Net Music Review

The Archandroid - Janelle Monae

If there is one thing you can say about Janelle Monae's full first full length album, it is that it's difficult to classify or pigeonhole. If you were to put this down as simply another R&B record then you'd be wrong, while there are R&B influences to say that is all it is would be a disservice, it covers most bases, funk, jazz, swing, folk and even a little bit of good old rock n' roll too. At times it feels as if you're almost in the middle of a Broadway musical!

Hailing from Kansas originally, Monae moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she met Outkast member Big Boi who in turn recommended her to his friend Sean Combes. Combes, immediately signed her to his label, Bay Boy Records which resulted in her first EP, "Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)" that revolves around the character Cindy Mayweather an android from the year 2719 who is on the run. The EP gained a positive response from critics which resulted in a Grammy nomination in 2009, but was less commercially successful.

The Archandroid carries on the same futuristic themes as Metrolpolis, again centred around Cindy Mayweather and her continuing story. Opening with the lush orchestral arrangements of "Suite II Overture" before "Dance Or Die" completely alters the pace, you could even be forgiven for thinking, for the first few bars at least, that this is another Beyonce clone. However any such illusion is quickly dispelled as the vocals really kick in and you realise that you're listening to something much mire than your run of the mill R'n'B album. The funky drum beat combines perfectly with the rapped vocals given it a quick futuristic feel. "Faster" follows this theme, but has traces of swing and jazzy guitars giving it an uplifting feel. it's impossible not to start tapping your feet or nodding your head to the beat.

The range of styles on display here is quite staggering as mentioned earlier, "Locked Inside" is a classy pop song while "Sir Greendown" is so chilled out you can imagine drifting off into a land of make believe. "Cold War" is probably the closest "The Archandroid" gets to a traditional R'n'B song, but it still seems to break the mould, Janelle's voice seems to lift it to another level. "Tightrope" features Outkast member Big Boi, it's another irresistibly funky track that will again have you on the verge of dancing in your own living room. (Indeed, this has happened to me, never usually the most eager to shake my thang) "Oh, Maker" shows yet another side to Janelle, a folksy ballad which serves as a perfect respite to what has been and what is to come and contrats perfectly with "Come Alive (War of the Roses)" which it's funky, yet dirty beat and scuzzy electric guitar. Suite II ends with "Mushrooms & Roses, a downbeat track that seems to be sung in an almost strung out stupor and brings to a close the albums first movement.

The second half of the album starts with "Suite III Overture", similar to "Suite II Overture" in that it's another orchestral lead piece, but this time with ethereal vocals before blending into "Neon Valley Street" which has a dub feel to it. Suite III has a less urgent feel to it that the first half, but this doesn't diminish it by any means. "Make The Bus" is influenced by Prince with it's electric funk while "Wondaland" starts off sounding a little like Bentley Rhythm Ace with it's electronic beeps and swirls. Another highlight of the album is "57821" which comes over all Simon & Garfunkel and signals the closing stages of the album as the mood starts to drift off into dreamleand a theme continued by "Say You'll Go" and "BaBobBye Ya".

It is difficult to summarise this album, it would be easy to describe it simply as an R'n'B album, but that would be short changing both the artist and the listener. There is something here for almost everyone, every track is varied never covering the same ground twice whilst maintaining the highest of standards. Essential listening.