Rhythm Nation 1814

It was cute 80’s pop. Nothing distinguishing or special about it

Generally a fan of the artist, this album didn't make much of an impression, for better or worse.

Picking between 3 and 4 stars for this was very difficult. Kaytranada has instilled in me a deep appreciation for Janet's work, and this is certainly some signature stuff. There were just enough misses on the back half that I didn't feel like it really deserved 4. Still, it was very fun and memorable.

Beste Lieder: State Of The World

Cool

Börjar bra med fyra starka på raken, från inledande titelspåret till Miss you much. Jag gillar det mörkare anslaget i den här 80-talsr’n’b:n. Känslan är dock att det blir en aning svagare andra halvan och jag blir lite trött i öronen på pisksnärtsproduktionen. Det påminner också en del om det som brorsan gjorde några år senare på Dangerous. Men Janet har en vassare egg här.

It’s ok. Better than many of the 80s albums on this list so far. Don’t like it. Don’t hate it.

C'est À PEINE overproduced. Mais c'est drette et y'a de quoi d'authentique.

Ok

While I can appreciate the music of most of this record, the lyrics and themes read as shallow reflections of the ills of the world. Ones that Janet Jackson likely didn't face head to head due to her family's success (most of them, anyway). Like that one story about little Johnny - definitely an eyeroll there. Not a horrible record but one i won't return to. 2.5/5 -> 3/5

These are the sort of songs thank make more sense when you watch the dance routine in the video! It’s also very 80s and not always in a good way. But hell the woman can sing!

This was a good album, I've never been a huge fan of Janet, like she's ok but we all know who the big one was in that family lol but this was a decent album

Tykkäsin! Erityisesti albumin loppupuolella olevat Lonely ja Come Back To Me olivat mieleeni. Lähes joka biisin välissä olevat interludet olivat mielenkiintoinen, joskin mielestäni turha, lisä.

Sounds like a wildly expensive album. A prototypical female pop artist album that setup how to make this style onto today. Samples, drum machines, some studio players and decent songwriting along with the inescapable gloss of 1989. Interesting story of Janet’s lyrics, and it’s still relevant today with topics like race, school shootings and poverty.

This is very reminiscent of Love Symbol/Diamonds and Pearls era Prince. Definitely does the “I’m making serious music about serious topics” lyricism, but it’s so much fun I’ll give it a pass. Lot of interludes here, but I’m glad they are their own separate tracks so I can skip them in future listens. Favorite songs were Rhythm Nation, Miss You Much, Livin’ In A World, and Escapade.

Technical perfect album, pretty nice songs, but sorry - I've heard this kind of music too often to find it exceptional. 3/5

The Jacksons are so precise. Not my bag- but shes onto something

Holds up pretty well.

Very good pop album. First track - Rhythm Nation - was amazing, but it was by far the best song. Black Cat was also really good.

Ok, but considering the pedigree, it should be better. Also, it doesn't hold up all that well over time. I can still drop the needle on Off the Wall, Thriller, and even Bad and enjoy them. I struggled getting through this one.

Nice

Rhythm Nation Miss You Much Love Will Never Do (Without You) Escapade

Janet's having a nice time, but I can't get past the incongruity of speaking about the condition of the world, homeless people who can't find enough to eat, accompanied by joyous dance beats. Also, not my genre at all.

This album left me with questions. Felt like a combination of a generic 80s pop album (my mom probably lives this stuff) with Disney channel music, with just a splash of the Rob Zombie style that we listened to last week. I'm not sure what I think, but it isn't for me. Not upset about it either, though.

Liked this more than I initially thought

This album is good at what it does, unfortunately what it's doing is just a lot for me. It wears me out well before the end of its 60+ minute run time.

A good beat, I enjoyed it.

Half good, half not so good but overall I’m glad I have it a listen, if only to find out where the sample for The Fat Controller’s “In Complete Darkness” came from.

Kappaleet toistaa aika paljon toisiaan, samat rumpukone soundit joka kappaleessa. Kasari poppia, loppupää enemmän RnB ja muutenkin monipuolisempaa ja parempaa. Black Cat kappaleessa hyvä rock viba. Parhaat: Black Cat, Escapade

75

3/5

Too long and also redundant at times, but 75% of this album was made for 80's/90's dance clubs.

This reminds me of the music from my childhood dance classes. This album is really well done and very cohesive. It has lots of variety and most of the songs are enjoyable. The interludes between songs are a cool touch too. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen again because I'm not a big fan of pop music, but I can respect this album for what it is. 7.5/10.

Starts very strong but absolutely peters out by the end of the album. Admittedly a poor headphone album, the breakbeats and synth here is supposed to be listened to on a big stereo system with a heavy subwoofer. The album's real struggle is that in sequence, it's too long and is reliant on the same couple of (excellent) drum loops in all its major dance singles. New Jack Swing as a genre has that problem, generally which is part of the reason it's never experienced a revival, instead being incorporated as a sonic aesthetic into Remember the 80s/90s retro acts. But what's here is undoubtedly the best on offer from the genre. The major songs on here; Rhythm Nation, The Knowledge, Love Will Never Do, and Miss You Much and even some of the Interludes (like Let's Dance) are surefire hits on any DJ set. The emphasis on the industrial tinged New Jack tracks has a negative effect on the more pop/R&B tracks which fade (like Lonely) into the background. The balance is poor and suggests to me that the curators of the album - whether that was Jackson herself or company executives - had split loyalties between making an artistic work or making something that would have multi-market appeal. The title single "Rhythm Nation" is a barnburner - dance floor ready. The Rhythm Nation 1990 tour was probably one of the danciest sets of all time. The other songs all follow suit and the interludes are interspersed throughout so that the political consciousness of the singles are totally inescapable. It is fascinating that Jackson opts to include lines about child starvation, institutional racism, and escalating violence in the world in her complete jams. Jackson spoke often before and after the album's release about how she genuinely hoped that Rhythm Nation 1814 would change the world for the better, that it would awaken some sort of global humanist conscience. The major global socio-cultural topic on everyone's mind during the recording was the movement against Apartheid as well as the seeming unthawing of the Soviets - the optimism of the moment is reflected in Jackson's dream for the album. Needless to say, that probably was not going to happen but for a pop album, Rhythm Nation is a great document. It's an album swelling with hope and weighed down with heavy, focused bursts of noise - a poppier industrialism, dancing through the end of the world.

It was fine but too long.

É um bom álbum. Bons vocais e partes instrumentais muito competentes. Gostei. CVJ Aria.

There is some nice stuff on here but it's all a bit relentless, compressed, and LOUD!

rhythm nation is the correct name for this, electro-woozy soundscape that encapsulates the late 80's/early 90's. Some of the lyrics are eeeeh I will say. favorite track: Escapade

Strong pop album

Meh, its very 90s but nothing that really sticks

Very catchy tunes ...drums...good voice

Some good early Janet Jackson music. I remember all the hits from this album from back in the day. These were popular at school dances. It wasn't really my thing so I never really listened to this album before today. Not bad, it follows sort of that early 90's pop formula all the way through. Nothing really unexpected but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

This was a HUGE record. It was huge in how it was made, the topics and how successful it is. Janet was already successful but certainly sealed her career on how big this record was. The result was 4 #1 hits and 3 more top 5 hits. HUGE.

Chill

3.5

R&B leaning pop

#725. Like all old pop music, its a bit outdated, but its fine. 3/5: acceptable

Production was definitely something to get used to. It can be a bit much at times. But really, I did like some of the composition on this album. And it's so strange to hear MJ's sister sing. I find their voices hvad a lot of similarities in their timbre. She, at times, sounds like a female version of MJ

Surprisingly political, not at all what I expected. Heavy synth and drum sounds, very 80s hip hop, but edgier. Lots of social justice issues addressed. I wasn't sure about this one as it is not something I would usually listen to, but it surprised me. To make such a politically engaging album this danceable was quite a feat. Progressively gets more dancy and lighthearted as the album goes on. The last track, Someday is Tonight is baby-making music for sure, top five, haha. Ends with a reminder of the beginning.

