by its length. It feels as if Janelle Monáe wanted to get all of her ideas out, and more often than not, it works. Even from the grand opening, the listener feels as if this is going to be something big. I love albums with scale, and this is one such project. It’s soulful, rooted in R&B, and often psychedelic. The transitions are beautiful, and the album really has everything. Even Big Boi makes an appearance. It’s also impressive how mature it sounds, even as a debut album. I went in with no expectations and found myself tapping along, pleasantly surprised. The best tracks are "Dance or Die", "Mushrooms & Roses", "Wondaland". I also liked the weirdness of "Neon Gumbo".
Wow. Might need to listen again to fully appreciate it.
Hooly shit! What an album. There are a couple of absolute stinkers on here, but the rest is fantastic! Best Song: Tightrope Rating: 8.5/10 Stars: 4
Eclectic mix of songs
*72 Oh shit, yes queen og alt det der. Janelle Monáe har altid været en weirdo. Havde ikke forventet dette album på listen. Der er nogle forbier i denne lidt rodede omgang, men toppen er rigtig høj. Vi er på en lille 4’er.
so cool! I especially loved the production of the overtures. bonus for the ofMontreal feature
Janelle Monáe seems like one of those artists who is so brilliant that she overcomplicates her music just to keep her brain interested. There have been a few artists like that on this list, and I've probably made that note a few times. She's not content to just churn out amazing pop songs. She also has to have string orchestra interludes, experimental tracks, and craft a narrative concept album about a runaway android. I remember feeling relieved a few years ago when she loosened up a bit. Her albums have been less pretentious lately. But even with those extras, there are still plenty of fun tracks here, especially in the first half. "Cold War" and "Tightrope" are classics in my book. I remember those songs really rocking my world when this came out. "Dance or Die" and "Faster" are really good too. And I've always loved "Wondaland" -- that was a song I used to like sneaking onto party playlists. It's such a bop. You could probably end the album with "Wondaland." That last stretch of songs is where the album gets particularly bloated.
Janelle Monáe's debut album is one that, at first brush, defies description. I'll certainly give it a shot, though. it's a 70-minute sci-fi concept album forming the second and third suites of (what's expected to eventually be) a seven-suite body of work titled Metropolis, and it traverses way too many genres of music to name in an orderly fashion. somehow, all of this musical and conceptual underpinning kind of melts away when you actually sit and listen to The ArchAndroid from top to bottom; after that, you're just left with a batch of incredible songs. from R&B, soul, funk and hip hop to orchestral whimsy, neo-psychedelia (one of these songs is just an of Montreal track in disguise) and electronica, Monáe always feels at home. the first seven tracks of Suite II run into each other seamlessly, and could from a killer EP by themselves; the rapped features from Saul Williams and Big Boi are fantastic, and I particularly enjoy the "B.O.B."-esque breakbeat on "Cold War". Monáe and co. nearly match up to it on the more experimental Suite III, an equally impressive run through a much wider emotional gamut. there's easily enough compelling material for me to write several more paragraphs, but I'd have to sit with this album for way longer to do that. I just might! strong 8/10.
This was an eye-opener. I knew the song Tightrope, and thought it amazing, but never thought to listen to the album it's on. And here's suites II and II of an extended concept project - full of funk and sparkle and interesting bits, I like it quite a bit. It's genre-fluid - no unpleasant bits. I feel let down by the lyrics (very 'love' oriented, but without depth - gesturing at plot of a movie that doesn't exist - not unpleasant but not really engaging with actual people's lives), but the music is decent. The range of moods is a bit whiplash inducing, so I don't think the album as a whole is Wonderful, but I'll say it's Good, 7/10.
I can see the hype. Great voice and production, fresh, varied, and not stale like most albums on this list. 4*
Buen disco, variado y con una buena producción. Buena voz. Se merece estar en la lista.
Refreshing to hear. And weird.
She is so good. 4
Pretty nice album. Lots of styles, lots of energy.
very lovely listen!
really good! not my style though, but enjoyed some grooves. Fav: oh, maker & mushrooms
Buenas música, me gusto
I knew nothing of Janelle Monae or her music. The cover art was interesting and thought I noticed the Metropolis theme and was surprised I was correct. While the movie is a technical and stylistic wonder, the story is utter rubbish. Fritz Lang, the esteemed director, said it was rubbish and it was written by his wife (who became a Nazi while Fritz escaped to the West). That is all to say, low expectations if you are basing your music on the worst part of a landmark film yet I am happy to say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the album. It was varied, moved with an almost urgency and quite different from most things I have heard (except Outkast because there was a lot of Outkast on this album)....Overall, a good experience.
