poetcorner61 said:

sosgemini said:

The album is too ambitious and falls on it's own sword in it's attempt at being creative. Such a shame because she's got talent. She just needs to focus is. Oh, and she needs to sound less a featured guest and more of a dominant presence next time out.

You must be listening to a different album than the one I heard! I couldn't disagree with you more. Doesn't sound like an awkward debut album at all. I love the multi-textured lush soundscape that she has created. Perhaps one or two songs aren't as strong as the rest but overall it is a great release as part of a multiple series. She owns her soundscape from beginning to end; Monae is not just visiting. Best I've heard in quite a while!

Ain't that the beauty of individual thought?

[Edited 6/19/10 6:04am]

Cinnie said:

alphastreet said:

although she is talented, I just CAN'T get into her though I tried a few times. I don't get it.

Mark me down

I understand. I find her whole persona and the music to be honest, pretty contrived and it just rings false for me. On a completely shallow note, I also can't stand her look now, and prefered the style she sported earlier in her career. Though I know few would be paying attention if she just looked like this now, I thought she was lovely.

[Edited 6/19/10 9:44am]

Great album...don't really care how she looks...do care how she sounds, can't wait to see her live.

119 said:

I find her whole persona and the music to be honest, pretty contrived and it just rings false for me.

Yes.

Cinnie said:

alphastreet said:

although she is talented, I just CAN'T get into her though I tried a few times. I don't get it.

Mark me down

I totally appreciate that she's trying to do something different, and a few of the tracks are nice.

But a lot of it is really, really pretentious. And needing some hooks.

trueiopian said:

119 said:

I find her whole persona and the music to be honest, pretty contrived and it just rings false for me.

Yes.

Thank you!

I coudn't disagree with some of you any more. Her albums have been wondeful, and much needed. I looove the fact that she trying to change the world with her music. That's what you should do. She is what popular music needs to be. She reminds me of a pop star of the old days. odd, different, doesn't seem like us... I LOVE THAT!!! That Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Prince type thing going on. I LOVE LOVE LOVE her message! I love the fact refuses to go in one direction. and i realize people don't like that, but at the same time that's just the reason why other people LOVE it. I mean this only the debut full length album of a 24 year old. A 34 year old Janelle Monae is gonna be down right scary GOOD!

[Edited 6/19/10 21:19pm]

MendesCity said:

Cinnie said:

Mark me down

I totally appreciate that she's trying to do something different, and a few of the tracks are nice.

But a lot of it is really, really pretentious. And needing some hooks.

I also found it frustrating to hear her mimic Qwen Stefani and Beyonce instead of using her own voice in a couple of the songs. It's one thing to blend other genres into your own style and a total other to bite other's unorganically.

sosgemini said:

MendesCity said:

I totally appreciate that she's trying to do something different, and a few of the tracks are nice.

But a lot of it is really, really pretentious. And needing some hooks.

I also found it frustrating to hear her mimic Qwen Stefani and Beyonce instead of using her own voice in a couple of the songs. It's one thing to blend other genres into your own style and a total other to bite other's unorganically.

I don't know what album you are listening to! I don't hear Gwen Stefani or Beyonce in her voice, music, or lyrics! She credits her obvious musical influences--James Brown, Prince, etc. But her "soundscape" is painted in her own colors; just as every artist that ever painted from a palette of prior artistic influences mimicked those who came before and used inspiration to create their own original works. Great start for a young artist IMO!

poetcorner61 said:

sosgemini said:

The album is too ambitious and falls on it's own sword in it's attempt at being creative. Such a shame because she's got talent. She just needs to focus is. Oh, and she needs to sound less a featured guest and more of a dominant presence next time out.

You must be listening to a different album than the one I heard! I couldn't disagree with you more. Doesn't sound like an awkward debut album at all. I love the multi-textured lush soundscape that she has created. Perhaps one or two songs aren't as strong as the rest but overall it is a great release as part of a multiple series. She owns her soundscape from beginning to end; Monae is not just visiting. Best I've heard in quite a while!

i agree with you ++. While the album isn't perfect (make the bus is a snag in the rug), I haven't had this much pleasure listening to an album in a long time. perfect, no. excellent, hell yes.

sosgemini said:

MendesCity said:

I totally appreciate that she's trying to do something different, and a few of the tracks are nice.

But a lot of it is really, really pretentious. And needing some hooks.

I also found it frustrating to hear her mimic Qwen Stefani and Beyonce instead of using her own voice in a couple of the songs. It's one thing to blend other genres into your own style and a total other to bite other's unorganically.

i truly appreciate difference of opinion, but you're REALLY going to have to give specific examples of this.. qwen stefani and beyonce?

Scrapluv said:

sosgemini said:

I also found it frustrating to hear her mimic Qwen Stefani and Beyonce instead of using her own voice in a couple of the songs. It's one thing to blend other genres into your own style and a total other to bite other's unorganically.

i truly appreciate difference of opinion, but you're REALLY going to have to give specific examples of this.. qwen stefani and beyonce?

Yeah, I'm actually converting it to my comp right now, once that's done. I will surf and report back.

Cold War= Beyonce vocally

Come Alive= Qwen Stefani vocally

and thank goodness I finally added this thing to my itunes so I can cut the segues out. She needs to listen to Meshell's albums to learn how to do an overture right.

Folks, don't get me wrong, I think this album could have been a solid ten song deal but the extra stuff really weighs the beast down, IMHO. And it's nice that one of the few complains we peeps seem to have is that the album is overly ambitious. Better that then her sucking beyond all hell.

I heard a lot of Blondie and Kelis when I listened to the album

sosgemini said:

Cold War= Beyonce vocally

Come Alive= Qwen Stefani vocally

and thank goodness I finally added this thing to my itunes so I can cut the segues out. She needs to listen to Meshell's albums to learn how to do an overture right.

Folks, don't get me wrong, I think this album could have been a solid ten song deal but the extra stuff really weighs the beast down, IMHO. And it's nice that one of the few complains we peeps seem to have is that the album is overly ambitious. Better that then her sucking beyond all hell.

I don't hear anything stylistically or in tone, pitch or riffs even remotely close to beyonce in cold war, but those are my ears. i agree, i'd rather see complaints about ambition vs a bland record

sosgemini said:

Cold War= Beyonce vocally

Come Alive= Qwen Stefani vocally

She can dance her ass off. She's like the new Grace Jones but with dancing skills.

sosgemini said:

Cold War= Beyonce vocally

Come Alive= Qwen Stefani vocally

and thank goodness I finally added this thing to my itunes so I can cut the segues out. She needs to listen to Meshell's albums to learn how to do an overture right.

Folks, don't get me wrong, I think this album could have been a solid ten song deal but the extra stuff really weighs the beast down, IMHO. And it's nice that one of the few complains we peeps seem to have is that the album is overly ambitious. Better that then her sucking beyond all hell.

i hear that little bit- but it still sounds like her imo. I LOVE the fact that she can change it up. It's what tells me she can be around a LOOoooong time.

By the way, Janelle Monae will be one of the headliners at the All Shook Down Musical Festival in San Francisco on July 25th, if anyone is interested. Here's the link:

www.sfweekly.com/events/all-shook-down-music-festival-2020203/

Cold War (Wonda Mix) is out!!

I like it. Give the song a r&b make over.

http://www.neonvalleystreet.com/2010/07/cold-war-wondamix/

Cinnie said:

alphastreet said:

although she is talented, I just CAN'T get into her though I tried a few times. I don't get it.

Mark me down

Me three...