+ProsecutorGodot Same here. Janelle Monáe is taking the Michael Jackson approach; releasing an album every few years like an election. On one hand, this is a great thing because she wants to give us her best work each time out. On the other hand, it's a tad bit frustrating because it's been nearly three years since THE ELECTRIC LADY.
I just listened to this album for the first time today and oh my god it’s amazing - incredible to see how much it influenced the sounds of pop music to come in the years after it
I love the mention of Pure Imagination, but NOTHING about the other musical quotes/echoes of things such as Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Moon River, Sounds of Silence, Octopus's Garden, etc. This album fucking KNOWS how to homage. Nothing feels cheap, blatant, or makes one's eyes roll. All of it feels fitting for each song and the overall feel of the album.
I just discovered this album and hot damn! I am really into it. "This isn't your typical pop album" Probably why I love it so much. It's fast paced and energetic in most parts and slows down when it needs to, most of the songs flow into one another seamlessly creating a full experience rather than a collection of singles.
This was the best R&B record of 2010.... She deserves more attention, but then you can't sell music that engages the mind as quickly as music that only appeals to your lower nature.
I love this album. Every song has so much emotion behind it all and so much power that instead of embracing it, you get embraced by the album. It's right there in your face and it won't let go until the last track has passed. I understand your score, but personally I would give it an enthusiastic 9.
This album was such a breath of fresh air and really is a work of art. It melds so many genres of music and inspirations together to create a truly memorable experience. The orchestrated sections are gorgeous
Just realised this is the first Needledrop video I've seen. And it's 8 years old?? Damn that's gone by fast. I didn't know I've been watching him for this long..
i LOVE the songs "Oh Maker" and "Say You'll Go". You are sooo right, it is a colorful album. This song reminds me of a "Movie Soundtrack". Very good car driving music.
Anthony: You didn't mention her voice! Sorry for this late response but I just broke through the block Anthony describes here, and finally listened to ArchAndroid. I just find so much hype misleading about new artists. But Janelle is NOT the same old thing. From her philosophies to her presentation to her talent--she is a breath of creative, positive fresh air. A singular voice like Prince, Stevie Wonder, Rundgren, Annie Lennox, etc.
I love it the album and I love her. Good review. Dude - I just saw her live. If you love the album you would be completely blown away by her live performance. I don't think anyone can compare right now.
Its the best pop album of the year. The music is so exciting! You forgot to mention HER VOICE! Man! Her voice is amazing. But in the way she uses it. Her voice is the protagonist of this story, but its never above the music, it blends into every style she does. Not with equal success, but surprisingly well on each track. She's not afraid of distorting it, but mainly pure and clear. Thank you Janelle, you restored my faith in quality pop music, and we need that. :) Good review.
now that i've spent almost 2 days in monae's version of metropolis, i have to say your review was bang on. i only wish you actually did delve into the conceptual and thematic aspects of this project. I think you're absolutely right that it is definitely more personal, and subjective, and up for interpretation, but it's so fascinating (equally as fascinating as the music itself, maybe) that I'm very curious about your interpretation of what archandroid MEANS as a whol. I also second your opinion
You hit the nail on the head about her style. One of the reasons I like Janelle Monae is that she's "all over the place"; she's classical, r&b, jazz, rock, you name it. I love the album. Great review.
the biggest thing for me about this album was the length. I never got bored and it's a really long. 70 minutes i think. So, that was a huge surprise and a big plus
Enjoyed your articulate and in-depth review. I only started listening to Janelle Monae in the last month or so, and am ever in awe of this very talented young woman and her fun, surprising and very enjoyable music. Thanks again for posting this!
I love Janelle Monae and i wanted to see what this guy had to say about this album since it was the first one i heard from her. but I cant get over how gorgeous this guy is. Im glad he said good things about the album too :)
Been waiting for you to review this behemoth of an album. I loved it from start to finish; it's worthy of a high 9 in my opinion. Nonetheless, great review, and I'm glad to see that both you and the viewers of this video will be enjoying this record for the weeks to come :)
That was one of the best cd reviews I have ever heard..you really payed attention to the music..I have been following Janelle for a long time..and I loved that she didn't change her style because she's kinda gettin big..more ppl should give her a chance..
