Tag: Janelle Monáe

audio review : Don’t Judge Me ( song ) … Janelle Monáe

She means only God should judge her, not the man she “sin” lust with. They’re at a beach somewhere. If it’s not Paradise, it feels like it. This slow jam, easily one of Janelle Monáe’s best grooves, conjures the vibes of 1970s soul music. Listen for sultry strings on the bridge.

my rating : 4 of 5

2018

audio review : Dirty Computer ( album ) … Janelle Monáe

audio review : Dirty Computer ( album ) … Janelle Monáe

audio review : Dirty Computer ( album ) ... Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe refers to sex a lot. It seems to take precedence over romance. She is bisexual, after all, as I suspect most women are. The difference is that she embraces it to the point of celebration. So Take A Byte is a double entendre and Pynk is about vaginas. Why that “y”? Why not? Why not put one of The Beach Boys on the album while you’re at it?

The intro sounds better than most of the actual songs, but Dirty Computer is better than The Electric Lady… if only by a pussy hair. Make Me Feel and Classic Life channel peak Prince; he reportedly contributed to the demo sessions of this album; while Django Jane establishes Janelle Monáe as a force to be reckoned with in the rap world.

my rating : 3 of 5

2018

audio review : The Electric Lady ( album ) … Janelle Monáe

audio review : The Electric Lady ( album ) ... Janelle Monáe

This is a continuation of her Metropolis series, but, without the Overtures and Interludes, it would be a normal Janelle Monáe album and I’d prefer it that way. The concept, which has her playing an android character named Cindi Mayweather, is silly and seemingly pointless. The radio bits, led by the voice of an annoying DJ, are especially distractive. Not that the songs themselves are without fault.

They are technically engaging. The songstress has a knack for crafting original music that recaptures the vibes of 1970s and 1960s soul. It’s Code sounds like a lost Jackson Five ballad while Look Into My Eyes channels Lena Horne. But they don’t have the memorable melodies to match. This Electric Lady, even with guest vocalists like Erykah Badu and Prince at her helm, thrives on style over substance.

my rating : 3 of 5

2013