Rhythm Nation 1814

similar to get rich or die tryin in the way that quite a lot of songs could be removed to make it better (not as much tho). I imagine this was highly influential for the 90s rap/pop fusion. I generally think that the first half is much better that the second. Downsides have pretty much already been said, and some songs could be longer. Favorite songs: Rhythm nation, state of the world, the knowledge. Overall around 7/10

all the haters who gave this a 2 can pound sand. This album has at least 6 bangers on it. And yes...this is 100% a product of my age when this came out and me hearing them on the radio nonstop.

I like

A classic - she rocked it.

Great.

83% Best: Rhythm Nation; State Of The World; Miss You Much; Alright; Escapade; Black Cat Must-Hear? Sure

I recently read a really good article about how totally JJ was ditched and hung out to dry after nipple-gate, and how much it derailed her career. Apart from a couple of mid-90s fairly average R&B songs, I didn't really know loads of her catalogue, but this is very good. I think I'm ready to die on the Janet is a better singer than Michael hill to be honest. And definitely a better person.

The pinnacle of disco (?)

4.25

Culturally relevant and slightly provocative for 1990. This album was the precursor to Janet genuinely taking control of her life, career, and freedom of expression. Rhythm Nation introduced a bold Janet who was strong, facing hard topics like social injustice, while at the same time embracing her sexuality and showing the world she was all grown up. Not my favorite JJ album, but it deserved the accolades received.

A totally solid album. A little too mealy mouthed in the beginning with it's social British for my taste but the grooves and hits are where it's at. Escapade was a total banger.

È lungo devo ammetterlo ma non merita meno di 4. Energetico, rinfrescante, danzante e politicamente impegnato, mi è piaciuto molto. Si sappia che non sarebbe stato un 5 nemmeno se fosse stato più corto.

I am not a fan or Janet Jackson, or at least I wasn't. This album really really surprised me. I had this idea it was going to be something from around 97, and i assumed it would be full of ballads, but it was actually mostly pop, funky pop, really bouncy and interesting. The production is great, the songs are very very well written, with catchy singalong bits, and more than anything, it's so instant. If i was to compare it to the Mariah album that i heard a few months ago, i think this is a much better, much more cohesive, more catchy, more songs. This album feels like everything in a single, with a few things in between that stitch it all together.

Quite enjoyed the one. The production is incredible and the vibes are funky.

L’habillage sonore de l’album, super cohérent, trahit son âge. Je suis quand même très attachée à l’album par nostalgie. Il faut dire aussi que le travail du rythme invoqué par la première chanson sous-tend chaque pièce, même les ballades, les rendant accrocheuses

Great memories and a fun groove

Seven #1 hits. It’s pretty much the reason it is here. It’s a competent album and after the breakthrough of Control, made her a superstar at her brother’s level. As a concept the album doesn’t hold up, but it has a solid production from Jam and Lewis that while dated is still pretty great and those hits are something else.

Not as memorable as her album "Control", but I love the effort. Strong 80s vibe and I dig the production. It starts of with a strong and relevant social commentary, but I don't think the masses wanted to hear her message or mature enough to understand it. The balance of the album is classic Janet dance club mixes.

I couldn’t imagine being in Janet Jackson’s position. Being a naturally talented and well known musician, and still managing to be overshadowed by your sibling would break any normal person down to their core. Plus, that whole accident she had at the Super Bowl Halftime Show ended up being a much bigger deal than it needed to be. It basically got her blacklisted, and was even the reason why the term “wardrobe malfunction” exists. Now granted, it is kind of hard not to be overshadowed by Michael Jackson. Because it’s fucking Michael Jackson. But I’m not going to spend this review comparing her music to his. That wouldn’t be doing her justice. I’m actually glad I get to explore the history of the Jackson family a little deeper than their biggest star. It’s a whole generation of very talented people. And Janet is no different. This is just the complete opposite direction that I would imagine her music would go in. This surprisingly turned out to be one of the most intense listens I’ve had on this list so far. At least some moments feel that way. Truthfully this is the evolution of the 80s sound, and what it developed into right at the cusp of the 90s. People began to abandon the dance stuff for something more fitting of a nightclub. Darker and more in your face. But it’s impressive how Janet and the people she worked with managed to pull that off while still maintaining a level of radio-friendliness. This album was judged on release for its pretty blatant political theming and lyricism. But it was also acclaimed for its production, and rightfully so. There is some really cool stuff going on. The opener alone is indicative of that. But there are also some really beautiful songs, like Livin' in a World and Come Back to Me, which sound closer to what Janet might be known for. I can also appreciate the theming here. I think it’s admirable that a person of her size was willing to write an album like this, even with the opposition from her label. She used her platform for something important. Janet has actually always been an icon and innovator in the contemporary spaces of late 20th century music. And I enjoyed most of this album thoroughly. Rating: 7/10

Probably 3.75 again I see the overall appeal. But not really my genre or something I would usually listen to

Listen to it more than once. Loads to get into! 4.0

I’m a part

The tonal whiplash is pretty wild. Good music though. 4/5

So I remember the late 80s and early 90s, and while Janet Jackson wasn't anything me or my friends would listen to, this album was EVERYWHERE for a while. I never listened to this album all the way through before, but I sat down and ate the whole thing today. Its not bad! Its still not my taste, but it has great range, composition, Janet has outstanding vocals, and is a pretty good album. 4/5

The final boss of 80s synth pop really picks up about halfway through when it gets more creative and varied

Wonderful

Really good vibes, ahead of its time. creative songwriting and really catchy throughout the album.

The biggest question I feel like I've had to ask myself in trying to talk about this album is "Is it dated?" That being, "Is it dated in terms of its production and genre?" and "Is it dated in terms of commentary on the real world?" Of course, my answer to both variations of that question is "Yes." This thing was released in 1989, after all; I'd be surprised if either one had aged terribly well in 2024. But let's pull in and address each one separately. I wanna start with the thing I feel like most people would take issue with: the commentary. Naturally, there's gonna be a few issues it tackles that maybe don't apply... As well today? Although, if I've learned anything from history, a depressing amount **does** carry through across centuries. But that's not actually why I think most people would have a problem with it, despite "datedness" being the thesis. Moreso, I imagine they'd take issue with the fact that Janet Jackson is a celebrity, and, as such, who the hell is she to try and talk about the problems of the "common folk?" Given the pedestal she's been placed on, can it come across as anything but fake? To be blunt, personally, I don't care. I often talk to myself about the "power of music," but it can only do so much by itself. If Janet brought attention to some issues through some sick jams, then that's a good thing. I mean, I'm not sure what else she could or is really supposed to do besides jump to the extreme of "quit music entirely and spend the entire fortune she's amassed to fix it herself." I don't believe that'd be as effective as some people would want it to be, and generally I don't think that's what most people would want her to do, really. Frankly, I'd just be happy that someone with a position like hers would be speaking about this stuff at all. And besides, if I can listen to all of her brother's socially conscious music and never get put off by "fakeness," then it's not a problem for me here, either. And let's switch over to talking about the music, and to get back on the thesis. I'm not gonna front here: this album sounds incredibly dated to the late 80's and early 90's. But, like, I'unno—is that a problem, really? This is New Jack Swing. Maybe I'm just too much of a sucker for modern throwbacks to older sounds, but to me this is just what it's supposed to sound like. And frankly, it sounds **incredible**. It's maybe—no, **definitely** the single best collection of New Jack Swing I've heard. I mean, sure, it **can** get a little tiring because of how long the album runs. (64 minutes? Oof. I kind of wonder if the original vinyl version, which edited the album down a bit to fit, runs any better, but let's stick with how we were supposed to listen to this thing.) On the whole, though, I can only think of a handful of songs from other artists that I'd classify as more definitively "New Jack Swing." I can't think of any other **albums**, that's for sure. I'm still knocking it a star for its length, but regardless, I really enjoyed my time with this album. If you're the kind of person who's bothered by datedness in music, I maybe wouldn't recommend it, but if you take it as it comes like me, it's a hell of a time. No wonder there was a point in time where Janet was bigger than Michael, oof, goodness.

Wow haven't heard this one in a long time! I used to want to live in the Rhythm Nation before I found out how difficult that would be. Escapade is a fuckin banger and gets this to a 4 despite the overproduction reverb drum machine sound.

Janet Jackson is quite the legend, and this album firmly cements why that is the case. At times heartfelt, always personal, this is an incredible album to sink your teeth into.

