Reviews (page 9 of 15)
pop perfection! i can’t believe there’s an of montreal feature on this thing.
Любимая исполнительница. Хотелось бы, чтобы она выпускала больше музыки, но то, что имеется - очень хорошо. Лучшая песня - Cold War.
A fresh take on RnB. I like she is trying new things, even if it doesen't always quite work.
I love when the days album is by an artist I have never heard of so I have no idea what to expect when I start listening. After the first song I went about making breakfast with the album playing in me headphones and suddenly 7 songs had passed and I was really enjoying the music. While its not a style I often listen to myself songs from this album will have their place in several playlists so I can groove along when they come up.
R&B is one of my least favorite genres so I’m not listening to this.
I've always kinda liked Janelle Monae, I've never listened to this album though, pretty excited to check it out. This is pretty cool, reminds me of Lauryn Hall quite a bit. There haven't been a ton of tracks that have stood out in a big way to me, but overall it's been pretty good. I'm pretty impressed with how varied the songs are, quite a few different vibes going on.
Creative style and weave. Mellow enough but this didn’t really knock my socks off…
It’s really hard to cross pollinate genres without sounding forced. And to do it across a single album is even more difficult. That is the biggest strength here. Janelle does a great job interweaving genres that most likely don’t belong together by injecting some modern production and themes as connecting tie-ins throughout. The Fritz Lang Metropolis nod is cool, but outside of a few really good songs, this one is overall just too long and did not rise to the level I expected. Still, very impressive for someone in their mid 20s.
I know of Janelle but honestly didn’t know what to expect here. Admittedly I probably expected something much poppier, for no good reason. I thoroughly enjoyed this, just a really fun album. The wide pool of influences used here is about as varied as Janelle’s talents, just really impressed.
Nice vocals. Interesting variety of songs and styles. I appreciated the guitar solos. Come alive was prob most memorable for me. Make the bus was annoying. A couple songs brought that bass and I liked that. Where the fuck did 57821 come from? Felt so random. That’s a review…BaBopByeYa.
I’m a fan of Janelle Monáe and expected to like this more than I did. Some solid tracks and cool mixing of genre but ultimately didn’t make it to great status IMO. I suspect we may see more from her on this assuming Dirty Computers shows up. Also shout out to what has to be the best artist page on Apple Music. If you know you know… 3.5/5
Interesting and varied music, even though the lyrics aren't really my thing.
The new age synth electro genre is not my thing. It’s not terrible I’m just not into it.
Few catchy remarks but probably needs to be heard a few times to get into the swing of it.
She's a massive talent, incredible voice and vocal range and a great songwriter..The production is just a bit too slick for me. Not my cup of tea.
This is not my cup of tea. I can't imagine I would ever listen to this.
Wonderfully eclectic
This was a fantastic surprise. I'm starting to think I just like R&B a lot. this is such a black girl confidence bop!
Catchy Sound, interesting mix of genres
Wow, that was an actually great album! For some reason I expected a classic, modern rap album, which I'm not so fond of, but instead I listened to a really catchy, Childish Gambino-like r'n'b record. I actually never even knew that Janelle Monae was a singer before she started her acting career, so this album was full of surprises. I basically liked the whole side A of the record, which happens only with great releases. Great style, very enjoyable singing/rapping by Janelle, honestly great music. Something more modern to have in my vinyl collection.
An interesting album with so many influences. A couple of standout tracks but the majority of tracks couldn't stick in my memory.
Impressive and varied debut album. Ends up a bit of a mixed bag but still a nice listen
dead
I like the beginning of the album more than the end of it
Overall: 8/10 I really appreciate the genre-blending Monae does on this album. It's still a pop album at the end of the day but she experiments with making danceable bops and beautiful ballads, all with a futuristic angle. Tightrope is also may be the most fun song I've heard while going through this list, I adore it. I could see this getting a perfect rating from me after a few more listens. Fav Song: Tightrope Least Fav Song: Say You'll Go
Uno de los mejores trabajos de R&B contemporáneo. Janelle Monáe nos lleva a través de un recorrido sonoro hipnotizante, mostrando todas sus capacidades creativas con pistas de diferentes tintes, un poco Rock n' Roll, un poco electrónica y un poco de ambos. Recomendado, pero no sé si imprescindible.
Interesting ! Idk what to think… I can’t see the Metrópolis influence. But i really liked the third part more than the other two. 3 stars for me, good album, not essential
Dirty computer is her best album.
This one has some high highs. It felt like a Prince album in the way it seamlessly flowed through and flirted with different genres. It would’ve been so much better if the record had been trimmed down. Definitely saving a lot of the songs.
Wow. This is quite good. The first few songs are actually amazing. The vibe changes in the back half , a little more laid back for my liking but still good. This was a nice surprise as I did not know what to expect.
Very varied. Not all of it good.
A real mixed bag for me. Some absolute bops and then some songs that just... I guess that just aren't for me? Wouldn't listen to the whole thing again.
Fuck yeah. I slowly discovered over the last decade. I heard Tightrope and Dance or Die and loved those tracks. Eventually I listened all the way through and was shocked by the variety of styles here and Monae’s commitment to each. Add the overall concept of the album, and it’s really a cool piece of work!
Film music-ish. Very nice
“Refreshing” not a cookie cutter album, but infuses sounds to make something new.
I don't really know what to make of this but I think I liked it?
Some good tracks on this, but a long album
i am pleasantly surprised by this album! it definitely helped to listen to it knowing it was a concept album and had a movie/story to it. janelle’s voice is absolutely incredible! “come alive (war of roses)” is def an example of that. great song. 3.8/5
Enjoyable album, but not particularly remarkable IMO.
A true magical banger that set up Janelle as a superstar.
She's writing modern pop music that's on such a higher level than the pop music that gets played on the radio. A radio edit of "Tightrope" should have been a big hit, regardless. I'd never heard this album before. Such a wealth of ideas. Sometimes too many elements are packed into a single song that it's overwhelming. From a purely sonic/visceral standpoint this album is sung, played, recorded and produced beautifully and goes all over the map stylistically. There's another layer, lyrically, that relates to a time-travel narrative... it's a complex work of dystopian sci-fi told in lyrics. Not something anyone can digest in one listening, but holy cow! ...a little like walking in on friend's "hobby" where they had told you they "like trains", but their entire garage is transformed into a miniature city and countryside with a working network of trains/tracks, miniature homes and buildings with lights inside, farm animals... details everywhere that you can't take in on one visit and you're amazed but worry a little about your friend's sanity. If anyone actually reads this before listening to this album, check this out: "The ArchAndroid is a concept album that continues the story conceived in her debut EP. Partially based off of Fritz Lang’s 1927 magnum opus film Metropolis, it loosely tells the tale of an android named Cindi Mayweather as she struggles with both her role as a messianic figure to free other androids, and with her forbidden romance with human Anthony Greendown. Watching Metropolis or fully studying the narrative will only strengthen your listening experience, though it isn’t necessary." [Medium]
3.5
yasss
I didn't know she was a musician but this album is as good as Glass Onion (the movie).