This was a pretty listenable album from a time where not much commercial pop has aged well. Yes the dry as dust production and the Jam & Lewis sounds are of their time - but so is the production on the Beatles early albums. It's too long, even without the skits, and the last couple of songs tail off, but it delivers a fistful of pop classics beforehand.

This is #day410 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I have to admit I first heard of Janet Jackson through the notorious 2004 Super Bowl incident; hard to believe I was just 14 back then. I don't think I've ever listened to her music, really, let alone the whole record. So this is another first-timer. Rhythm Nation 1814 is unapologetically late-'80s: funky, rhythmic, and catchy, if also a bit too R'n'B for me. As a concept album that tackles social issues, it leaves a footprint. I also like the artwork. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day411.

2.6

Probably heard a bunch of these back in the day but didn’t remember anything outside ‘Escapade’ (and that one only somewhat). Nothing crazy bad or good, 3/5

Rhythm Nation was lifted from G Clinton, but that was my favorite track. Many tracks sound dated now.

This really felt like a good album that overstayed it's welcome. I like the 80s pop sound. It just gets old after a while.

6/10

Hyvää poppista. Aika kasaria herkkistä ja jortsuu 3/5

Varsin hyvä pop-levy! Hieman ehkä pitkä, mut toisaalta näin nää tänä CD-aikana oli.

Such classic 80s R&B sounds from the talented Janet Jackson. She really helped to define the genre at this time and propel it further into households around the country. Production is so quality and her voice is angelic throughout; mesmerizing at times. Solid record.

How many interludes is too many interludes? Now I know.

'Love Will Never Do (Without You)' is an all-time favorite banger. The rest of the album was fun to listen to, but felt a little rambling at times with interludes that made you want to skip ahead to the good parts.

I’d consider myself a fan, but I don’t think the few bangers here successfully made it out of 1989. Also always love when uber wealthy musicians sing about poverty and the woes of society…

I like that rhythm nation sounds like we’re in a wet basement bangin on pipes and trash cans

Never listened to any of the Jackson siblings before this. Really good, like the voice the vibes and the lyrics.

Some decent songs but way too many interludes/ filler to love it. 6/10

Highlights: Miss You Much, Rhythm Nation. In a nutshell: "it's time to give a damn" I can't believe this was released in 1989! It has such an early nineties sound- that R&B infused pop. The title track is punchy and a call to arms. Livin' A World (They Didn't Make) could've been covered by Stevie Wonder. So heartfelt yet ends tragically. Kinda odd that Janet or The Velvet Rope isn't in the book either. Someone rectify this by adding both or either on the user list please and thank you. Overall: 5/10

Nice album but nothing out of this world. Good when it came out but a bit outdated just pure dance-pop. Love a few songs bit the skits I hate and just a few songs that are diferent from the others

Lots of Pop music.

First, this is too much 80s Janet Jackson for me. It's probably too much for anybody in 2025. Still, that's not her fault. Some of the songs were legitimate bangers. Some were really good at getting an important message across. Some sounded like generic 80s Janet Jackson. It was a mixed bag with pretty high highs and low lows. I would give half the album four stars, and I'd give the other half two. This isn't a three-star album. It's a four-star and two-star mixed together. Just want to make that clear.

This is such a Jackson album - songs about rhythm, the state of the world, and saving the children. There are some bangers on here, but unlike an MJ album the ballads just don't land for me.

The first fee tracks are really solid, and I liek the overall vibe. It does overstay a bit for me, the tracks kinda blended together at the end. I’d listen to this more if it was on tho, I’ll say 3 almost 4 stars.

Pop, with the funk/soul/disco roots, similar to later MJ. With heavily political/social justice lyrics. It's okay, but the pounding drums and heavy handed subject matter is a bit relentless. With the interludes and seamless transitions, I guess it counts as a concept album? Livin in a World has a powerful ending Escapade has a classic pop feel, could be Madonna or something Lonely is interesting, latin infused pop/neo soul, about 10 years before it became huge! Second half of the album is generally more pop/love songs. Best track - Livin in a World (They Didn't Make), Escapade 3 stars

*throw your hips to the left* People can't find enough to eat *throw your hips to the right* That's the state of the world today *hands up* If I ever was in the mood for rhytmical music, I'll now know what to look for, but I don't think I ever was.

I did not use a private Spotify session for this one. In 1995 I shared an office with an older gentleman, we both liked to listen to the radio while working but our tastes were different so it was set to a non-offensive, bland station. I must have heard Escape 3 times a day then and this is six years after this album came out, the point is that this album got played a lot. Keyboard heavy, in your face rhythms, very digital and 80s. Escapade is at 44 million plays on Spotify. Ken(the dude I shared an office with) and I never went an Escapade together despite the constant encouragement from Miss Jackson, I do feel we missed out.

Started well but tailed off. Again, probably ahead of it's time and led the way for what came after - which excuses some cringe moments

It’s an hour of similar sounding 5-6 minute typical 80s dance tracks about love which in isolation are fine but get repetitive when it’s 10 of them back to back. 3 stars which is maybe generous honestly

Janet just never quite had the same impact that her brother did. Not a bad album, but nothing special.

I like Janet but I feel this album does not age well. It was my first time listening to it, some parts were insteresting others boring. I was annoyed by the random instrumental sounds in some songs, which distracts you from the song (example all right with a bird or monkey sound).

Well, this very much sounds like it came out in 1989, and it very much sounds like something from the Jackson family. I don't think it holds up terribly well, but this album hit its mark for the time (per the Wikipedia blurb: it's the only album with 7 top-5 songs). However, I was 4 at the time so I have no memory/nostalgia related to these songs, so I can't go any better than "it's fine for what it is."

Well, that was a first. Although I was 14 when this record came out, I didn't bother listening to pop music, with the exception of Prince - partly due to his uncompromising reinvention of funk/pop music and his sublime guitar playing. That said, I can clearly hear Prince's influences on this album, not surprisingly, since it was produced by Lewis and Jam, members of a Prince spin-off band, The Time. It's not an album I'll listen to again anytime soon, but I found it surprisingly comforting to hear the New Jack Swing of the late '80s/early '90s. Apart from the ballads, these are considerable tracks, so I'll rate it 3/5.

I think overall I liked this record. I honestly had a hard time keeping attention on it but I remember thinking the production was nice and I appreciated the variety in sounds throughout. It didn't really bore me but it didn't totally captivate me. The heavy bit about the mass shooting was a jump scare. Probably won't seek this one out again but I enjoyed it.

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The social conscious lyrics and themes are super cool. It kind of elevates this pop record in a way that say, Mariah Carey, doesn’t. Musically, it has some cool variety. Some rock songs, some pop and r&b songs. It’s probably about 4 songs too long and you kind of get sucked into the 80s dance trance for awhile, but when it does break through the noise, it’s pretty good!

Meh although I used to like this album I think. I was just bored by it this time

This is the most difficult review I've had to write so far. Parts of this album were really fun, and other parts were a real drag. I wasn't old enough to appreciate it, but it was nice that the big socially conscious things to talk about at this time were staying in school and using condoms. Compared to today, that feels so light and care-free. I get why this album is on the list, but it doesn't really do anything for me. I think the highlights were all captured in the singles, and that means I'll get to revisit all the relevant pieces through the radio or on random playlists.

Austria?

this is not bad and is my style

Not for me. Wouldn't buy.