Not really my preferred style of music, but this is an extremely well put together album. Very bold choices and powerful messages

Somehow I've made it this far in my life without really hearing any Janet Jackson. I don't know why that is - did she really drop off the cultural radar *that* hard after the Superbowl fiasco? Regardless - this was fun in that punchy, overproduced, hypersincere 80s way. All the people complaining that it sounds dated are missing the point - that's what makes it good and compelling! A nice surprise, and a rare treat to see a woman on the list again (lol. :| )

Allt í lagi lullarablús.

I thought it was gonna be mid but it was actually really good

# Playlist track - Rhythm Nation # Notes - I expected *nothing* of this and found the album to be pretty solid! I like the beat! - There is too much filler and empty space in the album. Useless interludes that don't really add to the experience and a couple of meh tracks. - All in all, way better than I expected and definitely worth checking out!

funny intro FUCK DA SBANGT also ich bin chli am büecher ihrume und die beats gönd absolut dumm und stönd au ih somene geile gegesatz zude mega schöne melodie wo gsunge werded miss you much isch iwie es slay lied???? chammer das sege??? lieber nöd aber bis jz s beste lied wie so hüfig stellt sich d frag: wiso 1h? so gege endi haut de bass nümme so krass inne und es isch echli weniger speziell (für mich) aber immerno sind die drums so geil gitisoloooo aber ja luca mier hends scho besproche, die schnulzene sind echli heavy BRO JZ HANI GMEINT COME BACK TO ME ISCH FERTIG someday is tonight würkli sehr geil ABER chli z vill stöhne? omg isch de schluss schön jaaa also ich han sehrsehr freud gha, und denn geg de schluss ischs chli langwilig worde. öppe 3 schnulzene hetted chönne ussecuttet werde aber für mich ganz klar es 4i

great album! Rhythm Nation is one of those hits that make their way around to me time and time again. my only gripes with the album are the interludes. Outside that its a great listen with a message.

Loved it! Great dance music. Rhythm Nation is a friggin BOP! Lyrically it’s still very relevant unfortunately. It’s sad to see not much has changed for folks.

Much like Bad, it’s a quintessential Jacksonian late 80s power pop tour de force. Holds up, too. I especially like how Janet flexes her stylistic muscles with Black Cat. And then, there’s the visual art of the album as well. That deserves love, much like Sgt Pepper’s, KISS, or anything by Devo.

I was very much about this lane of music when I was a younger man - a great mix of Michael Jackson without the narcissism and lunacy, and Prince without the lunacy and narcissism. This album isn't control, but Janet doesn't get enough credit for being Beyonce first

i dunno, it's pretty good, but i can't really stand the very very 80s pop sound on full display here. i can appreciate that she's touching on the subject matter she is (including the sample of the newscast about a shooting is a pretty legit move for an album this big and mainstream) but it doesn't really feel like she has anything specific or novel to say. I'm a broken record on this, but it's also too long, I'm now thoroughly convinced that CDs, digital formats, etc were all mistakes since at least when everything was on vinyl artists had to know how to exercise some restraint. it's good, but it has a lot of flaws that keep it from being a heavy rotation album for me

really good. so new jack swing

Definitely a concept album. Most of the interludes are there to add ambience rather than be good songs. Everything else is solid. I like a lot of the stuff on this album even if I never fully fall in love with it. 4/5

Unsanely good. *I* am a part of the rhythm nation ☝🏻

So good. Unique sound, deeply emotional and political and moving!

Album rocks and its deranged but also epic to put an interlude between every track

So many iconic songs on this album, and some great messages too. It’s one of those albums that feels like a greatest hits compilation. The interludes are a nice little touch to help with smooth song transitions. Really love this as a whole package!

Solid album ushering in a particular early 90's sound (what's up ghost notes on snare drums???). Nostalgic listen that holds up decades later. Solid, soulful, and very enjoyable album.

Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 is an iconic album that captured the late 80s with its blend of socially conscious themes and New Jack Swing beats. Songs like Rhythm Nation and Miss You Much were groundbreaking at the time, combining R&B with hip-hop rhythms, making them feel like a call to action. Tracks such as Escapade and Alright showcase Janet's knack for creating upbeat, feel-good anthems perfect for the dance floor. The production by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis was innovative, layering synthesized sounds with punchy drum machine beats. At the time, these tracks were exhilarating, setting the stage for future pop and R&B artists. However, listening today, some of the New Jack Swing tracks feel less groundbreaking, more nostalgic. Despite this, the album's infectious energy and Janet's charisma keep the songs entertaining. The themes of unity and social justice remain relevant, giving the album enduring significance. While the New Jack Swing sound has aged, Rhythm Nation 1814 remains a testament to Janet Jackson's artistry and vision, reflecting the excitement of its era and the timeless appeal of its messages. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 7 STAND OUT TRACK - Rhythm Nation

Listened Before? N One of the greatest mainstream pop albums of the 80s - approaching at at times surpassing her debatably more famous brother's works from the time period. The concept album with social commentary was a breath of fresh air and - as I remember - caused a large social movement within the youth of the time. She meant business, and we noticed. It helps that there's lots of great songs on here as well. Love this one. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Rhythm Nation, Love Will Never Do

LUV JANET

If this album was shorter and there was less going on, it would be a masterpiece. I am a sucker for late 80s/early 90s preachy songs, it makes me feel so nostalgic and it fills me with hope, even though everything has gotten worse LOL Very good album, enjoyed

Nostalgic

Iconic singles, though the second half of the album is not the strongest

This was kind of a tough one for me to grade. It's an incredibly famous and influential album. It has some of Janet's biggest songs, and it's one of the albums responsible for bringing New Jack Swing into the mainstream. That said, it's fairly uneven as an album. You knew Michael was probably going to have at least one political song on most of his later releases, but it never took over to the point where you would mistake him for a protest artist. But Janet can't seem to decide if she wants to make a political statement or a pop album here and ends up splitting the difference in a way that's not very satisfying for either direction. The first half is front-loaded with political songs — some of them really good, some of them a little fluffy. But then the back half is mostly love songs, which range from straightforward slower songs to — for some reason — Spanish guitar, Latin-style ballads that wouldn't be out of place on a Selena album. The other issue I had is that, for me, Janet was always more of a performer/artist than singer. It was the dancing, the music videos, the fashion that made her a standout artist. Her voice, while pleasant, is fairly thin, especially considering her contemporaries like Whitney and Mariah. So just listening to the songs in isolation isn't the biggest draw for me. The best tracks on the album are Rhythm Nation and Black Cat. Everything after Black Cat is honestly pretty weak. I'll give it a 4 for influence and the singles (and Black Cat), but it's probably more of a 3.5/5.

If you told me that this was from a year other than 1989, I'd call you a liar. It is as unambiguously 1989 as any album possibly could be. 1989 permeates this album, written indelibly through its very core, as if it were a stick of 1989 rock. Taylor Swift has nothing on the 1989-ness of this. It's kinda alright, in a terribly over-the-top and brash poppy kinda way.

4.5 - Was it the Super Bowl nip slip that caused Janet's star to fade? I see that she's playing in my city in a few weeks. She's booked the massive sports arena, which is good. But tickets are still plentiful, and cheaper than I expected -- just $33 snatches up a nosebleed? This album is a banger, and probably my favorite example of new jack swing (though I’m hardly an expert). The synthesized percussion does much of the heavy lifting in the bass and middle registers, creating a clean, minimal, bold sound. Also, this record is absolutely stacked with hits. Seven of them were on regular rotation back in the day, and many still get considerable airplay. Of these “Love Will Never Do…” is my favorite — equally vulnerable and assertive, sweet and sassy. I love that single pulsing bass, insistent and propulsive. I love the call and response breakdown near the end, and how it gradually incorporates some surprising jazz chord structures, little variations that keep an otherwise repetitive set of elements sounding fresh until the very end. Phenomenal. But, the real surprise was hearing “Black Cat” for the first time in years. It’s a stone-cold rocker that reminds me of some of Heart’s power balladry of the late-80’s. That guitar solo goes hard. What an unexpected surprise that lifts the tail-end of an already impressive record.

No shame, this is great.

She was already a Jackson, so she was fame-adjacent no matter what. “Control” was a fun record. But this one made her a giant in the Pop world. What an incredible mix of Pop, R&B, Funk, Soul, sampling beats and Hip-Hop influences. Just a mature statement as well as a vehicle for Janet to shine. Plus, it fits the concept album definition, so kudos to Janet for trying on so many hats and so successfully presenting herself as a multifaceted artist.

Старушка в принципе недалеко от братца ушла, удивила. Единственное, что эти синты и драмка на протяжении часа все таки начали меня утомлять. Поэтому ниже немного оценю

Bra plate!