Probably not a bad album if you like the style. However, it is not for me personally. Can't say I would recommend it to a friend.
Great
Sci Fi RnB? Had no idea what I was missing.
A bit hectic and overproduced for my taste but has very good tracks. Cold War is incredible, for example.
I dont like pop of mostly any kind. Good voice sounded better than usual pop crap but still not to my liking
Not my thing, but major props for having a unique vision and trying something different. Too long by half.
Great flow from Suite II Overture to Locked Inside. This album has a lot of great songs, but some songs are a bit weird. The weirdest one was Neon Gumbo, but at least that one is short. There's 7 stand-out songs. Hard to pick a favourite.
Definitely not for me. I just don’t get it.
I had high hopes for this one but it was just ok? No stand out tracks that I would revisit and I’m not sure I would want to listen to this in its entirety again. Very talented though and I do like how ambitious of a debut album this is. It just isn’t for me.
This album art was super familiar for me but I can't remember when/why I listened to this before. This is some really great soul/R&B/pop music. It's unique and layered and so much better than any straight pop album these days.
Es ist ein Album, das zweifellos viele beeindruckende Momente bietet mit einer Mischung aus verschiedenen Genres und Stilen ist, die manchmal überwältigend sein kann. Die Highlights des Albums sind sicherlich die kraftvollen Tracks wie “Tightrope” und “Cold War”, die Monáe’s außergewöhnliches Talent und ihre kreative Vision zeigen. Diese Songs sind energiegeladen und fesselnd, und sie heben sich deutlich hervor. Jedoch gibt es auch Schwächen. Die Vielfalt der Stile und die komplexe Struktur des Albums können dazu führen, dass es sich manchmal chaotisch und überladen anfühlt. Die Übergänge zwischen den Songs sind nicht immer nahtlos, was den Hörfluss stört.
eh ok
First five star review I've given to an album I didn't previously know/own. Unique, varied and accessible. Definite listen again. (Three times already).
Fantastic. Simply amazing.
I came to Janelle Monáe late but I really love her last two albums. Very pleased this thing got me to finally go back and listen to her first. I don't think it is quite as good as the ones I know but that could just be that it's hard to take in a 70+ minute concept album in one day.
Not a fan. Was too poppy and bright for me.
Great variety, from R&B feels to pop-rock-esque
It was great just not my kind of music
Cold war och Tightrope är bra men övriga albumet känns inte lika bra som annat jag har hört av henne.
really consistent. so full of character and life. take away Make the Bus and its pretty much perfect
it all sounds pretty derivative to me - trying on a Prince costume, a Stevie Wonder costume ... it lacks a unifying feel.
Such a lot of difference, yet so little of it is good. Are the ableist lyrics really necessary?
First time listen. Big production, quite high concept. Bit better than expected. Faint praise.
There are moments on this album that I enjoy, but I felt like it was too chaotic
absolute MONSTER of an album. she pulls you in with the first half being a stellar pop/funk/electronic/disco album. then slowly we get deeper and deeper musically and stylistically until we reach the final 8 minute orchestral track to bring everything to a climactic end. simply brilliant
Maso
Gewoon goed album maar wel groot contrast tussen eerste 6 a 7 nummers en de rest van het album. Het album begint heel sterk maar verliest gaandeweg steeds meer zijn charme tbh. Niks ten nadele van de artiest verder, misschien ligt het gewoon niet in mijn straatje. Of net niet in de juiste mood om ernaar te luisteren. Een lage ***1/2 afgerond naar beneden.
Superambitieus als debuut en tegelijk zo goed uitgewerkt, heb eigenlijk niet veel klachten erover dus dit is meer een 4.5 omlaag afgerond. Misschien kon het ietsje getrimd worden qua aantal nummers, maar moet het nog een paar keer luisteren om daar beter over te oordelen en dat is het enige nitpicky dat ik kan bedenken, iig.
Top album, did not expect. Ik zie mezelf dit oprecht nog een keer luisteren. Wel op niche momenten, maar still. Good stuff. Favo tracks: Cold war, come alive, wondaland
A lot of this was pretty good, a pretty interesting take on pop music. Janelle Monae felt like the sort of artist you get on Jools Holland a lot, somebody doing a quirky take on a well established genre, and the sort of thing I like well enough at the time but would never seek out. The album was bloated full of nonsense, could have been about half the run time. The shorter, snappier songs were the better ones in general. Not too sure how I feel about it, I think it might warrant another listen as long as I skip the dull bits. Probably a 3.5., closer to a 3 at the moment.
Parts of this were very good and avante garde - very much an 'artist', and other parts were rather tame (Say You'll Go is as bland an R&B-based love song as you can get). Cold War was great, and I knew Tightrope from various adverts. Really clear voice. Production not over-done. Feels like a really strong 3, let down by the inclusion of a few too many boring songs.
Never heard of Janelle before. It was fine as far as pop records go, sounded very well produced. Just not really my thing. Nothing particularly stood out. 2
I recently had the privilege of watching Fritz Lang's Metropolis accompanied by a theater organ performance of the original score, and I can feel a lot of the DNA from both the film and its soundtrack in this album. There's a massive stylistic variety on this album, and it stands utterly unique from most of the music of today. There is a lot about this album that I love- but unfortunately I can't bring myself to love the album itself. The thing that frustrates me is that I cannot pinpoint *why* I feel somewhat apathetic to this album, despite liking so much about it. There are a few tracks I do love, especially "Wondaland" and "BaBopByeYa," but the whole package just doesn't land for me. That said, I am still a fan and hope that I can grow to appreciate Monáe's work more.
I loved some of the bops on the album. Overall, I didn't know she had so many instrumental songs.
I am so impressed by this, what a find. The ambition of it, the breadth of skill and the variety. I love the commitment to such a cool concept. The musicality and production across the whole thing is superb. It's really upbeat for the majority of the album, but there's so many little hidden moments and gems sprinkled throughout, with lots of different moods and themes. I love the variety of instruments, with the cool guitars, the brass, bells, the cinematic sweeps.. I haven't even properly dug into the lyrics yet, but the snippets I've looked at are really interesting. This definitely isn't in my usual wheelhouse, but I'm honestly so impressed by this. She's seriously talented, and I love the huge ambition and skill on display here. That's why I'm going big. What an eye-opener.
Never have I ever listened to Janelle Monae before and I’m glad I finally did! Super weird album, but I’m giving extra credit and rounding up for what felt like a smooth, groovy ride anyway.
