The ArchAndroid

Bizarre openingsnummer! Soort filmmuziek op het begin? Daarna klapt de beat er in? Het is een soort hiphop/R&B/Pop/Funk plaat tot nu toe? Het album gaat ALLE kanten op! Zo heb je een hiphop plaat, om dan later een soort oud musical achtig nummer te horen. Janelle kan eigenlijk elk genre aan, dat vind ik echt bizar om te horen! Niet elk experiment werkt even goed en daarom is het album absoluut niet perfect, maar je kan in elk geval niet zeggen dat er niet geexperimenteerd word op dit album! Album duurt me net iets te lang en de 2e helft ervan is gewoon een stuk minder voor mij. Daar word iets meer een soort musical/klassiekere stijl aangedaan, waar het begin veel meer op hiphop, funk en soul leunt. Jammer, maar nog steeds een ontzettend verfrissend album! FAVO: Dance or Die, Faster, Locked Inside, Tightrope, Neon Valley Street

I really enjoyed this! I liked how all of the songs blended into each other and I've been meaning to listen to this album for a while, so yeah very very high 4 stars

Didn't expect much from this but was very pleasantly surprised Had seen her on jools holland once and thought she was OK but this is actually a really good album with a fusion of several different genres bouncing around Cold War and War of the Roses are both standout tracks for me.

Surprising 4.5ish for me. There's way more going on here than I would have thought from being only moderately familiar with a few of the singles.

Thoroughly enjoyed the first half, but it lost me a bit after the second overture. This is exactly what I was hoping to find by doing this experiment: being introduced to a new album/artist that blows my socks off!

Incredibly diverse album, and even though no song really stands out, it has no weak links in it. Delightful to listen to. 8/10

Impressed

I really liked the mix of genres on this album, it was theatrical without being over the top.

What the hells did I just listen to? But in a good way? Eclectic, never boring. I was prepared to hate it, but failed successfully. 4.5 stars for the welcome surprise

Glad to see some Janelle Monae on this list. At first glance you wouldn’t expect this to be so good. This has it all. Packed with talent and musicianship! Deserves more listens to give it a faithful review. For now 4ish stars

I liked this much, much more than I expected to. I had heard of Janelle Monáe before, but had really listened to anything she made. This is an album of wildly different tracks that still somehow seem connected. Not really a huge fan of every single tracks, but certainly worth a listen.

Didn't know much of this album but really enjoyed it. Pretty diverse and unexpected. Love her voice.

hullu modernismi.. konsepti.. post moderni influenssa... alkaa viulun näpelöimisellä. sitten kaahaa hauskuus!! all the girls say go! go! go! onpas versatiili ja lahjakas artisti... ei vedä kuitenkaan vertoja oululaisen nu-metal yhtyeen blind channelin joel hokalle joka laulu + kitara... unftahombale.. elokuussa 2021 julkaistu "Balboa", joka kertoo yhtyeen sanoin heidän "altavastaajuudesta" ja siitä kuinka "he ovat niin monia kertoja ryömineet pohjamudassa, mutta sieltä aina nousseet". SANKARIIIIT!! SANKARIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!!! SANKARIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!!! hyvä balumi faster

Good stuff, needs some listening time

I think this is the most surprised I have been by an album so far in this project. The variety of styles is impressive as is the vocal range and hooks. Really good, closer to 4.5 than 3.5 for me

This album is fantastic!! Never heard of Janelle before, but this is really solid! Genre is listed as prog soul or psychadelic pop. Seems accurate. Hard genre to nail down, but it works, whatever if is. Suite II was better than Suite III. This is a super strong debut album! Favourite songs: Cold War, Come Alive (War of the Roses), Tightrope, Dance or Die, Locked Inside, Faster, Mushrooms & Roses Least favourite songs: BaBopByeYa 4/5

Boo

Four songs I'd like to hear again - 57821, Dance of Die, Say You'll Go, and BeBopByeYa. Did not like the male vocalist on some tracks. The female vocalist was very talented and had good range and good pronunciation. This was worth listening to.

Pretty awesome album

Can't believe I hadn't heard this record, very good debut album.

Excellent. Eclectic yet well done across the board. The deluxe version is a lot to consume in volume, but it's always interesting.

Surprisingly excellent. There's something reminiscent of Beyonce in her vocals, but once I looked past that, I really enjoyed it.

Never heard of her. Will be an interesting listen

One of the few hour-long albums I’ve listened to so far that didn’t feel way too long. Great, catchy songs that all feel connected, yet sound quite different.

If I could give this 4.5, I would. I had never heard of janelle monae before, and am glad to have fixed that. The album has something for everyone with each song having its own unique feel, and that is a testament to her versatility. It didn’t hit me quite right to be a 5, but this was still very, very good

Gratíssima Surpresa. Não conhecia, porém, adorei o som. Totalmente diversificada a biblioteca do álbum! Muitas músicas agradáveis. Dá pra ouvir do começo ao fim sem pular. Muita música animada, outras melodiosas e bem bonitas, outras até puxadas pra música clássica e outras parecem saídas de um musical da broadway. Gostei bastante.

4 stars

9/18, 50%

não ouvi todo, mas achei bueno até onde fui

This is just a wonderfully super weird album, and I absolutely enjoyed it. I had zero expectations going in.

What a cool album! I thought the overtures really elevated the whole project. Mushrooms & Roses followed by Suite III Overture was absolutely AMAZING. Just a gorgeous transition between the two tracks and the continuing motif between the two was god tier.

Notable Tracks: Dance or Die, Faster, Tightrope, Oh Maker, Neon Valley Street, Wondaland, Say You’ll Go, BaBopByeYa

This album is already getting my attention with the groove and feel. I’m digging this. Janelle really had a great voice. I’m surprised I had not heard of her sooner. “Come alive” is hands down my favorite track.

First half hype, back half chill. Solid album.

What a wild album, in a good way! Felt like I was on a mad genre discovery trip, but one I’d happily go on again.

Love everything Janelle does

While I’m not a fan generally of R&B, there’s obviously a ton of musical talent and creativity that went into this album. It’s feels almost experimental or avant garde. So I’m going 4 even though I’ll likely not listen again.

this record is really good. The second half in particular was awesome. such style and i really dig the feminist themes.