Holy RANGE. only a few tracks really stuck out as something I'd come back to for casual listening, but it's all thoroughly entertaining nonetheless. So much creativity and whimsy. Highlights: 57821, Faster, Locked Inside, Neon Valley Street, Mushrooms & Roses
Très rafraîchissant! Belle découverte! Like it!
Bis auf 'make the bus' echt gutes Album. Am ende gehts ein bisschen zu lange aber ansonsten machts viel spaß 4/5
I've never heard the soundtrack for Wicked, but if you told me this was it I'd probably believe you. This album almost takes itself too seriously, but is still catchy and fun overall.
Rating: 8/10 Janelle Monae's ArchAndroid is one of the most interesting and unique contemporary r&b albums with a cool futuristic sci-fi themes and a production style and sound to match. While it runs long and the first half of the track list is much stronger, the album as a whole is still both fun and ambitious and really pulls it off. And it's a debut.
This was a varied and really enjoyable album. Some bangers, some beauty. All round I really enjoyed it.
4.5/5. Menevä. Pitää olla menevä olo ja menevää tekemistä. Lähellä ylivireytymistä. Ihana ja kaunis, taiteellinen.
Strong thematically, but the variety of musical genres could be jarring. It was an interesting listen.
A slightly unusual one in than I didn't love it, but did really appreciate the range of genres covered and how fun she makes the whole experience. 'Cold War' stood out
Diferente
Loved this. Surprising hit. Will be listening again. Bit of pop/rap/r&b mixed with pink floyd
Honestly, it’s a really good album. Some tracks are better than others, but I was pleasantly surprised. I like how it blends different genres and styles
How did I not know this artist? If this sprawling mix tape is her debut I can't wait to hear where she went from there.
The ArchAndroid destaca la excelente técnica vocal de Monáe, cuya precisión alcanza una cualidad sobrehumana. Es evidente su papel como precursora estilística para otras artistas afrodescendientes contemporáneas. Aunque la producción es predominantemente festiva, subyace en el álbum un trasfondo oscuro e inquietante que añade profundidad a la narrativa. Los pasajes románticos se alejan del sentimentalismo convencional para proyectar la noción de un amor futurista, sugiriendo una conexión más vinculada a la programación que a la espontaneidad humana. En conjunto, es un álbum de una sofisticación técnica y conceptual excepcional.
I really appreciated the eclectic sound throughout this album - I think it was really well done, balanced, and executed. I can't put my finger on it, but it just didn't connect fully to me. I'd give this album a 4.5 if possible, but a 5 doesn't seem appropriate.
My ears are now blessed.
I enjoyed this a LOT. I fell behind for a few days because I thought I was going to hate this, but I’ve listened to it twice now. Will definitely be checking out her other albums.
Groovy
I think Ill definitely like this more after a 2nd listen-through.
4.2 I only really know of Janelle from her gettin her tits out a couple years back whenever she got the chance, for whatever reason (promoting an album I guess?) Well, she doesnt need to pull those stunts (although it is appreciated, she's a bad one). Thought the album was pretty great front to back and side to side. There are some common bells and whistles throughout the production parts ; I guess that would be my only knock. (but song to song, everything was quite varied and interesting) R&B Bowie.
So glad this site put me on Janelle!!!
Su
Janelle Monáe explored a lot of new ground with this album.
Really interesting album, huge mix of genres and styles, will give this another listen
I really enjoyed this album actually quite a bit. Especially *Suite II* which I think was a nice feel of '70s and '80s funk I can hear a little bit of both Epic period Jacksons and Prince in the mix of some funk and a little bit of hip Hop. It was a great eclectic mix of R&B all over the place. *Suite 3* however stayed pretty much more modern. There are some neo Soul tracks on this part that I really like, especially "Say You'll Go". And then there's tracks like "Make the Bus" (f/Of Montreal) that quite frankly really just didn't do anything for me. I'd say the first two thirds of the album, basically *Suite I*, I was wanting to give it a light to moderate 4½ stars, but that last third really didn't rise up more than a really light 4. I do respect and enjoy the cinematic aspect of the album especially the score sounding overtures and how they bookend both Suites. It kind of makes me want to check out the other three parts of this Saga (her debut EP and sophomore album). I think as for this album as one unit, I'm just going to have to go with a mid 4 (8.5) ★★★★
Nice modern soul. 4 stars
Wow. Wasn’t sure what to expect with this album. Janelle Monae has a beautiful voice. This kind of reminds me of Yes when they were in concert. I’m writing this before I check on who Janelle is and what this album is all about. Kind of a cool sound to keep in the background when you are working or playing a game.