Ehh I have it a try not for me I enjoyed 1 catchy song
I had heard Tightrope on the radio or whatever. Quite pop-ish to me but there was some good moments in the album.
really inventive, groovy and quirky . 5
Really fun variety
Die erste Hälfte ist ein Fünfsternealbum
Really fun album. I first heard the song Tightrope on a K-Mart commercial which lead me to finding out who Janelle Monae was.
A striking album that I've been listening to since it came out in 2010. I still return to this record given its eminently listenable with fantastic hooks and themes. It's fatal flaw from being the fullest of my five stars is that the interludes, tempo and vibe shifts means that this record is neither completely a hype/dance record nor is it totally a chill/relax record either. That said I'm certain its in-betweenness is an important part of what makes it continually rewarding and interesting. And yet, without a single mood or vibe to map it onto it can sometimes lose out to more straightforward albums with their one-dimensional tone.
好新的专辑
nicht so meins
Hat mir leider gar nicht zugesagt. Ne tolle Künstlerin und interessantes Wiki, aber die Musik hat mich gestresst und wenig unterhalten. Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Keine
This one was a surprise. I'd never heard of it before, but the creativity involved got my interest right from the start.
DNF - what in gods name was this
Sweeping, epic, a stunning achievement. Really incredible
I have a lot of time for Janelle. She has the voice and look to be very straightforward pop superstar. And she sort of is ... but in her own very Janelle Monae way. I've always like ArchAndroid, but not as much as her first foray into the concept. It covers a lot of ground, and it feels a bit too ambitious. But it's it's always interesting and unique.
I love how this album has so much variety and so many interesting sounds. The run of psych songs later in the album was soo good. She is an impressive vocalist and she seems a bit weird which is a big turn on for me. What gives her the right to be gorgeous, talented, and also interesting?
Really fun record! Janelle Monae is really interesting to me, I had heard about this but never commited. It's really cool and varied. She plays with a lot of cool elements of pop, psych, jazz, funk and prog. I love the storytelling and how this album flows from one song to the next telling a story. Its a really fun take on pop music and really pushes the boundaries of what the genre can do.
this MIGHT be a perfect album
Pre-listening thoughts: we’ve been getting a lot of 2010s albums lately and I need that to slow down cause we’ve still got like 980 to go 😭 I can’t burn through all the recent ones right now and just be left with 50s jazz which we’ve gotten almost none of. But anyways love Janelle Monáe but I’ve only ever fully listened to Dirty Computer by her so excited for this! Post/during listening thoughts: I remember playing Tightrope on Just Dance and then later in life being shocked to find out that was Janelle Monáe and that she sings bc I knew her as an actress first. But hello???? This is her debut album?! This is INSANE. Overture already had me gagged. But this is something still so fresh even though it’s from almost 15 years ago. It’s genre bending, and hooks you at every turn with its smooth transitions that somehow manage to twist every uniquely crafted song into each other. Not to mention Janelle’s vocals which have such power but also flit and float effortlessly. The instrumentation is so full and funky and experimental with massive success rates. God I love this. 10/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: you know what yes Fav tracks: this is a no skip album Least fav tracks:
It was ok.
It didn’t really resonate with me, but it’s definitely a quality album. It has a lot to offer and every track sounds unique and different.
I went into this album completely cold and was delightfully surprised. It's eclectic, weird and expansive, but still very musical and enjoyable (despite mostly falling into genres I don't listen to much). Songs that I'm sure I'd never heard before felt quite familiar, which was bizarre but wonderful. I think I'll re-listen to this a lot.
I wasn’t expecting today’s selection to be an Afrofuturist concept album inspired by Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, but it turns out that it was exactly what I needed this morning. It’s gloriously textured and complex and I’m already listening for the second time. I’m also a sucker for any album that has an orchestral overture! My highlight is the psychedelic Mushrooms & Roses which explores the unexpected subject of robot sex. Droidtastic!
When I saw the cover my first thought was "ugh, an R&B album" (not exactly my favourite genre). I launched the album nonetheless. I rapidely understood my mistake. Comes Cold War, and I'm totally won over. Comes Come Alive, and I know I'll relisten to this. It's very diverse (too diverse?) but it's full of (good) ideas, she's clearly not afraid of exploring uncharted territories and of unholly alliance between genres.
Wacky album cover Stranger profile picture too I had a bunch of notes written but they didn't save :) A really strange blend of styles in one album, very different. I listened to it all once through in the background but had other noises going on. I relistened to it on shuffle and was consistently surprised by the difference between songs. Actually some very funky tracks, I got into a few of them Interesting having the "Suites" II and III combined into a "mega album". Does make it feel longer but its a solid heap of tracks. The inclusion of overtures leading into each suite was interesting as well. Overall I was surprised by my enjoyment of this, I wasn't expecting much to be completely honest. Come Alive (War of the Roses) was very reminicient of Diablo Swing Orchestra (probably because the entire song is swung) I swear I've heard Locked Inside's chorus somewhere else, I just don't know where. Has to be in an edit or reel or something. Same with Faster, no idea. Cold War was a vibe, 16ths on the hats, very groovy. Lots of bell and ride during the choruses, very fun "Oh Maker"'s 1 and 3 drum+bass pattern reminded me a lot of Christmas songs for whatever reason (During the higher section at 2:00 especially), but also of electro swing tracks like Proleter's April Showers Plenty of the songs had interesting, very artsy, motifs and decisions that don't feel very mainstream (Which I'm all for, when its not the entire track). The change of genres throughout the album often caught me offguard Not a great album, but plenty of great songs
Very differant, was hit or miss and felt very disconnected, but the originality and unique songs made some of them a banger. Overall I think its strengths in the songs outweighs the negatives, and I adore some of the songs, low 7 high 6,
Way too damn long and gets progressively worse, but still pretty fun on the whole
Quite an eclectic, soulful and unique record. Oh, Maker and Come Alive were my favourites.
Sounds a lot like ambient store music, or restaurant music, or music that would go in a big box office movie that I don’t want to see. Vocals are beautiful, tonally, some fun guitar riffs in the background but I have no idea of the structure of any of these songs are and I find that I just want to skip to the next song/turn it off. There are a lot of different styles blended in and I think that to me, is very overwhelming.
What a storyteller. *Favorite tracks: Dance or Die Cold War Tightrope Come Alive Neon Valley Street BaBopByeYa
way better than i would have expected
I expected to really dislike this album, but I didn't. However, the best and worst thing I can say is that it just sounds like a lost Outkast album that Monae found and recorded her own way... but I don't think it is as good as "The Love Below," and I'd rather listen to that every time. I might give this a 3.5 stars, because she is trying for something, but it just doesn't hit enough for me or impress me enough to really say I'd add this to my library or listen to again.