I miss mushrooms.

I like the vibes, very theatrical. Has some really really good songs on there but it does get a bit much at points, it's also longer than it needs to be I think. Quite enjoyed this though and I could easily see this score rising on a relisten. Biggest highlights were Tightrope and Come Alive.

This is out there. Ambitious. Not totally disconnected to itself but a span of things, like a soundtrack for a movie at times. Grand. Vibrant. I'm not smart enough to provide a sufficient review, but I like it.

This might be some of the first modern pop Ive been exposed to that I don't hate. Wildly all over the map sound-wise, like someone setting out to touch every genre imaginable on a single (albeit 70 minute) album. Usually that's a turn-off for me, but this works. I love when she raps. I love when she screams. I love when she sings. The music also maintains a level of good interest, never turning into just background. It's ever-changing style actually works to its advantage here. All in all, another nice surprise for something I did not recognize at all going in.

Hieman tiivistetympi kokonaisuus olisi viiden tähden timantti.

"The ArchAndroid" is the debut studio album from Janelle Monáe. From classical to electronica, funk to rock, big-band jazz to pop, this album transcends musical genres and flows seamlessly. The lyrical themes and storyline is said to be influenced by "Metropolis," futuristic and unique. While this album did not have the greatest impact on popular culture, it did make great waves and received overwhelming critical acclaim.

Really very good! I only knew Tightrope but the whole first half is full of great stuff. Something is stopping me from making this a full 5 stars but it's a 4.5 for me. We love you Janelle Monae!

Very impressive album with so many different styles and genres all done so well. Monae’s voice is perfection. My Only gripe is that it is too long and a bit self-indulgent. Had she removed 3 songs or so it would have been even better.

I’ve been a big fan of “Cold War” since this album first dropped. It’s been on multiple playlists of mine. But I hadn’t given the full album a good listen. What I discovered is that Janelle Monae is a freaking vocal virtuoso with the range and ability to pretty much do anything she wants. There’s a lot of stylistic borrowing here, at multiple points it seems like obvious tributes to an obvious tracks by obvious artists who came before. It’s a highly dynamic album with several mood and tempo shifts peppered throughout.

Love the themes and songcraft - her voice is always impressive. Really shows the artist in her form.

starts exciting & settles in, was nice to discover

01) Suite II Overture - / 02) Dance or Die - 7,5 03) Faster - 7,5 04) Locked Inside - 7,5 05) Sir Greendown - 7,5 06) Cold War - 8,5 07) Tightrope - 8,0 08) Neon Gumbo - / 09) Oh, Maker - 8,5 10) Come Alive (The War of the Roses) - 8,0 11) Mushrooms & Roses - 7,5 12) Suite III Overture - / 13) Neon Valley Street - 8,0 14) Make the Bus - 7,0 15) Wondaland - 8,0 16) 57821 - 8,0 17) Say You'll Go - 8,5 18) BabopbyeYa - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,83 (78/100) Current ranking: 79/182 I think the strongest point of this album, apart from Janelle's voice, are the different genres that are mixed in such a masterful way that every song sounds fresh, different and never boring. I didn't rate the interludes because they would lower the album's rating and this album doesn't deserve that.

Kinda long but pretty interesting listen. Wide range of sounds and vibes, which could be good or bad. Liked the album cover and how it connected to the music.

I’ve been meaning to listen to Janelle Monaes music. Saw her on a Instagram reel ab good met gala looks n feel like ik of her more from her acting but im glad i listened to this. The album was a bit long but i feel like it did a good job of having a cohesive variety in its sound and it sounded good. 8/10

8.5/10 - This album covered so many genres of music from classicalish through dnb. They also did most of these genres quite well. I loved a bunch of the pieces but with an album of this length some are going to miss like mushrooms and roses. Tightrope is the most popular song from the album and it was alright but the second most popular song Cold War was fantastic.

Had never really given any of Janelle Monae’s music a chance, but this was really good. 8/10

Fun album. I did find it a bit long though. 3.5/5

An eclectic album I can’t believe is already 14 Years Old, with still such a contemporary sound to today’s music style. Bowie (Make the Bus) and Kate Bush (Wondaland) can be heard as inspiration throughout this album. I love the Science Fiction concept, with an almost Old-Hollywood sound throughout (Sir Greendown). After prematurely judging this album due to recongising Janelle from her filmography, I enjoyed the album over all. The entire record flows well, but the second half was the best for my taste. BeBopByeYa at the end of the album feels almost full circle for the cinematic end from 1920’s music. Favourite tracks: Cold War, Tightrope, Come Alive.

Wow. What the hell is this? And I mean that in the best possible way.

Super artistic, lots of range

liked more than i expected. the production quality is refined.

What a vibe, boppin all the way through - 4/5

A far more modern album than most that I've had to rate thus far in my journey on this list, and it manages to impress. It's ambitious, trying many different sounds and styles which come together to form a thoroughly enjoyable album that justifies its runtime.

probably their best album

I really loved this album overall. Soul in general is not a genre i'm used to so this was a nice change of pace from what I usually listen to. The album kinda goes everywhere tho and walks a fine line between really original and artsy songs with rich instumentals and songs that you would find in a bad summer romcom movie featuring Adam Sandler. Would have rated 5/5 but the very few songs that sounded like really bad pop ruined it for me.

Good album.

Eclectic album, for sure. All over the place genre wise. Had pop, jazz, spoken word, drum and bass, etc. Great melodies. Not sure if it will be a regular returner but worth a listen through for sure.

It started slow and theatrical, I was dubious. Then it got very good! Well produced, cohesive like an album should be. Varied sounds, similar styles, energetic. "Afrofuturism"....guess I'm a fan. Liked it a lot.

Interesting. 4/5

Might be the weed I smoked, but this record transported me from reality and took me on an eccentric journey I was not expecting. The sequence of songs and beautiful melodies throughout were mesmerizing. This is another one of those records I’m very happy to have found from this project. Bravo, Janelle. 👏🏻

Never heard of them before but I really like the sound and the difference between songs.

Super interesting, fun, and varied (yet still cohesive) pop album. This is one I’ll listen to again - a really pleasant surprise!

