Reviews (page 8 of 15)
This was a strange album for me. It didn't seem cohesive at all. It was probably well received by critics but I just don't get it. Meh. 4/10 (2/5)
Energetic fun -- definitely foundational towards her evolution to the artist she is today. Not for me personally.
Operatic and funky, I didn't get bored listening to this. The features fit in with the dimensions of her personality that are being explored, and I appreciated the variety.
Wow, exceptional. A couple of skippable moments made up for by some truly extraordinary songs. Also she’s really cool.
Was hesitant about this but ended up really enjoying it. Monae reminds me of a mix of James Brown, David Bowie and Lena Horne. A classic R&B sound mix with funk with a touch of rap. The highlights for me were "Tightrope" and "Neon Valley Street". I also love the overture breaks. There is a sense of style very reminiscent of Bowie who is one of my all time favorites. Now that she is on my radar I will have to listen to the other albums I hear are in her "Metropolis" series.
Wow, this was a highly enjoyable listen. On top of having some strong tracks that have good vibes (Tightrope, Cold War, Dance Or Die to name a view), there are also some interesting slower jams that work really well and add depth to the album (Neon Valley Street, Mushrooms & Roses). Just a great mix of songs here. Super well-produced. I think this is a pretty solid 4 for me and might creep towards a 5 on repeated listens.
I remember enjoying this when it came out, but haven't spent much time with it since then. Listened to this twice through this morning and am left with a familiar impression. Front to back the album is well-produced and varied, with a soulful-pop backbone (Dance or Die, Locked Inside, Tightrope, Cold War, Wondaland) laced with folk, psychedelia (Sir Greendown, Mushrooms & Roses), and an operatic vibe. The fusion makes for a very enjoyable listen, made all the better by Monae's absolutely delightful vocals. Songs I keep coming back to are Neon Valley Street, Wondaland (such a fun song), Cold War, Sir Greendown, Tightrope (also just a lot of fun), and Mushrooms & Roses. Solid 4 / 5 for me. This one is made for bright and sunny days where you don't have any real obligations.
Good voice and had some moments that caught my attention, but this is otherwise just another album that came and went. I feel like a lot of the artists in this time/genre had albums that are a little too long.
Was certainly a really unique album that I am happy I listened to before I die. It was a touch long at 68 minutes but I did not mind at all with how much variety was on it. Some of the guitar that came in was really cool as well as the other sound effects. I liked the song with Big Boi as well. Very solid 4
6 songs in and I am enjoying the hell out of this. Extremely refreshing listen so far. Cold War is a banger. Dope feature with Sir Lucious Left Foot on Tightrope. She was on his solo debut too which came out the same year. Loving the psychedelia in Mushrooms & Roses, this song is top tier. Kinda reminds me of some Childish Gambino. Make The Bus reminds me of MGMT a ton. Pretty fun track. Not sure how I feel about Wondaland on the first listen. But the second listen I'm kinda bouncing. Has a weird 90's vibe to the vocals. Say You'll Go was beautiful. Loved the Claire De Lune part at the end. Really great album but had some songs that dragged on. Super high 4 though.
point6.
3.5 rounded down
R & B prowess On a smorgasbord of styles All serenely sang
Thoughts before listening: I remember when this album was winning all of the year end best album polls. I remember liking it at the time even if it isn't they type of music I'd normally listen to. Review: This is a very cool album, with so many different music styles and ideas mashed together here. There's classical, soul, r&b, rock, showtunes, etc while being a concept album influenced by 70s prog rock bands. Most of the songs are upbeat with expert musicianship throughout. I think this is great. 5-stars
Interesting multi genre album. She's got some good ones, but I'm not feeling it tonight.
Not one to be pigeon-holed. Really varied and creative ideas
This is amazing, symphonic, epic. Brilliant
I had never heard of Janelle Monae before listening to this album. Not sure how this even made the list. It was a mishmash of a bit of everything and I could never get straight who she was as an artist. Felt like a compilation of songs she would have sang trying to win American Idol or something. Comparing her to Bowie or Prince is just absurd. I’m sure she hits a chord for someone, just not me.
I don’t even know where to begin with this one. There was everything from lounge singing to hard rock. One minute I felt like I was in a senior center or musical, and the next minute in a rap R&B club. I can admit there were actually a few songs I liked. 57821 was pretty. Mushrooms & roses, Cold War, tightrope, and neon gumbo were all pretty good. Overall, I can’t figure out who she is as an artist. It was just weird.
Loved the album concept and cohesiveness! Bits of jazz, classical, and R&B made it really interesting.
Not necessarily my favorite genre but a really great album. Lots of variety and I enjoyed the continuous mix. I think this has had a lot of influence on hip hop and I've heard it sampled before without knowing. There were parts that got a little too show tune for me if that's the right word, but I can forgive that. The worst aged part was the classic 2010 era rap features that add nothing but checking the box for a rap. Would have been better without them.
A very hype start but I didn’t stay very engaged the full hour. Maybe if I listened a few more times it would grow on me but I also don’t want to listen again. Album cover is pretty sick.
It was good. Not for me.
Great album but a bit too stretched out
Incredibly opulent from start to finish; this album sounds expensive. Nobody can do what Prince did, but Janelle Monáe gives it a damn good go. I hadn’t listened to this album in a while and had forgotten just how great it is. Some superb features by Saul Williams and Big Boi, but Monáe could have carried this album all on her own; she is an extreme talent and this album was a joy to revisit.
what an interesting album
A retrofuturistic amalgamation of genres, tying together sounds from the past, present, and future of soul, pop, hip hop, rock, psychedelia, funk, and probably More. I felt the concept more than consciously following it - The album is very cohesive despite its wide ranging sound. There’s enough diversity to maintain interest across the longer run time, though I prefer the energy and excitement of Suite II to the more relaxed and sensual Suite III. The music and vocal performance are consistory strong. Lots of rich instrumentals and arrangements to explore. Enjoyable on a first listen, and an album you can dig deeper into each time.
This was great. A mix of r&b, jazz, hip hop, and more. Very well executed.
- ein Mittelding für mich, teilweise moody stuff dabei, aber teilweise eben auch etwas nerviger Kram in meinen Augen - werde ich wohl nicht unbedingt nochmal hören
Boring
Appreciate how dynamic the album is and the overall musicality, but the style of music isn't for me
This album meant a lot to me when I was 16, and it is a timeless piece of music. As I have gotten older, certain songs speak to me more where they didn't before. Favourite Tracks (all 5/5 - probably one of the best tracklists of all time): - Dance or Die - Faster - Locked Inside - Sir Greendown - Cold War - Tightrope - 57821
High highs, okay lows.
8/10 Well, well, well. My heart sank when this came up. I didnt know it and I was all set to be granting it 2 stars. But I was wonderfully wrong! It's funky, funny and clever. It's superbly varied. It has SONGS that evolve and are coherent. It has some guitar!! The point of doing this is to challenge oneself to listen to things I wouldn't normally in the hope of finding things that are fresh. Hooray
Very much not like I expected, very bipolar album, some boring songs, some really amazing tracks and all the in between, however I feel like there is more positive than negative to say about this
Wow this album is such a unique experience. Very eclectic, exploring many different genres from pop to funk to rap with influences from an even more varied roster of genres. It's well produced and executed, such a cinematic experience and her voice + mic presence are great.
The ArchAndroid is an ambitious, wildly creative album that refuses to sit still for even a second. Janelle Monáe blends funk, soul, hip hop, rock, orchestral pop, and even touches of folk into a sci-fi concept record that somehow feels both futuristic and timeless. Songs like Tightrope, Cold War, and Locked Inside burst with energy and invention, while the suites and interludes tie everything together with an operatic sweep that’s rarely seen in modern pop. It’s a dense album, packed with ideas, but it never feels bloated—Monáe’s charisma and vision guide you through every twist and turn. Even when it risks getting a little too sprawling, the sheer imagination and musical craftsmanship win you over. The ArchAndroid isn’t just a debut album, it’s a full-blown mission statement, and one that still feels thrillingly ahead of its time.