You can't listen to this and not be amazed by the songs and production. A Jam/Lewis masterpiece! Play loud.

Good this, listened too long ago to be more insightful

Beter than expected

High energy. Fun and familiar. Felt like a time capsule to high school.

Its a pop album. But a great one at that. Long time since i listened to this but really enjoyed listening to it again

It's sort of interesting that this album is pitched as a concept album about social issues, but all the hits are more traditional love songs. This isn't meant as a criticism, Jackson absolutely addresses the social issues she is interested in. It's just kinda funny that like ever single fun love song on this album was a fucking gigantic hit. I'm honestly surprised that this album doesn't get talked about more, given how well it's held up. I think that some of the negative attention to Michael Jackson stuck on Janet, and of course there was that time when she accidentally showed America her bare breast, and we all decided that we were furious about this for reasons that I've never understood. Hell, she's almost 58 years old, and I would still pay good money to see one of the girls again. I digress. This is a good album, and I will fight anyone who talks shit on Janet Jackson's breasts 4/5

The sound is original and the album is well put together. Refreshing

A lot better then i was expecting. The dance tracks held up better for me then the ballads. The singles were a nice bit of nostalgia.

Escapade rocks

Janet did well to come out from the shadow of brother Mikey and the other four brothers of the Jackson 5. This album showed she had something to add to the pop music of the day. The dancing and music videos made this project stand out visually. Of course, how can anyone forget the wardrobe malfunction Super Bowl incident? That got everyone’s attention!

Fun album that ushered in the 90s. Definitely replayable. I’ll give it a solid 4. Rant time. What’s the point of the interludes between EVERY SONG? I see a few angles… 1 - if they aren’t important enough to be part of the song, why include them? 2 - do these count as more plays for the artist on Spotify? If so, for a person in 1989, that’s great insight into the far off future! 3 - if you are making a playlist, it’s great that you can easily cut out the crap… unless you like the content of an interlude, in which case it’ll piss you off. End of the day, a few interludes did enhance the songs (so just should’ve been on the track itself) others were just space fillers and unnecessary. Cut them. Rant over.

Favourite tracks: rhythm nation; state of the world; miss you much

cool album. reminds me of paula abdul but with more wholesome lyrics. i was bopping along

89 was a monster year for hip hop. 3rd best only beaten by 3 feet high and rising and Pauls Boutique.

Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected.

Vacillates wildly between danceable funky all-time bangers, and very dull R & B

La voce assomiglia tantissimo a quella di Michael! Bello!

Iconic album, but I really hate how the snare drums sound in these songs.

Very ahead of it's time for an album released in the early 1800's. ⏩⏩⏩⏩

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production and composition are excellent, especially the transitions. the variety of themes in the lyrics can be a bit jarring, and some songs are a bit longer than necessary. overall really strong album, but it's missing songs that are simply catchy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 great album! Still relevant 35 years later! Such a fun treat for your headphones/ears.

A proper gem

Perfekt produziert. Überragender Sound.

I love this album. It’s incredibly over produced and LOUD….but that was the sound of the time (‘Purple’ Jack Swing). So many hits that will now be stuck in my head for the next year. 2 stars EACH for Jimmy Jamm and Terry Lewis. Long live ‘The Time’!!!

It’s Rhythm Nation. What is there to say. It’s a fantastic exploration for Janet. As an artist, as a woman. She clearly found a little of herself with this album. It’s a full fledged pop masterwork. It might also be her crowning moment.

I had forgotten how many of these songs I knew. (Dumb moment: I always thought "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" was called "They Said It Wouldn't Last". My mistake. The ultra-serious moment: "Livin' In A World (They Didn't Make)" seems forced right after "Love Will Never Do". There needed to be a better transition, which should have been interludes between every other song. And the ending (with the kids screaming) to it is creepy not powerful. Top songs "Miss You Much" (always one of my favorites of hers), "Escapade," the title track.

Difficult album to rate. First, persisting, and overall impression? A 3.5. Why? I'll start with the bad. It is so stereotypically 80's with the production and musical engineering - from the repeated use of that synth drum slap sound (Miss You Much, Love Will Never Do, Alright) and other cheesy drum track effects (State of the World, Escapade, Black Cat) to finger snaps (Lonely, Come Back to Me), those short shrieks made famous in It Takes Two (Rhythm Nation, Alright), that howling/whistling synth sound on Lonely (you know the one, can't place which other 80's song does the same), and some Kenny G-sounding sax to close out the album (Someday is Tonight). But the 80's was also fun if not eccentric, and this album is that too. And Janet brings the energy. Rhythm Nation, Miss You Much, Alright, Escapade, and Black Cat in particular - with her borrowing her brother's move on that last song and going with a pure rocker (courtesy Extreme's guitarist). She is also fierce - not just her delivery but she went with her lyrics and her message and mostly brought it (some of the interludes or songs are too light-hearted). She does the soft stuff pretty well (Love Will Never Do, Come Back to Me, Someday is Tonight), almost as much as the heavier social commentary songs (State of the World, Livin' in a World). No doubt the album is uneven and Janet let the producers get too much say in its sound. But she was told don't do this and it'll bomb, and she did it her way and instead became a superstar. Kudos to that.

This album was in its heyday when I was in early elementary school. A lot of it sounds dated, in my opinion mainly due to the drums, but there’s no question of the impact this album had on pop music at the time.

Disco con muy bien ritmo de un icono de la música de baile de finales de los 80. Sensual y un tanto hip-hop

Starts well sounding a little bit like Prince from the same era. Last few slower songs are a bit schmaltzy. I love the "got the message, let's dance" bit!

It's amazing to hear an album this ambitious, conceptual, and confident from a 23-year-old; even more unbelievably, this was only her fourth proper album. I feel like I've missed something from the one listen, so I'd like to revisit this and commit to closer listening. There's the 1989 of it all: the massive drums, glossy backing vocals, and synths. "Dated" tends to have a negative connotation, but I don't mind that I can hear the year on this one. The songs stand up to time. Highlights: Rhythm Nation, Livin' In A World (They Didn't Make), Black Cat

I don't think I've ever listened to or cared about Janet Jackson at all before. So I went into this one without much in the way of expectations. Most of it I ended up liking quite a bit. The album is immaculately produced and pretty varied, with a bunch of different influences but most tracks being pretty nice (the two last songs being an exception, boring). So now I know that JJ is more than only MJ's sister. 3.5 rounded up.

pretty good but too long. too much interlude stuff. i get it. capitalism bad. some really great songs in here though.

Fed disko. Synes det er meget fedt, måske stor 3er. Men sniger sig op på lille 4 fordi Janet er cool og har noget på hjerte, selvom det nok er lidt banalt

I'd forgotten how good this album was, in many ways Janet always lived in the shadows of Michael and that's a shame as she was a good artist in her own right.

Janet Jackson largely created a classic here in ‘Rhythm Nation 1814’ that sounds more like her, and less like a Prince album. That influence is still there, with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis producing, but it’s not as overt as on the ‘Control’ album. Instead, we get a New Jack Swing classic with a strong pop-twist, energetic dance songs, and some nice slower rnb love songs/ballads that still swing (To be honest I didn’t know Janet could get that sensual and seductive, but I was pleasantly surprised). Meanwhile, the social commentary is mostly confined to the opening part of the album, and just about works without getting too preachy. It’s not perfect and sounds over produced to modern ears, but I still really like ‘Rhythm Nation 1814’. So did her brother Michael it seems, who basically ripped this off for his own ‘Dangerous’ album in ’91.

More than a bit too long but there are plenty of bangers and I'm going to go against the grain and say the production was great.

Completely overproduced and just downright delicious.

Didn't expect to like this one, but damn!

Very good album with some classic tracks

esta bueno, aunque sí sentí que era como una canción re larga, al menos durante las primeras canciones.

Pretty great...have been sleeping on this album since it predated my music listening by a year or two. Would 100% come back to it. 4.5/5

Enjoyable front to back.

It’s amazing how an unapologetic pop album can also find a way to make real comments about social justice issues and question the state of the world.

I’m not usually a fan of Pop albums. I think it works best as a singles genre, and that albums are too often marred by bad filler tracks and a lack of cohesion. Rhythm Nation 1814 is an attempt to create a cohesive artistic Pop album with both social and personal lyrical themes. I think as artistic statement it’s noble and for the most part works pretty well. I think the complaint that the album is overproduced is ridiculous, it sounds pretty similar to other late 80’s early 90’s pop records. The beats are tight, although the occasionally drown out Jackson’s vocals. Otherwise her voice is interesting, sharp and cutting but also sensual. I have a lot of thoughts about this album, and the way it seems to have been received, but I don’t think this is the right place to share them. Instead I’ll just say that I don’t think a lot of the critiques are justified, and that I would go to bat for Rhythm Nation 1814. It’s a good album.

