There are times when you hear an album and it impresses you in such a way that you want to just forget anything else is out there at the moment. Upon ETS friend and Drinkcast personality Michael’s request, I gave new up-and-comer Janelle Monáe’s album, The Archandroid: Suites II and III a whirl. And in return, she took me for a ride!
Normally, I highlight only about 2-4 songs per review, but to give you readers an idea of her range, I will be highlighting eight of Monáe’s songs. I’ll try to keep it short!
The album opens with suspenseful strings but then makes its way into “Faster,” a high-energy track that features sped up jazz and soul influences. A subtle highlight is the repetitive and abrupt cutting of Monáe’s voice. The guitars have a tiny bit of a ska feel and only add to the concoction of sound which then carry over into “Locked Inside,” a track which has one of the catchiest choruses known to man. With the use of the high-pitched organs and wavy melody, Monáe’s chorus conjures up images of a lounge singer. Then she somehow makes a Carlos Santana-esque solo work in the middle of it all! I don’t know how she does it!
Moving right along with Monáe’s genre-spanning vision, “Cold War” definitely reminds the listener of OutKast’s 2000 hit, “B.O.B.” The quick, jungle beat gets you moving but her message of “This is a cold war/You better know what you’re fighting for” also gets you thinking.
Immediately following that number is “Tightrope,” which features Big Boi [of OutKast]. This track brings back the soul, jazz and R&B influences along with really displaying Monáe’s talents as a vocalist whose range is as vast as the album’s.
“Come Alive (War of the Roses)” later switches it up again completely with grungy guitars and a psychobilly bass line, giving the album a taste of Monáe’s bad-girl, rock side. She ditches her soulful voice and opts for the screeching and screaming voice that almost inspires you to start a mosh pit. The rock sound continues when The Archandroid’s Head Producer Kevin Barnes [of Of Montreal] then brings in the band to add to the rock sound with “Make the Bus,” which has a very poppy, funky and psychedelic sound to it.
Finally, the album’s two last tracks “Say You’ll Go” and “Babopbye Ya” really slow the album down and end it on a peaceful note. Both songs really focus on Monáe’s voice and highlight her talent. In the latter song, I can totally imagine her singing in a lounge with that tight, flat curly hairstyle and beautiful gown, singing alongside a piano with an old style microphone in black and white.
Produced by Kevin Barnes, Big Boi and Diddy, Monáe’s latest is an epic, masterpiece that totally transcends genres. She can technically be considered an R&B or soul artist, but The ArchAndroid covers jazz, soul, punk, rock, pop, hip/hop and classical musical styles. There are so many layers in this album that listening to it gives you such a visually stunning mental presentation. Mailo may not be very happy with this statement but, The ArchAndroid (released May 18) may just bump off The Bird and the Bee’s tribute to Hall & Oates out of the No. 1 spot for album of 2010!
Buy the album at our record store on Amazon
Are you crushin’ on this article? Here’s some others that may tickle your fancy!:
- Album Review – The ArchAndroid: Suites II and III by Janelle Monáe
- Artist of the Week – Erykah Badu
- Album Review – Congratulations by MGMT (reviewed by Sara and Richard)
- Songs We Must Have – Volume 7
- Covers Revue – Beyonce covers Etta James
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