I don't know how I'm just discovering this review now, but I loved it. One tiny thing, though, Janelle isn't on P.Didddy's record label. She has her own label, The Wondaland Arts Society. Diddy coproduced the album with her.
Great review! I loved the album. I listened to snippets and did not care for it, but got hooked after seeing the "Tightrope" video. So familiar, yet new. So diverse, but it flows.
I was unsure how she was going to sound, but I came into this album with open ears and loved it because she's not afraid of mixing all these genres together. I would give a similar score, 4 stars out of 5 or probably 4.5.
I've been a fan of Janelle since her first EP, and I'm so proud of her for making such a bold and fantastic album. Your review was spot on, and I'm happy that more people are beginning to appreciate her artistry and style. Great video...I give your review of this album a strong 10.
The way the album was constructed reminds me of a rhapsody...an Opera if you will. I have been playing it all day everyday on loop for two weeks. And yes I did look up and study almost all of the lyrics. But thank you for providing references that will further my education. Lee of Detroit
on the Of Montreal track. i mean i don't think there's anythign wrong with the song, other then the fact that it jets out of the album like a compound fracture. i didn't realize i was so late on this album, but thanks for bringing it to my attention via that awesome review!
needle, thank you so much for doing a review on this artist and many more! great work man, you're an objective reviewer and i appreciate and respect that!
I have not been excited about mainstream releases in years. This girl and her band are a revelation. Then I found out she is from Kansas City ,(my home town) and that was frosting on the cake. Two thumbs up and a perfect ten in my book.
I just watched Fritz Langs Matropolis the other day. Makes me feel special that I can understand a reference to a 1927 expressionist silent film. Great review and loved that album = favorite video
Does anyone else notice the irony that Janelle plays the character of a cyborg in these suites, yet she displays more human emotion than almost any other pop act out there? It would be redundant to talk about how great she is musically, but what I also appreciate is, listening to songs like Locked Inside and Cold War, she has a deeper message with her music. I feel that her using the Metropolis theme is brilliant...it draws such a parallel with what's really going on in the world
@thiagofreitas89 Not only does she rework lyrics & melodies in different songs, but she's also keeping a through line from album to album! Has anyone else noticed the fact that Neon Gumbo is basically a psychotropic rehashing of Many Moons from her first EP, Metropolis? Especially the last 30 seconds where the funky organ rhythm comes back all discombobulated...
dude the last track(Babopbye Ya) also has Night in Tanshia in the background and so much more..SHE IS AMAZING. She also knows her music history because she put so many things like this track and in the other ones..
damn, a pop album on P Diddy's label that's traveling outside the atypical pop culture spectrum and actually COMBINING influences and producing a strong conceptual product? its a wonder that i haven't sold any copies. then again, most pop music fans in this area enjoy their "music" as watered down as humanly possible, like every fire department doused it with their hoses for 11 hours straight. awesome review as always, sir.
I like the way she incorporates existing melodies into her music. Where most pop artists today shamelessly copy an entire rhythm section of an 80's song for their own, she just uses a sample or an intro, just to say "Hey, here is what influenced me" Dream Theater does this all the time, paying homages to Rush and Pink Floyd.
I truly like this album. I recently saw her in KC, MO on Memorial Day Weekend. Janelle's music is refreshingly different. I've mentioned before that she's an Oxymoron...and I mean this in a good way. She appears to be so simple, yet her music is incredibly complex. I like it. I hope she keeps getting bigger and bigger.
@thiagofreitas89 ...And I applaud her for knowing not just her contemporary music history, but classical as well - she quotes Debussy's "Clare de Lune" on Say You'll Go. She is simply amazing and I am a true fan.
I don't know why people give you shit for your reviews. It's not like you enforcing your opinions on others, you're just giving your thoughts. Sure, I may not see eye to eye with a few, but I honestly appreciate your takes. I also have to thank you for The Weeknd. I know you didn't love it, but GOD!!! WHAT A RECORD!!! I LOVE IT!! Keep doing your thing.
that was a great review!! I like her in fact i am going to see with her with of montreal this weekend. When I listen to her I feel almost as good as when I listen to Bjork and that is a huge compliment towards janelle.