Soul and rap influences on typical 80s production. Socially conscious content.

Good but a little too Rock and roll and listening to the whole thing felt repetitive and gave me a headache

I enjoyed this, a solid album. got some good moments, solid 3, maybe a light 4

It seemed as though Janet wanted to try something new, but she wasn't quite confident enough to really commit to the bit.

Some bangers on here

When you finish the album thinking the electronic drum programming was good, it kind of says it all.

I forgot how oppressive the late 80s - early 90s drum machine sound could be. In this case, it undermines what is otherwise a strong record.

Easy listening. Would give it a 3.5

It’s not the album I was hoping for on my birthday, but it’s fine. Certainly a product of its time. I was two years old when it released so I don’t exactly remember its cultural impact, but I know it was huge (6x platinum!) and the best selling album of 1990. Its title track has amazingly bleak and socially critical lyrics for a major pop star, and sadly it is still relevant today.

Kind of all over the place. She did separate herself from her brother which I admire and you can hear the Prince influence. But it is dated and it is the sound of 1989. Overall, slightly better than I remembered and she got screwed over by Justin Timberlake at the Super Bowl. So a passing grade from me.

I'm a bit conflicted on this one. On the one side, it sounds great. But on the other, I'm not quite convinced by the execution of the concept. The production here is excellent, they nail the new jack swing sound perfectly, and the mixes are super clean and well done. Janet's voice is also excellent, she carries the songs with her delivery. The result is that a lot of the songs sound very good pop: catchy, funky and fun to listen to. The execution of the concept was a bit of a let down for me though. First, I applaud Janet's intention to release a socially conscious album and to have a relevant message regarding the issues she considered relevant. But I felt a bit of a cognitive dissonance between the lyrics and the production. "State Of The World" is a great example of this, as it feels a bit weird to have such a great dance track while singing about crime spreading and people not having enough to eat. I'd say this applies to most of the first half of the album. I think she could've handled the balance between pop and socially conscious a bit better. Nevertheless, there are great songs here. "Rhythm Nation", "State Of The World", "The Knowledge", "Love Will Never Do", "Escapade", and "Alright" were very good tracks. She can definitely deliver pop of the highest quality. But some of the other songs felt worse, and there are a lot of interludes too. I ended up feeling the album was a bit overlong because of this.

A five for musicality and the love songs but a one for how fucking bored I was by the bleeding heart toxic positivity cumbaya lectures.

This made me realize that I don’t think I ever bothered to actually listen to Janet Jackson before! There were some bright spots, but too much snare for me.

I quite enjoyed it, altough I will always hear Michael behind.

Extremely 80s, highly produced but not so much that it’s not enjoyable. The central core of hits are solid, but the remainder of the album falls flat for me. Just background 80s pop. Also too long and with some songs that are absolutely too long for pop songs.

Not sure why I was so averted to listen to this, it wasn't horrible. Just very 80's

Maybe it was listening to it in the morning - it felt like too much. I can appreciate that these are bops, but I felt too overloaded.

Wow does this one capture that late 80s-early 90s sound that hit the airwaves. That drum machine is still getting royalties. I remember when Michael's baby (hot!?!) sister showed up with an attitude and a hopeful message, and for a while it seemed like it could work. For those of us who were there, this one has radio hits all throughout, and we believed in Janet's belief that we could all be better people. Ah, but leave it to people to shoot the messenger, though Janet definitely played a part in that. Still, this one exists out there as a testament to an optimistic time when two talented siblings from a super fucked up family were a couple of the biggest acts on the planet, and the music was actually pretty good.

This album is just a few bangers and then at the end a sound clip from a news broadcast thats like "a gunman in Idaho killed 27 school kids"

I liked this better than I expected. The end dragged a bit with slower songs but otherwise kept my interest throughout.

3/5.

Would have been huge back in the 90s

Everything about this carbon dates it to 1989 (including the reference to Tiananmen Square, which sounds so jarring amid the “children are our future” level of social commentary in the lyrics). That being said, it’s a lot of fun, and if Janet did bite off slightly more than she could chew, I respect the ambition.

Got some bangers on the front end and peters out a bit at the end. The slow jams beg for comparisons to her brother (I'd call them 'Jacksonian') but she tended to emphasize the different approach from her brother later in her discography. However the ones that go, go pretty hard.

It's like a hodge podge of someone trying to be Michael and Prince at the same time, and I like it

Doesn’t quite leave a lasting impression for me. It’s an enjoyable listen, but I can’t see it making it into my regular rotation.

Fine

Ik had verwacht het veel kutter te vinden maar dat viel reuze mee. Niet echt mijn ding alleen.

Quality Pop, but not anything more important than that.

Basically, it's 80s dance music. I'm not really much of a fan. But you have to hand it to Janet for hitting the mark in terms of genre and decade.

Interesting record. Production is fun and very emblematic. Lyrically I felt like the social justice and social commentary was a little too on the nose and felt corporate. Not my favorite Janet record but not too bad

Very good music

Has its funky moments, dont think i want to hear about mass shootings in my pop album interludes - Fav track: "Black Cat" - Honorable Mention: "Lonely" very specific vibe i'm nostalgic for.

3.0 - Ok

Boring.

Favorite Track: Escapade

I was genuinely surprised by how strong 𝘙𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘮 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝟣𝟪𝟣𝟦 still sounds decades later. The ambition, message, and energy are undeniable. But it suffers from a common late-’80s flaw: the overly uniform, mechanical drum sound that flattens the dynamics and makes too many tracks blend together. A bold, important album — just weighed down by its era’s production choices.

A product of its time, maybe a late 90s version would be less... cheesy?

i'd choose Velvet Rope over this. The 80s production is pretty dated and the lyrical content is heavy-handed but she has a great voice no doubt.

Its not a bad album at all, its probably quite good. It was just so long that it drained we hard. Not good music to listen to while working. Maybe my opinion will change after I have listened to it in a different settin

Opens strong with Rhythm Nation. But then the album lapsed into some kind of cliched lament about the harm humans do to each other - problems that existed centuries before the songs were written, and have no signs of abating in the 30+ years since. Nothing deep, nothing insightful. So, palatable human tragedy? Other artists have done it much better. But then came Livin' in a World (They Didn't Make). Blah song til then end, then holy crap, a graphic news segment about a school shooting (Stockton, CA, 1989)? I get that the song is meant to be shocking, but it resonates differently in a post-Columbine, post-Sandy Hook world. Anyway, the album does have some great songs in addition to Rhythm Nation, but overall I don't think it holds up well. My score is on the strength of the good songs.

Poeeeeh, soms hoor je een album dat gewoon nog steeds zo gemaakt zou kunnen worden(Oxygene, Kraftwerk? ) En soms hoor je een album dat echt alleen toen gemaakt kon worden. Dit valt helaas in de 2e categorie want mijn god, wat is dit een vroege 90s album zeg! Je hoort er bijna uit dat computers meer een ding worden, wat een overgeproduceerd zooitje is dit zeg! Hun poging om het meer futuristisch en modern te laten klinken valt naar mijn mening compleet vlak, want dit klinkt zo ontzettend gedateerd ondertussen! Beetje alsof we Sorry for Party Rocking van LMFAO hier ook op een lijst zouden zetten, omdat het die tijdsgeest zo goed zou samen vatten. Weet je wat? Het zou zelfs best terecht zijn, want net als dit album is dat geen goede muziek, maar als iemand vraagt hoe 'moderne productie' klinkt in die tijd was dit wel het beste voorbeeld. Janet kan wel een stuk beter zingen dan Redfoo, dat dan weer wel. Verdomme, op het einde word er een ruk naar R&B/Soul gemaakt en dan merk je dat het toch wel ontzettend zonde is dat dat niet meer gedaan word... De rest is prima, maar de R&B nummers zijn FANTASTISCH! God, wat doet die productie toch eigenlijk pijn. FAVO: Love will never do without you, Alright, Escapade, Come back to me

Interlude: Pledge - sets this up as an album that intends to make statements in addition to pop music. A mission statement that blends not entirely seamlessly into the pop hook production of… Rhythm Nation - …the lyrics follow through on the promise of the pledge - “with music by our side, let’s work together to break the color lines.” Even as the lyrics have a call to action, they make the idea of social progress seem deceptively easy. However, perhaps it is as simple as enjoying music together and passing the test of “no struggle, no progress, lend a hand to help your brother do his best.” The sample from "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" by Sly & the Family Stone gives the song such a great pace and beat to keep your foot tapping. Interlude- TV : leans into the concept of this album but doesn’t do a lot to clarify its message I’m not loving my structure of song by song reviewing. Overall the production and vocals are great on this album, and I appreciate what Janet is doing while also finding that it has aged in a way where I wonder how it fits in the cynicism of todays landscape in America.