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
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.
Not my bag but I think they are a cool artist.
4.2/5
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.
Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
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.
Super cool concept, loved the production and energy on this one
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.
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.
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.
9/10 – Great
love the egyptian like sound
P: me sorprendió el estilo solo una canción me gusto
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.
lowkenuinely really good
This album was beautiful. I have not heard of her and was very impressed.
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
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
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.
I’ve only ever heard her name, and was glad to get to hear this album.
Fucking awesome
Uppgötvaði þarna nýjan listamann sem mér líkaði
Góður fyrri partur, en seinni hlutinn náði mér algerlega.
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.
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.
Very long and ambitious album. Well executed but a tough listen at times.
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
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"
Downright magical.
16/20 Plutôt une belle découverte
Quite an eclectic mix of different styles. Quite enjoyed this, good production with a few really catchy songs.
Really fun album! In concept, sound, and production, Janelle delivers a really unique pop album that still remains catchy and fun throughout. Solid recommendation!
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.
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
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.
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
Much slower and chill than I expected. Tightrope is a jammmm
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.
Good.
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.
que increible janelle monáe <3
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
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.
Rating: 8/10 Eclectic with amazing production.
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 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
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.
ahead of its time!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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.
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.
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
pretty cool
fireee made me want to dance
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!
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
Never heard Janelle Monáe before. I was pleasantly surprised by how diverse this album was.
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 miss music like this.. So contagious ✨
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.
A cool quarky album.
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)
fun album, good for you Janelle
Bit long, but very pleasant.
ok this was a lot better than I was expecting
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.
I was not expecting this to turn into a theatrical release
I think she is a genius. Her music is also F-U-N
Standouts: - Come Alive - Holy powerful non binary vocals - 57821 - Lots of fuzzy layers to get lost in - BaBopByeYa - I really enjoyed the length here. This album is really good. Definitely needs a few more listens for me to absorb. It almost feels like it's split into acts. It's hard for me to pick standouts because a lot of the songs flow into each other naturally and they all sound great. There's a ridiculous amount of talent on display and it's nice to have something so different in this list. The last song made me feel like there should have been a few longer songs rather than a lot of short songs This album is kinda a 3 but I'm bumping it up to a 4 because of the obvious talent. I'd love to see what they can do on a more focused album but at the same time keep doing whatever you want!
Really impressively diverse. Borders on the Beyoncé a bit too much at times but has plenty to outweigh that flaw
I've had a soft spot for Janelle Monae since I first heard her stuff a few years back. I don't think I ever listened to one of her albums though. This one starts of super strong. Dance or Die, Faster and Locked Inside are all super funky, groovy tracks. Tightrope is a super funky track, and the video is cool. At this point, I'm already starting to think this is an album I'll come back to. By the time Suite III starts, it gets a little on the weirder side for a bit, but not so much that it doesn't work. Wondaland for example, is a fun track. 57821 is a late 60s Simon and Garfunkel track and I won't hear any opinions to the contrary. The final track is another odd one, but in an ambitious album like this that seems to have everything, why not an old jazz throwback. This album isn't perfect, but it's definitely something really good. 4/5
I really enjoyed this. Lots of different music and styles. This is what an album should be on this list.
Enjoyable retro-pop feel to some songs, and the futuristic sound I know better from her later albums on others. Didn’t get to listen to the full thing.
The first truly pleasant surprise from this exercise. Had never heard of the artist or the album and it was all very good and entertaining. Concept albums are not my jam but I enjoyed this a lot and will definitely revisit it.
This was actually really good, I was very impressed.
Fav songs: Cold War, Wondaland, Make the Bus Sci-fi worldbuilt album is conceptually really cool
Eine Intresaante Musik und Gesang , würde ich kaufen
Very funky, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Crazy genre fuckery going on here. Love it. Also very clear that Stevie wonder is a favorite of Janelle monae cuz there are two songs that just about directly interpolate songs by him. What’s not to like!