This was intriguingly good. I'd never heard of the singer before but the album opening was brilliant. Didn't maintain those heights but overall very enjoyable and something I'll come back to
This is great. So many influences I can hear, from Lauryn Hill to Bowie to Ella Fitzgerald to more modern indie rock. Janelle's amazing voice is the constant. Really enjoyed this one.
This girl has a voice! Fantastic instrumentation. Very inventive production. Fun ride start to finish. Fav Track: Locked Inside
Janelle Monáe has an incredible voice and can switch styles so easily—it’s impressive. You can hear hints of Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Lauryn Hill in her sound, and there’s a lot of R&B influence. But honestly, the style changes felt forced to me. The songs are well-made, but I just didn’t connect with any of them. I appreciate her talent and the effort to do something different, but it just wasn’t for me. 2 out of 5.
She is one of the best singers and the writing is great. This album is actually better than I remember, but it's a lot all the time. This feels like it could easily be 3 albums and not how it's placed on the album. Then the songs themselves are just... To much? Trying a bit too hard? I don't know. The whole album seems busy and it starts to distract from the star, Janelle herself. That being said I remember it being a lot worse when I heard it when it first came out so maybe in 20 years it will sound perfect?
Meh. Not for me.
Too all over the place for me. Previous album was better
This just didn't do it for me.
This was an impressive listen, a mish-mash of different genres and influences from all over the place, but it all somehow comes together and just works.
Unexpected, interesting.
pre: I really like Janelle Monáe but I mostly know her from songs here and there (I have listened to Come Alive approx 1 million times). I like the theatricality of her performance. Looking forward to seeing if a straight-through listen holds up. Not my normal listening but I really enjoyed this, I will listen again
Totally new artist for me so I had no expectations going in. It is certainly not my usual style, but it’s not bad, I really liked Dance or Die & Tightrope. I’m not going to run out and buy the album but I could see those songs ending up on a playlist or something like that.
Nothing here grabbed my attention - I’ll pass
Before listening: I have definitely heard some Janelle Monae but don't really have an opinion beyond that I vaguely optimistic abut the listen. Four songs in: I liked the classical intro and the idea behind the album, the music is sometimes just vaguely poppy soul but with more interesting lyrics. Nine songs in: Yeah still feel pretty good about the album as a whole but really haven't heard a song yet that I think really stands out
Favorite tracks: Locked Inside, Thugga Massina, Mushrooms and Roses. Surprising amount of variety across this record.
It's decent. I'm not mad at this. I can see the influence it has on music I listen to.
Really good. Great vocals and some really fun production choices at times
I really enjoyed this album. Janelle's voice is gorgeous. She has a cool vibe as well. There were 3 songs I could have done without. That's the reason for the 4 stars.
I really don't like this much. It's too strange and not in a good way There was nothing I liked about this album at all, except her voice which is very nice.
A fun and varied album. It’s no Death in Vegas but has some of that feel.
Phineas and Ferb music if they had the budget of seven trillion golden doubloons. Holy shit. I've known of this album's existence for less than 24 hours and I can safely say that this is my favorite R&B album of all time. I didn't even know the girl from Glass Onion was a singer. Uhh five outta five!
Yes. This is a cracker. Full of memorable songs that will get you up and dancing, or nodding in a reflective mood, as the mood befits. She's not a bad actress either you know...
I’m not sure how I feel about this, but I do know that I am tired of popular music, especially hip hop and other stuff along those lines, starting an album with something orchestral or such. Like they’re trying to portray a certain cultured-ness. And then popping them back in later. All while littering the rest of the album with profanity and ugliness. It was interesting once or twice, but I’ve now come across it far too many times for it to be original. Granted, the rest of this album stays away from the gutter, but the played out trope is there. As for the rest of the album, she obviously has a good voice, especially on the songs that didn’t over-auto-tune her, whether intentionally or otherwise. But a lot of it I just got tired of halfway through. I wouldn’t intentionally listen to this again, but might not rush to shut it off either. Still, I feel the only reason it’s on this list of essential listens is to sprinkle something more contemporary, regardless of deserving a spot, because it doesn’t.
This album had me constantly asking what it was. It’s a chameleon with so many different colors. R&B, stadium rock, electronic, pop, etc. Janelle Monae has a great voice. I loved how in the first half of the album, sets of three songs would transition directly into each other. That said, I fell off in the second half of the album because it was on the longer side and had lost its luster. I also don’t think these songs work as singles. That’s not a bad thing, just that it works better as an album. Standouts: Dance or Die, Faster, Locked Inside, Tightrope, Oh, Maker, and 57821.
Klassikko, jolla kovia kappaleita, mutta myös liian taiteellista tavaraa.
Prob one of the strongest 4 stars ive given. I loved it but didnt think it was as good as my other 5s. Maybe itll grow on me some more and then ill prob put it even higher.
Super cool, music great one spng different from the other, high end production. Some songs are really bangers. The last one is my favourite
great songs <3
A bit like yesterday, this probably should be a 3.5. Have seen her a few times and she’s been incredible to watch, but I rarely choose to listen to the records, as good as this one undoubtedly is. Best track - Tightrope
I can't believe how different each track is on this album! It's a fantastic sound, with catchy songs and a consistent musical theme. It's a very eclectic group of songs, spanning so many different genres and transitioning between them so effortlessly. 'Locked Inside' is a funky sounding track. 'Sir Greendown' is more relaxed and psychedelic whereas 'Cold War' starts off and you're wondering where it's going to go, and it ends up being a dance track. 'Tightrope' goes back to funky. These four songs all come in succession! 'Come Alive' is my favourite here. I can only describe it as a kind of rock and roll burlesque sound which really shows off vocal Janelle's vocals. She hits and holds a high note at the end of this track for a good twenty seconds before ending it with a great rock sounding "Ow!" 'Wondaland' is a sweet and sparkly pop song with a catchy chorus and the final one 'BaBopByeYa' sounds almost like a modern James Bond track. This album keeps you guessing what's coming next with everything sounding so different genre wise, yet sounding so similar and fitting together so well.
ty janelle monáe for envisioning and creating beautiful new sonic worlds 🙏
I thought the album flowed really well together. As someone that doesn't pay a ton of attention to which song I'm on in the album, the songs flowed so well that I couldn't really tell when one song ended and another began. Songs were pretty unique and different than what I'm used to, would listen to some more.
Interesting album, definitely unique. None or the songs in particular really stood out to me, but if I could retroactively lower my rankings to put this one above the other ones we've listened to so far, I would.
Loved it. This would be a five except for there was one bit of TERRIBLE rapping that was just obliged back then, and some of the songs were kind of forgettable.