Boring pop with delusions of profundity. Tim: “1989? Really?”

Classic 80s pop. Catchy, makes you wanna dance.

I had almost forgotten this album existed. I’m sure I will again.

3.5

3.5

I'm about with everyone else on the 3½ train. I, however didnt mind the slow song in that it breaks up the somewhat samey beats of the New Jack Swing, the sound which Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were known for. I don't necessarily hate the sound, but it was so ubiquitous of the late '80s early 90s R&B pop to the point it just makes me roll my eyes now. ( I think historically I did not like the sound, but these days when I come across it it just reminds me of a time) Honestly as far as examples of this genre this album kind of excels more than most. The title track is still a banger. "State of the World" actually kind of reminded me of what Michael Jackson would do on *Dangerous* two years later. Except for the slow songs most of the beats are somewhat interchangeable, which kind of made the slow songs a little release. Though they did cram too many of them at the end, though I really liked "Come Back To Me" which kinda had a female BIIM feel to it, two years before their debut. Go figure. 7.6 ★★★½

Too long, not y favourite sound, but some fantastic pop sensibilities. 3.5 stars

I think this album has a few issues. First, I think it sounds super dated. You don't hear a lot of these songs in the wild anymore, and I think there's a reason for that. Secondly, I think it's kind of samey. I'm not entirely sure "Love Will Never Do" and "Escapade" aren't the same song with different lyrics. Thirdly, I'm pretty sure whatever fondness I have for any of these songs is just from hearing them a million times when I was a teenager. Still, it's pretty well-crafted, so I can't hate on it too much. 3 stars.

3.5

More like a dribbly Rhythm Archipelago. Quite a few smooth, silky slow jam and jacktastic new jack swing islets with a lot of searing social conscience in the sea air (plus a Human by Human League sounding islet as well) but overall too long and spaced out and could have done with shoring up into a more compact and impressive rhythm land mass. Mid 3.5 stars.

3.5 stars, great singles with ok filler

Very sensual

A tad too long, but enjoyable nonetheless

Not as bad as I thought. I can tell why it was popular, but not for me.

Eh some good bops

I have a soft spot for the early 90s production and some of the songs are fun, but the boring r&b ballads weigh it down.

It's pure late 80s R&B pop

some real HITS and MISSES could i write poetry to this? n

A fun game for bored college students in 1990 to play while listening to this album: Take a drink every time the high-pitched "Hoo!" vocal sample is used. Do a shot every time the "Orchestra Stab" synth sample is used. Safety not guaranteed. Ahhh... The nostalgia value alone is worth half a star. This album enjoyed a long and inescapable life cycle in the mainstream consciousness of the early 90's.

Quite good

It was a bit strange at points but decent

"Rhythm Nation 1814" is the fourth studio album by American singer Janet Jackson. Yes, Janet is the sister of Michael. Pop, R&B, new jack swing and funk are the Wiki-listed genres. That fits. Record executives wanted Janet make something similar to her previous successful album "Control." Janet insisted on a concept album addressing social issues including racism, poverty, substance abuse and themes of romance and she worked with producers James "Jimmy Jam" Hartis and Terry Lewis to do that. Commercially, it did very well reaching #1 in the US, #4 in the UK and had seven singles reach the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. It received critical acclaim and was noted for its use of sampling and swung synthesized percussion. In 2021, the album was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress into the National Recording Registry for its artistic significance. The album opens with "Interlude: Pledge" and Janet talking about a new world "without color lines." There are a number of these short interludes which introduce the subject matter of the next song. And with that, we enter "Rhythm Nation" and greated by those loud synthesized beats. Janet screams and yelps. A lot of Michael Jsckdon-esque yelps throughout this album. Guitar, synths and a large chorus. It's got a nice funky groove. Janet wants color lines removed and was inspired ( so to say) by various tragedies at the time. Those percussion beats continue in the first single "Miss You Much." A hypnotic beat and synth melody. Catchy lead and backing choruses. A straight-forward song lyrically with the title explaining the meaning. The third single "Escapade" is more an R&B pop song. Electronic piano keys and synths. Some more catching beats and melodies. Nice layered vocals. It's 1989 and we better put in a glam/hair metal band song. "Black Cat" has a heavy guitar throughout including a solo. A song on substance abuse and gang violence. She calms it down a few songs later in "Come Back to Me." Smooth R&B, actually a ballad with strings. She's trying to rekindle a love. My first reaction after hearing this for the first time in a long time, was, wow, this sounds very dated. Those synthesized beats and random yelps and woahs really reminded me of the music you heard in the dance clubs of 1989. Not really a great memory. I did warm up to this after awhile. There is no dying the catchy hooks and, yes, beats. There is a decent variety in the music (dance, ballads, R&B pop, funk and rock) and lyrics (homeless, racism, drug abuse, gangs but also romance and love songs). Heavily produced and I thought they did a nice job with the vocals and choruses. So, an album that will take you back to the late 80's dance/pop era with a number of very catchy songs.

I’ve really been looking forward to reviewing this album. I’ve known “Escapade” since I was a kid, and it’s been one of my favorite songs of the 80’s for over 35 years, and I know this is supposed to be a really good album. I hadn’t really given much thought to Janet Jackson’s music until a few years ago when I heard a podcast episode that talked about her song “Together Again.” I went through some of her big hits, and I’d completely forgotten just how many great songs she’s had. In addition to that, I have a soft spot for pop music from the late 80’s. I think it’s such an interesting time for music, when so many different things were influencing popular acts. Let’s become citizens of Rhythm Nation! Well, I didn’t love this album like I was hoping to. I think it’s a very ambitious record with some really good songs on it, but the overall experience is a bit on the bland side. Based on “Escapade,” I wanted a sound that was bigger and bolder, but as I started listening to this, it felt like Janet Jackson was using a lot of restraint in her sound. Granted, as the album went on, those production and musical choices made more sense when I was able to take in more of the album. However, Rhythm Nation feels really dated, and not in a way that I find endearing. It feels over-polished, and this wound up being some nice pop songs. Again, I think the concept was great, and there’s definitely a bit of a futuristic feeling to this album, which goes along well with the lyrical themes of reckoning with social justice issues and building a better world. But to me, the overall message feels less like a call to action, and more like a work of ‘music and art will save the world if we all just love one another.’ Granted, pop music at this time was largely falling short in meaningful and serious political and social messaging, a fact that was only exacerbated by punk and hip-hop’s ability to check that box really well. Despite my criticisms, there are some really great songs on this album: “Miss You Much,” “Alright,” and “Escapade” are definitely some of the standouts on Rhythm Nation. “Livin’ In A World” was really great too, and featured my favorite songwriting on the album. That burst of gunfire sound effects scared the hell out of me. But back to “Escapade.” It’s easily my favorite song on the album, especially in terms of musical sound. The synthesizers and vocals are absolutely fantastic. The drumbeats give it the perfect punch, and it’s always a fun song to sing along to in the car. As much as I loved those songs, I felt like the interludes on the early part of the album really killed the pace and felt unnecessary. And even though I appreciated this album more as it went along, I felt like the last few songs were a touch too long. This album was a bit of a letdown for me, but if it sounds like I'm being overly critical, I think it's just because I had really high hopes for this. Despite my fondness for some of the songs, I wouldn’t listen to this in its entirety again.