Whoa! This was great. Of course it's of its time, but it definitely still holds up as a solid pop/R'n'B album with an interesting (and still relevant) concept, catchy melodies and variation. Janet killed it with this one.

Cat: reminds me of my mom big time. Dancing in the living room. Most of the songs are all time hits. Janet had a message. 4 stars.

This may be the most dance 80's album ever. It'ss a little much for me, but I cannot deny the mastery.

Tough listen, sounded like her brother

Janet’s fourth studio album may be her most well-rounded, even if some of the songs work better than others, on a technical as well as thematic stance. Regardless, the production across this thing is great and the funky songs are funky as shit

Oh hey it's that song that kills hard drives, or something like that. /s A really cool and funky pop and R&B album from the very end of the 80s. Sounds very 80s indeed with that huge, potentially OTT production. Some of the songs and beats feel a little samey after a while, there's a weird whiplash between songs commenting on social issues, and songs about romance and sex, and there's so many interludes for some reason. At least most of them are short so don't overstay their welcome. But god damnit it was funky and danceable and just pretty fun. A bit of a crazy and overproduced mess, but still very good. Favourite: Rhythm Nation

I see some complaints here and there in the album reviews, but I heard what I heard: good music. Not quite pushing into a 5 star for me. That's still pretty damn great.

Was it a little dated, and heavy handed, and inconsistent? Yes. Was it a good deal of fun? Also yes.

I do understand why this is on the list, but it was missing something to pump it to the 5 for me. Good vocal performance, good writing, good production, and good album structure

Pas un gros fan de Hip Hop, mais Janet est là pour donner une twist au genre pis c’est cool

4.5 Fav track Black Cat!

i finally get it, it is actually an awesome album, sort of worth the hype

3.5 Kinda sounds like if Michael Jackson had a sister. Very good in the begining but could have been trimmed towards the end I think.

Ms Janet if you're nasty kills it on this album

Excellent album with huge hits and catchy tunes. I think if they cut it by about 15 minutes it would be even better. Filler keeps it from being a 5.

Seriously? ANOTHER 4th studio album? The middle part of this album is so incredibly strong. Not sure if this was produced by the same producer as Paula Abdul?

Loved it ! She doesn’t get the recognition she deserves.

I have come to the horrifying realization that I really like Janet Jackson's music. This is what the manliest man in the gym is listening to on his headphones. Eat raw steak with your bare hands, chug the nastiest, bitterest beer and put on "Rhythm Nation" like a real man, pussy.

This is an amazing album, I've never really listened to Janet Jackson and Whoa... the king of pop definitely has a sister

Core memory unlocked: Being 9 years old, jamming Miss You Much in the back of older cousin's car, summer night, windows down, volume on max. This album is full of jams, nice vocals, and great production. Janet is the Queen of Pop, left an indelible mark on pop music and that's while standing in her brother's shadow.

This is a vibe. Fantastic album, maybe because I've listened to it quite a bit, but I really enjoyed it.

I did not expect to find anything much to appreciate here so I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. It's hella dated, of course but that can't detract from how good the production and songwriting are. Janet stepped up her game here and it shows. I can't give it full marks on account of how dated it is and how terrible and pointless the interlude tracks are. But it earns every one of the 4 stars that I can give it.

Really good album. Standouts: Rhythm Nation, State of the World, Miss You Much, Love Will Never Do Without You, Alright, Escapade, Black Cat, Come Back to Me Favorite Track: Black Cat Rating: 4.5

This album is very fun & poppy, with some legitimately interesting musical elements in the later tracks. I enjoyed this quite a bit more than I thought I would. Favorite track: Someday is Tonight

Super solid. Didn't destroy my laptop which was nice.

One of the most interesting things about this album is the fact that Jackson sings about issues that seemingly have not changed in over 30 years. The audio of gunshots at a playground were especially and most tragically all too familiar. Other reviewers have criticized this album for being too preachy, but I think everyone no matter what their income level, especially those with a platform, have every right to confront injustice where they see it. Furthermore, Jackson went against the wishes of her label to make the album she wanted. Musically, this album is an absolute clinic in well crafted pop music. It is a bit dated, but it expertly weaves late 80s pop with synth and new Jack swing to create something unique that doesn’t feel as long as it is.

New jack swing and post industrial is not a combination I thought was even possible but man. Janet is awesome

Very pop, but pretty good. classic 80's vibe

Like :)

Definitely way more purposeful and sharp than I expected.

I had no expectations as it's completely out of my usual genre and absolutely loved it! From the new jack swing snare to heavy guitars on Black Cat, the production and instrumentals are just a perfect representation of the era. The tracklist consists primarily of solid dance tunes with sociopolitical message, which sometimes may sound naive but it seems like the author was completely aware of that and had all the best intentions. There are some weaker points, sure, especially towards the end which is unnecessarily packed with ballads, but its still a very good album overall. I will be definitely coming back to this and I'll try some other albums from Janet. 4/5

Whole lotta bangers.

It's pop music: That things are on the nose should be a given. The material stretches a little thinly over the hour, but the energy of the music more than makes up for any of those flaws. Rhythm Nation 1814 is undeniably and hugely a pop record, but it buries that fact under dark variety.

Bought when first came out, brilliant album

This must be the basis for that classic 90s r&b sound. Wow.

7/10. I enjoyed most every song, but I never want to sit down and listen to the whole album straight through again.

Destroyed my laptop

Incredible vibes. Please can we go back to bops about the importance of education for our children!

She delivers a pop dance album with a message. Prince's fingerprints are all over this too. I don't care what anyone says, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are not the only ones behind Escapade. Jackson has an iconic sound just like her brother. The sound bites are annoying, but that's part of the style of the times. The album is a party. It's over an hour, but hardly feels like it. I can see why she's so popular. I can also see why Michael emulated her sound later in his career.

A little dated, but still a bop.

Unrepentant 80s dance pop cheese platter.

One of the greatest pop stars of the 80s and 90s, but I always placed her beneath Whitney. However, I was really impressed by her performance here. Hugely influenced by Madonna, she's loud and energetic carried by a strong old school hip-hop production style that would characterize the short-lived New Jack Swing movement (most of it would just be generic pop trash). Still very 80s with the punchy beats, spontaneous synths, and the use of samples almost like another instrument (biggest example in mind is the female shrieking sample used in a few songs). In fact, the whole album gives off 80s TV guide and workout video feels. The interludes really enforce these images, and they're so short-lived they serve to both provide breaks between these spacious and energetic tracks without dragging on to be annoying. I really enjoyed all the songs, although I do admit I got a bit exhausted by the time we got to the last few ethereal nostalgic tracks (which I did still really like, gave off vaporwave vibes). No bad tracks though. The only track I would cut is "Alright", but I did wish the record could further be slightly shorter somehow.

8/10 pretty good, not my favorite tho of this type of genre of music, I prefer the bigger guys like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Anita Baker still this is pretty fun and I do appreciate it

Janet’s masterpiece (and perhaps Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’s as well), a sprawling exploration of societal problems set to a mix of new jack swing, industrial rock and hip hop. Only the over abundance of interludes and a slightly dragging back half keep Rhythm Nation from 5 stars.

Outstanding! 4.5/5

Not heard this in years. Still pretty great, although goes a bit downhill at the end.

Had high expectations in 1989, as JJ's previous album of a few years was simply perfect, with classic singles (Nasty, What Have You Done For Me Lately, The Pleasure Principle, When I Think Of You etc) and OK perhaps a little filler... But was quiet a bit disappointed when RN1814 came out - in particular the singles of RN18 were merely ok-ish and less catchy. Overall the album turned out to be quite decent though. The signature sound of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Now listening to it again, I still think it is a very solid album, on the high 3 star / low 4 star end. Final vote: 3.5 -> 4, due to great 80s production.

Tough one to rate, this album. Overall, I quite liked this record, though nothing really stood out after two listens. It also took some readjusting to the 80s production style, with the pretty harsh drum machine and synth sounds, but it did sound funky in the right places, and the slower parts were done tastefully. So it may have sounded a little dated listening to this in 2022, but it kind of worked for me.

Absolutely amazing production on this album. Couple that with a killer set of pipes and you get a very solid pop album. Rhythm Nation and Escapade are timeless jams. Rest of the album is more than solid. It’s not the type of music I listen to daily but I recognize excellent pop when I hear it.

i genuinely don’t understand why this has such low reviews?? this is an album that deals with huge issues so beautifully. janet did so well with this album, it is perfect. highlights: rhythm nation, state of the world, love will never do (without you), black cat

The music is very much of its era, and the political lyrics are a little on the nose, but this has aged surprisingly well for all that.