Immense.

Some kind of Futuristic jazz/rap, pretty cool, great singer

Her voice is very good and she has a lot of range. Enjoyed the variety of music types on this album. The video for tightrope showed she can flat out dance as well.

I see why she acts and sings. She kept the album flowing together throughout making it simpler and easier to comprehend

had no idea what to expect with this & was surprised at how much I enjoyed listening. Wide variety on styles, enjoyed the flow from one track to the next, great use of different instruments/genres. some tracks were better than others & the jazzy ones showcased her voice the best.

Huh. This was a pleasant surprise. I came into this only knowing that Janelle Monae is a straight up unabashed weirdo. I don't typically go for techno or R&B, so I'd never heard more than a song or two from her. Gotta say: this was pretty good. It started to drag a bit at the end, but other than that it was an enjoyable listen.

An interesting and ambitious debut album, it bounces around different genres like an unruly toddler with ADHD. 70's theatricality with modern production, a great listen and an album I will revisit.

I liked this more than I thought I would.

This is a very technical album beyond my musical comprehension. For sure an album a listener like myself needs to listen to a few times to really take it in. I loved all of the stylistic variety. The jazzy songs were my favorite

This is really an incredible album. It caught me by surprise. It has a little bit of everything on here for every music taste. I’m impressed. I’m going to keep listening. Potential 5 but a 4 for now.

Pleasant album with such a wide variety of musical notes, classical, few rap like songs, instrumental.

Liked it, hints of Matalan but also good for cleaning to. 7/10

She's amazing.

There is the odd song here and there that feels like it didn't need to be here, but when this album goes hard, it goes fucking HARD. The production is fantastic, and this album blends genres that really shouldn't work on paper, but it still sounds incredible. Pile that on top of passionate and diverse vocals, and you have a truly amazing album.

Really good album with each song flowing into the next.

Possible 5 on a relisten

Good album not as great as people say it is though

This was an enjoyable listen. She's got a great voice and the music's varied, well produced and played.

Sounded like Beyonce but the music was better.

Lots of genres here - some jams for sure - not sure if I’d reach for this album but I def enjoyed it - would probably give a 3.5 if possible - not adding to my iPod but maybe I would on a second listen

4.5 stars, sucker for an overture. Vibes constantly fluctuated from in my feels to hype. really enjoyed

I have never even heard of Janelle. When I saw this record pop up, I admit I had a preconception of what this would sound like. I was wrong. Taking in all manner of influences and a pretty cool concept, I was pleasantly surprised by this record. I will definitely listen to this again, and check out her other stuff as well.

This is the first album of someone I already loved. Metropolis was a favorite album of mine, and I was surprised that both albums are over 10 years old. Anyway, I love when she’s telling a story. But Tightrope, which has OutKast’s Big Boi talking about MacBooks and NASDAQ, it takes me out of a future dystopia. Anyway, I liked the suite parts.

Banger best so far would give it 4.5 probably, for sure will listen again

Really liked this. She has an an amazing, powerful voice and I enjoyed the R&B and funk influences. Thoroughly enjoyed this album.

4.5

Great album from an amazing talent. So glad to see so many positive reviews from people who didn’t think they would like this album, maybe because they had misjudged Janelle Monáe and what her music would be like. Janelle is multitalented, intelligent and a real professional. And it all shows on this and their subsequent albums.

Tightrope is a you-need-to-move-with-it song! Love the cinematic elements and world building in this album.

This is one of the hidden gems I was hoping for. I was not familiar with her work, but I really enjoyed this. I liked the fusion of the classical and the smooth flow of R & B. I’ve listened multiple times. Thank you, Mrs. Monáe!

That was spectacular. So ahead of its time … even , 14 years after its release.

Love Janelle Monae, love these songs (especially the Big Boi and Saul tracks.) It does run a bit long, but it's still great.

Afrofuturism is fun, and this is as afrofuturism as you can get! Genrewise, it is eclectic as all hell. The production, writing and performances are all brilliant. The album felt a bit long towards the end, but a solid record that I'll be revisiting. (Who would have thought 2010s would be my best decade in here)

Interessant

Toll: Kannte ich bisher nicht. Abwechslungs- und Ideenreich. Zwar im Grund nicht meine Musik aber trotzdem irgendwie gut.

Seems like I’m continuing to venture into the 2010’s. And this album in particular is one I have been waiting to get. I’ve heard such good things about it. And traditionally I try not to set expectations for myself with these records. But I couldn’t stop myself from expecting great things. It could have turned out horribly if I didn’t like this. But great things I did get. Truthfully I don’t remember the last time I listened to an album that left genuinely blown away in some places. This should be used permanently as a case study on how to properly blend genres together seamlessly. I find the sheer scope of this record hard to grasp sometimes. It’s so gloriously ambitious, covers so many different genres, and flawlessly brings them all together. I wouldn’t blame someone for thinking some of these tracks were done by completely different artists. The only thing connecting them is Janelle singing. Plus this a concept album, that is also apart of a series that has a story? I can’t even imagine the work that went into this, and I’m sure the story is great, but the music itself is so massive that I can’t focus on anything else. Records like this, Blonde, and The Ghost~Pop Tape that push R&B music to new heights are some of the most inspiring and creative pieces of music I’ve ever heard. This leaves no stone unturned, and is constantly doing something interesting. I mentioned yesterday that I love albums that fill my head. This is one of those. There is no negative space. It’s all taken up by something cool. I just love the vision of this. To conceptualize something like this, and actually put it out there as a complete work, and have it sound as good as this does is a miracle. Rating: 8/10

Surprised how much I enjoyed this album! It's very clean and polish, none of the songs are misses! High recommend!

Psychedelic 2010s pop with a hint of funk and jazz and hip hop and r&b and it’s just surprisingly great. This album is a true display of talent.

One of the most versatile artists I've encountered so far. Felt like I heard 5 different genres and she did damn good in all of them.

Seen her around but never really checked out her music. Pretty good! Impressive for a debut. It’s a little long but still good and a lot of variety. Probably a 3.5 - 4 for me.

No sabía que Janelle era lesbiana!!!