Great voice. A little boring, but not bad.

Despite the late 80's production and a few samey ballads at the end, this was better than I expected. A little too much of trying to be socially conscious and relevant but forgiven by a song like "Black Cat," her attempt to out-beat her brother's "Beat It."

This was a journey for sure. Super long album in a genre that I'm not versed in or particularly drawn to. A concept album that just seemed like a lot of the same to me.

Wel leuk maar een beetje saai wel.

This was ok. I liked some of it, but the rest was just so-so

Fine

Ah it’s so close to a 4. Only thing holding me back is the fact I don’t think I’ll be back but it is good.

I was gonna give this a 2 but the second half of it really saved it. I didn't realize how many of her hits came from this record until the last couple of songs. It's ambitious and it doesn't really deliver on its ambitiousness (at least for my taste, I don't really like the thing of having an interlude in between every song and as cool as new jack swing is the non-ballad songs tend to sound samey) but yeah the last few songs are bangers

os diversos interludes me tiraram um pouco da imersão do álbum, mas a janet é uma diva e moldou muita coisa do mundo pop. 3,5.

I'm not surprised this Janet album made the list and not "Control", although personally, I think Control is a better album. But, this one is pretty solid as well. Janet covers a lot of new territory here and speaks out on a lot of social issues for the time (and to be honest, many are still happening today). Overall, I like the album and think it's solid. Is it something you must hear before you die? Sure, but make sure to check out "Control", you might dance to that one more. Key tracks (the main singles off the album): Love Will Never Do (Without You) Miss You Much Black Cat But deeper cuts that are good: Alright The Knowledge Rhythm Nation 3.49/5 (I just couldn't get it to 3.5 and have to rate it a 4 on this scale)

Its fun

I had this on cassette in 1989. A good pop album. The interludes are unnecessary but tracks like Rhythm Nation, Love Will Never Do, and Escapade help make up for it.

Not a bad rhythm - no wardrobe slip though

A couple of things: 1. I had never heard any of these songs before, and 2. No, I was not in a coma from 1989 through 1990. In reading about this album, I believe I remember seeing that 7 of the songs were top 5 hits…I can’t believe that I am not familiar with anything of them. I was very familiar with the hits from her previous album, Control, so I don’t know what happened to me here. This album surprised me, in that I enjoyed it more than I expected to. A couple of things that I didn’t like, was the use of electronic percussion, and I thought that many of the songs sounded really similar, especially in the first half or so. Also, I think the album ran a bit long. But overall I really didn’t mind this record at all…I have to say that I really liked the song, Black Cat. This album comes in at a strong 3 stars for me.

Ok album overall. Some songs were interesting Standout songs: Rhythm Nation State of the World Black Cat

Some of these songs were so completely unavoidable (read: massively overplayed) in 1989, and yet they've seemingly disappeared altogether. I'd completely forgotten them. All in all, a better listen than I would have expected going in. Holds up better than a lot of pop from that era.

I enjoyed some of this. But far too many of the songs had a lot going on. It was overwhelming for the senses, particularly the hearing one. Does that mean it’s overproduced? Is that a thing people say? Not idea if that’s a valid criticism. But it caps the review at a three for me. Simpsons: Yes

Slightly struggling with this. It starts with a few tracks with fairly political / socially conscious lyrics before she literally says "you get the idea, now let's dance" which I found odd. Then the rest is mostly radio friendly love songs with a dancey beat I'm not a massive fan of the overproduced nature of it and there's a lot here given she says most of the important stuff in the first 10 minutes. I do like the fact that a few tracks mix up the style and keeps it fresh despite a long running time, eg the rockier Black Cat. Just about 3 stars, it's alright but I doubt I'll listen again

3.5. Some of these have held up well. Others just seem to run together.

Didn't think I'd like this as much as I did. I hear a lot of Prince in it, which I liked.

This is real cliche and preachy, but I suppose that’s easy to say in retrospect. At the time, this was admittedly a super popular album. Almost the whole thing was released to the radio. The guitar riff on Black Cat is badass though. Always loved that song. That’s enough for a slight bump.

Rhythm Nation starts off with a bang with the title track and keeps it up through the first few songs, especially "State of the World." I mostly ignored this release when it came out, mostly because I (unfairly) associated Janet Jackson with her older and more-famous brother, who by that point was thoroughly creeping me out and putting me off with super high-gloss pop music and his increasingly questionable antics. By the time RN gets to the bubbly "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" and the ballad "Livin' In a World (They Didn't Make)" I'm losing interest, fast. But then it hits its stride again with "Alright" and closes out strong with "Someday is Tonight." Overall, this is a strong example of late-80s sequenced pop-funk with some genuine bangers but some songs weighed down by dated production.

Catchy, but left less of a lasting impression than I expected it to.

For anyone of a certain age this album (or at least all the singles--the bulk of this album) is etched into their brain somewhere. For better or worse. Which maybe makes this hard to objectively review some 35 years later. It's iconic, for sure. "Escapade" is still a great pop song.

I remember having my first romantic crush, 1982 (?), Janet Jackson in the TV series Fame. If you look her up, she looks like a completely different person to how she appeared on this album. It was like listening to a time capsule. Ita chronically over produced, but she was trying to telegraph a message. I think?

OK

Not too bad. Just not really my thing.

This feels very 80s! But overall it's pretty good and catchy. It all got a bit samey after a while but it flowed nice and didn't drag on like some longer albums often do

Not to my tastes at all, but undeniably has some bops and definitely presses some nostalgia buttons. I generally feel uncomfortable listening to anything from the Jacksons, though, due to all the ickiness. A solid 3, though.

80’er pop med god smadder på produktionen

21st century pop owes a lot to her. The Romance And Social Issues themes, the spoken bits, the genre soup, every song sounding the same…

Starts our great but is a bit too long

Very Micheal. I Like the sound but it feels like much of the same

Janet was so hot in the day! I wasn’t a fan, but recognized her stature as a pop powerhouse. My favorite moment, of course, was the Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction with Timberlake, that wasn’t a malfunction at all! The shock of seeing a black breast with a pastie was apparently too much for the old white Kens and Karens, so the studio brass had to make some shit up to explain their poor decisions. I loved it! From the boob flash to the fallout, it was a classic American freak show.

There was definitely an effort to be more profound here, which is not something you'd consider when listening to R&B music. Especially during this era of R&B/new jack swing where emphasis was more on the rhythms and production of the music. The album immediately begins with tracks themed around societal issues and injustice, eventually segueing into songs about love and sensuality (Janet Jackson's bread and butter). I'm very familiar with the singles here, being a fan of new jack swing and 80s/90s R&B myself. The singles ARE the singles for a reason though, being the tracks that tended to be more "radio-friendly", rather than the ones that focuses on the heavier issues. I guess what I'm trying to say here is that new jack swing makes me think more of the fun, catchy, rhythmic & sample based tracks (ala Jackson's previous album "Control") and not an overproduction mixed with more social commentary than one would anticipate. This isn't a bad album, but I'd argue that "Control" would've been a better rep for Jackson on this list if not for its influence on R&B and the emergence of new jack swing. Also, "Control" simply packs more of a punch in the hits department with less tracks.