Everything up to Miss You Much is five stars, funky and powerful and just brilliant. Everything after that is good - kind of Prince on a budget good. For shame, I'd never taken Janet Jackson seriously - on the strength of this album, I do now!

Never listened to the album all the way through. The singles from it were monster hits and were everywhere, so I knew coming into this album that it would be good. Layering the concept on top bumped it up a few notches for me. 4/5.

Fantastic album. If you weren't there when this came out in 1989, it was such a huge deal. People lost their minds over this music, it was so fresh and powerful. It's not as fun as Control, but I think that's intentional. The album has its share of bubbly love songs, but Janet also wants to make a statement here. And she is in perfect voice. As a concept album, it's a bit of a fail, with less than half the songs addressing social issues, the only connecting thread being that series of vague interludes. I don't know if this album is specifically to blame for the trend of putting interludes on albums, but I suspect it. I'll give Janet a pass because it's kind of wrapped up in her style, but the interludes don't add a thing to this album, with the exception of the final one ("Livin'...In Complete Darkness" - minor quibble as well, it's not an interlude if nothing comes after it). Thankfully, she kept them brief. I feel like the album would have been tighter and more effective if they had limited the number of ballads, but it's a small complaint. I really enjoyed listening to this. Fave Songs: Alright, Rhythm Nation, The Knowledge, Lonely, State of the World

I was actually fearing this one for being 80’s and 1 hour long, but I was already 12 songs into it when I realized all those fears were quite uncalled for. Good record.

Good pop album. Really borrows from mj, but still a really enjoyable listen.

Har lyssnat om några gånger nu och jag tycker att detta är bra. Lagom mix av pop och synth. Blev förvånad, då jag egentligen inte haft några tankar kring Janet alls.

Guilty pleasure and some great tracks (always liked "Miss you much"), albeit a tad overproduced. Hadn't ever listened all the way through.

My second listen in the last few years after scoring this album at a Yankee Swap. Has inspired me to check out a few others from this era: Control (1986) and Janet (1993).

A near perfect example of the r and b genre, Rhythm Nation 1814 spawned hit after hit and solidified Jam and Lewis’ reputation for producing high quality, radio friendly tracks. And Janet Jackson is such a powerful presence - bold vocals and charisma to spare . Although the social consciousness of her album is over stated, at least there is an attempt at something to say. An album that spawned many imitators and flipped urban music to the mainstream. Really massive record.

Finally something more comfortable after a series of weird stuff. Music-wise it's pretty catchy and rhythmic, full of energy. And of course... who can reject dancing beats! Love Will Never Do -- a yay Livin' in a World -- even better Come Back to Me -- a big yay

This one really brings me back in a good way to when I was starting to become more aware of music outside of my parent's collection. I remember alot of these songs quite well. Makes sense as there were so many singles from it. They are really having fun with the new capabilities of the sampler all over this record. I think it was really brave of her to go for a concept album that doesn't avert it's eyes from some harsh realities immediately after her first breakout success. And the fact that this became even more successful makes it all the sweeter. I love when artists are rewarded for brave choices and it proves pop audiences don't always want formulaic pap.

It's a good record, I think if it was half as long I would have given it 5 without blinking.

Interesting album with many interludes

I admittedly didn’t ACTIVELY listen to this album but it made decent “feel good” background music. Overall I’d say it was a neutral to positive experience but nothing really stood out to me

This is a really good album. Not really my thing but the songs are catchy and danceable all while providing a social commentary (although sometimes a little corny). That was probably the whole point so mission accomplished. Unlikely that I'll listen to it again though.

A little overproduced in some areas, but Janet has an amazing voice and some poignant lyrics that make this a catchy and enjoyable listen.

Me gustó mucho el disco. Nunca escucho Janet Jackson. Es uno de esos artistas que tenes abajo del todo en la lista de "gente que algun dia voy a escuchar". Es muy notorio la influencia de este disco en artistas de pop-comercial que existen hoy en dia. Como una Madonna negra. El apartado tecnico es bastante elaborado para ser un disco de pop de finales de los 80's cuando los artistas descubrieron que todo se podia hacer "apretando unos botoncitos de mierda" y sacar un exito del otro lado. No le quita credito siendo que no todos saben QUE botones y CUANDO apretarlos. Salta a la vista enseguida con el primer tema que no querian hacer algo parecido a MJ pero lo suficientemente distanciado como para que se pueda parar por si mismo... Excepto en Rythm Nation que parece sacado de Dangerous. Lo voy a poner en rotation en mis playlist porque es un buen departure del overly-produced pop que se escucha hoy en dia.

Not an album I cared about when it came out, so I wasn't excited to listen today. Especially with the runtime. Upon listening I found it to be...fine. Musically it felt very repetitive and I didn't really care for her voice all that much. I found myself reading and doing puzzles while listening and the time went a bit quicker, which I found better than reading the lyrics. I think I'm making this sound worse than it really was. I liked the songs Love Will Never Do and Escapade enough to save them to a playlist. I didn't hate it and I didn't love it. It was mid.

Hey, look! A Jackson that isn't Michael! Obviously she was never on the same level as Michael from a fame perspective, but Janet Jackson's career was very successful in its own right. She was a major player in the pop landscape too, and Rhythm Nation 1814 is widely seen as one of her more important albums. How do I feel about it? I'm sorry, but I don't think I liked this as much as I wanted to. I have a ton of respect for this album, but there are some things that hold it back from full-on enjoyment for me. I'll start with the things I appreciate. I think the focus on social commentary and the influences behind the album are commendable. It's not every day that you hear a major pop star make an entire album that alludes to things like poverty and mass media, so for that, I have respect for this album and Janet as an artist. I also think Janet's got a good voice. She's not my favorite vocalist, but she's good. Ultimately, I think the thing that holds this album back the most for me is the production. This album is also seen by many as a defining album for New Jack Swing, a movement that was pretty popular in the late 80s and early 90s, with this album being produced by two of the biggest producers of the scene, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This style of music isn't really my kind of thing. I get the appeal of the production style, but there's just something about it that doesn't speak as much to me as maybe I would've liked. That's just a personal preference though. Back to the album specifically, I also don't think any of the songs were like the cream of the crop or anything. There are some great songs on here, no doubt about that. "Rhythm Nation," "Miss You Much," and "Escapade" are pretty strong singles, but I don't think any of those songs are perfect. The album itself is pretty homogeneous in some ways, which works for some elements of the album, but not as much for others. Overall, Rhythm Nation 1814 is one of those albums that I respect more than I actually enjoy. I understand the significance of this and I found value in the album listen, but it's not the kind of album that I think will stick with me in a major way. It's good, but I think it barely misses the mark of being great. High 3/5.

Pretty good

26/06/2026 Obviously I know this came before Beyonce, but I was absolutely ready to score it the same as that shower of shite. It was surprisingly better. Spotify listeners: 10 million

This is a DISTINCT sound. Those electronic drums, the compressed to the point of distortion snare smashes. All of the angular beats. The lyrics raise class, race and social issues but from this weird alien lens, like the artist is aware of these things but has not actually experienced it. Not because they are rich enough to have shielded themselves from inequality, but because they have spent their entire lives in a slavery-adjacent music creation sweatshop run by their father in Gary, Indiana. This IS late 80s to early 90s music made by the Jackson family. It cannot be from another time, another place, or even any genetic line. A... 3 I guess?

I love 80s keyboard drums and this didn’t have enough. This was very lowkey and felt low effort except really trying to put out a forced sounding social message.

This is a piece of New Jack Swing history, a bombastic album. It doesn't hold up as well as other classics like Don't Be Cruel but still great.

Bonjour, je suis là soeur de Michel le Fils de Jacques Voilà voilà, vous aimez ce que fait mon frère ? Aaaaah bah vous allez adorer ce que je fais ! Quel hasard Si vous vous sentez perdu dans la compo, vous pouvez écouter les paroles c'est aussi similaire, Naaaaan mais je dit ça au cas où Mais je vous assure que c'est similaire Puis comme il ne sort pas un album avant un moment, vous avez que ça pour le moment Bisous, Jeanne, la soeur de Michel le fils de Jacques

Funky

It’s a decent pop album but it doesn’t sound timeless it’s about as 90s as it gets

I really like the production on this album. I like that it sounds dated. I like Janet’s vocals. This is a solid album.

