Alamine said:

Moonbeam said:

It's just my opinion! It's in that ballpark to me. There's nothing sacred about Sign o' the Times and Songs in the Key of Life where they can't form the basis of a comparison.

You are comparing a production driven record with songs that used stankonia/TLB blueprint vs two musicians that played, wrote, produced and sang their own album.




There is nothing to compare. It's not even in the ballpark, son.

Get her clit out your mouth.

Sure, the album is good, but it has nothing on SOTT and Songs in the Key of Life, and that's a fact.

Moonbeam said:

Alamine said:

Moonbeam said:

It's just my opinion! It's in that ballpark to me. There's nothing sacred about Sign o' the Times and Songs in the Key of Life where they can't form the basis of a comparison.

You are comparing a production driven record with songs that used stankonia/TLB blueprint vs two musicians that played, wrote, produced and sang their own album.




There is nothing to compare. It's not even in the ballpark, son.

Get her clit out your mouth.

Sure, the album is good, but it has nothing on SOTT and Songs in the Key of Life, and that's a fact.

True, and there is Bjork with her video 'All is Full of love' [I think it's called] - way way before all of them.

sosgemini said:

Okay, how many artist are going to come out with robot covers? Badu, that Milkshake chick and now this one.

rialb said:

Alamine said:

Moonbeam said:

It's just my opinion! It's in that ballpark to me. There's nothing sacred about Sign o' the Times and Songs in the Key of Life where they can't form the basis of a comparison.

You are comparing a production driven record with songs that used stankonia/TLB blueprint vs two musicians that played, wrote, produced and sang their own album. There is nothing to compare. It's not even in the ballpark, son. Get her clit out your mouth. Sure, the album is good, but it has nothing on SOTT and Songs in the Key of Life, and that's a fact.

No, that is NOT a fact. That is your OPINION. It is impossible for it to be a fact that one album is better than another, it's all down to people's opinions and personal tastes. There are folks that think Songs In The Key Of Life and Sign O' The Times are bad albums and they are not wrong to think so. If, in their opinion, an album is bad then, to them, it is bad. I haven't heard Janelle's album yet so I can not speak to it's quality but people are not wrong to compare it to whatever album they want to. I also think it is ridiculous to say that you can't compare "a production driven record" with one that "two musicians that played, wrote, produced and sang their own." What difference does it make? Isn't it all about the songs? If you hear two songs that you love and they are both made different ways does it impact your appreciation of the

song? A great song is a great song no matter how it is made.

You have not even heard the album, that is a FACT.

SOTT and Songs In The Key of Live >>> then Metropolisbelow is a fact.

[Edited 5/30/10 10:36am]

OWNS The Viper Room!!

P2daP said:

OWNS The Viper Room!!

Thanks! That was awesome!

Here she is on Lopez tonight.. Janelle is making the rounds.

Janelle is rocking James Brown's pompadour hairdo of the 60s.

2elijah said:

Janelle is rocking James Brown's pompadour hairdo of the 60s.

I love how by the 3rd song at her concerts. That hairdo is hot mess!

ie: the video i posted at the viper room.

2elijah said: Janelle is rocking James Brown's pompadour hairdo of the 60s. I love how by the 3rd song at her concerts. That hairdo is hot mess! ie: the video i posted at the viper room.

[Edited 5/30/10 18:11pm]

Here's her website, with music, tv appearances and tour schedule:

http://www.jmonae.com/

Alamine said:

Moonbeam said: Alamine said: Moonbeam said: It's just my opinion! It's in that ballpark to me. There's nothing sacred about Sign o' the Times and Songs in the Key of Life where they can't form the basis of a comparison. You are comparing a production driven record with songs that used stankonia/TLB blueprint vs two musicians that played, wrote, produced and sang their own album. There is nothing to compare. It's not even in the ballpark, son. Get her clit out your mouth. Sure, the album is good, but it has nothing on SOTT and Songs in the Key of Life, and that's a fact. Janelle Monae may not be a DIY kind of artist like Stevie Wonder or Prince (and I would never claim that she as an artist holds a candle to either of them), the album is much more than a mere exercise in snappy production. The album is a exercise in self indulgence, image and snappy production. The album sounds like your typical Outkast production, yet people are wowed by this. LOL Goes from this http://www.youtube.com/wa...lNQ6YkYyZ8 to Metropilisbelow = new image, and new production team.

[Edited 5/30/10 10:36am]

Wow. you are FULLL of your own opinion. I didn't personally care for much of Outkast stuff- except part of the Love Below. Mostly because their were not a lot of melodies. This album is totally melodic and Janelle can sing - not just rap or pseudo song like Andre does. The last thing I hear in this record is the production, even thought it is a good record. I don't care HOW a record gets made as long as it is great throughout- and to my ear this is one of those records. This is essentially her first full record and I WILL say it ranks with some of my all time favorite albums.

But I see we're all welcome to your opinion....