I was into the beats on most of the songs, but with this being over an hour on runtime it did get kind of stale after Escapade. Rhythm Nation and Escapade were probably the best tracks on here. I think this clears the bar enough for 3...low 3.

Catchy poppy album

I didn't want to like it - but this is a fuckin bop and a half. Wow. Do i kind of want to buy this? at least the A side? yes...yes i do... I stand by my thoughts - the tail end of the B side, though ripping with a horn solo, does lose you a bit. Just comparatively speaking. But damn - she was a hit. Do i dig deeper into the catalog? Only time will tell. Shoutout Jimmy Jamm and Terry Lewis.

Some bangers in here. Production is highest level. The youthful flip flop between sexual naivety and aggression comes across as a little dated now. We’re living in a different world musically. A three for me.

Watered down Michael

so, so long and so, so late '80s. several bangers despite this

i do like an album with a lot of bells & whistles though the music can be overconsistent perhaps

Bra pop / dans album, snäppet för långt. Förvånansvärt politiskt

First time listen via streaming.

Cool beats but a record that's really showing its age at this point.

Higher score if this was two separate albums. I remember loving this album as a kid but on relisten it feels super disjointed. Interlude: Let's Dance to Someday Is Tonight feels like one album. The rest feel like another.

This is fine.

It was just okay for me, although I know it was iconic in its day.

It seems like a good pop album. Not my thing, though.

Took a bit to warm up to this one. The singles are great but the rest is sorta subdued and the beats aren't my thing. New Jack Swing, maybe? Overall it's a bit of a Rollercoaster but also too long. 2.75/5

More objectively good than subjectively.

Pleasant enough and has some bangers, but it got a little samey after 4 or 5 songs.

Am Anfang hat mich der Groove zum Schmunzeln gebracht. Allerdings finde ich das Schlagzeug mit der Zeit anstrengend und die Songs sind etwas lang mit zu vielen Wiederholungen für meinen Geschmack. Die Rhythmen sind catchy, aber die Musik fokussiert für mich zu stark auf hart klingender Perkussion, die mit der Zeit repetitiv und schmerzhaft in den Ohren wird. Harmonien sind wenig interessant (das ändert sich ein wenig gegen Ende des Albums). Sie ist gut in Song-Anfängen und Ideen, aber ich finde, die entwickelt sie nicht weiter, sondern wiederholt sie stattdessen.

Came for "WEEE ARE A PART OF THE RHYTHM NATIOOONNN", got slow jams instead :/

6.5/10

Standard Janet Jackson album.

This has some really solid songs, and has some grand messages for the world. Unfortunately though, some of the weird & clanky drum beats just don't stand the test of time. I still love you JJ, and I would have loved you better than DeBarge. 3.4

Quite ok Pop/modern RnB here, obviously pulling inspiration from Prince. However after some tunes you realise that it is without the Prince x-factor though. So decent, but not outstanding…

Lots of energy from the familiar songs, otherwise pretty calm. Not sure I need to listen to this again.

The hits and dance songs were good, the slower songs not so good.

Sorta Blood Orangey

I found this rather dull

Alright.

Judging by the numbers of times played on Spotify, some of the songs on this album are still quite popular. I fail a bit to see why, though. The album sounds very 80s pop, even though it's from the latter part of the 80s. It's hard to not think about Michael Jacksons album when hearing this, as it sounds quite similar. Where Michael's albums stand the test of time, this doesn't. Barely any songs that I liked that much, perhaps except 'Lonely' which I found still sounds fairly modern. Overall not that interesting, but also not the worst I have heard.

bello, divertente ma impegnato e ti fa venire voglia di ballare. lei ha una voce splendida. la produzione è interessante. tutte cose bellissime. peccato che duri mezz'ora di troppo.

The concept of this album is a bit directionless - the interludes are very political and address a lot of serious social issues but the songs are mainly just standard love songs that don’t delve into the same heavy topics and make the whole project feel quite disjointed Musically it’s just as all over the place, from adult contemporary to hip-hop-inspired funk to straight up rock songs, but Janet’s voice and presence is versatile enough to make it all work. It’s not as fun as Control or as immaculate as The Velvet Rope, but it’s a well written and performed collection of songs. Just not the concept album it fronts itself as

Virkelig langt. Glad for at interlude/skit æraen er ovre. Men derudover lyder det meget godt

Meget catchy! Lidt for lang, men man mærkede det egentlig ikke så meget

Some decent songs

Solid album. I liked the variety of slow and fast songs, but I think the layout of the album was a bit weird. A lot of the faster songs used similar instrumentals and sounded samey and a bit long, but they were still pretty fun to listen to. 'Livin in a World (They Didn't Make)' was my personal fave. 'Lonely' and 'Black Cat' were good too.

Could see it having it's fans but is it really that remarkable? The slow r&b numbers at the end really feel tacked on should have been left off. 3*

This is just mid. Not very good and never was.

Decent album, has many production aspects reminiscent of New Jack and late 80s early 90’s pop such as 808s, big guitars, and huge drums. Great songwriting and performances.

not my style but relevant for the genre

File under: Good but not my cuppa. I don't love the production on this, though I will say that I liked it more than I thought I would. The bangers were banging—the beat on that first tune was pretty killer. The ballads and mid-tempo tunes were a little cloying. Also, that drum sound got old after a few tunes. I wanted her personality to jump out at me a little more, and I thought her lyrics weren't the greatest. But it was still a fun time, somehow. So overall, I was glad I heard it, and I think it accomplishes what it's trying to do, but I won't be spinning it again.

Really funky and catchy. Inspirational messages. Some of the longer tracks got a bit tiring though, with the same beat over and over again. Overall good. Highlights: Rhythm Nation The Knowledge Miss You Much

A good dose of late 80s pop, in terms of her discography I like it less than Control (3.5/5)

Buen disco, con ritmo, pero no consigo que las canciones se me adhieran.

Some classic pop songs in there and some forgettable ones too.

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this album. I didn’t love it. I thought it was really good. Certainly ahead of its time dealing with social issues that really hadn’t been addressed in this way before. It felt like a very personal album.

Good. And I saw this tour. Not sure it's aged that great

Political first half, sensual second half. I found myself head nodding more than I expected. Escapade is still a bop.

Pre-listening thoughts: the only songs I know by janet jackson are rhythm nation and the one where she samples Ventura highway 😭. And now every time I hear rhythm nation I think of that awful cover Prime’s Cinderella did. Post/during listening thoughts: I’m not super sure why the reviews are whining about the production cause this is superrr similar to the production Michael Jackson used in a lot of his songs just like a little louder. Black Cat she very vocally sounds like Michael imo. Janet’s voice does get drowned out a little so I wish they had lowered some volume levels. I understand the interludes but there are a LOT of them. Listen people were complaining about the pop-ness of this album but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it. It’s super upbeat and catchy but also with a good message. It is a little samey though like every song has a very similar beat/sound. I wanted to credit the transitions but like if every song sounds similar how much of an accomplishment is that really 😭. If you want an album full of rhythm nations with some mid ballads thrown in this is for you 6.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no I think all you need to hear is the song Rhythm Nation (if that) Fav tracks: Rhythm nation, Love will never do (without you), Alright, Escapade, Black Cat Least fav tracks: ig the interludes cause I don’t think they’re necessary and Lonely and Come Back to Me sorry

Absolutely does not need so many interludes, but the songs are ok. Influenced her brother, which I'm sure she loved, and was surprisingly (to me) huge when it was out. She's touring again soon, but I'll not be rushing out to see her.