Very unique
Great album, really bouncy songs with great vocals, guitar stood out in some songs
Good and genre bending. Might have to come back to this album and listen more closely
I'm really not sure, but I think this is a masterpiece
interessant, irgendwie mal was anderes; hörbar
Not bad but did not like
Not my thing at all. This is an album that can’t decide what it is. Confusing amount of styles and influences that never really came together .
Well produced, well executed, interesting conceptually, but after one listening, it's not sticking with me. Sadly cannot give it a 3.5.
An interesting mix of musical styles and genres that offers a glimpse into the unique perspective of the artist. It is successful in blending various references to create interesting tracks, and the vocals are solid. There are a few moments where the project gets a little lost--some of the styles shift drastically between tracks and some of the longer tracks get repetitive. Overall, it is an interesting concept.
I missed this album entirely when it came out. I tend to skip contemporary pop releases because I don’t often enjoy them. I don’t expect many repeat listens to this album; it’s far from what I’d typically listen to. However, I can see the appeal of this one. I was expecting a straightforward R&B pop album, but this is full of stylistic surprises. From the champer-pop-esque Sir Greendown to straight the straightforward pop of Cold War and the ambient Neon Gumbo. This is a pop album, but it borrows a lot of sounds from other genres especially those of the 1960s; psychedelic rock, garage rock, blues etc. At 68 minutes, this suffers issues, I’ve had with other albums, it becomes repetitive quickly and would be more enjoyable if some of the weaker songs were cut. It’s hard to divorce sound quality from my enjoyment of albums and the compression of this album makes it sound as if a thick piece of cloth is put over my speakers. Janelle Monae seems to have great vocal range, but it’s put on a leash with this albums dynamic compression. The only thing allowed to be loud on this album is the sub-bass which gets grating for long listens. Overall I’m rating this a 3/5 – you don’t need to hear this before you die.
Loved it. Glad to have seen her in Houston a few years ago, quite a show. And this album made me goo look for more! She's good!
Hell yea, this album was a bop.
I didn’t think I was in the mood for this when I first started listening but by Locked Inside I was grooving.
Not for me.
I liked the mix if the different music genres in this album. The voice if Janelle Monae is really pleasing to hear and some if the lyrics are really cool or beautiful. Tho i must say that it didn’t really fit with my type of music taste even tho i listen to alot of hiphop and rock which are present in this album. But the instrumentals on this one is phenomenal.
Dragged like crazy. The highs were forgettable.
Yeah, this is truly excellent. Beautiful production and arrangements. Nothing but skill and talent on display here. It’s a fun concept. Pretty daring for a pop star. Don’t love all of it, but there’s very good work on this record. It’s fun finding all of her musical references.
This is truly incredible. I really cannot believe I have never listened to her before. I'm a fan now!
I really like this and took my time before writing a review because felt it had five star potential. But after a few listens, it just feels a bit too long. Not as good as ‘Dirty Computer’.
Saw her live last year and the production was like something from a primary school play. That is why I had really low expectations for this album and because of that It really surprised me in a good way.
Awful
I recognize the cover of this album, but I'd never been inspired to listen to it. Initially, it seemed like another commercially over-rated pop and R&B release, so I wasn't really looking forward to checking it out. However, I was surprised by how much it offers. It's definitely a progressive pop album with influences that include hip hop, electronic music, jazz, rock, and alternative. I may not revisit this album in the future, it was a pretty good listen for something with a more commercial pop leaning.
Very cinematic sounding album. Works very well as a suite of no particular song would make it onto a playlist. Will definitely check out more of her stuff
For some reason I was hesitant to listen to this album but when I did I was pleasantly surprised - especially the second half
Wow. What a wild way to start this adventure. Not my typical taste in music, but this album is on another level. Definitely worth another listen to.
Chill album with great background music. Perfect for some work at home days
Pare un bel servizio, vediamo quanto lo userò! Il primo è un ottimo suggerimento, artista che non ho mai ascoltato e album molto vario pur rimanendo coeso.
Very ambitious. Impressive production. Urgent vibe. Future rap? "Cold War" has a forceful smoothness to it. "Suite III Overture" more my speed. "Neon Valley Street" reminiscent of Rodgers & Hart tune, "With a Song in My Heart." "57821 (feat. Deep Cotton)" - Now we're talking! (Or should I say crooning?)
It was okay. Maybe need to listen more. Maybe just not my cup of tea
Offbeat and interesting pop music. Janelle Monae has a great voice too
Wierd in parts but quite liked it, shades of bond music in places
Very enjoyable
Impressive range and virtuosity, but not always my thing. Sometimes totally my thing.
Interesting album, lots of styles going on here. The first half is solid with quite a few good songs but I feel drops a lot in the back half. 5.5/10
Ehh
Unexpected big like
Closer to a 4 than an 3
Didn't know what to expect with this album, thought she was the fella that was married to Jason Momoa. Anyway this album is class
3/5 - Nice and funky
Impressive debut, hits multiple genres, which is a pro and con, probably too long. 3.5/5 if possible but will round up to 4.
Funky af
Not a fan of the rap so much but the rest is great, it gets better as it goes on
ok
3.5 stars. A couple of great songs - Come Alive and Tightrope - carry the album but some interesting other stuff in there too.
Dance or Die - Yooooooooo this is sick. Opens with 3 bangers before a slower tempo song that's good but not great. Cold War - alright but a little too pop. Tightrope was ft. Big Boi. Come Alive - Cool classic US rock style. A lot of the later songs are more chill, kinda movie musical-esque and classical themed. Pretty good.
She’s very talented and has a beautiful voice. But I don’t like dance/pop music
I can't believe this record is already 15 years old. I dabbled in it when it first came out because Janelle Monáe is an undeniable talent, but don't remember it super well at all. Taken aback to hear Kevin Barnes doing a very of Montreal-y feeling song on the back end of this album. Fun for sure, but not her best by any means.
Sometimes, there's musicians who remind you by their sheer talent why they make you feel feelings between "absolute respect" and "Oh, my God, do I have a crush?". Janelle is absolutely in this category for me.
Like the smooth transitions. Great instrumentals, love the upbeat vibes Some nice collaborations, really feels like a project. Not generally my style of music but loved listening
Good, but not my jam.
Brilliant sci fiction music
Good, will need to listen to it again Gave it a 5 after listening again
Ehh
Liked the mix of styles. Fun just not blown away
It's no Dirty Computer and it's too long, but nice to have some fun pop to break up the RELENTLESS 60s albums.
Underwhelming and sounds distinctly 2010. Just okay.
I enjoyed this so much more than I expected to. Not on my radar whatsoever. Such variety in tracks and just production generally. Came back to bump up my rating!
May need to listen to it more, but this album kind of has the scope and creativity of an amazing album, just without the memorable songs to make it actually be one. It's still a fun listen though and 'Cold War' is an absolute rager.
talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, shit on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it.
87/100. The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe is a fantastic art pop debut that showcases her bold creativity and genre-defying style. The production is sublime, her vocals are powerful and dynamic, and the way she seamlessly shifts between genres—from funk and soul to rock and orchestral pop—is nothing short of impressive. A rich, imaginative, and cohesive album with nothing to complain about. An incredible debut that still feels fresh and groundbreaking.
I don't know what I was expecting from this album, but this was not it at all. Not really my normal genre, but I am surprised how much I am liking this. Only song I've heard before was Tightrope, which is a pretty good song, but I also really enjoyed the middle section with Oh Maker, Come Alive, Mushrooms & Roses. Not a huge fan of Wondaland or Make the Bus; they might grow on me, but they're a little annoying on first listen. The last song, BabopbyeYa is absolutely amazing. I really wasn't expecting to like this album!