Not typical for any albums, really enjoyed that one song with reversed lyrics and name
All over the place but in the best possible way. Fresh and everchanging, engaging and... fun? Some great beats, on pointe rapping, then next minute big band swing. Love it.
Always good, sometimes great, but a bit too long
Wild Art Pop that is quite surprising to the ears. Great stuff all around.
I’ve been familiar with Janelle Monae for a while but never really given her my full attention. Overall I’m pretty impressed with this album. Her songs were accessible while also showcasing real vocal talent. Will be coming back to the well for certain.
good vocals
This album shocked me. It was pretty good, especially tightrope, the intro, Mushroom & Roses, among other good songs. Sometimes a little too techno. Overall good. I only knew this singer from Glass Onion before listening to this album lol
Surprisingly good for an artist that a) is so recent and b) I've never heard of outside of a movie. There are some really interesting genre blends here and the production is pretty stellar on most of the tracks. Honestly if the album ended at track 11 I might've given it a 5, but I think the last bit doesn't have the same punch and causes an unnecessary drag. Favorites were Dance or Die, Cold War, Oh, Maker, and 57821.
Swingy, varied, impressive voice
Sounds like the love child of Lauryn Hill and Amy Winehouse. And I’m ok with that. Love the beats and bongo presence. Definitely some highs on the album.
It’s pure 80s skating freedom. Light. Airy. Fast. Speed carries you forward, you carve a sharp turn, and everyone’s energy collides into one electric moment.
She matches the ambition of Prince. Doesn't quite have the songs to match but I respect the pursuit. The fact that Faster and Mushrooms and Roses can coexist on the same album and both work independently is nothing short of extraordinary. Impressive.
4/5 quite a fun album! enjoyed listened. probs liked around half of them.
couple of corny lyrics but overall a really solid fun album make the bus just completely throws me though, did not enjoy that song highlights: dance or die, sir greendown, wondaland 4
Very fun Übergänge Sehr flott
honestly very good, honestly i didn’t finish it but seems good, most are in best music so far, pretty voice
Solid album but not my favorite genre
I had never listened to Janelle Monae before but I will continue to now. Some of these songs are so much fun with so much energy, it was a great driving listen stuck in LA traffic to keep me energized. There were a couple of duds, like I was not a fan of Oh Maker. The intro song felt very theatrical, not something I'd listen to again. There was a lot of variety which I appreciated- I liked the horns in tightrope, the swing of come alive, the vocals on make the bus. I think if every song was one I would add to a playlist it'd be rated higher but because of many new bangers I found, it's earned it's rating.
Crazy eclectic style and plenty of bangers
thought it was gonna be just instrumentals at first lol actually so fun love Tightrope kinda whimsical
Okei, intro sai mut luulemaan että tää on jotain instrumentaalimusiikkia mutta ei onneksi. Rakastan albumeita, joissa biisit vaihtuu saumattomasti toisesta toiseen ja siinä jos missä tämä albumi on onnistunut erittäin hyvin. Välillä kappaleen vaihtumista ei edes huomaa ellei seuraa tarpeeksi tarkkaan. Soundikin on ihan kiva. Energistä musiikkia ainakin alun biisien perusteella. Sisältää myös biisejä joita ei meinaa jaksaa kuunnella mutta kokonaisuudessaan ihan hyvä albumi. Monista biiseistä ihan oikeasti tykkäsin.
Really interesting
From moment one I knew it was going to be a wild ride.
This was a breath of fresh air. Really interesting album, beautiful production, and Janelle's vocals are wonderful. I've only listened to her most recent album from 2023, so I'm partially familiar with her work. I've been wanting to check out more of her albums, so I'm glad I listened to this album. Awesome album cover too! Really enjoyed this!
Reminds me of Alicia Keys in the best way; I like how it weaves together classical music and r&b into something else
This album did not feel nearly as long as it was. Excellently crafted and extremely catchy.