Gran debut a pesar de q no me gustan tanto los concept albums

There was a lot to this album. A lot of songs were in a different genre. I did enjoy some of them, especially the first song which was very orchestral. There is not doubt to how good the singer is. However overall it wasn't really my thing,may need to listen again.

I generally don’t go for music of this era. But this is sufficiently creative to make me interested in Janelle’s other (more recent) work. I dig the reference to “Crimson and Clover” in “Mushrooms & Roses” (that song is really great). But overall, the songs aren’t 100% to my style.

Great!

Loved this album. Very cohesive while keeping it interesting. Loved the transition from faster paced numbers in the first half to some slow jams. Shout out to Cold War

Never listened to this albus previously, but that's really good

actually, not too bad.. I was a bit confused by the beginning of the album, as it started off with classical-ish music and then there were a few songs that sounded as if the instrumental was good enough but there was also this person singing over it, but then things got a bit better, so not a bad album

It was a good album.

Molto interessante

fave track: wondaland final thoughts: some very cool stuff but it's def not my fave of janelle's albums

this was so theatrical and fun to listen to! i definitely enjoyed the pop r&b vibe of the first half, i definitely felt some outkast influence on here. the second half was very experimental and in a good way! i don’t agree with all the production choices but i can’t ignore the creativity on here. it sounds very ahead for it’s time

There’s no denying how fun this album is, however I can’t help but feel that it suffers from a lack of direction and focus. Each track is enjoyable on its own, but altogether, sounds a tad messy. Still, there’s no arguing the production, writing, lyrics, and vocals on this project. Janelle is always a good listen. 4/5

Vocals are simply amazing and the level doesn't drop from up there. The main theme of most songs work great for the proyect. Menos guerra y más paz hptas. Very creative atmosphere and very good features. its an 8.5/10. Loved it.

Hmmm feel like this is a 3.5!! Had never heard any of these but generally liked it.

Different

if there’s one thing about me, it’s that i LOVE a concept album. this one was so rich with storytelling, i couldn’t stop listening. i will be coming back to this.

Weird album in a really fun way. There are some excellent songs in this album, like Come Alive, Dance or Die, and the the Gnarls Barkley-esque Tightrope. I didn’t love some of the slower, throwback songs like Sir Greendown, but I could see the sound and feel she was going for. Overall, an album I would highly recommend. 3.75 stars.

First time listening to Janelle Monáe. I found it a fun upbeat jazzy/neo soul record I could definitely see myself listening to again.

Great find.

3.6/5 Best Track: Faster

Not my usual listening but very enjoyable. An eclectic mix of styles and beats.

It's refreshing and interesting. Songs are well composed, with mostly soft sound images but still carry decent low ranges. It's worth a listen.

locked inside. Solid 🤘🏽

Very eclectic with some good songs. Something I may revisit in the future.

Feels like this set the blueprint for a lot of pop music or this generation. I was honestly very surprised with how much I enjoyed this album.

This is a cut above most of the albums on this list because of the subject matter, the concept, and the many styles used. Tentatively giving 3.5 stars until I have a chance to listen to it more.

Like her style

I wasn’t familiar with Janelle until Make Me Feel, which I love. This was very enjoyable too. I adore her voice! Especially love Come Alive.

Very nice! Really liked how it was so different. Didn´t expect it from Janelle Monáe. Saved about 5 songs.

A very ethereal and atmospheric album. Displays a wide range of skills styles and bending of sounds. A good album to sit back on a rainy day and read a book to.

Great vibes

Soul que regala los oídos. Escucharlo seguido es un lujo para los oídos

Vild hiphop, rnb, funk, soul hybrid! Eksperimenterende og smooth på samme tid

This was such a pleasant surprise. I did not think I knew any of Janelle Monae's music, but realised I had heard Tightrope covered on Glee. There were so many parts to this album that made me lean in and listen a little closer or simply smile. Loved the experimental nature of the album, it truly gives a reason to listen to this as an album complete, rather than simply picking songs. I do wish there had been one or two more songs that I would listen to in isolation, as the album experience is not something we have the time to listen to much, but this is definitely an album I would listen to again. There were moments where I could also picture Janelle Monae singing a James Bond intro song, and would love to hear that in the future.

I had never seen this album art or heard of this artist. I listened to the album twice, I liked it so much. The momentum kept building throughout. This album just kept coming. The songs varied but weren’t too abstract for my liking.

Felt momentarily Cool when this one turned up. I thought “Hey, a new one that I know, and know I like!” then realized that 2010 was 14 years ago. Still like it nonetheless. A 3.5 rounded up because my kids have a Sesame Street DVD that features Monae, and her segment is maybe the only one on there that I don’t mind hearing repeatedly.

Mucha fusión, muy bien

This was new to me. I liked it. Very interesting musician ship and vocal talent.

Impressive. So eclectic! Not into the soul and R&B stuff, but other stuff is really cool.

Before its time for 2010, very prototype for SZA. Interesting catchy beats.

Album cover thought it was gonna be straight hip hop/R&B but they mash so many different styles from classical to punk and everything in between all mixed with random samples. It drove my buddy Cory crazy and he had to Chang it but I enjoyed it. Found myself rating songs 4-5⭐️s as I listened. Good album.

"A concept album based on Metropolis...and it's a debut album. Immediately, I'm struck by how eclectic this is, spanning so many different genres and transitioning between them so effortlessly."

Not what I expected. It starts with an orchestral piece, moves into hip hop before doing a Britpop type song. And that's just the first three tracks! "Tightrope" is a great single! Lots of genres, all over the place. A little show tunes, a little folk, a little Danny Elfman. Uses "Like a schizo" a little much haha.

such an amazing vocal performance, the concert was pretty interesting too

Never heard of this artist or album so went in blind. What a revelation it was. This is an excellent concept album and blows you away with how well it works

Good chill out record, would say it’s just a touch too long.

Probably worth another listen

Another interesting and kinda weird one I was not expecting. Add to the listen again pile

This was another pleasant surprise. I was not super familiar with Janelle Monáe’s discography going into this album and was under the assumption that she just did hip hop. This album was all over the place stylistically but was also super cohesive. Despite all the different genre influences on this album the songs transitioned into each other pretty seamlessly- so much so that I didn’t always know when a new song had started. This album definitely explores a wide range of options and influences which is super cool and much appreciated.