Zannaloaf said:

Alamine said:

Moonbeam said: Alamine said: Moonbeam said: It's just my opinion! It's in that ballpark to me. There's nothing sacred about Sign o' the Times and Songs in the Key of Life where they can't form the basis of a comparison. You are comparing a production driven record with songs that used stankonia/TLB blueprint vs two musicians that played, wrote, produced and sang their own album. There is nothing to compare. It's not even in the ballpark, son. Get her clit out your mouth. Sure, the album is good, but it has nothing on SOTT and Songs in the Key of Life, and that's a fact. Janelle Monae may not be a DIY kind of artist like Stevie Wonder or Prince (and I would never claim that she as an artist holds a candle to either of them), the album is much more than a mere exercise in snappy production. The album is a exercise in self indulgence, image and snappy production. The album sounds like your typical Outkast production, yet people are wowed by this. LOL Goes from this http://www.youtube.com/wa...lNQ6YkYyZ8 to Metropilisbelow = new image, and new production team.

[Edited 5/30/10 10:36am]

Wow. you are FULLL of your own opinion. I didn't personally care for much of Outkast stuff- except part of the Love Below. Mostly because their were not a lot of melodies. This album is totally melodic and Janelle can sing - not just rap or pseudo song like Andre does. The last thing I hear in this record is the production, even thought it is a good record. I don't care HOW a record gets made as long as it is great throughout- and to my ear this is one of those records. This is essentially her first full record and I WILL say it ranks with some of my all time favorite albums.

But I see we're all welcome to your opinion....

my favorite live version

Just heard the album for the first time and I think it is one of the strongest I have heard in years. (something wrong with the ability to post here!) Upon first listen, the tracks that stand out to me the most are: Dance or Die, Faster, Tightrope (of course!), Come Alive, BabopbyeYa! Great production, love the contributions from Big Boi and Of Montreal, strong melodies, lush layers of sound, and Monae's soaring voice make for a terrific listening experience.

poetcorner61 said:

Just heard the album for the first time and I think it is one of the strongest I have heard in years. (something wrong with the ability to post here!) Upon first listen, the tracks that stand out to me the most are: Dance or Die, Faster, Tightrope (of course!), Come Alive, BabopbyeYa! Great production, love the contributions from Big Boi and Of Montreal, strong melodies, lush layers of sound, and Monae's soaring voice make for a terrific listening experience.

I hear U! I wasn't expecting what I heard! She challenged me, as a listener with all these lush, classical soundscapes, unforgettable melodies, and a voice that is so...I don't know how to put it...she almost sounds like a different singer on each song! I find myself loving this more and more with each listen...and there have been many!

Romeoblu said:

I wish I could get a copy of this album. It hasn't even got a UK release date yet as far as I can see.

Play.com has the UK release date as 12 July...

http://www.play.com/Music...oduct.html

Remix for Tightrope is out. Features. B.o.B. and Lupe Fiasco.

It's okay.... Not really a fan of remixes. (Give me a 12 inch!!)

But Janelle spits a firey verse!!

http://www.jmonae.com/blog/listen-janelle-monae-tightrope-wondamix-ft-bob-lupe-fiasco/

[Edited 6/2/10 15:28pm]

2elijah said:

trueiopian said:

I agree. Janelle's album isn't THAT good. I actually read a review where the critic compared it to RN1814.

One thing I admire about Janelle, is that she stated she wasn't going to let the fear of criticism of her music stop her from expressing the creativity in her music or performance. We need more artists like her these days, instead of the manufactured artists they have out today. So far she's doing pretty good since the album came out, and her fan base is increasing during this tour. I love her style, boldness of her music and performance. [Edited 5/29/10 21:51pm]

I just saw her in Baltimore and she was great, which is more tham I can say for Erykah. I really like the new album especially the bold production and versality. She's improved on Suite I (which I loved from day one) and has given you more to digest/enjoy. She's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I love her unique approach in today's copy cat music industry. Janelle's album credits have a nod to Prince thanking him for sharing, caring, listening, and good soup

Alamine said:

Zannaloaf said:

Wow. you are FULLL of your own opinion. I didn't personally care for much of Outkast stuff- except part of the Love Below. Mostly because their were not a lot of melodies. This album is totally melodic and Janelle can sing - not just rap or pseudo song like Andre does. The last thing I hear in this record is the production, even thought it is a good record. I don't care HOW a record gets made as long as it is great throughout- and to my ear this is one of those records. This is essentially her first full record and I WILL say it ranks with some of my all time favorite albums.

But I see we're all welcome to your opinion....

Facts This is not her first full album. 2003 - The Audition 2007 - Some Ep 2007 - to present and then a bunch of feeler singles that sounded like Hey Ya The producers of this album are heavly influenced by Organized Noise sound and various production techniques.

So? I'll give you then that it is not her first full LP (first I heard). Other than that I stick by best album of the year.

Some songs from The Audition

I just saw Janelle open for Badu tonight in Boston. First off Badu was on FIRE her voice was through the roof!!

