"Monáe's sci-fi mythology is an inspired addition to the rich canon of Afrofuturist art"
!!!!!!
― Matt DC, Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:09 (thirteen years ago) link
i have a few hipsterish friends who normally dont touch pop/r&b who have been all over this
no 1 DING DING DING warning bell in my book - as a litmus test it's never wrong
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:13 (thirteen years ago) link
Its most recent antecedent is André 3000's The Love Below
My first thought too. It's failed eclecticism.
― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:15 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh no. Oh no, I'm not gonna read a Pitchfork review which is gonna make me hate on something I would otherwise normally be all over.
Is this out? Or rather, is this out in the UK? HMV only had Metropolis when I went to look for it last night.
― The Curve Of Blinding Energy (Masonic Boom), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:15 (thirteen years ago) link
xp i feel like for the next 25 years any time a black artist makes an ambitious, genre-crossing album its going to be compared with the The Love Below. perhaps not incorrectly in this case, but its a comparison thats not necessarily indicative of quality
― killahpriest (/\/K/\/\), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:16 (thirteen years ago) link
the comparisons are more due to monae's attention-seeking consciously kooky image, surely? black artists make "ambitious, genre-crossing" albums quite a lot - i don't even feel like sonically this album IS that ambitious or genre-crossing, as noted above it's really retro in a pretty straightforward way (general concept apart)
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:21 (thirteen years ago) link
Always a bad sign.
― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:22 (thirteen years ago) link
Eclecticism need not mean ambition.
― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:23 (thirteen years ago) link
So, this album isn't as immediately involving as I thought it would be, but I do feel like a lot of the naysaying is premature. It's okay if this isn't the best album in the world; it's still pretty enjoyable and Janelle is like massively, scarily talented.
― Have a slice of wine! (HI DERE), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:29 (thirteen years ago) link
― The Curve Of Blinding Energy (Masonic Boom), Thursday, May 20, 2010 1:15 PM (12 minutes ago)
Play has this listed as coming out on July 12th. I'm already searching for the cheapest way to import it.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:31 (thirteen years ago) link
Genre-bouncing antecedents released after The Love Below: albums by Jazmine Sullivan, VV Brown, Van Hunt, PlantLife, YahZarah, Me'Shell Ndegéocello, (maybe) the Rebel Yell, etc., etc., etc.
― Skank Bloc Polonia (Andy K), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:32 (thirteen years ago) link
ambition wasn't the right word (although i do think this album is ambitious). but this type of NEXT LEVEL r&b/hip-hop music is going to be compared to TLB whether its good or bad
― killahpriest (/\/K/\/\), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:33 (thirteen years ago) link
b.o.b's album being an example of the latter
ya my point is that this album is way closer to jazmine sullivan than andre 3k, but how many reviews are gonna mention the former and how many the latter
― killahpriest (/\/K/\/\), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:38 (thirteen years ago) link
whoa, this is a disco musical. Erykah on Glee.TONS of interpolations/ripoffs/homages throughout; this feels really personalstill can't tell if I'm enjoying it, but it's such a jittery puppy of an album in a lookatmeLOOKATME! way. I love tightrope tho' so willing to give this more than just one full listen to get me.
― forksclovetofu, Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:41 (thirteen years ago) link
, PlantLife, YahZarah, Me'Shell Ndegéocello
My thoughts too.
― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:44 (thirteen years ago) link
I was totally smitten after the Letterman performance.
For those who haven't seen... Dan's assessment of "massively, scarily talented" is on full display here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys4GpR6v0TQ
She is gonna be HUGE. And the album's fantastic -- her debut was promising and this album delivers in all the right ways. Really pleased that the production isn't a detriment to the songs, it all sounds great. And for those considering it too *whatever* for a start-to-finish listen (read: 2010 music fans have ADHD), then why not start at track 7, then move to tracks 6-8, then 5-9 and just keep branching out? Start with what you know, then piece the rest together as you move outward in each direction.
For those on the fence, pay no attention to those saying her crossover fanbase is a warning sign. Music critics choosing to judge an artist by his/her/its fanbase is pretty much lowest-common-denominator music crit. Lex, Alfred, I respect both you guys' stuff more than most music crit I've read recently -- seriously, you're better than that.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:46 (thirteen years ago) link
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 20 May 2010 14:13 (29 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
must have been so terrible 4 u being strongarmed into gushing reviews of solange/amerie/cecile/etc over the years, i had no idea
― r|t|c, Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:47 (thirteen years ago) link
not to mention solange - but it's definitely something like jazmine sullivan's album that i'm thinking of. stylistically so diverse, much much more so than janelle monae, yet i don't think any of the buzz about it was for its "ambitious, genre-crossing" qualities - it was more about her wonderful soul voice,
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:49 (thirteen years ago) link
cecile?!
why don't p4k reviews have comments
― andrew g. vajna (cozen), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:50 (thirteen years ago) link
She reminds me a LOT of Raphael Saadiq.
― Have a slice of wine! (HI DERE), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:50 (thirteen years ago) link
things i immediately don't like here: broadway smile, jazz hands, you like me you really really like me!, heavily derivative to the point of occasional eyerolling, trippydippyhippy futurismthings i immediately do like: solid orchestration, taking a lot of chances, catchy tunes that run the genreblind gamut, janelle still sounds great
― forksclovetofu, Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:52 (thirteen years ago) link
xp to lex: http://www.fluxblog.org/2004/05/587
― forksclovetofu, Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:53 (thirteen years ago) link
was fluxblog really the first mp3 blog?