A lot of these albums have little interludes between the songs. Like little folk song narrative calibrations.... This album has always been a mystery to me. When it dropped, I loved it. It was danceable, intense, angry, determined, and seemed powerful. During this morning's reunion of ear and sound, I giggled more than once at its goofy self-confidence and interventional optimism. Danceable politics...get em with the groove and they will join the rhythm nation. Music will heal all (in addition to militaristic choreography). I think I was intrigued as a kid by the Trojan horse of these tunes. Songs that sounded like her brother, Michael's, but which contained culturally reflective and politicized thought that seemed broader and more socially concious than his pop hits. Janet was trying to differentiate herself, stand out, assert a feminist social compassion. To be taken seriously. But then this group of songs hits the listener: miss you much, love will never do, and alright, escapade, come back to me, someday is tonight....back to softpop and love. (Until the guitar and independent strength of Black Cat) So how does this all fit together? Does this all fit together? This album is a declaration of independence from Michael's overwhelming celebrity. It's a younger sister trying to be taken seriously: politically, musically, artistically, sexually. Asserting her diversity. Asking us to dance with HER. Black cat

I’m some very 80’s synth sounds… not always bad. Definitely an album to be choreographed about with a stage full of dancers

Även om det är lite väl svulstigt och bombastiskt ibland - och förstås väldigt mycket 80-tal - så är det väldigt välproducerat. Även sångmässigt mycket bra. Problemet är dock att låtarna trots detta i de flesta fall inte är så mycket mer än okej. Det blir också lite väl enformigt under en dryg timme. För ovanlighetens skull tycker jag att andra hälften av skivan är klart bättre än den första.

Lkkr jaren 80 weer, maar ook weer niet zoo bijzonder

leuk album, janet legend

rhythm nation. banger? ich bi definitiv nöd en new jack swing guy. aber de shit goht no dumm. ok has churz abgstellt welli d annika troffe han im tram und s ischmer döt scho nogloffe. ich bin part of the rhythm nation. uiii de radio skip time "a pain reliever -neus radio- are bullets" hobla. oder TV halt okay. staat von der welt macht sie de jackson flüsteri. sie het afoch au d nase glich operiert wie de michael schono weird. de sond state of the world isch chli preachy? ok sie macht sich sorge umd welt i guess. production chönt nervig werde. das wissen. okay sie weiss? education wichtig? i miss you mötsch? okay. i guess cool. aber find das ganze so mässig stimmig irgendwie mega nervös. love will never do het en harde beat. aber s isch scho vorallem orchestral hits und so. find de etz no cute. living in a world aaaah scho janet was sie het au en song wo alright heisst. maltschik alright isch besser. chli en filler song. escapade isch reeecht geil. well have a god tiiiiime schwarz katz rock time??? rieeeese banger?? Lõnely? d 808 cowbell funny. aber de song chli lame. ha so r&b ballade nöd so gern. schmusemusig nai danke "te quiero tanto" ich dich au janet. come back to me het hübschi chords und bgvs aber wieder son huere schliicher someday is tonight tönt noch stevie wonder (aso overjoyed). isch cool het irgendwie tension ide akkörd.

Rhythm Nation is cool, and some of the new jack swing beats is representative of the style.

Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 has so much substance! I appreciate a Black woman singing unapologetically about romance and she has such a sultry voice that isn't over the top. But more than that, the interludes include social commentary and act as the glue to bind the album together. This album is mostly pop but incorporates funk and r&b, so it's a super smooth listen. I wasn't the biggest fan but do recognize the album's importance on this list. And, of course, that iconic outfit!

not bad

So much overproduction on this album. The drums and synths don't need to be that loud to be impactful. Drowns out a lot of Janet Jackson's voice at times. The lyrics, often just outright cheesy or filled with platitudes about changing the world from a privileged woman, and production here are super dated. The love songs really stick out against the ones about social issues and I would have preferred an album full of them, they're all great. BUT Janet Jackson is a legend and I can really see her socially conscious approach must have been inspiring at the time, especially as a black woman. Tracy Chapman did it better though.

I can see how this would appeal to the pop heads of the late 80’s but in 2024 it kinda sounds like an after-school special. I don’t have anything against the message Janet is going for, it’s just a tad on the nose. As for the synth beats, I’m down for it. The album ran a bit long and the ballads could definitely be cut to clean this up. 3 stars

Nothing memorable, good for background music.

Way back machine... If you want to hear what 80's pop is listen. This isn't a knock on the album, opposite this is extremely well done.

Fun pop album that I could see myself throwing on again.

Ah, what idealism we had in the 80s. Yes, the world is terrible, but we can imagine a world of peace and harmony where we stop hating each other and just dance! It's an obviously optimism worldview, but it's very tempting to let yourself enjoy it. Though I have far less optimism in 2024 than Janet Jackson did in 1989, it still makes for nice escapism. Despite that, she was addressing very real social issues, which did feel a bit risky for a major pop star at the time so I have to respect that. The music is very typical of the 80s, including very big, fun dance numbers with heavy drum machine beats, alongside ultra smooth ballads. I'd pass on the latter but some of the pop songs could develop into guilty pleasures if I was ever gave it a chance.

I prefer Control as an album but this one did grow on me after a couple of listens. As a millennial, a bit of nostalgic new jack swing makes me nostalgic. Rhythm Nation is great and the Come Back To Me has that Janet vocal magic <3

This reminds me of Prince, but a lot less fun / funky. Also Prince was doing this stuff a decade before and moved on to new sounds, so isn't this sound a little dated for 1989. Overall it is fine, but not much to write home about. I would have rather added something like Controversy or Dirty Mind to the list in the place of this record. But this record does have some historic significance so its inclusion makes sense. low 3

It was okay.

Mildly fun album.

This album is plagued by the very dated sounding instrument kit used. The synthetic bass and drums and the horn stabs are really a product of its time and were wisely abandoned years later when the sound went out of style. Jackson's singing is excellent but the songs really aren't there to overcome the sound for me. I realize it's subjective but I just can't get over it. The first half of the actual songs are overrun with it. That said I thought about this in the scope of modern popular music, and I'm sure that lots of albums we listen to now are going to sound like this to people in the future. What I can say is that the lyrical content is refreshing for a pop album. An equivalent artist of Janet's popularity is not writing songs like this now. It's not insanely deep or anything but it covers ground that is limited to less successful commercial artists these days. I appreciate that. The love songs on here are the Janet Jackson I'm more familiar with but they also suffer from the dated sound. It's not a bad sound at all, it's just so weird sounding now. I can't deal.

Pop hit after pop hit. Well made messages about the state of the world. One of the first, if not the first breakthrough socially conscious pop album correctly aligned with What's Going On. It's the overly synthetic stuff that I don't love, but I have a great reverence for this albums effect on society and its' mass appeal

First half was really good. Rhythm of the World and State of the Nation are really dope. I actually thought the way that this album was laid out, being that we had skits that were relevant to each song before it played was unique and cool. I found the second half of the album wasn’t as fun, but overall I enjoyed it

Dårligere versjon av Michael

meh

I get the message but the disco late 80s music is not the way to send the message to the people

good concept album with some catchy tracks, for me, there’s not much replayability but i did enjoy the album off first listen

Ooo escapade

Fun album but not too much really stands out.

It was ok, i liked the beats and sounds more than the lyrics but janet did sound good! Surprised me with this 3 star!

An okay album. It didn't do anything for me personally, but it wasn't bad. More of a background noise with the upbeat songs 3 ⭐️

Favourite song - livin in a world

It was ok, 3 stars

Not my go-to for music but I think it was a decent album

The album flowed very well and felt cohesive.

Van die muziek die je zus vroeger leuk vond, en je vrouwelijke klasgenootjes van groep 6. Maar zowaar enige maatschappelijke onderwerpen, en ondanks de hopeloos verouderde electronica (en dat rare Egyptische fluitje dat toen in alle platen zat!) nog best aanstekelijk.