Hey dude great review, I know popular music ain't really your thing but could you review Brandon Flowers 'Flamingo' when it comes out, I just really would like to see that.
Like you said- "Thrilling!" This is the first work of music that I had friends over to do nothing but sit and listen w/ the knowledge I was turning people I cared about to something amazing- fresh- smart-and gotta "shake my thang" good time ps & BTW in this magic world of old skool and new kewl~ Miss Monae's recording studio is inda basement Thanx for being music nerd of heroic proportions xoxo
I knew from the start this cd was going to be something that i have never experienced before.. I WAS SOOO F-INGG RIGHT.. this is one of the most unique releaes in music period..and THE most creative in mainstream right now
This is def. one of the best album out in years! I know it may sound weird, but it's so old school that it's futuristic. haha Also when I heard this album I skipped "BaBopByeYa" simply because of it's length, but as I was laying in my bed I decided to listen to the whole thing & the song blew my mind! I swear as I had my eyes closed I could see every instrument and busrt being played. It was as if they instruments were running though my head. The album is truely fantastic.
Best thing I bought in 2010. Her album sounded more like a movie score than most movies movie scores. I also have the first EP. She is just unbelievable and her voice is amazing.
GREAT AND VERY INTELLIGENT REVIEW!! I LOVE THE ALBUM BECAUSE, IT'S THE R&B ALBUM I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR YEARS, IT'S FUNN PLAYFUL, BOUNCY, ECLECTIC AND MOST OF ALL BRILLIANT, GROOVY, FUNKY AND COOL...AND IT'S HEADED BY SOMEONE VERY UNIQUE, INDIVIDUAL TALENTED, AND BEAUTIFUL...IT'Z PRETTY MUCH ALL THAT I COULD ASK FOR AS FAR AS MUSIC IS CONCERNED...NOW IF SHE WAS A CLASSICALLY TRAINED PIANIST, SHE BE PERFECT, LOL
This album is a modern day masterpiece.
Yes!
Not anymore
@@Panseworst why not?
@@Panseworst ?
still is
This album is unbelievably good. At least a 9/10 for me.
I still play it without skipping any tracks
Same. it's even more impressive when you factor in the length of the thing.
Chris Taylor same.
is it just me, or has the ArchAndroid held up pretty damn well over the past five years?
ProsecutorGodot oh hell yeah! the transition from dance or die to faster still gets to me
Keenan Ris the whole second suite flows pretty nicely, but yeah, i said "whoo!" the last time i heard that baby-butt-smooth transition.
i'm really impatient for janelle monae's next album. i really hope it comes out this year, people.
+ProsecutorGodot Same here. Janelle Monáe is taking the Michael Jackson approach; releasing an album every few years like an election. On one hand, this is a great thing because she wants to give us her best work each time out. On the other hand, it's a tad bit frustrating because it's been nearly three years since THE ELECTRIC LADY.
+ProsecutorGodot It has aged unbelievably well so far. It's just as explosive now as it was when it first came out.
I just listened to this album and only realised it was from 2010 after seeing this review, it was sooooo ahead of its time
Same bro I love it too
This shit is a classic. Really transports me into the world she paints in the album. Seriously good.
I just listened to this album for the first time today and oh my god it’s amazing - incredible to see how much it influenced the sounds of pop music to come in the years after it
im new to music, but what aspects of this album would you say influenced the sounds of pop music?
I love the mention of Pure Imagination, but NOTHING about the other musical quotes/echoes of things such as Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Moon River, Sounds of Silence, Octopus's Garden, etc.
This album fucking KNOWS how to homage. Nothing feels cheap, blatant, or makes one's eyes roll. All of it feels fitting for each song and the overall feel of the album.
This is lowkey one of the best albums of the decade..
agreed
High key
agreed
agreed
Literally
I just discovered this album and hot damn! I am really into it. "This isn't your typical pop album" Probably why I love it so much. It's fast paced and energetic in most parts and slows down when it needs to, most of the songs flow into one another seamlessly creating a full experience rather than a collection of singles.
review this album again melon, it deserve a 30 minute video
picking up the 33 1/3 book next year
She is a great innovative artist, I hope the music industry doesn't crush her soul and make her a ghost in the shell.
Judging by her lyrics, it looks like nothing can crush her!