Incredible mix of genres.... Loads of fun, lots of surprises... A great find.

Funky, soulful, and highly imaginative. Strong influence from Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Lauryn Hill. Comes out with a ton of energy from the start and blazes through to the two singles. Tightrope is such a jam. After that it trails off with some weaker and slower songs, especially that of Montreal feature. But ultimately this is a fantastic, compelling debut and one that I’m sure will garner more acclaim as time goes on.

My first introduction to Monae, this album was quite the start. I loved the grand theatricality of the record and the orchestral inclusions. She also showed a pretty stunning vocal range. That said, this album deserves further attention for it's story (as well as the story starting on the EP), and there were a handful of tracks that didn't click with me whatsoever. Fav Tracks: Suite II Overture; Tightrope; Oh, Maker; Mushrooms and Roses; Neon Valley Street; BaBopByeYa Least Fav Tracks: Make the Bus; Wondaland

Absolute jam. It’s a bit too long and falls off in the second half, but still a great listen.

This is a debut album? That’s wild. I enjoyed this but didn’t really attempt to follow the story - maybe on a subsequent listen. I like this more than the first time I heard it. It flows along nicely, gets a little long at the end. Oh, Maker was excellent. And loved the Big Boi appearance on Tightrope. Cool blend of genres. Good stuff.

Ok, this was a pretty good album. Not a lot stood out as something I would personally listen to repeatedly, but it had good beats and lyrics and I could see how people would really enjoy it. I think I could come back to this later for a relisten. 3.75/5

I don't know what to call this. But I like it. A lot. From the Metropolis iconography to the genre bending music, this record slaps. Never heard of the artist or this record. But I'm a follow on Spotify now.

Kids in 2010: it's just an album Kids in 2070: 🎶 🤖 🎶

Pretty cool funky album. Had songs that commented on social aspects, but also some really cool bops and some beautiful instrumentals

This is why i started this journey, to find albums like this. Really great stuff here.

My only other exposure to Monáe before this was Dirty Computer, which is a better album than this. Failing to clear that high bar, however, hardly counts as an indictment of this album. I can understand why some people may not like this, as it is certainly an experimental, conceptual album. However, it is stylistically brave and very enjoyable to listen to. Highlights for me include the Overture, Cold War, Tightrope, and BaBopByeYa. Monáe rejects simple beats and melodies in favor of a wide variety of instruments, techniques, and more. And she pulls it off. However, this album does not quite reach five stars for me for two main reasons. First, a significant flaw for a conceptual album, her voice - and thus, oftentimes, the story & message - gets lost in the production a little bit too much. On a first listen, without knowing what to look for, I truly did not pick up the story (unlike in Dirty Computer, which was clear while retaining epic production) Second, and less important, the album did not have enough songs that truly stuck out from the pack to quite elevate it IMO. As much as raw artistry is great, I’m a sucker for having songs that you can truly throw on repeat and love on their own. In this album, I think only Cold War even contends for that. Again, for comparison, Dirty Computer had Dirty Computer; Crazy, Classic, Life; Screwed; Pynk; Make me Feel; and American (again, all IMO). However, this growth is to be expected of an artist, and ArchAndroid is incredibly impressive for a debut album. I think it truly settles somewhere in between a 4 & 5, but I am trying to preserve fives for true masterpieces. Thus, a 4

Really good album, very imaginative. She does a good job of using her vocal skill to make actual bops, rather than just showing off.

energetic and cool genre fusion/combo. few gems on here. 3.6

There are some serious bangers. However the album as a whole is lacking. Too many not great songs

Loved it, super boogie 8/10

It’s a but. I think my favorite track is Locked Inside.

Likes: Cold War, Come Alive (War of the Roses), Tightrope It’s a vibe.

Decent sound.

Great energy, beautiful arrangements and really fun and refreshing listen. Once the second track, Dance or Die kicked in I had a good feeling about the ArchAndroid. The R&B tag had me worried, this has more to it with some Pop and even rock influences at times. Nice appearance by Kevin Barnes and of Montreal too, didn’t see that coming. Again, loved the energy here, a few tracks could have been trimmed but this was great 4 stars

C'était une bonne vibe.

Un des meilleurs album de la décennie passée, beaucoup apprécié le concept et le bon groove

General Rating 10: New Favourite 8-9: Listen Consistently 6-7: Might Listen Again 4-5: Wouldn't be mad if came up again 2-3: Wouldn't Listen Again 1: Never listen. Song by Song Analysis: Suite Overture: 6 Dance or Die: 8.5 Faster: 8 Locked Inside: 7 Sir Greendown: 7.7 Cold War: 8.5 Tightrope: 6.9 Neon Gumbo: 5 Oh, Maker: 6.5 Come Alive (War of the Roses): 7.85 Mushrooms and Roses: 5.9 Suite III Overture: 6.2 Neon Valley Street: 7 Make the Bus: 7.3 Wondaland: 7.5 57821: 7.5 Say You'll Go: 7.85 BaBopByeYa: 8 M/Md: ~7.2/7.4 True Opinion: I'd definitely listen to the opening songs on ways to places. Not sure about the other songs...but I wouldn't mind putting it on every now and then. So really like an 8-9 for the first 6 songs, then 7 afterwards. Thoughts: The colors of the album are electric purple, blue, saffron, and lime green. Bouncy, and has the texture of smooth plastic. Vocals are definitely a defined instrument in this; very varied and expressive. Not sure about the usage of schizo throughout the song? Adore the piano and more 'classical' instruments- perfect. Sounds like something you'd hear in a futuristic speakeasy.

I’m honestly a bit of a super fan already. I love this album and Janelle does little wrong in my eye.

Excellent album. Many of the songs are first-class. The music is rhythmic and gets you moving wherever you are. Great vocals. A proper concept album, too. I'll be listening to this one again for sure. If I had a criticism, it would be that some of the classical pieces slightly drag and slow the overall pace. To some extent, this is valuable for the overall concept. Could have done with a very, very slight slight trim. That is being perfectionistic though. It's a marvellous album, brilliantly written and delivered.