Ok
This was a great listen. Experimental at times, some great pop, some classic influences. Really everything I could ask for in an album, let alone a debut album.
Songs: Cold War
We love a concept album with a cohesive sound and cool vibes. This is the first full Janelle Monáe album I've listened to, but whenever I hear songs by them, even out of context, I'm always pleasantly surprised somehow. So I think I need to just lean into it and admit I'm a fan.
'The ArchAndroid' feels not like a single artist's debut, but a culmination of various collectives' collaborations deep into their careers. Janelle Monae proves her ability to transcend simple genre or style, it just blasts into every direction and succeeds beyond expectations.
I had never heard of Janelle Monáe. Maybe she isn't so big in the UK? I don't know. But this album is brilliant. Yes it drags a little towards the end. But this is a fantastic sound, with catchy songs and a consistent musical theme binding together the multiple genres. I loved it and will be putting this on rotation.
I'm shook by this album, I am kicking myself for never listening to it despite enjoying her singles. This blew me away and I will absolutely listen again. Perfect balance of concept album, upbeat bops, retro gems. I favorited 3 tracks on this album in YTM while listening, which says a LOT. I'm a little torn on this rating, like can I really give this a 5 compared to the Beatles or something?? But damn, I'm going to. 4.7/5 Listening notes: Bold move starting this album out with silence then a classical instrumental suite! Then sliding into a Saul Williams feature! Dance or Die - hell yeah moved seamlessly into Faster, which also rocks keeps the energy moving into Locked Inside Sir Greendown slowing into a beachy 60s vibe Cold War - I guess this was a single but I don't recognize it. Definitely feel the Big Boi influence on this track I am blown away by this album so far! Tightrope - goddamn. I know this was big but honestly I can't believe it didn't reach the status of Bruno Mars etc. This should be played at every wedding reception instead of Uptown Funk. I should be sick of this song. Second half of the album becoming more eclectic. moody Neon Gumbo into a folksy pop Oh, Maker. Come Alive - first track I don't love. It's a little cheesy, retro rock Mushrooms & Roses - Ok now some heavily distorted psych rock... yes. Not an Of Montreal collab in here! perfect. Wondaland kinda silly robot track that still slaps. 57821 some ethereal retro folk Say You'll Go - pretty ballad with a little Claire de Lune outro
Pretty chill and catchy tunes, pleasant listen.
This was good, and so varied in style and sound. I just didn't know what to expect next and I loved it. Is there anything Janelle Monae _can't_ do? Five stars.
Enjoyable if unremarkable. No big swings and misses, which I feared. But no real hits, although "Cold War" gets close.
Pretty indifferent. If I heard this album again, I probably wouldn’t recognize any songs.
Cool and different.
Amazing debut!
First listen. Pretty good. Pleasantly surprised.
3.5☆/5 10.11.2024
Not entirely unpleasant, but not of interest to me. Lush sound at times.
Ok
Pas possible
как обычно не большой фанат рнб и сложновато когда начинают кричать, но в целом (наверно потому что разнообразно) не так скучно
Holy schneikeys, I had no idea I was going to love this record.
She has such a great feel for rhythm and the Of Montreal collab almost puts this at 5. It's a 4.5, but going to 4 for a bit of same-ness.
A truly great album! Some individually bops of songs, but also a throughline that makes it cohesive and even greater than the sum of its parts. Inventive, but easy to listen to.
I feel like labeling this as R&B/Soul is a bit misleading. A lot of it just sounds like pop. I found a good bit of it to be obnoxious. I enjoyed sir greenwood but that’s it.
Very good, just not sure I’ll go back and listen to it again.
Epic and ambitious. Multi Genre dabbling pays off with an eclectic and exciting sound.
KCK represent! Fortunately, this also just kicks ass on its own. I’m glad I got this on a Friday, because I was able to use the rest of the weekend to listen to the rest of her discography. I don’t know if anything else quite matches this, her debut album, but them’s the brakes sometimes.
frisch und lebendig, cooler mix von stilelementen mit groovigen songs. auch nach mehrmaligem hören ein tolles album, welches nicht langweilig wird!
Schlimm. Wäre ich nicht im Auto gefahren hätte ich schon lange aufgehört und abgeschaltet.
This album is enjoyably eclectic. The range and diversity in sound within its own genre is astounding. A breath of fresh air.
Surprisingly good album. Eclectic and ever changing genres and they were all handled very well
Great album. I am mostly struck by how far reaching across genres it is. Opening with classical overture, then moving to 80s and 90s pop and rap, and Sir Greendown is a 1950s enchanting soft hula sound, club sounds for Cold War, the almost cartoon sound of Oh Maker. 57821 is 1960s soft gentle psych pop. The whole thing is extremely ambitious and expansive, and importantly succeeds. For sure this album deserves its place on the list; it's not like anything else I've heard. And there's so much to hear, not just in terms of the length. And although it's very long, crucially it's interesting enough that I was never ever bored.
Hit and miss. Some bangers, some weirdos.
Not for me personally but like the transition between songs
Good just not me
Surprisingly good album.
I shit you not, before this album, I only knew Janelle Monáe from her bit part in We Are Young by Fun. All 10 seconds of her before Nate Ruess banishes her to the background. Then here comes this album, my first from the 2010’s. How have I gone so long without hearing anything about this? It’s a masterful blend of genres that Janelle transitions through each and every one of them smoothly. The suite suite was mostly very good, even if I felt it was a few tracks two many. The third suite, however, is a five star effort in itself. It really leans into its futuristic, psychedelic themes with the likes of Wondaland and Make the Bus. It’s also a wonderful r&b album, with the fantastically moving Say You’ll Go. In parts presenting an epic dystopian future and in parts keeping the pop vibe that was present in the 2010’s, this album is making kick myself for deeming Janelle Monáe as the Na Na girl for that one Fun song. Favorite track: Say You’ll Go Other hits: Cold War, Tightrope, Make the Bus, Wondaland, Neon Valley Street, Come Alive (War of the Roses), Oh,Maker
so so very bland
Ko da sam pustio otvoreni radio. Nista spektakularno loše a ni spektakularno dobro. Tu i tamo nesto zanimljivo iskoci. Produkcija, naravno, bolesna. Nemam kaj tu za reci, pop ko pop tog razdoblja. Nikad cuo niti jednu srvar. 3/10
Na trenutke zanimljivo na početku, ali onda ode u neku komercijalu stalno. Locked inside mi ima dobar gruv, ali s njenim glasom mi opet to zvuči komercijalno i neposebno. Ima kul glas doduše, samo mi u ovom aranžmanu zvuči jako neoriginalno. Usto, imam osjećaj da se cijelo vrijeme događa previše i izgubim se svako malo u tome svemu. Skužila sam da ljudi hvale Cold war i rekoh ajde u svakom slučaju ću bar do tu poslušati i krene i dođe mi muka. A mislim, i zamišljala sam da takvu publiku privlači i da su pjesme više na tu stranu. Postaje sve gore što album ide dalje. Od negdje trećine albuma nadalje zvuči ko da slušam radio u trgovini i ne uživam nimalo. Na trenutke čujem Loreen, Beyonce, onu Doja Cat i slične koje ne mogu čuti, ali kao da mi se gubi u nečem neodređenom, kao da nema svoj djir, nezz. Mushroom and Roses mi polu zvuči dobro, što je fani coincidence. 😂 Nakon prvih pet pjesama sam htjela dati 2 (3/10), ali nastavak albuma me pomaknuo na 1 ili 2/10. Odustala sam od zadnje 4 pjesme, nemrem. Nekako sam naivno očekivala da neće biti toliko novijih albuma 🥴 ajmo se vratiti malo!