Great old school indie vibe
Since I listened to the album for the first time after the release I know that this would be on my list of favourite albums of all times Lo and behold,it's also here, on this list. Monae easily jumps through all the musical styles out there but never makes it eclectic in a negative sense. Her music is rooted in some uptempo soul that meets classical music, rock, hip hop and even punk and folk. It's great simply for that.
No esperaba absolutamente nada, casi ni lo escucho. La madre que me parió, es la hostia en verso.
This album goes anywhere it wants to, every following song on the album is a surprise. I liked the EDM touches that keep it modern sounding. The last 2 songs were a bit of a dud but otherwise I enjoyed everything that was on here. The concept is really cool and I like the album cover a lot as well.
Highlights: Tightrope, Oh Maker, Come Alive. In a nutshell: "whether you're high or low..." Mind altering. Imaginative. Peppy. Theatrical. Dark. Stylish. Bold. And you can dance to it. Monáe reaches far into the genre galaxy (psychedelia, soul, jazz and pop to name a few) then back again. Don't let the running time deter you. Take breaks during the interludes or between suites if it gets a bit much. Overall: 6/10
Good for a Monday!
so many bangers. such a vibe. and then, to top it all off, of montreal turn up! what an album.
Already expectations are high before I even start the album because I know Janelle Monae is a babe. Ok this is a great one. Likely my first new-to-me 5 star listen. Really enjoying myself here. Incredible stuff, ready for round 2 whilst cooking
Very well-produced albeit a little too long which hurt the latter half of the album. I wish there was a half star or a three quarter star, because this is the only thing stopping me from giving it 5 stars. All the different styles and rhythms showed me that Monáe is a very talented and broad artist. I had no idea who she was and I want to hear more from here.
Never actually listened to her but this album is amazing.
Not that impressed. Too long. Some good songs here though. Might have to give it a listen later.
I had never heard of this before, but it turned out to be a surprisingly good album. Nice find!
I read a while ago that Janelle Monae refers to herself as a’futurist’. This album presents a future of music that heavily relies on reflections of the past, which I respect. It was interesting to hear the blend of classical (Suite II) blended with modern speed rap/dance (Dance or Die was an impressive song), while Cold War felt like a Donna Summers flashback, and Sir Greendown felt like a Nico homage. Favorite song was the collaboration with Big Boi Tightrope which reminded me how good OutCast was, and how good Ms. Monae is. The more I write about this album the more I realize how much I like it. I didn’t even hate looking at the cover repeated…
Random thoughts: * I tried listening to this one on 3 separate occasions and never made it 100% of the way through. I guess that probably says a lot about this album. * I want to really like this album and there are some definite standouts. I was already hip to Tightrope and had that one in my rotation. But the flow was a bit too artistic and couldn't hold my attention through normal life. * I also am pretty sure I ripped this album back when I would get CDs from the public library back around 2012 or so. So it should be on my old friend iPod Classic. :) * I also remember critics loving this album and I already like some other Janelle Monae tracks like Q.U.E.E.N. so I felt like I should love this album but alas it is not meant to be love for me this time.
Not good. Stopped half way
29/03/25 Never judge a book by its cover, I was fully ready to write this off. It wasn't too bad.
Alright, Cold War sucked tho
After the Overture, this album starts and just keeps going. Great energy, vocals, big band mixed with some synth/electronic that give a bit of a Wizard of Oz vibe.
Amazing pace. Like background in a club or cafe. Aspirational.
I didn’t like her Knives Out movie, she’s associated with Diddy and Grimes, and she just seems like a lot. Androids and musicals and anime and just a whole bunch of lame weirdness that I don’t have the energy for. I don’t mind a gimmick if the songs are good but this was nothing but gimmick with no good songs.
Big opening. I was enjoying some of the vibe but it went all over. I feel like if this clicked it would be an album I couldn't stop listening to but it wasn't clicking and I don't think could for me. I like the moxie and there's a lot of skill here. Do another 100 albums like this and one of those is a masterpiece for sure. High 3 or low 4.
Nice album cover considering the concept. I can hear like an André 3000 inspired vibe here. A few of the songs remind me of other songs and it feels on purpose. There is some cool stuff going on, but almost too much. The production is so glossy ceramic tile. Doesn't feel cohesive. There might be a better album in here. I like that this music exists. I like what it is doing. I don't think I would look for this again.
Not something I'd actually listen to unprompted, but wasn't eagerly waiting for it to be over. Way more interesting version of soul than that Marvin Gaye album I had to sit through earlier this week.
This was an interesting listen, moments of shimmer and brilliance, but it lost me along the way. I enjoyed the cinematic and multi genre incorporation elements which at times felt honest and at times felt forced and deliberate. In keeping with the best parts or this record the artist had potential to have turned out a real true masterpiece if not for trying so hard to be different.
Absolute banger of an album - so creative and complex and fun
gfällt ma net, nicht mein Genre
ColdWar war probably mein fav, but overall just not my thing
meh
Definitely not my cup of tea. Won't listen to it again.
Discazo. Tal vez un poco largo para mi gusto, pero qué arreglos, qué orquestaciones. Ya había escuchado discos de Monáe, pero este me parece creo que de los mejores.
Цей альбом зумів мене здивувати, в хорошому сенсі. Справжній витвір мистецтва.
У мене не так часто зʼявляються огляди на сучасну поп музику. Та хоча, і цьому альбому вже як 15 років, тож він - «так собі сучасний». Проте його вік, абсолютно нічого не означає, адже музика на ньому випередила свій час на багато років вперед. Скажу більше, я навіть невпевнений чи прийшов його час вже. The ArchAndroid від Janelle Monáe - це концептуальний футуристичний альбом, що розповідає нам історії про андроїда, через які розкриваються такі теми як ідентичність себе у світі, та звісно ж, кохання. Подібна концепція не є чимось проривним чи новим, і творів на подібну тему, ми можемо згадати безліч. Проте тут ця концепція використана, в першу чергу, щоб підкреслити музичну складову, а не навпаки. Якщо ж говорити про музику, то назвати її «футуристичною» буде не зовсім точно. Адже вона втілює у собі таке поняття як «Афрофутуризм», коли африканська, а в нашому випадку, афро-американська культура перетинається із науковою фантастикою. Пісні тут звучать так якби їх придумали десь у майбутньому, але при цьому, покладаючись на усю минулу культурну спадщину. Тут поєднуються ледь не усі жанри афро-американської музики - funk, rnb, soul та hip-hop, і все це робиться максимально органічно, плавно, і що найцікавіше - «по-новому». Це не просто «перевикористання» елементів минулого, а дійсно створення чогось нового та унікального. Тут ми чуємо, як класичні та відомі нам жанри влучно поєднуються із сучасним звучанням, синтами та ефектами. І під час прослуховування, складається враження, що це музика із паралельного всесвіту в якому «перевинайшли» вищезазначені жанри. І якщо вам вже здалося, що це типовий, занадто «заморочений», #artpop альбом, в якому панує «творчій хаос та свавілля», то ви точно поквапились із своїм висновком. Так дійсно, в альбомі є експериментальні та нетипові моменти, але вони дуже уміло «вкладені» в основу композиції яка звучить достатньо прямолінійно та зрозуміло. Тобто в основі, це та сама танцювальна чіпляюча поп музика минулого, але яка відчувається зовсім інакше, і навіть не виглядає «ретро-футуристично», як той самий синті-поп. Навпаки, все звучить свіжо, автентично, та ніби «придумано вчора». Цей альбом справді існує поза часом, та я навіть не уявляю, коли він може стати неактуальним. Тому скільки б років не пройшло, для мене він буде залишатися «сучасною поп музикою». Дуже задоволений, що нарешті ознайомився і з цим шедевром, дійсно один із кращих альбомів, що я коли-небудь чув.
Enjoyed this more than I expected but the rap parts weren't really for me.