A new discovery for me.. its not really my jam but I did really enjoy it. Its a eclectic mix of styles that hangs together well and grooves along. Very accomplished for a debut. Its a very high 4 - that could turn into a 5 if I listen a few more times (which I probably will)
8/10
Soothing sound, variety of styles, accomplished, really liked it
Very good start but dies down
Fun!
song by song: ----- Suite II Overture - 3.5/5, it's giving film soundtrack Dance or die (ft. Saul Williams) - 3/5, it grew on me underveis Faster - 3.5/5, catchy Locked Inside - 3.5/5, the *clap clap* was perfect Sir Greendown - 4.5/5, very good but I probably won't listen to it again Cold War - 4/5, chours on point Tightrope (ft. Big Boi) - 4/5, "Do damage to your cabbage?" Avatar reference?? Neon Gumbo - 2/5, oh, a song-shaped object in my headphones Oh, Maker - 4.5/5, this close to clicking 'liked songs' Come Alive (War of the Roses) - 4.5/5, the villain song from a musical that goes viral Mushrooms & Roses - 1/5, and then she turned into a robot Suite III Overture - 3/5, instrumental's just not my style Neon Valley Street - 3.5/5, she should rap more Make the Bus (ft. Of Montreal) - 4/5, If Marina and ___ had a baby this would be it Wondaland - 4.5/5, "Take her back to Wondaland / She thinks she left her underpants" HELL YEAH 57821 (ft. Deep Cotton) - 4.5/5, ethereal Say You'll Go - 2.5/5, so much potential BaBopByeYa - 3.5/5, another musical song she's a theatre kid fr overall score - 3.5/5
I really enjoyed how some of the songs blended together really well. Definitely an enjoyable listen.
weird feeling idk how to explain (not bad feeling)
So fun and futuristic
I like :)
Gotta toss this one on in the bg next time I watch Metropolis
I don’t love it as much as dirty computer but I know it was a critical darling when it initially came out in 2010
A great debut album by a very talented artist. I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. My one complaint is that it did go on a tad long. There were a few songs at the end that should have hit the cutting room floor.
Album No. 0108 on my list. Woah, what an overwhelming album - I had no idea what I was getting into! I had never heard of Janelle Monae before, but I was very surprised about how great this album is. I love the eclecticism on this. Mixing so many different genres is not always good, but it worked out very well here. You got pop, jazz, soul, hip hop, even classical influences, but they work very well together. There is a large variety between the songs, but there is still a very high degree of coherence between them. The album feels very ‘complete’ in that sense. It’s not just a collection of songs, it is an album indeed. Beyond that coherence, the songs themselves are mostly pretty good as well. Monae and her fellow musicians really showed a lot of talent here. I’ll add “Dance Or Die”, “Locked In Here”, “Cold War”, and “Tightrope”, to my playlist, though I rather think these are representative of the variety of the album. Good album. Really overwhelming in the best way. 4/5 stars!
Experimental. Daring. Fun. Challenging. This should have been much bigger than it was. I enjoyed it and I know many critics lavished praise on it but it should have hit the stratosphere. Maybe that's a good thing because it wasn't overplayed. This was a nice discovery of an artist I've been meaning to check out.
Hat mich überrascht uns gefreut, dass das Album hier auftaucht. Geht wahnsinnig stark los und ist in seiner stilistischen Vielfalt beeindruckend. Hatte die schon 2-3 mal gehört und gedacht, dass sie zu lang ist. War diesmal anders, vielleicht bald 5 Sterne.
Pleasing discovery of progressive soul and alternative R&B, sublimated by the voice range of Janelle Monae.
Päris põnev kõla on paljudel lugudel, hea produ juures (mis on piisavalt vahelduv ning võtab erinevatest žanritest šnitti). Samas mingi asi tundub selle albumi puhul lihtsalt... veider või mitte nii hea. Lood ei ole just meeldejäävad, aga äkki peabki lihtsalt rohkem kuulama. Reitinguks 3.5/5, aga hinde mõttes pigem 4.
This was a fun album from start to finish and I had no problem staying engaged despite the album’s length. I’d have to listen again to really know how it works as a concept album, but I have a feeling I’ll enjoy it more the second time. I worked at a Ruby Tuesday for 4 years in the early 2010’s and Tightrope was apart of the restaurant’s shuffling playlist the whole time. I’ve heard that song 100’s of times and always thought it was pretty cool though I never knew who/what it was. Hearing it again today after so long was unexpectedly wonderful!
Not really my thing but I appreciate the artistry and skill put into it.
Gets a +1 for being a pretty unique entry on the list. 4/5
Ganz schönes Konzept eigentlich. Mir gefallen die mehreren Abschnitte des Albums sehr gut.