What on earth is this doing on the list? Also, that title makes absolutely no sense. It's kind of like an 80s pop version of "Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury", for those who are familiar with that from this list or elsewhere. It suffers from the same big flaw as that album: the lyrics are too on-the-nose and lack depth. However, this album is otherwise a pretty good 80s pop album. It's catchy if insanely dated and has a consistent rhythmic groove that works. The "80s sound" tends to work for me weirdly, as those gated snares just appeal to my lizard brain. There's no denying that Janet has a good voice and an ability to write hooks(if it was her writing the songs, running counter to the pop tradition of having five million songwriters to make the perfect hook). However, the album is slightly bloated. It has too many interludes to pad out a runtime that didn't necessarily need padding out. Yet for all its faults, it's still a good 80s pop album. Unfortunately, a good album does not mean essential listening, and this doesn't cut it for essential. So it doesn't deserve it's spot on the list. This album is ranked #13 of 26 albums for 1989. Other 1989 albums rated by me: Disintegration(1/26)-5 Doolittle(2/26)-5 Like a Prayer(6/26)-3 Done by the Forces of Nature(12/26)-4 Let Love Rule(14/26)-2 Fromohio(15/26)-2 Nick of Time(17/26)-2 Djam Leelii(19/26)-4 Moss Side Story(24/26)-2

This album sounds like my childhood

Hmmm. I know a song or 2 by name. Not really my style. And an hour? Let’s click play and go. Yep, Rhythm Nation is very familiar and good. Oh, I like Miss You Much even better. Not sure an interlude is needed after every song. Ok. It is finished. I’ll admit, I was kinda dreading an hour of this album. But it seemed faster than that. It was well done for the time. The singles are still good. Truly a three and a half star but I just can’t round up to 4.

Enjoyed the album but nothing really stood out.

Great production, catchy songs, but a little inconsistent. I’d listen again though, just maybe not the whole album

Better than expected, although could go back to this. Heavily produced and sound very 80’s maybe that’s where it should stay as a little dated 3/5.

I thought this album started really strong. It was solid, interesting heavy pop. The album overstays its welcome, however, and ends on a low note with a few really slow songs right in a row to close it out which was an odd choice. Overall the lyrics, while addressing real issues, were very surface-level, like they were touching on current events, but in a way that was pretty uninteresting and inoffensive. Still, it was decent overall. 3.5 -> 3/5

I remember getting this album from the library on cassette when i was younger. It represents Janet’s strongest most cohesive collection and is just so damn catchy. Rhythm Nation, Miss You Much, Escapade and Black Cat are all classic pop songs. I enjoy the industrial feel that the production brings to these songs and its hard to hear the accentuated beats without picturing the military style dancing. The tracks post Black cat are just superfluous filler Overall it’s just a bit too long and this drags it down to just being a good middle of the pack album with some outstanding moments..

Firstly, I could have definitely done without the school shooting audio. I was listening on headphones while walking home and had slightly zoned out, so was initially very confused when that snapped me back to attention. Otherwise, this album was... fine. Nothing too bad, not much too exciting to my ears. I liked Black Cat which was all cheesy rock song, but great fun. I liked Love Will Never Do (Without You). I liked Rhythm Nation although it ran out of ideas way before the song stopped. Which brings me to... It's too long. An issue easily fixed by cutting out some of the interludes and losing about 90 seconds of Someday Is Tonight where Janet is just making moaning noises faintly in the background of a sax solo. It has surprised me quite how many 'songs where the artist is faking having a shag' feature on the 1001 list, but they have all been pretty shit. A very middle of the road: 3/5

A fost ok, îmi place ca am descoperit stilul ăsta foarte ritmat :)) Pentru mine e doar ok

пусть будет просто 3, хотя и плохого ничего не скажу, как и хорошего

Some good tracks but they were mostly similar. Fun album though and enjoyed it!

Yeah not bad

Very well done.

I can hear this CD playing on my Sony phono/CD/dual tape deck/AM FM all-in-one system, circa 1990. Maybe not as good as I remembered it, but the hits still hit.

Packed full of hits that I still enjoy. 3.5 stars

the greatness is in the family

Good album. Not my type of music.

Ihan ok levy, tunnistin muutaman hitti biisin.

Interlude: The Beginning The album basically sounds like your average 80s pop/rnb thing. Interlude: In the middle Rhythm Nation is probably the single most recognizable song, and well, it sounds good. So does the rest of the album, it IS a nice listen all in all. Interlude: Coda Sadly it's not really amazing in any way.

Great 80s music from Janet Jackson! She sparked a whole vibe in the late 80s and Rhythm Nation stands strong. Fun listen.

While I am familiar with the Jackson family, the only sibling that I listen to regularly is Michael. Prior to this, I’d only heard “What Have You Done For Me Lately” by Janet Jackson. I think that’s the only song I’ll stick with.

Rhythm Nation 1814 could have been shortened by a good 35 minutes and it would have been a better album for it. I don’t think any of these songs need to be as repetitive and long as they are, and the skits are also rather annoying. This album is over an hour long, and you feel every single bit of it. After a few songs, they all just kind of blend together and always seem to last longer than you want them to. This is a fine album. I’d never complain about having to listen to it, but, I’d honestly rather just listen to Michael instead if I had the option. That might sound harsh, but Janet sounds so similar, it almost sounds like her agent told her she needed to replicate the success of her brother by borrowing his style, but making it worse. All of these songs are fine, and most of them are even quite catchy for the first few minutes, but none of them are very memorable. “Black Cat” is pretty cool though, EASILY the most memorable song on the album. Has an insane guitar solo that comes out of freaking nowhere and sounds like nothing else on the album. It’s surprisingly heavy, and I wish more of the album was like it. “State Of The World” might be a little too preachy, but it’s also probably my favorite song on the album. It’s catchy, and got stuck in my head easily enough. The jazzy outro for “Someday Is Tonight” specifically also stood out to me, I just wish it didn’t have the annoying breathy moaning included. The biggest compliment I can give this album is that the beats more than make up for the repetitive nature of it all. I can live without a celebrity preaching from on high, and the lyrics generally leave a bit to be desired, but the actual singing and beats kick ass. Janet Jackson’s Top 10 on Spotify are a mixed bag of several albums, the only “hit” on this album being “Escapade”, which I thought was just okay at best personally. That being said, this is the only Janet Jackson album on the list, and I really don’t know anything about her. It’s making me want to dig into some more of her discography. And you know what, that’s a pretty big compliment. Thinking back on it now, I’m going to give my favorite on this one to “Black Cat”. It stood out enough that I might even remember it with that killer guitar solo. This album took a little bit to grow on me, but I’m ultimately happy I spent the day checking it out, even if she doesn’t hold a candle in the wind to her brother. Then again, that’s hardly an insult. No one does.

I find this era of R&B quite tedious, nothing exciting, lots of trills and vocal flourishes and gated snares. This does feel like a better example of it, however, and I do appreciate she had a message before it was passe for celebrities to tell us what to do.

Would I listen again: not on purpose Tbh it felt a bit dated for me, nothing overly offensive but nothing I need to hear again.

Hard hitting synths with mechanical 80s beats. The sound is repetitive but this concept album from Ms Jackson spreads a good message. There's probably an accompanying dance move for each song. 3/5

So many interludes even if most are a few seconds

It’s ok. Bit underwhelming tbh and the whole concept thing is cringeworthy especially that bit right at the end. And it’s far too long. No need. 2.5

A little repetitive but the message was right. I didn't remember that part. Those music videos were tight AF too.

The first two thirds of this were pretty good, and I was pleasantly surprised! The last third however let it down, drifted into slow R&B that was pretty average. Solid album overall, and better than I expected.

This is so over-produced I’m surprised that there was any production left for the rest of the music industry. This album makes me feel like I should be driving around early 90s LA with my ragtop down, about to commit some sex crimes.

pretty nice, especially at first. didn't blow my mind though

Good

Did you know that societal problems are bad?

Hearing some of these songs has hit place deep in my lizard brain. I have heard them when I was very young (post 1814), and I somehow have some flashbulb memories tied to them. Pretty wild when you think about it.

The hits are good but there's way too many interludes and musically it's fairly basic 80/90s pop music.

I forgot how many hits she had. I really underestimate her as an artist and this album exemplifies that.

A largely fun album that’s held back by lyrics that think they’re deeper than they are and some bad early-CD era bloat.

Not that I’m joining the Rhythm Nation, but that’s a good album Janet. Got some different styles, some sound effects (lots of breaking glass, I guess that was big in ‘89), some fun interludes, and some social content. Best song is Escapade, album fades at the end. (3.4*s) Never paid much attention to JJ, now that we’ve listened to an entire album, I think we’ll be hearing from her again.