I hadn't heard of Janelle Monáe and this album before. And so I was looking forward to a previously unknown gem from the soul and RnB genre. Well, the album wasn't bad, but it didn't excite me. I found it a bit boring. 3/5
This was a pleasant surprise. I wasn't sure of what to expect just by looking at the artist's name and album artwork. What I got was a bombastic, overthought (yet super enjoyable!) album that definitely needs more listens! Looking at the Wikipedia page, I see comparisons with Bowie, Outkast or Michael Jackson, but to be honest I don't think it has that much to do. This album is a singular piece of music on itself, and I promise I'll come back to it again. Probably not for driving, as on the first listen it didn't sound like a sing along thingy.
I'd never heard of this artist or this album. It's not really a genre I listen to either. But wow, what an album. If you were to tell me that a new R&B star was going to write an album in 2010 about a dystopian, Android led future and I would enjoy listening to it then I'd have laughed in your face. And I'd have been wrong. It sounds and feels like a stage show with huge variety, interest and excitement. Will be listening again.
Interplanetary it may be, but disco is what it often sounds like (and mostly in a good way -- like P-Funk good way, with some notes and vibes that Tame Impala would late steal, too). "Locked Inside" achieves liftoff. "Oh Maker" and "Neon Valley Street" are terific, the latter being most Prince-esque. Overall, this feels like a major star turn, and an order of magnitude more ambitious (with the attendant risk of being overdone) than her previous, which were also quite likable (one feels some compunction to revisit). She pulls it off, and the variety is compelling – the ethereal "57821" and Debussian "Say You'll Go" could not contrast more with "Make the Bus" (where Of Montreal turn up to pretty bonkers effect) and "Tightrope" (whence Big Boi bounces out), and the closing cut tries to wrap it all up in one big, multi-modal, richly layered and heavily orchestrated package. One both enjoys the record and admires it, which is the tricky balance ambitious artists aim to strike. Just f*in good and fun.
Густая мещанина из разных стилей. Как будто так, чтобы понравилось всем. Соул, поп, психоделия, рок, рэп. Впечатления остались такие же смешанные.
Wonderful album. Saw her in concert a few years ago and she is very entertaining!
Very much enjoyed the instrumentals Current Fav: Suite III Overture
This is how music is supposed to be, a joy to listen to! So interesting and varied and exciting without being overwhelming, will definitely be listening again. Favourite: Make the Bus (closely followed by Faster or Tightrope or Oh, Maker- just so many good songs!!)
I only know of Janelles album ‘Dirty Computer’ so this was an interesting introduction to more of her discography. I liked some songs more than others, my favourites were probably the opener Tightrope and Say you’ll go (did love the Claire de lune reference)
Não é o melhor dela mas merece 5 pelo conceito
There is so much going on in this album. Start to finish it keeps you on your toes, with amazing music and arrangements throughout. Fantastic.
This was an amazing album. Loved the music. Everything felt together, it all flowed from one track to the next.
I’m amazed I’ve never heard of Janelle Monáe. This woman is wildly talented. There’s so much going on in this album. Genuinely there are so many things to address in this album. The biggest and most important thing to me when it comes to an album is variety. It doesn’t have to be nonstop changes in genre like a ween album, it can be as simple as a punk band throwing in a ballad or trying their hand at a ska song. Just something to change the tone from time to time. And this album EXCELS at that. Sometimes not even for the better, but it doesn’t matter how little interest I have in 57821 because I appreciate the risk involved in making “weird” songs. There’s so many on here that are noteworthy, for instance it starts with an interlude that leads into a fast bombastic dance song with squeaky clean production that could clean your dishes, then there’s like a “Latin rock song” (for lack of a better word) called “come alive” that’s wildly different than everything else on the album, and it even ends on a sharp turn when “BaBopByeYa” comes on and becomes a spy thriller opening number. All the weird stuff is what I fell instantly in love with, however the actual “hit” songs on this album are what’s going to interest most people cause they are legitimately catchy pop songs that have been all over the charts. And while those songs didn’t really blow me away I could appreciate that these are the songs that actually sell the album. But seriously this is a super underrated album. Its clearly part of the vision behind the album from artwork from the gatefold to the actual cover, but it honestly sounds like an amazing and epic soundtrack to a movie that doesn’t exist. It’s got alittle something for everyone.
Damn, now THIS is an album I’m glad I heard before I died.
This was incredible, top 5 of albums I’ve never heard before. I was bopping my head the whole listen!
a weird and eclectic album, but i didn’t hate it.
This was pleasant enough.
She doesn't get enough credit
Wow. I was not expecting to love this as much as I did. I mean, I wasn't expecting to dislike Janelle Monáe's 2010 debut album The ArchAndroid, but I also wasn't expecting this to be one of the best albums I've listened to in 2025 thus far, but that's actually what I ended up getting. This album's amazing! Janelle Monáe is an artist that I've definitely heard of before, but knew practically nothing about in regards to her actual music. I've got to say. This was an excellent introduction. What do I love about this album? Well, there's a few things. Number one is that this is a crazy-ass concept album. And I LOVE crazy-ass concept albums. This might not be as crazy-ass with its concept as an album like The Wall or De-Loused in the Comatorium, but that doesn't mean it isn't crazy-ass in other regards. The concept is still pretty cool though, even if it is more of a thematic theme rather than a full on obvious story. The writing does a good job with this. There's some nice theming about love and identity while still being a very fun album throughout. Speaking of which, let's talk about this album's sound, which is another one of my favorite things about this album. I love the fact that I don't even really know what genre to classify this as. Is it R&B? Soul? Pop? None of those labels really captures the style of this album. Every song feels different from the last and I love it. Janelle's singing is great for the vibes of the album. The features are pretty good too, with the highlight probably being the verse on "Tightrope" from Outkast's Big Boi. This album kind of reminds me of Outkast at times. "Cold War" kind of gives of "B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)" vibes, and if you're making me think about that song, you're doing something right. I don't know what to say. This album has so many ideas behind it that just work effortlessly together. The fact Janelle Monáe was doing things like this this early in her career is astonishing to me. This is an excellent album with an insane amount of talent behind it. I love it. Light 5/5.
Really enjoyed this which surprised me. Only criticism it was a bit too long, take 20 minutes off it and would have been perfect.
Definitely not my style, but cool at times
It definitely felt long. Some of the songs were bops and felt like they were meant to be included, others were kinda just more of the same stuff. While I don’t think it was bad, it really isn’t my taste in music.
Quite long and not that interesting. It was listenable though.
After i found out it is a concept album and that explains its weirdness, it jumped from a 4 to 5 very genius album
4 Tightrope stands up. Come Alive (War of the Roses) is fantastic and surprising. Make the bus is also really good. 57821 - mix of indie and folk.
Possibly the most eclectic album in the list so far. It has symphonic, rap, R&B, theatrical, electronic/sci-fi sounds, church choir, etc. Very impressive. I don't feel specifically hooked by individual songs, but I'm really enjoying the album as a whole.
I love an album that can be cool but geeky at the same time, and one that feels both eclectic and cohesive. 5 stars might be generous, but I'd rather listen to this 15 times than the combined 15 Crosby, Stills, Nash amd Young albums on this list.
Ok, as much as I bitch and moan about the amount of boomer rock this list includes, ArchAndroid made me actually grateful for all the music I wouldn't have otherwise listened to - because it so richly contextualized all the genres Monae is more than capably of trying on here: - Ray Charles' albums come to mind with the classical/orchestral arrangements on the suite/interludes - Quincy Jones/MJ vibes with 'Locked Inside' - horror movie/rockabilly Cramps influence on 'Come Alive' - folky dreaminess on 'Oh, Maker' and '57821' - dream pop crossed with 1960s girl groups with 'Sir Greendown' - glam rock Bowie crossed with psychedelic rock sounds on 'Make the Bus' - and of course pure pop/R&B grooves with 'Tightrope,' 'Say You'll Go' & 'Wondaland' I know she doesn't have Lauryn Hill's pipes and maybe doesn't play every instrument like Stevie, but this has serious Miseducation and/or Songs in the Key of Life ambitions. Every effort may not be excellent but holy shit, enough of the attempts fucking land that I have to admire the fact that she went for it in the first place.
un misto fritto che più o meno funziona
I'd never heard this before and will now be looking up all of her work.