Had been putting off for so long. So surprised by it. Super unique 4.3

WHOAH, that was wild.

Something and someone I had never heard before. Really enjoyed the Track with Big Boi!

I didn’t know what this album was about, nor genre, but was pleasantly surprised. The varied songs and semi experimental music was lovely (helps she has a great voice as well)

This was fun!

Quite an exceptional pop release.

I really, really enjoyed this. Bops all the way through.

Loved the lyrics and the instrumental parts were very unique. Sometimes sounded a bit like a Disney movie theme song though.

Fun album. Not sure how I'd classify it, but it felt unique and jaunty.

Liked this more than I used to and i expected to like it less.

Loved it! so dynamic, wasn't expecting so many different moving parts! Hadn't ever listened to Janelle much, but I'm a fan now!!

Nightsky luxurious dinner with gentle social commentary.

This is a great example of why I wanted to do this project - to discover artists that I had never heard of before and end up really liking their albums. Over a decade old and I'm not sure how this passed me by but such a rich work with numerous styles and clear influences bleeding in. One caveat is that Apple music only let me listen to the 'Deluxe' version, so I'm not sure how much embellishment from the original work there is. Stand out tracks: Cold War, Oh Maker and Say You'll Go

Verrassend! Paar nummers die ik echt zal blijven luisteren.

Brash, bold, beautiful Love this one. Great vibe from start to finish. Finding this kind of thing is what this project is about for me. I could go 5 but it's borderline so I will say a very very high 4/5

76 Based on this new scale (my previous ratings are now all inaccurate): 1 - 0 to 19 2 - 20 to 39 3 - 40 to 59 4 - 60 to 79 5 - 80 to 100 I had to look this artist up. When I did, I did not expect that I'd enjoy this very much, as I'm not a fan of R&B, which was the first genre Wikipedia used to describe this artist. This is actually a pretty genre-less album and I found it to be a refreshing, enjoyable experience.

banger

a great listen. ive always enjoyed her stuff

Fun stuff

I wasn't expecting to like this but it honestly goes kind of hard? The second half isn't as good as the first but this was a pretty good album.

I loved the continuation on this album - felt like one long song/journey. Not to mention there is everything you’d want - pop, rap, funk, guitar work

I really think this woman is the heir apparent to Prince

это было интересно и заставило одну мысль породиться в моей голове...

Yeah, it's good.

Nice beats and melodic flows. Empowering lyrics, overall really good!

Add one star for the opening and Sir Greendown

Never heard any of her music before but i will say this was a mighty fun listen.

Thought this was brilliant. Didn't fancy it when it came up but glad I listened.

Not my style but really good production and vibey

stand out track - Cold War

I enjoyed the cohesiveness of this album, to me it sounded like it was meant to be listened to in the order the album is structured in.

Pretty cool album

Starts well, falls a little on the middle and ends well again. Great song transitions, overall good album from an artist I never heard about. Favorite Tracks: Dance or Die, Faster, Locked Inside, Tightrope Least Favorite Tracks: Neon Gumb, Wondaland

crazy cool outkast sexadellicfunktasticjazz

I hadn't heard this album, but I knew about it, and I knew Janelle Monae was a sellout. The first song of hers I heard was "Americans," which I liked, and which prompted me to listen to her "Dirty Computer" album, which that song is from. I hated it. Very simplistic and unimaginative pop, with way too in-your-face sexual lyrics. I heard people saying this album was better, and I believed them, but had no particular desire to listen to it. They're right, though. This album is WAY better in every way. It's intelligent, and ambitious, and beautiful. It calls back to the sounds of last century, but is also unique. Most of the lyrics are well written. The vocal melodies are so unusual and unlike anything you usually hear, and the whole thing really made me appreciate what a powerful, soulful voice Monae has. Also, the album is so varied! It does that beautiful thing that a lot of my favourite albums do, especially the older ones, where it moves between completely different and unexpected sounds, often within the same song. And as always, that somehow makes it more cohesive instead of less. I didn't like every song. I particularly disliked the "underpants" line in "Wundaland," which sounded like it would've been more at home on "Dirty Computer." The melody of that song being so much more interesting than anything on "Dirty Computer" makes up for it, though. And there were several songs I loved. The concept was a little hard to follow at first. I only really picked up on what was going on in the narrative towards the end. And also, while I inevitably appreciate a dystopian concept album, the whole concept of an android falling in love is inherently flawed. You cannot "be" an AI. AI is just a computer program that emulates consciousness rather than actually having it. It can't experience the world or feel human emotions such as love. Unfortunately, I found it a little hard to see past all that. But there was something cool about the concept, too. It had a lot of the elements I love in a story. Oh, what the industry does to the breaths of fresh air. Favourite tracks: BeBopByeYa, Sir Greendown, Cold War, Mushrooms & Roses, Oh Maker, Locked Inside, Dance or Die

Wild Musical Journey, expanding many genres. Great fun to listen to.

Janelle is an incredible performer and the last two songs are so much wonderful, but it's occasionally spotty and too complex for its own good

Great album. The upbeat songs have a great groove, the album gets all of its emotion moments right, and the sequencing is masterful. Only issue is it gets a little heavy handed at the back half.

Het eerste nummer is heel theatraal en is een beetje de ge-upgrade versie van StarTrek muziek. Daarna wordt het album zeker beter met 'Faster' bijvoorbeeld, lekker catchy en goed nummer. Ook 'Cold War' is een klassieke banger. Daarna wordt het album wat anders en wat mij betreft minder, wat alternatiever en zweveriger. Bij 'Come Alive' zit dan wel weer een heerlijke gitaar en het wordt dan bijna rock met de geweldige rauwe stem van Monáe. Verder is '57821' nog wel een leuk nummer. Al met al is het een leuk album maar zitten er ook veel "skipps" in.

Long. Get past the first 1-2 intro songs and it's good.

Good one

Lively, varied, and easy to listen to.

I enjoyed this. A lot of interesting beats.