Standing in the shadow of her older brother, Janet produced some formidable pop albums as well. I never really paid much attention though since Michael put out some of the best musical epics of the late 80s and early 90s. I do remember the title track video playing on MTV. After listening to the full Rhythm Nation 1814 album, it's pretty damn good and deserves a must listen spot. The album is a great statement piece and although themes of race and drug abuse have been done plenty of times, she did a good job at connecting with a younger crowd. Pretty solid synth production and drum machine percussion from Jam and Lewis. Definitely a stand out of that late 80s tech beat sound. Got some 80s hair band and guitars too with tracks like "Black Cat." Some slow songs could be dropped but that is merely preference and the team probably wanted to get some plays on smooth R&B stations. Got quite steamy at the end there Ms. Jackson. I am going to have to check out the accompanying short movie. 3.1 stars.

As big of a Michael Jackson fan as I am I have never delved into the likes of the rest of the family. Outside of the single Scream, with her brother, I think my only exposure to Janet Jackson is truly the Superbowl halftime show. I couldn't name a single song by her prior to this listen of Rhythm Nation 1814. I'm happy to give some overdue credit to Janet. It's not really in my wheelhouse but I can appreciate it for what it is. The drum machines and synthesizers plant you firmly in the late 80's time period, but it works well to accompany Janet's upbeat dance track vocals. While the album is good enough to hold up years later it does gets to be a little derivative by the end of it. The songs start to sound a little too much the same, but the baseline on the first half of the album is catchy enough that you can stick with it for a while and not be complaining. The end wraps up a little weak but it's still OK. The production team and Janet knew to stay in their lane and crank out some dance hits while she was coming off prior success. While I'm sure underlying theme may have come through more at its release I was mostly OK to just tune out to the hits without paying too much attention to the message. It's mostly fun and well arranged (though a little cheesy too) so even if it isn't in my wheelhouse I can enjoy it for what it tried to accomplish. I've always heard Janet was a superstar at one point but I was too young or not the target demographic when she was at her peak. When the Superbowl wardrobe malfunction occurred it hugely derailed her career and unfortunately turned her prior work in to a punchline. She wasn't on my radar previously, and MJ's career had declined in the wake of the turmoil so I never bothered to go back and check out any of her work. I don't plan to go back to the well and listen to another album, but might see if any of her other greatest hits are any good. Not a bad entry for 1001 as it gave me some exposure to Janet's career that has otherwise been ignored by me. 2.85 stars

Janet shows incredible range here. Some songs are certainly relics (somewhat negative) of the time of the album release and I would've left a couple songs off, but this is undeniably a great listen.

Really interesting actually. I wasn't really aware that Janet was such a popular artist but also such a credible artist. A lot of the big pop beats here are excellent. Some of the atmospheric industrial elements are great. The ballads are clearly very well constructed and I can see why they're loved but they don't quite hit for me. I also found it a bit long to digest as a single bit of art

I guess the talent really runs in the family. I quite enjoyed this album, right from the start, the message was clear and the RnB beats were very active and fun to listen to. My main criticisms are the excessive interludes, which I get are meant to transition the song topics, but it feels more like abrupt pauses in the music, and to me takes more away from the work than actually adding anything. That and the song "Someday is Tonight" are my only issues with this. The song felt completely out of place, both melodically and lyrically, I also felt a bit weird listening to a song that is presumably a girl telling her boyfriend that she's ready for him to pop her cherry. Overall though, pretty good album, although nothing remarkable. The themes and topics carried throughout the songs definetely help me appreciate it a little more.

Too slow, kinda wanted more…

Very produced, very early 90s pop sound. I didn’t mind it until the ballads at the end that kind of lost my interest. Moderately enjoyable in the first 2/3, but probably wouldn’t reach for this again

It was a fine if not a little too slick/overproduced recording. The good songs were on the first half of the recording and the latter stuff was blah.

This is a tough one. There are some really great songs on this album and I like a few of them a lot. On the other hand, though, the interludes (a product of their time) do nothing for me and outside of the great tracks, everything else is just boring to me. I'm stuck trying to decide how boring those are vs how great the others are. I guess it's a 3.5 album, but I'm going to have to push it to a 3

I'm very surprised that this is the only Janet album on this list. It's good but I would've preferred to have "Control" or "Velvet Rope". Favorite track: Rhythm Nation

***An ok album

I was hoping this would be better. Pretty generic pop with not a lot to it. 2.5.

Actually her best album

Pretty solid for a late-80's pop album!

On her blockbuster follow-up to Control, Janet Jackson aims for a pop manifesto, wrapping big-tent social consciousness in some of the slickest late-’80s production money (and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis) could buy. The result is a dance-pop juggernaut with rock flourishes, rubbery bass lines, and those unmistakable arena-sized drums, but it’s also an album that can feel weighed down by its own ambitions—especially the endless interludes and a busy electronic palette that hasn’t aged as gracefully as the hooks. When Janet loosens the grip on the message, the record hits a sweeter spot: “Rhythm Nation” still thumps with militaristic precision, “Miss You Much” bounces like peak-era Prince cosplay, “Escapade” remains pure fizzy joy, and “Come Back to Me” floats on a breathy vocal that’s saved by a killer chorus and refreshingly spare accompaniment. And then there’s “Someday Is Tonight,” an ode to sultry ’80s excess complete with sexy sax, burbling water-drop effects, and an increasingly heavy-breathing Janet closing things out on a note of, well… maximum moisture.

Solides abwechslungsreiches Album der 80er. Deutlich besser als erwartet.

ehh. she’s awesome and has g delivery but not super drawn to the songs

Tuvo varias canciones que sí me gustaron y me parecieron pegajosas y por eso le doy tres estrellas, pero en general sentí que el disco no es mucho para mí. Para lo que nos da Janet aquí, mejor escucho cualquier álbu de Michael o de Prince, y ahí va a estar mucho mejor resuelto. Medianón. Y esa canción en donde Janet gime frases en español, es una tragedia.

what a voice but this doesn't listen well? i'd dance to it. it's a bit over produced and feels like it's going to lift off but then just cruises

I thought it was good, first leg felt very repetitive but then the later half started to feel unique per song. Overall really good dance music along with good messaging.

Los bailables genial. Los lentos de lo peor que existe. Nota: 2.8

I swear 90 percent of the Janet Jackson songs I know are on this album. It's pretty full of bangers. The bangers are definitely a reflection of their time though. The whole album is full of drum machine drums that were pretty annoying by the last track.

There are some classic pop songs on this album and I like the overall message. It does suffer from sounding so 80's and there are parts of the album that seem to drag on. 3/5 Probably won't listen again

I mean, it’s good, but nothing special. I enjoyed listening to it but I couldn’t help but compare it to Michael Jackson. Janet Jackson is a good singer and a good songwriter, but it just didn’t hit how I thought it would.

I had a bit of a crush on Janet Jackson back when I was a teenager. But aside from that, I never had much love for the slick overproduced pop of the 80s. I'll charitably give it 3/5 because I have to admit it's a standout for its genre.

All the songs sounded the same and went for too long, though I did enjoy the black cat sound effect.

Pretty pedestrian, it was ok

Très girly très sassy très ok très Michael Jackson au féminin (dans la production précise Pablo)

It's no Michael but its not awful. This time of my life was a heavy rotation of MTV and VH1 ... even though I was not a fan of a lot of the pop music, it was still the soundtrack of my youth.

this is cheesy as hell.

I can appreciate it. Definitely not my style, although the high energy dance tracks even if they sound VERY "of the time" were pretty fun. 3.5 stars.

*Interesting album with some big hits *Not a genre I love

Not her best work but pretty interesting

A particular sonic signature throughout - hip hop montage? Not unenjoyable but doesn't hold up well. My high school had a team of girls that danced at things - I don't think this was unique. These songs mostly make me think about watching those girls dance, wishing they were dancing to something else, and wondering how I might convince them to engage in sexual congress with me. I think Ms. Jackson (wink) is quite talented but this isn't my cup of tea and maybe the longest album I've seen on here - over an hour felt like work.

Me ha gustado bastante, no le pongo 4 estrellas principalmente porque se me hizo un pelín largo (+1 hora) y porque el disco usa casi el mismo sonido todo el rato. Pero es un gran disco de pop y R&B, no suena a 1989 para nada, adelantado a su época

Meh. Mostly harmless. Some of the ideas are laughably dated (synth string stabs?!), and Janet does not have Michael’s instrument. Ultimately though I’d say the result is no worse than any decent early 90’s R&B/pop album. It may even have had something to do with defining that sound, but mostly I’m unmoved. Miss You Much is a high note in this otherwise mediocre affair.