2.5/10 Ma gle, kužim da je ovo kao dobro, ali ja jednostavno nemam kapaciteta za ovo. Poslušao sam pola albuma i dat ću trojku jer kao nije loše, ali opet, nije mi toliko dobro da bi poslušao cijeli album Baš se patim, isto kao i prošli album Ima elementa ovdje svega i svačega, ali baš me neće. I evo dok sam ovo tipkao i napreskokce slušao album, odem guglati, baš da vidim i da probam nešto otkriti. Pa kaže da je ovo zapravo konceptualni album. Snimljen kao soundtrack za drugi i treći akt Metropolis filma. Što me dovelo do toga da shvatim da ja baš i ne volim konceptualne albume Yup, prošao kroz top 50 listu najboljih konceptualnih albuma prema Rolling Stone magazinu i slobodno mogu reći jebes takve albume. S tim na umu, spušta se ocjena, jer sad uz to što mi je loša glazba mi je i ideja albuma pretenciozna Hvala gospođo Džanela, idemo dalje.
4.5/10 Ocekivao sam da ce mi biti zlo do kraja albuma ali bila je ustvari podnosljiva pozadniska glazba. Ono sto mi je ok su neki funky dijelovi, trubice, malo world musica u nenametljivoj dozi i pokoja zanimljiva gitara u pjesmama. A i zenska zna pjevati. Ali ovo mi vec skoro spada u "gledam ovo svaki dan na MTV-u" kategoriju, barem dok je bilo muzike tamo umjesto realitya i dok im je pisalo music television na dnu logotipa. To je manje bitno jer da moram bas birati izmedju ovog i Beyonce koja se stalno vrtila, mislim da bi ovo ipak izabrao. A i ova Janelle bi bila danas vjerojatno poznatija da se skroz prilagodila dobitnoj pop formuli tog vremena. Na kraju dana, nemam se s cim poistovjetiti na ovom albumu niti vidim situaciju gdje bi ovo pustio, ali zbog ocekivanja da ce mi album biti skroz shitty i par, sitnih iznenadjenja koje krije cu mu malo povisiti ocjenu.
Unbelievable!
Qobuz 44/16. Really good recording, electro funk not my thing but enjoyed this.
i was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by this album. it brought elements of funk, pop, experimental, and soul to create an incredible album.
Inventive and kind of cool. "Tightrope" was the only one I'd heard before, and it's fun. Would listen again!
She has a beautiful voice and super deep, symbolic beautiful lyrics. It was super unique and different. The scifi feelings imparted on classical, hip hop, R&B and afrocentric sounds was really interesting. The only criticism is there might have been a little too much on the album and it didn't all seem to flow all the time. But it really did feel like it could be the soundtrack to a scifi musical about a droid looking for love.
This is a pretty cool & creative fusion of different music styles. I'm not usually into symphonic music but it's woven into the music in a cool way that makes me feel like a really awesome movie is about to start. Sexy, romantic, and groov'n.
Wow. The sounds in this are so rich it almost feels decadent. It’s creative and sexy and just super freaking cool. Love love love.
Good album.
It was ok. I liked some of what I listened to but I don’t think I’d buy it.
sounded like andy grammer and an edgy disney soundtrack had a baby.. bad, and nowhere near worth listening to before i die
Made my eardrums happy
Her voice is great and fits the varied song styles. Production was great. I just don’t feel the need to listen again.
This really was an unexpected and fantastic album! I have a hard time categorizing it, but I enjoyed it thoroughly and it will be going into the rotation and I will listen to her other albums.
Liked her in glass onion, not so much in this album
Shit slapped so hard
This was different and fun. Would revisit
It is funny to me that I don’t really think that I’ve ever listened to that much Janelle Monae music. I associate her so much more with acting so music from her has been a blind spot. However, after listening, I don’t think that my thoughts behind that weren’t true. This album had some fun spots but otherwise was an uneventful listen
Never heard of this but given its critical reviews and genre description I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised. I can't say I enjoyed it; I found it boring. 70 minutes and none of the songs caught my ear. To me, Janelle Monae's cultural recognition far outweighs her mainstream output, as evidenced by my not recognizing or vibing with any of the songs. One explanation would be an "alternative R&B" blind spot to experimental, non-mainstream acts such as this. Another interpretation would be that I gravitate toward catchier songs vs artsier songs, and she is firmly in the latter group. She takes herself very seriously: like Prince but with less of a talent for producing earworms.
I absolutely love this album! Listened to the deluxe version, twice. It’s not at all what I’m into but there’s real artistry in her work. I have heard, on good authority, that she is quite the live performer. Impressive album.
Interesting but not for me
There was some songs I could really jam to and was very excited where the album was heading. Then, I thought the album was over and Spotify changed albums, yet to my surprise, it was the same.
Suite II is sooooo good. This is hell of a debut album Favorites: "Dance or Die", "Locked Inside", "Cold War", "Tightrope", "Oh, Maker", "Come Alive (War of the Roses)", "Mushrooms & Roses"
I liked that. No time for a review
The song Tightrope is very good, the rest is just kind of mid and something I wouldn't purposely listen to again
A fantastically creative album from one of the best talents around
Surprisingly decent. Never ever listened to her stuff. Kind of gave me a lady gaga vibe
Strange album. Appreciate the effort, but it try’s to do too much and mostly results in a muddled mess. 2.5/5 Probably won’t listen again
It was a fun discovery
Wow. Now this is a concept album in the best way. I love the range and the bold way she goes after different sounds. So many different approaches yet so much Janelle Monáe in each approach! This needs more than one listen for sure.
An all to rare occasion where the list has delivered a new artist I hadn't heard of that I'll be checking out more. I admired the commitment to the concept of this album and it was clearly executed but it was a lot to take in on the first listen, I could have happily cut a track or two , hence the four instead of five.
Fantastic album, beautifully arranged with huge musical variation and wonderful songs.