Really enjoyable. A lot of ideas exploding out of the speakers. Though musical like in it's storytelling and concept unfortunately this proved to be it's undoing for me. Fantastic songwriting but missed making a lasting impact for me. The last track is special
I knew Cold War and Tightrope, so I came into this one expecting the album to be similar to these two. Imagine my surprise when the first song is an overture. It's lush and beautiful and full of energy. I'm very impressed with this album.
This album is wild. I'm all in for the high concept sci-fi part of it. Musically it's all over the place. Hip hop, pop, funk, rock, samba, circus, punk. Seriously not what I expected. It's very theatrical. I dig it.
Lots of stylistic variety. Great singing. Definitely seems worth returning to when there’s more time.
Wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. Ended up listening to it all the way through while at work. Smooth.
I had no idea that Janelle was a music artist, I just knew of her from knives out. This album was enjoyable. Some of the songs were vibey and fun but a lot of it is pretty unremarkable. I don’t remember a single song after having listened to the album in full and none of them did anything for me emotionally. The album also just seemed to drone on and on and I was looking forward to it being over. It’s middle of the road but I’d give it a 3.5 if I could
Full of personality, undeniably fun. The album still feels cohesive and thematic despite all sorts of full-out genre changes throughout.
God, what the fuck was I doing not listening to this? Wall to wall doesn't stop, full on energy, lot of different sounds that blend together nicely. This is just good music, and a lot of it, and a lot of different types.
Hippehotellobbymuziek. COLD WAR beste nummer. Verder forgettable.
Couldn't get into this. She's clearly a very talented singer, but.....I dunno, the vibe just didn't work for me. I felt like I was bored in a lounge somewhere.
Still as great as when it came out
I think this was very interesting and classy. I may just have a thing for this French style, IDK. I love how "different" it is and how it tries to integrate more mainstream forms of genre into this ... dramatic undertoned style. I would like to give it a three and a half. I may opt for a four here because I think it is worthy a listen and I had never come close to hearing anything by her before, so the boost might introduce others to this style. Just note that while I like it, I don't personally love all of it or think it perfect or anything. So three point five raised to four for the sake of exposure.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would
How do you blend so many genres so seamlessly on your debut album? 9/10
OK, OK, here we go: Janelle Monáe! I've heard quite a bit of talk in my time about how big she should've been — or maybe I'm just remembering something Todd In The Shadows said a decade ago, I'uno... But here we go! The Randomizer finally got me off my ass to actually listen to one of her records! I finally got to see if it lived up to all of my expectations! And I suppose that was my problem initially: my expectations. Within the first five tracks, I wasn't really impressed, honestly? I thought what I was hearing was good, and I loved how cinematically it was presenting itself with the orchestral overture and everything, but... I'unno. I got myself figuring maybe the problem was me; that I generally just don't really jive with much modern music (me calling the nearly 15 year old album "modern"). Like, I'd give it a 4 for how good I thought I was, but I'd hafta shrug and admit that this "progressive soul, alt. R&B" thing wasn't really my bag. But then "Cold War" hit. And when specifically that guitar solo happened... **Goodness**. "Cold War", to my ears, is the single best song here. By itself, it rocketed this album straight to a 5, and from then on it never gave me a single reason to put it back below. Like, I really can't emphasize how much "Cold War" (and, by extension, "Come Alive") did to my enjoyment of this album. Jus', these hard-driving-ass psychedelic soul rock songs... Gawd, they're fuckin' amazing. And I **will** swear to emphasize how amazing they are. They're good enough to warrant it. After the album ended, I replayed the record side with those songs, and these days I rarely replay **any** part of an album after I'm done listening to it. I also occasionally make a deal about how I'm gonna revisit some albums but then never do, but here, legit, I can see "Cold War" becoming one of my most listened to songs of March — or maybe any other song on the album as I keep listening to it because of "Cold War". Honestly, yeah, I don't know why Janelle Monáe wasn't a bigger hitmaker. I can totally hear these songs killing on the Hot 100. I mean, can you imagine a world where some of these songs had made an impact? Seriously, the only place "Cold War" charted was in **Belgium** of all places. Honest to goodness... All this, and I didn't even have a damn clue what was supposed to be happening in the plot. Goodness me. Jus'... Damn, Monáe are hella good songwriters, and Monáe herself is a damn good singer. Goodness, I just can't think of another album where I've gotten this big of a "Why the hell weren't you listening to this before now?" kick in the ass. This isn't even really a review as much as this is a stream of consciousness about how incredulous I am about how I hadn't given it a chance before. So, like I said, it's a 5. A big-ass 5 all the way down. I don't even know what else to say except to re-emphasize that I was a fool for not getting to this sooner. Hell, I should actually, legit, no-forgetitng-about-it go and listen to her other albums, and I can kick myself even harder for missing all of **that** stuff, too. All in all, not a bad way to end February. Goodness me.
Good lord, what a stellar listening experience. Solid 5 Stars.
It’s a 10. It's probably higher, honestly. Janelle Monae, Kansas City, Kansas native & featured artist on “We Are Young” by fun – also one of the pop artists of the 2010s that’s eluded me. Before listening to this, the only other track I really knew her for was “Make Me Feel”, but I always told myself I’d listen to her someday. Today is that day, and today is the day that truly proves that procrastination is a sin sent by the Devil, or whatever another religious equivalent is, or just whatever bad forces exist in the world. I was absolutely blown away by this album – this jumps right into the top 5 of all the albums we’ve gotten so far, in terms of ones that are new to me. I haven’t been ranking them like that, but an album like this makes me wish I were. Right from the concert hall intro, letting you know you’re in for a play and a massive concept album, especially with the orchestration, it sets a tone that immediately goes into overdrive – those first 4 tracks are an electric experience that I cannot begin to describe, especially once “Locked Inside” drops the sample of the Rock With You drums. From there, it’s all about the worldbuilding, complemented by a myriad of genres and styles that are too immense to count, yet so perfectly executed. There’s some fabulous lyricism throughout this album, and while the story is hard to follow without really devoting energy to it, the broad strokes that get painted of this world shine through and make the narrative between Sir Greendown & Cindi (aka 57821) become obvious through just the music alone. I have always been a firm believer that lyricism matters, but I love an album where the music alone can tell a story like this. The lyrics simply enhance the experience, and I think they work in harmony in a way that very few albums with this intent & of this caliber have been able to match. Janelle Monae is unbelievable, truly. Her vocals on this album are a gift, and she showcases them often enough that, by the end, it’s easy to take them for granted when she hits the final notes to close the album. I truly cannot praise them enough, nor can I praise this album enough – this is the type of shit that is right down my alley, and my procrastination towards her feels like a 15-year-stretch of wasted time. This is an unbelievable debut studio album, on par with (and probably surpassing, for my tastes) “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”, and just as impactful. Or so you’d think, anyway. The GRAMMYs rewarded Lauryn Hill in spades in 1999, and for this… they fucking let Usher’s Raymond v. Raymond beat this out for “Best Contemporary R&B Album”. Criminal on a level only matched by Macklemore somehow winning over good kid, m.A.A.d city, and arguably even worse. Past that, this album feels… underrated, somehow? Not many plays on Spotify, at least relative to what it feels like it should have given the quality here. For my money’s worth, I think this album will get the recognition it someday deserves, and Janelle Monae, by extension, who’s still chasing a damn GRAMMY. Just on a first listen alone, this gets a retroactive bump to one of the top 5 albums of the 2010s for me. Absolutely unbelievable – a 10/10, maybe a 15, maybe a 20, who really knows? It’s off the number scale for me, and it’s by far one of my favorite albums to discover on this list. An absolute delight, a long overdue introduction for me, and what will certainly be my catalyst to dive deeper into her discography. I’m out of adjectives – just listen to it. It’s beyond worth it. It’s a masterpiece, and I don’t use that word lightly.