This is not an album I would normally listen to voluntarily. It’s not bad, and it’s not great either. I appreciate the attempt at a concept album with the segues. I like a lot of the drum programming. And at times there were catchy songs and hooks. I sort of enjoyed a Janet Jackson album.

Enjoyed this. It was exactly as I thought it would be, but I expected it to be a lot more generic. Absolutely of its time, but very good for what it is. I’ll probably never listen to it again, but even so.

Yes. The motif is ham fisted but this is exactly how you do it. Yes there is a song about teaching kids literacy but I think it all works with the interludes and it’s a call to action. This is a political album and I think it’s interesting to see the Jackson’s shift while still keeping the same vibe. Maybe it’s a 90s RNB but the drums are so recognizable. I hear the modern influences rapsody and Kendrick obviously but also like John legend. This is a post Reagan era made record where people did not like the direction of the world. Germany was split Cold War opioid and aids epidemic I get where Janet is coming from. Some songs feel out of place escapade feels like a single that was left in. It is about 5 songs too long doesn’t really justify the hour it runs though. I mean think about it this is 20 years. Past civil rights I think it’s just okay and enjoyable. Black cat guitar solo of course there has to be one here meh. Also she sings in SPANISH WTF THE END OF THIS RECORD IS CRAZY I get it it’s love forgetting the terrible things happening and just focus on emotions and love she doesn’t have an answer she only knows love. Preachy but I think it’s a fun time and I get Janet Jackson now.

Janet had a sound you couldn’t beat. There were also markers if the the time of this album

Damn, that’s a nice song… Wait, why’s my hard drive smoking? R&B isn’t really my thing, but this album is a bit more catchy than this genre usually is. It gets a bit repetitive after some point. It’s an hour of the same synths and the same voice with the echo effect. It still manages to stay enjoyable with its funky bass lines and fun vocals. Some lyrics kind of give me the vibes of a rich person pretending to care about social issues, but other than that, this album is good. 7/10

Some tracks have a banger beat, others just sound overproduced. Never really been a big fan of interludes in albums either

Several good songs on this, but it's odd to me that Control isn't on the list. It has better songs. RN's centerpiece is RN and every other songs has the same beat.

Never listened. Expectations: Low - Verdict: Good - Okayyy, straight out of the gate this reminds me of Prince which is about the highest praise I can give. A few tracks in, it's clearly not that level but this is really good. After a while I think things fall into a slightly more dull pattern and despite some more good tracks, it does fall short of my initial excited expectations.

I didn't like this album as much as I remembered. A couple of decent songs but as the album was more of a concept album, it thought it lacked consistency.

Eh

Ok

groovy

It was good 👍

good but i was lowkey waiting for it to be over 2.5

🎧Perfectly acceptable pop album. Too long.

i love the transitions between the interludes and the tracks.... so well done! the production is super fun and energetic, but at times it doesn’t seem to match the message in the lyrics. While the themes she touches on are important, some of the lyricism feels weak in places. Lines like “Prejudice? No. Ignorance? No.” come across a bit blunt and underwritten rather than impactful. after the interlude, the album shifts into more straightforward pop songs without much of a political message, which makes the placement of “Livin’ in a World (They Didn’t Make)” feel confusing. It would have made more sense in the first half of the album alongside the other message driven tracks. I do like how after the first few songs she says "Get the point? Good. Let's dance." and then continues the album with more typical songs. I do think this is one album where the interludes make sense. she reminds me of a better version of mariah carey. songs i would possibly go back to: Miss You Much Escapade Black Cat Lonely

Quite eclectic. Mostly 80s sounding pop, but Black Cat has some great guitar on it. That was my favourite song.

This is the best Prince album that he didn't make. Jam and Lewis did an excellent job making Janet a star. This is such a 1989-1990 album but not in a bad way. Lots of hits but some good album cuts too.

I am sorry to say that but one of your brother's is certainly better at music than you.

Not my style of music, but it’s good. I feel like the production quality (high) actually strips some of the raw emotion of the songs.

Okay…Interested to see this pop and see what I make of it. Not really heard much past the classics… Feels such a similar sound to Michael, just the drums, structure, groove. Unsure if there is shared writers or producers or who came first, but that stands out to me. I’m here for it though. It’s good - constant high energy and solid beat. But most songs sound pretty much the same and not feeling particularly impacted on a meaningful level. (3.5)

I liked this more than I expected, but I’ve always preferred Janet to her slightly more famous brother. The upbeat singles are definitely the highlights for me, but the slower socially conscious songs aren’t bad either. So many interludes… 3 stars

It's fine - half of it is mopey R&B and the rest is something I enjoyed! The up-tempo singles are amazing and the production holds up better than I expected. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis aren't always my favorite production team, but damn did they crush this one.

Just another pop/r&b album to me. Nothing special, but could be catchy at times. 3/5

I didn't like it. But she didn't deserve what happened to her.

I thought I was gonna enjoy this more than I did. I love Rhythm Nation. I just didn’t think that the songwriting was great and she feels more like a great backup singer than someone who can carry this whole album.

This wasnt a bad album, really. Just very much sounds like its time and its a sound that doesnt appeal to me much.

it was ok. It literally faded to muzak in my head. A couple of tracks were better than most but no real standout.

She is what she is. Unfair to compare to other singing Jacksons. That would be like comparing God to his brother, Simon. I swear every introduction was the same - felt like I was going mad, but you can just say tell the songs are different. Her voice is alright. The songs are typical 80s pop. The production is alright. It's something you'd hear in a shopping centre: inoffensive and... alright. It doesn't exceed alright. It's just alright. Anyone want to guess my 'favourite' track?

First Janet Jackson album a decent listen, a sort of politically aware album at points, in some of the songs focusing on some issues that were perhaps prevalent at the time? I did feel like a lot of the songs sounded the same, just very similar beats and vocals/lyrics, they weren’t bad but just became slightly repetitive. The first half was more upbeat, and the second half was a slower more emotional tone maybe if the two main moods had been mixed together in the album it could have broken up the sounds. Standout songs ‘Ryhthm nation’, ‘black cat’ and ‘state of the world’. A decent album for sure but just nothing too special.

Better than expected

GOING IN: No strong feelings LISTENED WHILE: pottering and cleaning house FAMILIARITY: Know a few songs SKIP RATE: Played it straight through REPLAY VALUE: Once was plenty DISCOVERY CURVE: Warmed up nicely ALBUM ARC: Peaked mid-way VERDICT: Better than expected BODY'S VERDICT: Decent head wobble (Shimmy-Shoulder Shake) FAVOURITE TRACK: Escapade My Rating: 3.5 This was my very first ever listen to this album, yet I knew most of the tracks. I was never really interested in JJ, or even MJ, when I was a kid, yet their music somehow got through.

Three stars for an album I didn’t even know I was nostalgic about.

Don’t know what the record is for “most interludes on an album”, but eight has place this pretty high in the rankings.

Big, bold, high-concept, political songs that double as dance bangers. There's an interlude track "Let's Dance" that sums up this album's philosophy. It's a 3-second track of Janet Jackson saying, "Get the point? Good. Let's dance." She wants to deliver important social messages, but she wants to do it on the dancefloor. The club beats are the sugar to help the medicine go down. And of course, there are some more straightforward dance tracks and pop songs too, especially in the second half. This is a good album, but it does feel dated. “Alright” and “Escapade” were two feel-good highlights though. The last stretch of slow songs gets a little tedious. Those kind of slow jams have never really been my thing. But there is a beautiful trumpet solo at the end of “Someday is Tonight”!

Janet Jackson is really a Jackson. These songs slap and have so much of that MJ fun and exciting energy to them. They groove, they hit, they are catchy, and they are really full of life. With that being said, I can't help but hear this record and want the larger-than-life quality that I get with MJ, which is a shame because she is a solid pop star.

I wouldn’t have thought to listen to this album without this challenge but really enjoyed it. I’ve never really listened to anything from Janet besides whatever was popular in the early 2000s and the music video with her and Michael. Liked this but didn’t understand what the political stuff was addressing for the time. Thought it was funny when she said “get the point now let’s dance” and it went more into straight forward songs lol. Liked rhythm nation, miss you much, and love will never do

I’m much more familiar with early 2000s Janet but this was super fun. Miss You Much is such a banger, as is Rhythm Nation. The only downside was that there were a lotttt of interludes that I don’t think always added heaps to the context of the song that came after it. 3.5 stars.

Miss You Much works for me, the rest seems like the idea is better than the execution.