Pretty good. Nice.
not horrible, but i think she’sa better composer than singer.
***a wide variety of sounds and songs, some pleasant, some not. An ok album
Eh
Janellelle on annettu liikaa minuutteja levylle, tuolla b-puolella tapahtuu kaikkea kummallista. Pidin alun vahvasta popista enemmän kuin lopun genrekokeiluista. Tosin Janellella on upea ääni. Eikä biisit huonoja ole, ihan hyviä, eivät vain kovin mieleenpainuvia enkä ymmärrä tätä albumikokonaisuutta - kuin monipuolisuus olisi hyve itsessään.
A-puoli alkaa raidalla nimeltään "Suite II Overture", mikä saa pelkäämään pahinta. Tästä huolimatta levyn ensimmäinen puolisko on kaiken kaikkiaan hyvää musiikkia: se ei ehkä sisällä varmaa hittiä, mutta toimii rytmisesti ja tuotannollisesti vetävänä poppina. Ikävä kyllä B-puoli on juuri sitä, mitä sen avaustittelin (Suite III Overture) perusteella voisi olettaa. Sekavaa, kummallista: musiikkia, jonka tavoitteena on saada kuulijat yliarvostamaan tekijäänsä. Listan poikkeuksellisin pettymys. 2+
Just no. Talentless, overproduced crap
I'm not sure what to make of this. It's at times both familiar and completely alien. Musically it's refreshing to hear someone taking much bigger swings that your average pop/R&B artist would and I certainly appreciate that. I listened to the whole thing, no skips. It's eclectic and ambitious but ultimately not much really grabbed my ear. I guess it's just not really my thing.
Listened Before? N Well, this is the best album of the week so far.... which isn't saying much. I did kind of enjoy it but it's just more modern hip hop. She does have a great voice and a somewhat unique take but it's not anything I'll listen to again. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Cold War
High 2 for me, nothing too great but also nothing terrible. so, meh. Couldn’t give it a 3.
Not sure if I like this Some heavy borrowing
I think I liked this on first listen more than Dirty Computer. She's got a pretty unique sound here. It's a bold mix of prog, psychedelia, and rhythm and pop. Also, props to having your debut LP be a concept album. On the whole, I'm not sure it quiiiiiiite comes together, but it was a great experience.
not a fan to the multiple references to being “like a schizo” but other than that this is very good. drags a bit tbh highlights: locked inside, sir greendown, oh maker, neon valley street (sep 9 2024)
Funky background music but not particularly my genre, 6/10
Maravilla
I absolutely loved this album! I don't think I've listened to a lot of Janelle Monáe's music before but this was something else. So much diversity in one album, every track felt like a new chapter because it was so different to the one before but the transitions between tracks was seamless. Favourites were Come Alive and Mushrooms and Roses, but Suite II Overture and Suite III Overtures were fantastic. I don't think I could ever get bored of listening to this album.
Quite an intriguing album. Each track different in musical tone and tempo and style. At times I could detect strains of Sparks, The Scissor sisters and even flashes of Bowie here and there. One track the guitar sounds were very reminiscent of The Isley Brothers distinctive sound. Overall thought it was quite good.
This was epic, catchy, upbeat, energetic, theatrical.
Completely new to me, but finally a gem on this list. I'll admit I was a bit apprehensive at the length and was a tad skeptical that a debut album could pull off what the amazing album cover hinted at, but even while every track was not a favorite, I absolutely loved the ambition of this album's sound and story. The production is top notch. As the album ping pongs around through time and various genres, she credibly explores the sound of Shirley Bassey, Lauryn Hill, David Bowie, Wizard of Oz, Metropolis, Diana Ross, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Michael Jackson, Outkast, and Prince among many others, and it was fun picking out the music, broadway musical theater, novel, and film references littered throughout. Lots of the depth here that takes repeat listens to catch them all. "Make the Bus (featuring Of Montreal) reminds me of 70s era David Bowie Glam Rock. While she doesn't quite have the pipes to pull of a Shirley Bassey-esque performance, I did really what she managed to put down in "Sir Greendown". The counterpoint of the songs big bold 60s big band ballad sound contrasting against the medieval imagery in a cyberpunk metaverse was fascinating. She manages to pull of the Bassey-esque siren's call in "BaBopBye Ya". An album for fans, such as a myself of concept albums like Rush' "2112", David Bowie's OUTSIDE, Billy Idol's CYBERPUNK, and Radiohead's KID A. Favorites: "Sir Greendown", "Make the Bus (featuring Of Montreal)", and "Wonderland", "57821 (featuring Deep Cotton)", and "BeBopBye Ya"
Had never heard of her, but fortunately have now. Interresting music, varied, enjoyable and fun.
Genious album ! So many genres and debt in just one album, perfectly balanced so it seems perfect. Amazing to start the album with a part from "Overture"! BaBopByeYa is the perfect song to end this special album.
This is a very interesting mix of genres. It feels like a very experimental album that's pushing genre boundaries and somewhat defies definitions. From an almost pop sound on some tracks to more rock like sound on others and with constant R&B-but-not-exactly vibes. And yet somehow it's still pretty easy listening. I see why this one is getting the praise that it is Standouts Suite II Overture Sir Greendown Tightrope Cold War 5/5
First time listening to her music and I was pleasantly surprised. Beautiful voice, interesting songs. I really liked the upbeat ones
I listened to this a few days ago and really liked the whole album. This was a pleasure to listen to and will put it in my listening rotation.
This was fantastic. The style of music was all over the place, but I really enjoyed it all. So unique and interesting and fun.
This was unexpected. I guess it was overall a pop album, but with influences from varied places: hip hop, rock, hymnals. Very fun all the way though.
Finally a modern album that deserves to be in the list. I love it, my infant loved it. It’s like Bjork but hip hop/rnb/soul. 4/5
OK here’s an album where you’ve got to leave all your assumptions and expectations at the door. Just looking at the cover and the song titles and the little bit I knew about Janelle Monae… I was thinking, ok, probably an R&B and hiphop album, and given her reputation, probably a pretty good one. And it IS that. But it is SO MUCH MORE. There are blistering guitar solos on here. There are straight up jazz numbers. There’s blues and gospel and folk and everything and EVERYTHING is done SO SO SO SO SO well. I can’t even believe how good this album is. One of the best things I’ve ever heard in my life. Put it up there with Def Leppard’s Hysteria as a masterpiece. I wouldn’t call it a singles factory, though. There wasn’t anything here that made me think, oh yeah, this is the one that would rule the radio. But I mean that as a compliment. It was an album where everything felt like an undiscovered deep cut, the kind of song that’s meant for people that F***ING LOVE music and want something that’ll catch their ear AND reach their heart. God bless this album. 10/5 stars. Just amazing.