Nuda
che me pareció muy bueno heh
I recently gave a review, allocating this a three. Upon further reflection, this is a work of genius, even if it's not my thing.
Devoid of any originality, it sounds just so formulaic. C'mon give me something better than this. It's like they went into the studio and pulled out all the old 'faithful' gimmicks- drum machine, snappy lyrics and guest rapper. Yawn, boring.
Never heard Ms Monae except for a 30-min stretch at Osheaga Festival but I wasn't exactly of sound mind at the time, so I don't remember much other than thinking it was very tight and fun. I liked Sir Greendown and Tightrope off this album but skipped a lot of the rest.
I will say it was... interesting.
This has some great tracks and I appreciate the artistry AND the collaborations. But I don't see this drawing me back into its orbit.
Stevie Wonder chord progressions, ELO lyrics, funky bass lines, ripping guitar solos, exquisite production, with a sexy millennial fembot on the cover … I can’t sit here and say I didn’t like it.
Ms. Janelle Monaé! Come on out here and give a bow! - Barack Obama
Started as a very spooky ride to work, ended confused. Thought for sure this would be my jam. It was mostly not. Sorry Janelle/obama.
It’s really good for what it is; I just don’t understand what it is.
Certified bangers. Added to my collection, loved thism
Great arrangements and vocals. The concept is completely lost on me, though. Maybe it's just because I'm not robosexual.
An enjoyable listen. Cohesive but nothing jumps out.
QUEEN.
What a thrill ride this album is. Just constantly interesting stuff going on, taking you in different directions and everything just sounds amazing. Loved this.
#507. I've never been the target audience for this type of music, and I can only bring myself to enjoy it but so much, but I can't say I really found any flaws with this one. 3/5: solid
Solid, some tracks felt a bit long but was entertained.
Brilliant selection of eclectic songs. Hadn't heard of her before.
Scintillating stuff, one of my fav albums from the last 15(!) years and probably my no.1 concept double album...Metropolis meets Afrofuturism with nice nods to Philip K. Dick throughout .
What was this album? A veritable mish mash of multiple influences and styles which kind of interested and intrigued me yet left me less than fully engaged during some tracks. It’s well made, well produced, interesting, yet the album didn’t really grip me in the way it might have and, of course, at 68 minutes is way to long. Trim the fat down and give me 45-50 minutes of more solid work and I’d be landing on 4 stars but the inconsistency and overt popness of a few tracks leaves me reluctant to score or that high. It’s a 3.5! Maybe just too far from what I enjoy?
It was ok…not my style
Very listenable and rly fun. I feel like I’ll have to do an in depth analysis to truly appreciate it tho
Amazing album. Overall it was too varied in style for me to truly enjoy it as a whole album, but it felt more like a family style meal at a fancy restaurant where you’re getting bits and pieces of excellence and taking it in bit by bit. Come Alive and Neone Valley Street in particular were amazing tracks for me. Super solid and interesting listen.
Wow, where to begin? Janelle Monáe has crafted an experience in doing so, has elevated the pop album. Her influences are vast: jazz, swing, hip-hop, soul, gospel, psychedelic rock, rockabilly.... it goes on. And it's downright impressive how effortlessly she seems to move between them. It really speaks to the sequencing of the album as well. Monáe has a demanding presence whether singing or rapping... and what a voice. Wow! This is one instance where the music is so good, that the concept actually holds it back a little bit. My prime example is "Cold War": musically great, but lyrically clunky. That said, I love the Afro-futurist inspiration and wouldn't change that at all. To simply label The ArchAndroid as any particular genre or style would be reductive, and to refer to Janelle Monáe anything other than an artist is to severely underrate her. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I doubt I would come back to it all that often (not my personal style of music) but to deny her artistry and vision would be ignorant; plain and simple.
Enjoyed this. Interesting departure from the norm.
Not the best Monáe album, though enjoyable enough.
It’s quite interesting, clearly of a similar lineage to Parliament / Funkadelic. The concept brought to mind Mother Gongs Robot Woman trilogy, although musically very different. Indeed, quite broad range of styles on show. I quite enjoyed it and it was worth a listen
I kind of know Janelle Monáe more for her acting nowadays, that I almost forgot that she's had (and is still somewhat having) a successful music career. With "The ArchAndroid", we very much have a concept album here. Apparently this is a continuation of Monáe's debut EP, which I haven't heard. Thematically, heavy inspiration is grabbed from Fritz Lang's classic science-fiction film "Metropolis". You definitely see it on the cover as well. But the blending of R&B, soul and pop (among many others) with this sort of "retro-futurism" theme is what I think makes this album unique. It all operates on a grand scale and yet never feels too "showy".
В цілому чотри зірки за першу пісню в альбомі. Взагалі альбом дуже крутий,я радий,що його почув,тому 4 зірки
Well that was freaking amazing. No notes. 5/5 Highlights: Cold War Oh, Maker Mushrooms & Roses Say You’ll Go
I enjoyed this way more than I expected to. It's not exactly groundbreaking, and there's probably stuff released in 2010 that got cut that I would've preferred. But it's a fun CD. There's a fair number of nice things you can say about Monae, but near the top of the list in my book is she's got really good taste. For someone in the postmodern phase of pop music, that's pretty much all you need. The quote of Stevie Wonder on "Locked Inside" is really elegantly done. So is the quote of Claire De Lune on "Say You'll Go". That + 90s hip-hop is some serious diversity. It would've been better if she had, you know, composed this music, but this is worth some partial credit. She's also just a very strong singer and makes some really nice pop songs. "Cold War" is really good pop. So is "Wondaland", although all the best moments there come from the backup singers.
This one grew on me. Maybe I had high standards seeing Janelle Monae here, unexpected to start with. Love their acting work and fashion, but I didn't know they also made music. The classical opening intrigued me, but the first songs felt too polished somehow. Maybe another listen would be different now I'm into it. They were well made but maybe their crystal clear voice was almost too... neutral for this? As the album went on the eccentricity and darkness started to gather in force, which I was all here for. More wacky instrumentals, showy, musical-esque moments and more interludes all built up an artful concept, and a chance for them to show some really soulful singing. Oh, Maker took my breath away in particular.
Some standout songs. Overall very early 2010s in a way that I can’t really put my finger on. It exists in the same space inhabited by a lot of the albums on best-of lists at the time, with maximalist album artworks and songs that were super agreeable but just didn’t have staying power to me. Like The Black Keys or some Lumineers-esque indie rock band that was big at the time, even though obv I wouldn’t say that they’re the same genre. Maybe I’m just not that big on the 2010-2012 music-publication-core aesthetic. Just makes me feel like I’m in a too-expensive burger place or a store with concrete floors.
Hearing so many other albums on this list helps you appreciate how this one is a genre-bending, well-produced, expansive piece of art. It simply blows away many of the earlier list albums by building upon many of their elements all at once. If you don’t give this 4+ stars, you’re probably a bitter boomer
Sehr respektables Ding Die letzten paar alle Alben waren ziemlich toll
Janelle Monáe’s “The ArchAndroid” is a watershed album in R&B, standing out for its innovation and boldness. Released in 2010, Monáe blends diverse genres and styles, incorporating elements of funk, soul and electronic music, creating an unmistakable sound that redefines the boundaries of the genre. Her ability to tell complex stories, combined with a striking visual aesthetic, has made her stand out as a singular artist. Since then, no one has reinvented R&B with the same vision and depth that Monáe has brought, solidifying her place as a pioneer in contemporary music.
What a talent! Imagine having a debut album this fully formed in concept and execution. Loved it!