Es ist sehr lang und eigentlich nicht mein Genre, aber ich m muss anerkennen, dass es trotzdem sehr kurzweilig und spannend war. Hier sind genug Ideen drin, der Gesang ist toll, der Sound groß,.nur mein persönlicher Geschmack steht der 5 im Weg
Listened to this a lot--inventive, lush, and a lot of fun
Suite II Overture - 4/5 Dance or Die - 4/5 Faster - 4/5 Locked Inside - 5/5 Sir Greendown - 4/5 Cold War - 5/5 Tightrope - 5/5 Neon Gumbo - 3/5 Oh, Maker - 4/5 Come Alive - 5/5 Mushrooms & Roses - 4/5 Suite III Overture - 3.5/5 Neon Valley Street - 4.5/5 Make the Bus - 3.5/5 Wondaland - 4/5 57821 - 4.5/5 Say You'll Go - 5/5 BabopbyeYa - 4/5 A nearly effortless blend of genres for an incredible debut album. This would be a 5 except it kind of loses me towards the end but the ending two tracks pull me back into what I loved about it. The run-up to that middle stretch managed to blend together soul, funk, R&B, and more that loosely fits into her whole sci-fi concept the album is trying to portray, but I feel its a bit too loose of a concept that I may not have fully got. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Locked Inside, Cold War, Tightrope, Come Alive, Neon Valley Street, Say You'll Go
have listened before janelle is so so so talented. still sounds so futuristic. fav: locked inside, cold war, neon valley street
A genuinely fantastic album filled with different genres but unfortunately suffers for being too long.
Repeat
Very pleasant surprise.
Underlig, Bra, Rolig. Behöver lyssnas på igen
High-concept and dynamic, but it boogies so hard. It would make sense to pattern a race of androids after Janelle Monáe. I have a hard time giving something a 5 on first listen but I thought about it; definitely coming back to this one.
To think this has just been around since 2010. Standout songs: Locked Inside, Cold War, Mushrooms & Roses, Neon Valley Street
Don’t know if I love this as much as the funky Prince-inspired material off Dirty Computer, but the concept, stylistic variety, and overall performance here was a commendable cinematic experience. A visionary record for 2010.
so good.
Wow, very eclectic and a ton of different genres and styles at play. Everything from rap to rock to Prince to Bowie to OutKast and everything in between. Looking at the background, apparently a solid 60% of Janelle Monae's discography is dedicated to this concept narrative about a sci-fi movie from 1927? Wild stuff! Anyway, this record is dynamic, ambitious, excellently produced and sung and written and it sort of explodes out of the speakers. Did I really connect with it, and do I like it? For me, not really. I would love to love this album but there's something that just doesn't do it for me. That being said, I recognize the talent on display here and I'm impressed. I don't know if I'll listen much again but I'm glad I heard it.
There’s definitely more than one listen in this album, definitely worth a deep dive but first reaction is great.
The ArchAndroid is a wildly ambitious and vibrant album where something new is constantly happening. It moves effortlessly between funky, edgy, almost theatrical passages and more dreamy, experimental, and cinematic moments. Janelle Monáe plays with genres, moods, and structures, without the album ever falling apart, on the contrary, it feels like a creative overflow. At times it’s extremely groovy and energetic; at others, almost floating and abstract. It can feel overwhelming, but that’s also what makes the album so fascinating. You never get bored, and new details reveal themselves with every listen. An album full of imagination, personality, and courage. Not flawless, but impressive, alive, and highly entertaining. 4/5
Never heard of Mrs Monáe before. Her debut is a wild mix of different styles and genres, which are masterly connected and celebrated by Mrs. Monáe, who has a beautiful voice. Really surprised and delighted. Fav: BabopbyeYa
Wait, that actress? She can sing?
- I like the artwork and aesthetic. Immediately wanted to like this project as it seems cool and much more than just an RnB album. - It's quite outside the realm of my taste but it's impressively ambitious and cinematic. I couldn't help feeling totally drawn into it. - Objectively she's a good singer and the production is pretty amazing. Loads going on instrumentally. While it's not really in my wheelhouse, I'm really glad to have given it the time of day and a couple of listens. It's a shame it's a little longer than in needs to be in my opinion but I get why, and I'd gladly listen to this when I have time to soak it all in again.