4 Fresh, entertaining and unpredictable!

Inventive, bold, and defintiely ahead of it's time. On revisit I notice it's bloat a bit more and it clearly fades as it ends, but man the highs are so high. 4/5

Mulla oli sellainen mielikuva etten jostain syystä diggailis tätä, mutta kyllähän tää on aivan mukiin menevää poppista, jossa on jopa vähän sielua megessä! 4/5

Jee mukavaa, että tää on kestänyt aikaa ja kulutusta näin hyvin. Eipä ole huonoja biisejä. Vahva 4.

Love how the album flows together from track to track. Gorgeous instrumentals. Vocal achievements I did not know were possible for Janelle. The album lagged/lulled a little at the end, but enjoyed this as a concept piece. Favorite tracks: Dance Or Die Oh, Maker Mushrooms & Roses Wondaland

This was really unique and I like how there are many different styles. It's a versatile album. Some sound like grunge, some sound like pop, some sound like orchestra. Interesting. I'm saving this one so I can listen to it all the way through again. It's good.

A ratos música más bailable, en otras ambiente más relajado. Me ha sorprendido gratamente, aún sin ser un estilo que me guste especialmente. Buena voz y buenas melodías. Instrumentalmente, muy bueno, con variedad de estilos

Eclectic and jazzy, reminded me of a jazzed up Beyoncé of sorts. Very cool, def would not have found her on my own but glad I did!

Quite wild that this was her debut album, it was bold and close to being brilliant. Enjoyed lots of this and appreciated the scale, even if a few songs lost me. Fav Song: Mushrooms and Roses Strong 3.5

A big deal concept album that hit for me. Justified the extended runtime by being sonically broad, traversing a number of genres, but still cohesive in its sound. Politically charged and cinematic, but often catchy too - no forgoing the pop hits. Strong three and a half. Fave track: Locked Inside

Didnt really know she did music. This was really good.

förväntade mig piss men det var ganska bra och originellt

Musically eclectic, smooth wonderful voice, various moods. I liked it, it was a surprise!

Sorprendida me hallo. Mezcla de R&B, cósmico, música parafraseada.

well done. Not my everyday time

Catchy and good

Shows her versatility and it's interesting. It's a little like watching a kid excitedly running around a new toy store or something. Nice to hear some variety in this genre though.

Haven't gotten all the way through it yet, but I've really enjoyed what I've heard.

A great album, I've listened to this quite a bit over the years, but everytime I listen to it, it sounds fresh and new!

Something different and that made their record stand out from all the same rock albums.

Great variety and original production. Songs range from catchy to moody, and I will need a longer time to digest. It goes into the playlist though.

Un album de facture et de réalisation impeccables. J’admire particulièrement l’éventail de styles et d’influences, bien maîtrisés et fluides, qui forment quand même un ensemble cohérent

Inte alls tokigt. Blev positivt överraskad. Flera sköna och bra låtar.

Janelle Monáe never disappoints with her creativity

I didn’t know what to expect in The ArchAndroid beyond a satisfying taste of R&B, but Janelle Monáe gives us far more than that. “Dance or Die“ is packed yet not overbearing, so she makes sure we know she means business from the get-go. You might as well keep dancing if you’re not gonna run! She proceeds to sample a variety of genres in the following tracks, from pop in “Faster” to R&B in “Locked Inside” to hip hop in “Tightrope” and even psychedelic in “Neon Gumbo.” Just when I thought she couldn’t surprise me, I perked up at “Oh, Maker” and its seemingly continental European-influenced instrumental. Then she’s right back to rock ‘n roll in “Come Alive,” funk in “Make the Bus,” and gospel in “57821.” Oftentimes an artist’s greatest works are their eight-minute behemoths that take on multiple structures and a long story arc. “BaBopByeYa” is Janelle’s masterpiece, with a complexity reminiscent of rock operas like Tommy, A Day at the Races, or The Wall. To more fully appreciate the power of this concept album would require several deep listens, but alas, we have only 24 hours. Janelle Monáe incorporates around ten different genres in this record (if not more), and while that sounds like it should be messy, she somehow pulls it off.

I feared this would be another one of those scenarios when a celebrity pursues a completely different artistic medium to prove they not only have depth but also range. Like when Kylie and Kendall wrote a novel and it was bad. But this is a bit different, because Janelle Monae actually honed her craft. My point is, this impressed me a lot and I'm going to keep coming back to it.

This was beautiful actually. A modern version of Ms. Lauryn Hill's Miseducation, there was real vision here. A solid storyline that felt almost like a R&B take on a rock opera, I was genuinely impressed by this album. Not quite top tier but this will be revisited and shared with others.

Best Song: Dance or Die. I didn't realize that Monae had such a killer rap flow, so this track was a pleasant surprise. Worst Song: Sir Greendown. I just don't think there's a need for such a lowkey, buzzkill song in the middle of such upbeat tracks. Kind of kills the energy. Overall: An incredibly well-produced, slick, wide-ranging album. Sometime the range feels a bit too wide, with the slower songs dragging down the album somewhat, but overall it's refreshingly diverse, with a consistent groovy theme underlying it.

"The ArchAndroid" has some well-crafted songs. "Tightrope" and "Dance or Die" are good tracks. "Come Alive" sounds a bit like the B-52s. The best entries are the "overtures" and "interludes" - "Suite II", "Suite III", and "Neon Gumbo" - as they add an element of surprise and experimentation to the album. The whole thing is a superb mix of R&B, funk, and rap, and the musicianship is excellent throughout. Even though the musical genre is not really my thing, I enjoyed listening to "The ArchAndroid".

Uhh, este me gusta mucho

Funky Funky Funky

I've never really heard anything like this before. Full on eclectic, fascinating and you can never know what comes next. It's a mix of everything, but somehow it still makes sense as a whole.

Damn, it takes courage to start album with full classical track and it made me keep attention. I really appreciate music diversity.