A concept album done right. Most are bloated, meandering, or lack cohesion even if their ideas are novel, but The ArchAndroid--particularly for 2010--is focused, streamlined, and tight in the ways that concept albums often fail to capture. Monáe sacrifices very little, if any, of her intention in the pursuit of crafting a sonically diverse, engaging, thoughtful record. Perhaps most striking to me is the ease with which Monáe inhabits and transitions between multiple genres and vocal styles. It isn't often that an artist is limited not by their talent but by the scope of their vision, and the fact that this vision doesn't seem compromised at all speaks to her skill and the skill of the musicians that work with her. Listen to this.
Die erste Hälfte ist ein Fünfsternealbum
1️⃣Cold War 2️⃣Locked Inside 3️⃣Dance or Die
This one is a keeper. I love albums that work a story and a concept from start to finish. I love the sci fi story that can also relate to what's happening in real life. The music is awesome too. I've never heard about this artist before or anything from this album. I think it's really well produced, like the good kind of pop music. Eclectic and not extremely commercial. This music is like an art project wrapped in pop music. I like it.
The illuminati make some pretty mean tunes sometimes
This album has got to be a story of a producer with 2 personalities. For the first half it's fine, nice and safe candy music. Then at some point personality 2 takes over and just goes, show us what you can do, any genre, we don't care, do what you want to do. The listening experience went from this is fine, to, actually this is kinda cool.
LOVE a Janelle Monáe! ArchAndroid isn't my favorite of her albums, but there is such a strong groundwork laid for each follow up that I can't not love it <3 and this being released in 2010 is soooooo electric lady
not my favorite janelle album but wow did it feel good to hear a woman finally <3 <3 <3
Enjoyed this a lot. The variety of the different songs really kept you guessing what would be next. I did not like how Spotify split songs that are obviously supposed to run together. The spilt second gap was frustrating. I liked Monae's voice, although I think I caught a little autotune, but it was negligible. I did feel "Mushroom & Roses" was a little long, along with "Say You'll Go". "Wondaland" was a bit repetitive, also. But the rest fit really well. Top tracks: "Dance Or Die," "Faster," "Tightrope," "Neon Gumbo"
This is a cool freakin album. I didn't always pick up on the lyrical themes but I definitely noticed it at different points in the album. What I did pick up on was the sweeping, full sound from start to finish. It wasn't always the same sound but there was a constant medley of instruments, from the classical and/or orchestral stylings of Suite II and III Overtures and Say You'll Go to the soulful and jazzy stylings of Neon Valley Street and BabopbyeYa to the funky big band stylings of Dance or Die, Locked Inside, Cold War, and Tightrope. She kept changing moods and tempos without sounding out of step. She can both rap and sing...well. I was really impressed. And then there was Come Alive - what a banger. Not the first time on the album she had killer guitar licks or bass lines but it's oh so glorious. I couldn't get enough of it. One knock is the finishing - there are some abrupt switches from song to song even when the sound of one leads into the next. Still, this album was like Michael Jackson meets David Bowie with its high energy and varied styles embedded into a science fiction fantasy. Even a bit of Prince with her different vocal deliveries (for example, Faster vs. Mushrooms and Roses vs. Wondaland vs. BabopbyeYa). I didn't realize artists were still this ambitious and creative.
Interesting album - it's progressive R&B! I'm not a big R&B fan, but I can appreciate the creativity on this album. Plus, there are a lot of tracks with just the kind of weirdness I like (e.g., Make the Bus, Wondaland, Mushrooms & Roses). Really liked Come Alive (especially the crazed singing towards the end). Some nice guitar solos on the album also (e.g., Neon Valley Street). BabopbyeYa provides a dramatic over the top ending. I enjoyed the album more and more each time I listened, which is always a good sign. I'll give it a 4 and would definitely revisit.
actually the first album i'd listen to again and with songs i've saved separately! really liked it for the most part
Couple of good songs, but really just fell flat for me.
Not my thing but I can appreciate the technical goodness about it. Really smooth vocals, catchy enough beats. somewhat the same but I can't say it's anything special.
Crazy diverse album. When I first listened to it I had never heard a Janelle Monáe song before, and I became an instant fan after this. So fucking catchy all over the place while still leaving some quite cool experimentation
I do sometimes miss when Janelle Monae was making these insanely intricate, operatic albums - some of the compositions are so lush and gorgeous it stops you in your tracks - but these structures were also clearly kind of a gilded cage of Monae's own design, and that feels really evident in the back half of The ArchAndroid.
I am a huge Janelle Monáe stan. I would love to give this album a 5 for that reason alone. However, as a huge Janelle Monáe stan, I have listened to their other albums, and I know two things: 1) as far as robot-themed epics of love and race and revolution go, The Electric Lady is superior and 2) as far as groovy-ass R&B albums that touch on as wide of a thematic and sonic ground go, Dirty Computer remains the best* (*read: my favorite) album of the 2010s. That being said, this album remains ambitious in scope, silly at times in execution (on purpose), and with some all time bangers left over - if you've never gotten chills from watching the "Cold War" music video, well, I'm assuming you've never logged on to YouTube before. This laid the groundwork for Monáe's best work, but wow, what a foundation.
Det är något med det här som är väldigt tilltagande. Gillar att det är sån skillnad på låtarna och brett spektra på genrer. Det är väl långt men på något sätt så håller det. Väldigt coolt album
Unique and enjoyable. I have come to appreciate albums like this. They take one out of their comfort zone and show you something different. After listening you are forever changed for the better. Gaining a broader and deeper meaning of what music really is.
A sci-fi concept album focusing on civil rights and discrimination through many genres while referencing things like Blade Runner, Terminator and especially Metropolis. It's geeky but also very heartfelt and fun, with a lot of passion put into the album. Previously I have listened to their album The Electric Lady and was happy to listen to another album of theirs!!
I couldn't really get into this too far removed from what I like and too eclectic to get settled
Love these concept albums. Pretty awesome melding of different genres and styles, there's ups and downs, and it's all a little psychedelic which I like.
Starts off decent but it’s just too long. I assume the concept is great but didn’t hold me and the singles I was very indifferent too. The songs I liked I did enjoy though 3/5 could of been so much better
This isn't my style of music, but I didn't hate it.
This was worth a listen. For an early career album this is excellent. Nice range of styles.
I wasn’t expecting to like this and I loved it… except for the few weird bits
Wow, I really loved this album. Definitely one of the best albums that's been new to me. I especially loved Faster.
This is a nearly perfect album shimmering with genre bending energy and so much soul. There's talent all over here and amazingly focused collaborators with the sole exception of "Of Montreal" who rarely lands for me. I'm going to give it 5/5 though as even that can't knock the momentum loose on this album. If Monae were to pitch the idea for this album to a room of industry insiders, who would say this is a good idea? This is a contemporary pop album that is a mishmash of throwback psychedelic soul featuring a woman who is styled after even further back throwback styles such as Metropolis-esque 1920's deco. It's clear that nobody really knew how to "sell" this album but fortunately Monae is a powerhouse in her own right while inspiring the belief in some other powerful friends. Good times.
Very different and interesting! I feel like of the albums I've listened to so far, this is probably the most technically beautiful album I've heard.
Really fun, boundary-pushing pop music highlighted by Janelle's vocals and excellent composition. I think some fat could definitely be trimmed, (especially the track with Of Montreal), but the highlights really stand out for me. 8/10
Truly on another level, one of the strongest albums ever! I've heard this a million times and it still sounds amazing, in the production, her vocals, and the sheer variety of genres explored. I love this album, one of the best to ever do it!! 5
I hadn't heard any of it before. Some good songs in there
не очень понимаю, как это тут оказалось, просто не самая лучшая попса
It has a wide range and i really enjoyed it a lot! Songs went smooth and I enjoyed the first listen a lot! (3.5/5.0)
This is not my genre of music but I can really appreciate the breadth in what Janelle has done an amazing job at creating many unique and distinct sounding songs in this album. Do I like the songs? Eh, not so much, but I do appreciate them. I did like Come Alive (War of the Roses) a decent amount. 3/5 stars.