― andrew g. vajna (cozen), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:55 (thirteen years ago) link
Then there's the Kevin Barnes collaboration.
― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:55 (thirteen years ago) link
The #1 thing I like is that her singing voice sounds EXACTLY like she sounds on the record. That girl is a force of nature; like she is approaching Celine-levels of technical excellence in the way that she sings.
― Have a slice of wine! (HI DERE), Thursday, 20 May 2010 13:57 (thirteen years ago) link
coz: depends on your definition of an "mp3 blog" but by almost any estimation, fluxblog wasn't the first mp3 blog. He was certainly one of the earliest to get a lot of attention and grind out interesting regular material on a week by week basis though.
― forksclovetofu, Thursday, 20 May 2010 14:00 (thirteen years ago) link
in a perfect world, tightrope would be the song of summer 2010
― forksclovetofu, Thursday, 20 May 2010 14:01 (thirteen years ago) link
I must say, the more I play it the more I like it.
― Have a slice of wine! (HI DERE), Thursday, 20 May 2010 14:04 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah, in retrospect I underrated that one. "Cold War" is also terrific.
― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 20 May 2010 14:04 (thirteen years ago) link
It's okay if this isn't the best album in the world; it's still pretty enjoyable and Janelle is like massively, scarily talented.
― Have a slice of wine! (HI DERE)
OTM though I still think this is more pomp and guest stars than it should be.
― silence is a rhythm too (Turangalila), Thursday, 20 May 2010 14:12 (thirteen years ago) link
this:
http://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2010/05/the-joyful-noise-of-janelle-monae/56897/
might make u mad at this album.
― NUDE. MAYNE. (s1ocki), Thursday, 20 May 2010 14:42 (thirteen years ago) link
It made me mad at the dude who wrote it, although I did lol at the last two lines.
― Have a slice of wine! (HI DERE), Thursday, 20 May 2010 14:46 (thirteen years ago) link
The Killer of Sheep reference is kinda ummm?
― forksclovetofu, Thursday, 20 May 2010 14:56 (thirteen years ago) link
Opening line: "I must confess that before I listened to one song off Janelle Monáe's new album, I had already decided that she was the most important pop artist out right now."
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Thursday, 20 May 2010 14:57 (thirteen years ago) link
although I did lol at the last two lines.
HAHAHAHAHA just read these and yes, dear heavens, so lol worthy.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:02 (thirteen years ago) link
artists referenced in 6 paragraphs:
lady gaga, beyonce, kanye, jay-z, justin timberlake, lil wayne, toni morrison, janet jackson, prince, charles burnett, julie dash, parliament-funkadelic, samuel delaney, octavia butler, kid cudi, kanye again, lady gaga again, Arrested Development, Joi, TLC, Outkast, the Dungeon Family, Goodie MOB, Gnarls Barkley, Ursher, Lil' Jon, Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, T.I., dionne farris, joi, badu, andre 3k, cee-lo, left eye, jermain dupri, fiona apple, ani difranco, lauryn hill, santigold, mia, j*davey, mars volt, and the entire genres of crunk, trap, sissybounce, and juke
― killahpriest (/\/K/\/\), Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:08 (thirteen years ago) link
"Ursher"
dionne farris!!
― i fake it so real, i am beyonce (surm), Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:09 (thirteen years ago) link
Honestly surprised there's only been one Nellie McKay comparison so far on this thread. (The difference for me being I don't like McKay much.)
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:12 (thirteen years ago) link
don't know anything about her.
but damn that letterman clip....that band is fucking amazingly tight and awesome...like almost on some nu-school JBs type shit. damn.
― you better check that sausage before you put it in the rofl (M@tt He1ges0n), Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:17 (thirteen years ago) link
listening to some on lala
this is good! i'm glad i clicked this thread!
"oh, maker" is a really nice paul simon type song in the verses, maybe a little morrissey in the la-da-da-da-da
― you better check that sausage before you put it in the rofl (M@tt He1ges0n), Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:19 (thirteen years ago) link
yeah the band is nuts. i really want to see her live, but she doesn't seem to be coming to toronto any time soon.
i'm a bit confused by how many people are saying that musically, she's way too "attention-seeking."
― borntohula, Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:20 (thirteen years ago) link
yeah R&B vocalists should not seek attention, poor form IMO
― you better check that sausage before you put it in the rofl (M@tt He1ges0n), Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:21 (thirteen years ago) link
One would think that seeking attention would be a positive attribute in a performer.
― Have a slice of wine! (HI DERE), Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:23 (thirteen years ago) link
i think ppl mean in terms of the production tho rite?
― i fake it so real, i am beyonce (surm), Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:23 (thirteen years ago) link
I respect this album more than I like it. I tend to like albums that do one thing for forty minutes or so - I'm old-school like that. So under the broad umbrella of "soul"/"R&B"/"black women singers," my keepers this year are the Kelis album (which is 40-plus minutes of straight Euro dance) and the Sharon Jones album. Monáe is talented but I don't enjoy the record the way I enjoy those other two, more traditional/circumspect/choose-your-thinly-disguised-pejorative discs.
― Born In A Test Tube, Raised In A Cage (unperson), Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:24 (thirteen years ago) link
I keep meaning to pick up that Sharon Jones disc, she was straight fire on The Colbert Report
― Have a slice of wine! (HI DERE), Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:25 (thirteen years ago) link
i have a couple sharon jones. they are those type of records you like but then i never find myself actually listening to that much.
live she is an absolute joy.
― you better check that sausage before you put it in the rofl (M@tt He1ges0n), Thursday, 20 May 2010 15:30 (thirteen years ago) link