Janelle Monáe is so talented. I put Tightrope on one of my mix CDs and then kind of fell in love when I saw her dance in the music video. The Electric Lady and Dirty Computer are both excellent as well. My favorite moment is the interpolation of Claire De Lune on Say You'll Go. It's so gorgeous.
first song surprised me. its very 2000s core. not my style of music. she has a good voice. i just don't like the tune of the music. stopped listening half way through tightrope because i couldn't be bothered.
6/10
This style of music isn't really stuff I choose for myself. However, there's no doubting the talent on display. I found myself really enjoying it.
Feel this one needs repeated listens to truly appreciate…. Liked the concept and will revisit….
Incredible. Maybe the best eclectic-excellent album I’ve heard. 4.5/5
I loved this. Perfect album from cover to cover
This was fun, and unique while still being musical as opposed to just noisy. I saved a couple of songs but probably wouldn't stick this on repeat which keeps it from five stars for me
She is clearly talented and its fine pop music, but it is not the type of stuff I care to listen to or that interests me.
Classical with aliens
Some tracks were great others not so good but overall it was an easy entertaining listen so 3*
Bit of an odd album. Liked bits of it but it didn't really hang together that well and I don't think I'd go back to it...
not my thing
I would never have guessed what era this album is from. It sounds like something out of science fiction from the 70s. Poppy, soulful, sometimes complex rnb pieces and dreamy ballads. The singer has an extremely versatile voice. The tempo changes constantly and so it never gets boring. My favorite tracks are Come Alive; Oh, Maker; Mushroom & Roses and Tightrope.
Caught off guard with this one. Very cool album not just Hip Hop on here. Cool concept and execution.
怪叫
Never heard any of it, but wasn't bad.
Great voice. She’ll always be the chick who sang on that Fun. song.
The kind of album you can listen to on loop and not realise that you’ve been listening to the same album for 4 days straight. So varied and full of lovely surprises. Loved it. 4.5
This was 🔥
I know Janelle Monáe is a very popular artist but I haven’t heard much besides her hits. She deserves all the praise. This was amazing.
Feel-good music, sounds like a Disney film soundtrack.
Fav: Cold War Least Fav: Neon Gumbo This album surprised me, it’s incredibly good and I never got tired of it at all. It’s albums like these that make me glad I do this.
I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed thos album. Janelle is a very good singer, and every song feels different. Nothing is repetitive at all. It's hard to say what genre this album even is, as every song seems to explore a different one. There are funky bass riffs, electronic elements, even elements of old 50s styles it seemed. I'd give this a 4.5/5 if I could, but I'll settle a 4. I generally reserve a 5 star for albums that truly get to me, but this is still good.
Ik like the style, innovative and different
Ikkje dumt
First of all this album was way too long. I do like Janelle's voice though Some of the songs just don't mesh together well. Seemed like she got caught up in trying to mesh different genres and it went off the tracks.
The 50’s throwback fad isnt my jam, but Janelle is one of the best at it. She has such a clean Doo Wop vibe and lovely enunciation. Tightrope was my favorite on this album but all of it is radio worthy. The alter ego is over theatrical but she probably would have been more commercially successful in the U.S. on a different label with more artistic control.
Different, but good!!
There's a lot going on on this record. Lots of different styles and influences. But somehow it sounds coherent. I really enjoyed it. Wouldn't have found it without this challenge. Favorite song: Dance or die.
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
Not my kinda thing
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.
I can appreciate talent but it’s not for me.
I have never heard this before, I didn't even know she was a singer, I thought she was only an actress. It's pretty good but doesn't really blow me away. My favorite song is one of the less popular ones "Wondaland". I will probably listen to a few songs from this again but it didn't really strike me as something that I need to hear again all the way through.
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!
Eclectic, quirky, meticulously produced, masterful, cohesive. Something hard to pull off! Loved it 4.7
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
... and to the Cubs winning the World Series !!
Androids are boring. This lasted a lot longer than I hoped it would. 1 star or F for me.
Fantastic, really. Incredibly eclectic selection of songs without losing any quality or cohesiveness, regardless of genre attempted.
This album might lack synchronicity at times but the concept and and attempt for instrumental variation is there with some really deep cuts! Her voice shines! I would have thought this was a 80’s album with how conceptual it is. More of 3.5 for me
I really liked the mix of genres on this album, it was theatrical without being over the top.
there is a lot going on, and not much of it is exciting or interesting whatsoever. she is a very good singer, but that doesnt make the album universally good. halfway through the album i thought to myself "i already dont remember a single thing from any previous tracks", so chances are i will forget this album has existed alltogether by the day after next NNN
Wow! What a surprise masterpiece
Couldnt get it fully
Wow, flat out wow; I was floored by this album. I've never listened to Janelle Monáe, learned she has a small part in We Are Young by fun. And I know she was in Glass Onion as an actress, but damn is her own music the standout for me. This album opens with one of the tightest 6 songs groupings I've heard on this playlist, between Dance or Die through Tightrope. Not a miss in there, and so many of my favorite musical elements are present. Deep grooves, good instrumentals, great voice. There's even a pysch rock track in Neon Valley Sign. Even the back half of this album is rock solid. This is one of the easiest 5s I've given here.
The future was once an exciting place, a vision where anything that can be thought of as possible to achieve, looking backwards to understand how to move forward. As the ArchAndroid, Janelle Monae found a stellar way to fuse past, present and future together into a package that bursts with consistent energy and cohesion. The second and third part of a five part suite, heading into just this without digesting the first part feels like cheating yet this is a pretty good introduction to someone who may still very well turn culture on its head. Nearly fifteen years on, it's still electric. Favorites: Dance or Die, Faster, Locked Inside, Sir Greendown, Cold War, Tightrope, Oh, Maker, Come Alive (War of the Roses), Mushrooms & Roses, Make the Bus, Wondaland, Say You'll Go.
Never heard Jonelle before. Loved this album. So many different genres covered
Meh. was not as good as my group hyped
The orchestra, the melodies, the hip hop, the piano, the guitar......Janelle's voice. Was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did!
Genre hopping always risks incoherence, but this album has enough of a narrative through-line concept (always a risk in and of itself) and a clearly consistent voice & overall aesthetic that it ties together the eclectic pallette it's drawing from. It dabbles in hip hop, neo-soul, prog, punk, synth pop, psychadelia, smooth jazz, monastic folk, and intergalactic funk, but it's produced and sequenced in a way that these are smooth and emergent segues rather than disjunctive leaps. JM is comfortable and confident as a performer across all of this. There aren't any big standout catchy songs and despite the genre variety it is a bit samey tonally for 70 minutes - you're meant to absorb it one go for the story I guess, but the rock opera thing is always a chore.