The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe is an optimist with purpose. On her debut, she plays an android in a dystopian future (detailed on “Locked Inside”), and endangers her existence by falling in love with a human on “Oh, Maker.” Despite a downbeat story line inspired by the German expressionist classic *Metropolis*, the music brims with joy. Her Wondaland production team takes cues from James Brown and Stevie Wonder, adding classical overtures and a dazzling pop sheen to romps like “Tightrope” and “Cold War.” Monáe herself is a powerhouse singer (and rapper) with a big personality to match.
The singer/songwriter's new album is stunningly ambitious, veering from R&B to rap, pastoral British folk, psych rock, disco, and more.
With overlong, filler-stuffed CDs hitting the market regularly by all manner of artists, the fact that Janelle Monáe presents a double-length disc that's engaging and memorable from start to finish is creditable in itself.
Pop music has found its latest superstar in the ridiculously talented Janelle Monáe, and <strong>Michael Cragg</strong> is swept away
Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid review: Everything her fans had been hoping for, and then some.