Album Review: Janelle Monáe The ArchAndroid Suites II and III

After much anticipation, the second and third suites from the unclassifiable Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and all-around awesome performer Janelle Monáe’s “Emotion Picture” are finally here! A follow-up to Monáe’s 2007 Metropolis Suite I of IV: The Chase, The ArchAndroid hit stores today and will be celebrated with a free album release show in New York City on what Monáe has dubbed “Imagination Day” and a summer tour with fellow R&B; diva Erykah Badu.

After seeing Monáe for the first time in concert about a month ago, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the album.  A fan of her previous work, I knew The ArchAndroid would be theatrical from her over-the-top, spastic movements and intricate use of orchestral backgrounds in her live performances.  Monáe is known for her visually pleasing shows, so I wondered if she could pull of the same auditory experience on a record that she gives to her audiences onstage.  Listening to the album in its entirety, it is everything I expected it to be and more—odd, out-of-this-world, but extremely fascinating, well thought through and complexly appealing.

The ArchAndroid is the story of Cindi Mayweather—Monáe’s alter ego—in which she becomes a goddess being in the community of Metropolis.  Yeah, it sounds weird, right?  It is weird—but The ArchAndroid is an insanely crafted, beautiful piece of work that could only be devised from gifted visionaries.  I’ve been anxiously waiting to hear the next chapters of Monáe’s story so much, that I stayed up until midnight last night to buy it, as I haven’t eagerly awaited an album of this nature since Outkast’s Speakerboxx/The Love Below some seven years ago.

The tracks “Tightrope”—which features Big Boi of Outkast and has already inspired a new dance—and “Cold War” were released several months ago and have already gained stellar reviews from critics and music industry bigwigs, including Diddy and Prince.  The two previously released tracks are perhaps the most radio-friendly on the albums, as is “Dance Or Die” featuring Saul Williams.  The album as a whole contains upbeat songs including “Faster” and “Come Alive (The War Of The Roses)” in perfect balance with down-tempo, ballads fit for a choir, like “Neon Gumbo,” “Mushrooms & Roses” and “Oh, Maker.”  The ArchAndroid was inspired by music from the likes of Outkast and Stevie Wonder, which is clearly evident in every single track on the record.  Released by the masterminds of Wondaland Arts Society in collaboration with Bad Boy/Atlantic Records, The ArchAndroid is an experience within an experience—Monáe is taking elements of pop, R&B; and soul and creating a whole new genre of music.

Monáe has publicly encouraged listeners to hear The ArchAndroid from the beginning to the end so that you will be transformed after you are through listening to it.  So are you changed by the end?  Most definitely.  Get ready to be evolved.

Katherine Epstein for Citadel Digital © 2010

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Katherine Epstein for Citadel Digital © 2010