Loved this album. Blending of sounds into evocative sounds escapes, great vocals and samples. Relaxing upbeat vibes.
Very fun album, seems to hit a couple different genres. Favorite songs were dance or die and tightrope. Only one skip which was the of montreal feature
I love the upbeat tracks on this album. Great vocals, very artistic and melodic. The overture interludes are cool and melodic but I will never listen to them again. Songs that stood out to me: Faster, Locked Inside, Cold War, Wondaland
All of the songs are fantastic but to me it doesn't feel like a cohesive album. Probably still gonna buy it though.
Very nice album, impressive variety of sounds, genres and a good range of vocals too. Was skeptical at first but left impressed. Highlights for me were Faster, Cold War and Oh, Maker
This is probably more like a 3.75, but I'm rounding up because there are several good to great songs
Sehr spannendes Album, guter funky Sound, schöne Stimme.
Hmmkey dålig på att sjunga 🥴
This album was a quandary for me. I was not familiar with Janelle Monae prior to listening to this. I really enjoyed several aspects of the album making me feel it deserved a 5 star and really disliked others thinking it deserved a 1 star. With that said I pretty much listened to the album in its entirety which says something. I also felt the song transitions on the first half of the album were excellent. She has an excellent voice and brings many genres of music together from electronic, swing, jazz, funk and Hip hop to name a few. She does this relatively seamlessly in my opinion making for an interesting album. With that said, I felt like I was listening to two separate albums from songs 1-10 and 11-18. My initial thought was to go with a 3 but gave it bonus marks for her voice, transitions and the fact I listened to the whole album despite this not really being my musical wheelhouse. Neon valley is a hidden nugget in my opinion with great jazz vibes.
Have to listen to this again, it might be a little too GRAND for my taste, but of course it’s good. Low 4
excelente na real entrei cheio de preconceitos e sai embasbacado.
caraio eu to embasbacado. DEFINITIVAMENTE não eh o que eu tava esperando. uma super pedrada, cê é doido ela vai pulando de gênero em gênero e não erra nunca, como pode. tem de tudo po, hip hop, soul, eletronica, musica classica, rock, folk, a porra toda fi. e todas todas as músicas são gostosinhas demais e super bem feitas. só num eh 5 estrelas porque eh um pouco longo, mas eh definitivamente um album dos anos 2010 que vale a pena DEMAIS ouvir hein
I'm a bit of a sucker for a concept album; I'm impressed by anyone who can cast and execute a coherent vision like that. This would take me several closer listens to decide if I love it, but I was definitely intrigued, surprised, entertained, and delighted. I couldn't pay enough attention to the lyrics to follow any themes she was developing, but the album art and the music itself seemed clearly enough about imagining alternate futures for black folk -- and all Americans, really -- and they are futures I would be very open to at the moment.
It's a little overlong but endlessly creative. On a different day I may have inched this toward 5 stars. She's a special performer.
This one surprised me. I had never listened to Janelle Monae before, and i had no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly taken aback. So much to love. A huge variety of genres and styles. One moment, an epic, cinematic, orchestral track. Next moment, an explosive, hip-hop / rap number. Both equally proficient. Creativity levels off the charts. A mad, eclectic experience. Pretty sure every instrument makes an appearance at some point. It is a long album, and some moments are certainly weaker than others. The straight up pop songs dont hit quite as hard for me as the more experimental moments but the vocals do stand up. For example Locked Inside is a straightforward modern pop classic, but i much prefer the inventiveness of the experimental closer BaBopByeYa. Thats perhaps my favourite track although this album was more about moments than songs for me. Going to give it another listen as i know lyrically and thematically there is a lot i have still to enjoy and appreciate. 8/10
Not what I expected at all! Very cool!
Accidently put my score for this for album 227. A very interesting mix of musical styles. Really quite enjoyed it.
4/4.5. solid vibe
This is a hugely ambitious debut, with the sprawl inherent to such an undertaking. Is it all essential? No. Does it need to close with six- and eight-minute songs? No. But like her hero Prince, Janelle Monáe doesn't do anything small. As with her other stuff, I'll save the songs I like and skip the rest, while appreciating the ambition that created all of it.
Can't say I could have told you anything about Janelle Monae before listening to this. Epic. Sprawling. Kind of weird. All very expertly done. All of which I very much approve of.
8 / 10