But... Little Ms. Monae tore the roof of the sucka....Her set was criminaly short but she made the best time of it. By the end of the performance she had people up on thier feet dancing in aisles. People start rushing the stage just to get closer to her! The ushers where going nuts trying to keep everyone under control. You could tell afterwards they where impressed...I don't think they've seen that very much. And from the opening act no less. It was epic!!

set-list

Opening video (Suite II oveture)

Dance or Die

Faster

Locked Inside

*Band spotlight*

Smile (which see sung standing on a stool. LOL)

Cold War

Tightrope

Saw the show last night at Roseland Ballroom.

'Twas great!

Janelle had me with "Smile".. that song has very personal attachment (her interpretation) and she delivered. And then some. Really great. Great great great.

Erykah was amazing as well. I love what she did with "More Bounce to the Ounce" and "Love of My Life". Her band is tight. Beautiful experience.

Moonbeam said:

Here's my review: Janelle Monáe is a star. The world of popular music seemed to be spoiled for choice when it came to stars in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. While there have been many would-be stars in the ensuing decades, most seem to lack either the talent, ambition, passion or mystique that defines a star in my eyes. The birth of the underground star has assured that great music has still been made, but mainstream acts have become increasingly more familiar, girl/boy-next-door and down to earth, at least to me. I want my stars to be... stars! I don't really care to know the goings-on of their daily lives or what products they endorse. There is something to be said for that fundamental distance that separates the fan from the star, and this is something that Monáe understands. Of course, such a distance is easily created through the character she adopts with her music. Comprising two suites known collectively as The ArchAndroid, Janelle casts herself again as android outcast Cindi Mayweather, continuing from the theme set forth in Metropolis: The Chase Suite. I admittedly adore many of the future dystopic novels and films which serve as obvious reference points for this album, but the songs here are strong enough to stand on their own. And while science fiction has been successfully mined in the past by greats such as George Clinton and Gary Numan, rarely has it been painted with a palette of such breadth of emotion and style. Taken as an album, The ArchAndroid is an epic, sprawling mass of pop brilliance spread across 18 tracks that work wonderfully on their own and even better in context. The first half of the album consists of Suite II, which opens with an enticing instrumental teaser before launching into the first delectable trio. The nocturnal boogie of "Dance or Die", the sassy funk curl of "Faster" and the uplifting soulful splendor of "Locked Inside" joyously weave together with seamless transitions like movements of a singular composition. Following the opening rush, the dream-like "Sir Greendown" would offer a slight respite if it wasn't so disarmingly beautiful and sexy. Tantalizingly short, it nonetheless is an astonishing piece, as it serves as both a segue between the first and second sections of the album and a gorgeous song in its own right. What follows is her brand of renowned frenetic pop in the form of the galloping "Cold War", which recalls "Many Moons" in tone, message and even structure, as it vibrantly scrambles along and erupts into a blistering guitar solo before some chilling strings and lush background vocals bring it back to Earth. "Tightrope" follows with a vintage funk flavor serving as a backdrop for the album's most youthful and spirited vocals. It stands as perhaps her most rhythmic track yet, daring the listener to stay still. A reprise of the ending of "Many Moons" played in reverse serves as a bridge to the final trio of songs for Suite II. The soul of "Oh, Maker" is drenched in a sort of stately folk, offering one of the album's many great surprises. It gives way to the reckless, swinging abandon of "Come Alive (War of the Roses)", which is punctuated by a spiky, fat bass lick and features a surreal segment of bells and haunted vocals before returning to the main riff guns (and voices) blazing. Finishing off Suite II is the midtempo, psychedelic impressionism of "Mushrooms & Roses", a song framed by some gorgeous strings and heavy on soloing guitar distortion that combusts under its own weight. After the relentless sequence of shocks provided by Suite II, Suite III takes a more subdued but no less impressive approach, starting with the classy love-tinged soul of "Neon Valley Street", graced by woodwinds and lush strings. The twisted, theatric pop of "Make the Bus" makes a nice pairing with the playful earworm of "Wondaland", which gives the Studio of the same name a sort of theme song in the same vein as Prince's "Paisley Park". The plaintive, lilting traditional folk of "57821" breezes by in a sort of hush, ascribing a mythological feel to Cindi's character, and the closing duo of "Say You'll Go" and "BaBopByeYa" close the album with grandiose elegance. While finishing the album with three slow numbers may seem odd, it is more likely to serve as a sort of quiet before the storm of Suite IV. The ArchAndroid is a startling pop album. In my book, it sits with Songs in the Key of Life and Sign o' the Times as adventurous, expansive and kaleidoscopic benchmarks of pop music. With Metropolis, Janelle Monáe revealed that she had the talent, presence and personality to be a star, and with The ArchAndroid, she now has a full album in testimony to it. Whether she becomes a star for the whole world to enjoy or just my star, Janelle Monáe has succeeded beyond all reasonable expectations.

Wonderful piece

She's going to be on The Mo'Nique Show tonight.

Haven't really had the time to give it a whole listen through yet - and the first tracks I heard I was kind of "eh" on. But this morning, Mushrooms & Roses came on when I was on the train, and I was blown away.

She straight-up schooled Prince on some Lotus-flower-style psych-rock.