Really good ... There are some very good, deep songs on here, tons of great beats, and a couple that were a little too pop for me.
This is really irritating
Excelent album, I love Tightrope
Never heard of her before, but rather enjoyed the album.
Loved this, she’s just amazing.
Mediocre, middle-of-the-road dance- and R&B-flavored pop, with boring, nonsensical lyrics. I have no general problem with nonsensical lyrics, mind you, but I have a problem with someone pretending to be all deep and futuristic for the sake of marketing, but ultimately saying nothing.
Sounds like Disney channel music
Listened to about 4 songs. Pretty good.
So much diversity on this album that it’s hard to find a throughline. It opens with a great rap piece (Dance or Die) and migrates through some really smart R&B (Locked Inside), though it’s hidden under a too standard pop melody and production. Then we’re on to what might be a Bond theme (Sir Greendown) + some very proper-sounding British torch songs (Oh, maker). Symphonic pieces are mixed in with tunes that give Pharrel (Tightrope) & Outkast a run for the money. Definitely hear some of Bowie’s influence, which is well applied. It’s a lot. But, Monáe is so talented, her delivery is so energetic, and the production is generally so interesting, that it makes me want to stick with it and understand what she’s up to. It’s a high 3, verging on a 4 — but I might come back to this and raise the score.
Great Production and Concept
Very interesting concept. Wasn’t expecting the intro to lead into such an energetic trip. Enjoyed it. Didn’t resonate with it as well as some people appear to have, I guess it’s slightly out of my usual style. It’s fun to spot all the different and eclectic styles/genres throughout. Make The Bus was like an R&B, psychedelic Bowie track. I liked Neon Valley Street. Can’t imagine listening to it by choice, but if it was on I could listen happily.
It was extremely pleasant, I loved the production on it but there isn’t a moment that I can point to where I said that it really enjoying this. Overall, I would say that this album is a tad unfocused and didn’t really major in anything.
Catchy, groovy tunes, gives me modern Michael Jackson vibes - Voice and instrumentals are diverse and standouts, they are clean yet have the old-school R&B feel - Not much to complain about, but did not blow me away
This was fresh and quite unique sounding to me. She seemed to incorporate several different genres/sounds but kept it all quite cohesive which made for a pleasant listening experience. 3.5 stars but I'm feeling generous so rounding up. Blend.
Thoroughly enjoyed this! I haven’t listened to much Janelle Monáe previously but not sure why - will be adding to my playlists
Fun album, started stronger then fizzled
Year 12 drama production ah music - would give points for effort but feel like I've heard this kind of music done much better
Couple interesting ones but a lot of missed opportunities. Feel like cold war was so close to being a great song
Big fan of this album! From start to finish - cool sounding songs, great vocals. Overall, great album, that I will 100% listen to again.
Pretty dang cool and I didn’t know it existed.
She's really good - the album conceptually is interesting and I appreciate the variety of styles here. And an Of Montreal feature! Cool
This was pretty cool, lots of different interesting music. Listens almost like a musical soundtrack
Damn, what an excellent package this album is! Making your debut studio album a concept album feels like a risky move, but Janelle and company pulled it off rather flawlessly. There are so many different genres across this thing which helps keep things feeling fresh, and the instrumentation is crisp and tight - and Janelle herself brings her A game on vocals. The collabs with Big Boi and of Montreal also deserve a shoutout; both very nice additions.
Pop, dance, 2010 -> 2-3
The ArchAndroid is a case of good ideas with mixed execution. There was mostly the idea of combining a couple of music genres with a pop touch like R&B, Opera, and even somewhat of a metal influence in Come Alive. Most of the time, these ideas worked pretty well with the songs being catchy and Monae generally having a similar energy to a lot of the R&B artists from the 60s and 70s. But other times, the songs could either be boring, annoying or (in a rare case) both. I guess this is somewhat expected of an album that is over an hour long but it still remains an issue for me. All in all, The thing i can say about this album is that there is good and there is bad. Best Song: Tightrope Worst Song: Mushrooms & Roses
amazing album, tons of variety and great musicians. The vocals are awesome and the vision is intriguing.
Sick almost did a double
Album is interested in sound, and songs are thought out in relation to each other. I love the classical influences. Sometimes has a musical theatre feel. However, I think its core, most common soundscape is one that doesn't resonate with me. I don't know how to define it, I think there's a reference I'm missing. There are so many amazing sound moments though. They just don't often build to be consistently amazing songs. Best tunes: the overtures, sir greendown, tightrope, neon gumbo, mushrooms & roses, wondaland
Odd and a hard listen. "Dance Or Die" and "Wondaland" were likeable. I was looking for the Metropolis and futuristic buzz...sort of there. This effort could have benefited from editing. A sauna with gummies listen? Snuff out!
Random mix of genres and random features but quite unique and flows well in some parts, others not as much but overall was a solid 6/10
luv u Janelle Monáe art deco cyborg pop album
Never heard of it before today but I did enjoy it.
9/10 banger
I've listened to enough Afro/Soul-Funk to know that I can only really enjoy about 25 minutes of it. But I can see both the inspiration and the novelty of this album. But Suite II Overture was my favorite part and it was obviously the only non-pop-funk song on the album lol
Bra album, kräver vidare lyssning men många bra låtar
Really enjoyed Dirty Computer (Make Me Feel is one of the best songs Prince never wrote), remember seeing this record in the end of year lists years earlier and being intrigued by the Fritz Lang aping cover. Didn't get around to it though. I know enough to know she is an extremely interesting artist. So here we go. Oh man, I love how this never lets up. No break between songs. Going to take time to digest however. Pop can pop and be accessible while staying interesting. Plenty weirdness here however although curiously most songs aren't standing out to me despite all being different. The Of Montreal song sounds like all Of Montreal songs, ie, mental, catchy, but never sticking to the same melodic rhythm for more than about 15 seconds. Which is distinctive, to say nothing else. This record is for sure a little too long. Dirty Computer is most definitely more accessible than this. Gonna rate it highly though.
Great album with loads of different styles and genres. It's pretty epic in length and scope but I didn't get bored during it as it's always bringing something new in from song to song. She is cool AF too which helps.
Not for me
Satte 4 först. Insåg efter några dagar att de mina två första album (Monaé och Vaughan) var solklara 5:or i jämförelse m övriga album.
Interesting concept for an album. I got tired of her voice after a while, though. Still, it was a cool experience but, I don’t think I’ll be listening to this again.
there is, Pawsibly, a slight wonkiness to the cluster of breathlessly propulsive tracks near the front and slower more soaky tracks near the back, but thats something to see if its smoothed out on future listens i think. otherwise, maybe literally perfect HFJFSHJFS its a crime its been so long since i listened to this...perfectly produced, perfectly performed, feels enduringly like one of the biggest records ever made yet remains entirely distinguishable and cohesive, finds its stunning afrofuturist class warfare aesthetic thruline between the base elements of all the different styles in the pot here and builds some of the craziest shit ive ever heard on that baseline. i never heard their other (increasingly divisive) records but i think i trust the vision here more than i trust the taste of music nerds. amazing, placetaking, placemaking, placeremaking music
This was not some Beyoncé sound a like crap album. Janelle is a really talented singer. The music has some cool jazz / R&B elements to it. Thought I would hate it. It wasn’t bad at all 1001 album worthy: Yes - 29/49
A fun and refreshing album that’s on this list. I really really like this and enjoyed it!
I remember there being a lot of critical discourse in the late 2010s that genre was dead. The existence of this album proves that such discourse was at least several years too late.
Andi from Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery?? I’ve never heard of this album but what a strong start to this project. Psychedelic space funk. Also, I totally forgot about Of Montreal, what a throwback.
Claire de Lune inverted the way it was was an absolutely brilliant choice
Ehh
What an album. I had a grand time listening to it a few times. 57821 and Cold War were some of my favorites.
Many genres at once