Hé, leuk! Een artiest waar ik een aardig beeld bij heb. Maar waar ik weinig van ken. Een ongefundeerde mening is modern natuurlijk. Maar nu kan ik er toch eens een kleine basis eronder leggen. Mijn beeld vooraf: Prima luisterbare pop, die de jaren 90 alvast inluidt. Wat meer nadruk op beats dan tijdgenoten. Tegelijk nooit ergens bovenuit springend. Nou, luisteren maar dan. Eerst even wat twijfel wegwerken, want mijn playlist begint en eindigt met een interlude. Heb ik dan niet het hele album voor me? Toch wel. Daarna wordt het hierboven geschetste beeld gelijk bevestigd. Een lekker jaren '90 beatje volgt, zonder iets echt interessants erbij. Dat horen we ook bij veel volgende nummers. Het zakt naar de achtergrond. Ah, vandaar al die interludes. Die zijn echt nodig om de luisteraar ervan bewust te maken dat ze ook nog eens een boodschap te delen heeft. Die attentiewaarde blijkt ook uit de constatering dat het niet de nummers, maar het juist de interludes zijn, die door andere artiesten later zijn gebruikt. @ Janet: Got the point? Good, let's dance!

Vanaf de eerste klanken spatten de jaren '80 er van af. En dan vooral de 80s van de familie Jackson. Moddervette breakbeats van bombastische drumcomputers en synths, aangevuld met gilletjes en kreuntjes van Jackson. Waarom iets zelf verzinnen, als je het gewoon kan afkijken binnen de familie? Dit lijkt me ook wel het einde van de 80s sound geweest te zijn. Want die synths zijn zo ongelooflijk aanwezig, alles ademt de ultieme climax van hoe ze in de jaren 80 populaire stadionmuziek maakten. En wat moet je daarna nog maken? Toen was het tijd voor een ander geluid. Qua album zijn de liedjes volledig overgeproduceerd. Het is mij allemaal ook iets te druk en te bombastisch, een enorme laag afleiding tov de nummers an sich. Als ik de hoeveelheid namen ook zie die hier aan mee hebben gewerkt. Al die interludes hoeven van mij ook niet, maar geven het op zich wel een volledige album ervaring. Verder zitten er best funky bas en gitaarstukken in, en zoals gezegd de breakbeat drum. Het is overduidelijk gedateerd en het is niet mijn muziekgenre, maar ik kan moeilijk zeggen dat het geen goed album is. Een 4 is te veel gevraagd, want ik ga het niet zomaar nog een keer opzetten. Maar ondanks het bombastische gebeuk, kon het prima op de achtergrond staan zonder te storen.

I like Janet, but was dreading listening to a whole album by her. This one was pleasant though! I enjoyed it. I think in general I will stick with singles from her. And Poetic Justice of course.

I was worried about this one pretty early on. The industrial synth rock from the 80s rarely ages well, so this being so heavy on it early was starting to drag. But the ballads on the back half of the album absolutely save the whole thing. I also get that the interludes do exactly that, bridge the gaps between songs, but I don’t know that eight interludes including the bookends of the album is really necessary. Overall, there’s a couple hidden jams on this album that I might come back to, but other than that it’s a bit forgettable. It’s like a 2.75. And goodness, Someday Is Tonight is gonna make people in our group make some more babies.

Don't worry everyone. Janet Jackson has solved: racism, world hunger, illiteracy, drug use, gang violence, and poverty. Honestly, I can't really make fun of someone for trying to use their success to try and make the world a better place. It may be a little naive of her to think that an album can change the world, but she's still going to try one boob at a time. I didn't dislike this album at all. I would be lying if I said that I would listen to it again, but it's not bad. A perfect 3 for me.

This takes me back to riding in the car with my mom when I was a kid. You all know Escapade is a jam. Good album, I get why it's on here.

It wasn't bad but I really didn't pay much attention to it because it was so Bland. Probably due to overexposure when I was younger

Not a big Janet Jackson fan. The album is ok, not my taste. Passing grade 3/5

So that’s rhythm nation

I kind of like Alright, Escapade, and Black Cat

Like it 3/5

I remember this one being crazy popular. Hearing it now, it strikes me how much of the era's music sounds similar to this album. Ms. Jackson did it better than any of them though.

Mid 80’s synth/R&B/pop with a few tracks that occasionally surprised me because I liked them. But overall pretty standard stuff for the time with annoying between track bits.

Not a bad album. Some really good songs. A few songs are a little bit of a drag, too. But the interludes are terrible, and take me out of the listening experience. May have been a 4 star album without them (and maybe without one or two of the slower full on 80s/90s R&B songs in the back half of the album.) I probably haven't listened to this one in 30 years, and it might be that long before I listen to it again.

Going out on a high at the end of an era. The production values scream mid 80s pop. Perhaps this is a chicken and egg situation. Perhaps this simply set the bar and everything that sounds like it is an imitation. (But that's not true.) She does a good job coming out of her brother's shadow here. I didn't like the musical clichés of the genre when I lived through them, and they don't really get better with age. The arrangements make most of the album quite danceable , but that works against it as a "sit down and listen" experience. The rhythm section alone is very repetitive and homogenous across tracks. It's a hell of a dance album. Taken as a social commentary? No. When I can hear the lyrics at all, the arrangements ultimately come off as busy, indistinct, and muddy. Not my favorite.

Wel lekker funky maar niet bijzonder

Songs were pretty good, but a lot were too long.

One of my roommates in college played this so much that I know all the songs, and although I don’t love it for any musical merit (sorry Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis), it was a good listen.

Fun 80's album, but I more a fan of Michael.

Nicht schlecht, trotzdem kein Favorit

This album was pretty mid to me for the most part. I had never listened to Janet Jackson before, and her songs are well produced, but this does feel pretty disingenuous. Maybe Janet really does feel that music can save the world, but Rhythm Nation, State of the World, and The Knowledge all seem to trivialize the real state of things. Though the ending of Livin in a World is pretty haunting, given the amount of shooting issues we've certainly had since this album came out. As for the actual songs, I did actually like Alright, Come Back to Me, and Someday is Tonight.

Big on drums. It's funny the way I've always associated Janet Jackson's songs with a certain type of hard-hitting, rhythmic drum beat. There are some pretentious interludes, but I guess they kind of set up the next song? Meh. Distinctly late 80s and definitely has a few songs I can bob my head too. Obviously, the title track, "Rhythm Nation" is probably the best song on the album.

Interlude: Pledge - 7/10 Rhythm Nation - 8/10 Interlude: T.V. - 7/10 State of the World - 8/10 Interlude: Race - 7/10 The Knowledge - 7.5/10 Interlude: Let's Dance - 7/10 Miss You Much - 7.5/10 Interlude: Come Back Interlude - 7/10 Love Will Never Do (Without You) - 8/10 Livin' in a World (They Didn't Make) - 7.5/10 Alright - 7.5/10 Interlude: Hey Baby - 7/10 Escapade - 8/10 Interlude: No Acid - 7/10 Black Cat - 7.5/10 Lonely - 8/10 Come Back to Me - 7.5/10 Someday Is Tonight - 7.5/10 Interlude: Livin'...In Complete Darkness - 7/10 TOTAL - 141.5/200

A wild fever dream of intense over produced synth sounds. Intriguing though I must admit. Prince like at times but the instruments sound so tinny. It’s so weird. I like the vocals. Especially the harmonies and catchy double vocal parts/backup singing

Classic

It was good to hear. Some songs i even might take into my playlists… llets see

Background music, but not unpleasant background music

Tiene algunos temas que superan la sobreproducción ochentera.