I could have sworn that I'd listened to this before, but I think I was remembering listening to Janelle Monae's Dirty Computer. Regardless, I thought this was a really good album, and I really enjoyed the rock opera structure (I'm not sure if this is technically a rock opera, but I don't know what else to call it). I'm not very familiar with the movie Metropolis, but I was still able to follow the story arc of this album. The music was just overall beautiful and pleasant to listen to, and Janelle has a great voice. I loved that this album was able to utilize a wide variety of sounds and instruments, but it still managed to sound cohesive from start to finish. Some of my favorite moments on this album: -"Locked Inside" was beautiful and melodic, and I loved when the guitar kicked in towards the end of the song. -"Cold War" was awesome, and I loved the drumming, lyrics, and the guitar outro. The drumming actually reminded me of Outkast's "B.O.B.", and as fate would have it, the next song, "Tightrope," features Big Boi. -Speaking of "Tightrope," that was probably my favorite song on the album. I couldn't help but bob my head along to the great beat, and Janelle sings incredibly well on this song. Big Boi's rapping was fun as usual, and in an album full of great lyrics, this song still manages to stand out with its theme of balancing the the opposing forces in life. In summary, this was a solid album, and Janelle Monae is an incredibly talented artist.

Love Dirty Computer, had high hopes for this, and whilst it was good, it was too long, could have been edited down to make it hit harder. Still enjoyed it, but my enjoyment started waning!

Good album. She is so talented. Kansas City kid has done well.

While it is a bit indulgent, it’s an overall good album with a little bit of something for everybody, from Bowie fans to Outkast fans.

Need to come back to this

this album was super cool, I liked it! funky and fun. some of the tracks (especially Dance or Die) reminded me of Sonic Adventure 2 music that would play during Rouge's levels. Great stuff! Favorites: Cold War, Tightrope, Say You'll Go

Quite a trip but overall a lot of fun.

This was a fun album with a different sound. I enjoyed it

I dunno. It felt weird but also not bad at times? Definitely different. Maybe 4 is generous. 3.5 rounded up

It's the Monáe.

rise of the r&bots

Liked this a lot. Many genre many song

Very good and loved the flow between songs. Rating: 4.2

Not sure about this one, it's disjointed imo. Very young and feminine sound. It's definitely enjoyable and I would listen to it again, but it also sounds like she listened to every popular genre at the time and did her version of it, which no doubt requires serious talent... just needs more flow

Quite strangely lovely

first I think that this album is strange and maybe not for my taste... ...but it's hella good, have chilling beats and her beautiful voice.

baita som , voz e epolgante instrumentaçao top

Such a good debut album!

Peppy and fun

KINGA!!

Just wild this was her debut album. Sprawling but cohesive, very ambitious, great voice, solid variety. Not a daily listen to type of album but definitely belongs on this list

It was fine. The album, being the last two movements of her retro futurist concept work, felt a little stitched together at times. Quite a dance through different genres and refreshing that she had such a high amount of direct production input, major vibes going on in some tunes. A few felt a bit unfinished or with slightly forced chordal progressions that didn't quite work. But on the whole, I can see why this was lauded for being an excellent work but didn't garner immediate mainstream success. It's an album for JM to be proud of though and clearly states her artistic intent, some of which is referenced and reintroduced with great success in her subsequent albums.

Surprised me

Way better than expected, some warbling

Sorprendida me hallo. Mezcla de R&B, cósmico, música parafraseada.

Wow - another lengthy album but one that throws loads of ideas against the wall. Many of them stick! The whole work could be summed up as dream pop, but it takes excursions into territories such as torch songs, hip hop and even freak folk. Now, Monae doesn't always convince, but seems to have fun wearing each mask; and there's a winning freedom to proceedings. It doesn't hurt that she possesses a fantastic, versatile voice. Highlights for me are the Ron Isley-esque zap guitar workout 'Mushrooms and Roses', the twisted candy of 'Wondaland' and the Roaring Twenties-on-steroids thump of 'War of the Roses'. Altogether quite extraordinary.

Outkast+Prince

Funky and interesting. Not my favorite thing tho.

Not my usual thing but I find this delightful. I'd give it a 4.5 but a handful of songs were kinda weird and not fun to listen to which brought it down.

Yeah okay. So, I admire Janelle Monae as an interesting, artistic person, but wasn't expecting to really like this. And there was some I didn't like. But it was pretty alright. Avant-garde, jazzy, and a mostly cohesive album.

This is, quite something. We've strayed pretty far from my own musical tastes here and I would be lying if I said I liked it. Sure, there were parts which I liked, beginning with the overture which was pretty impressive and well done. But as a whole it was just all way too manic for my tastes. At the same time I would be remiss if I gave this anything less than 4 stars. It's incredibly creative and original in the way it blends various genres. And while various different influences are often strongly and unmistakably present (like Michael Jackson to name just one), it still manages to come across as authentic.

So interesting. This is a really unique album that I've never heard of before. Glad it was recommended.

I regarded the hour-plus runtime with a heavy sigh, but this went by very quickly and was highly enjoyable! So many different sounds and styles in here, including unexpected dalliances with folk music and showtunes, with the occasional bad English accent for some reason. Hints of Outkast and Prince keep it poppy. Not the kind of record I expected to be made these days, will check out her other work

Ik verwachtte niet deze grooves. Best goed en divers album.

The height of retrofituristic cool.

Loved it and man she is a heater!

I love Janelle Monae but I’d never listened to this before - its delightfully weird and innovative, as you’d expect from her. Cold War is a BOP - the album really picks up after that.

She’s so cool 😍

Ik moest het even opzoeken, maar nee, Janelle Monáe is geen pseudonym van Beyoncé, maar in mijn beleving (van iemand die er niet echt verstand van heeft) wordt hier uit hetzelfde vaatje getapt. Is dat erg? Nee hoor, ik vond dit een sfeervolle en afwisselende plaat. Het lijkt een staalkaart van stijlen: naast de te verwachten R&B is er wat orchestraal spul, sommige dingen lijken singer-songwriterachtig, er wordt zelfs een beetje gerockt. Nog even een frisse luisterervaring voordat we volgende maand weer de diepste krochten van de jaren tachtig in duiken.

Een aangename verrassing. Dit album verkent de uithoeken die een pop-zangeres kan bieden. Soms is het stereotype pop, maar meestal ligt er een andere muzieksoort als basis achter. Zo word je meegenomen van rock naar big band naar filmmuziek. Waarbij vaak ook nog een soepele overgang tussen die nummers wordt gemaakt. Ook met haar zang varieert deze dame er flink op los en zo vindt ze soms best interessante combinaties.

Delightful album. One of the few picks post-2000 that’s really deserved and not prematurely chosen to fill out the book