NOOOO
Dawg you jinxed it
@@Frost-ze6rwyou didn't like The Age of Pleasure?
Should've given this a strong 9
Love this album. Strong 9, light 10 for me. It's a timeless classic.
Wtf is a light ten, what does it do? Loop around?
@@elmartoslmao
the very first album i ever bought was janelles ArchAndroid. This is the only album I can truly call a MASTERPIECE
I have the same sentiments
This was the best R&B record of 2010.... She deserves more attention, but then you can't sell music that engages the mind as quickly as music that only appeals to your lower nature.
Calling it an R&B album doesn't do it justice.
@@LaLa-sr3sr True, but it's more contemporary RnB than anything else.
"Going to the dentist is not that bad" ...
Easy for you to say, when you have the best teeth in the game!
Easily one of the best albums of this decade
It's literally my favorite album!!
One of the best albums I've heard!
Tell me why I just barely heard this album today and I'm mad that I been sleeping on it all these years 😭
I love this album. Every song has so much emotion behind it all and so much power that instead of embracing it, you get embraced by the album. It's right there in your face and it won't let go until the last track has passed.
I understand your score, but personally I would give it an enthusiastic 9.
Just heard these first few tracks and I can't move past them. I really can't. I'm stuck replaying those songs. They're all so amazing
why do i miss the tree so much
This album was such a breath of fresh air and really is a work of art. It melds so many genres of music and inspirations together to create a truly memorable experience. The orchestrated sections are gorgeous
Janelle cannot make bad music
top 10 album of the 2010s, IMO
Im feeling a strong 9 to a light 10 on this one
Light 9?
This album is one of the FEW albums of the '00's I can listen to straight through.
This album deserves a DIME!
Solid 10
classic,one of the best albums of the decade. as great as tpab,or even better
I love it! but my initial action was the same. I thought I was gonna hate it but... she's incredible
Just realised this is the first Needledrop video I've seen. And it's 8 years old?? Damn that's gone by fast. I didn't know I've been watching him for this long..
i LOVE the songs "Oh Maker" and "Say You'll Go". You are sooo right, it is a colorful album. This song reminds me of a "Movie Soundtrack". Very good car driving music.
11 years later and yes, yes, yes
Anthony: You didn't mention her voice! Sorry for this late response but I just broke through the block Anthony describes here, and finally listened to ArchAndroid. I just find so much hype misleading about new artists. But Janelle is NOT the same old thing. From her philosophies to her presentation to her talent--she is a breath of creative, positive fresh air. A singular voice like Prince, Stevie Wonder, Rundgren, Annie Lennox, etc.
deserved a 10
this video should be in a museum. Why am I here 12 years later
I love it the album and I love her.
Good review.
Dude - I just saw her live. If you love the album you would be completely blown away by her live performance. I don't think anyone can compare right now.
Its the best pop album of the year. The music is so exciting!
You forgot to mention HER VOICE!
Man! Her voice is amazing. But in the way she uses it. Her voice is the protagonist of this story, but its never above the music, it blends into every style she does. Not with equal success, but surprisingly well on each track. She's not afraid of distorting it, but mainly pure and clear.
Thank you Janelle, you restored my faith in quality pop music, and we need that. :)
Good review.
now that i've spent almost 2 days in monae's version of metropolis, i have to say your review was bang on. i only wish you actually did delve into the conceptual and thematic aspects of this project. I think you're absolutely right that it is definitely more personal, and subjective, and up for interpretation, but it's so fascinating (equally as fascinating as the music itself, maybe) that I'm very curious about your interpretation of what archandroid MEANS as a whol.
I also second your opinion
This album is amazing!!!!
You hit the nail on the head about her style. One of the reasons I like Janelle Monae is that she's "all over the place"; she's classical, r&b, jazz, rock, you name it. I love the album. Great review.
the biggest thing for me about this album was the length. I never got bored and it's a really long. 70 minutes i think. So, that was a huge surprise and a big plus
you're good with your reviews....very descriptive and enjoyable to watch...she's a great artist
deserves to be revisited
Why isnt this on the lp's ahead of its time list. . this album was made in 2050
Still lovin this album and this review in 2018
Enjoyed your articulate and in-depth review. I only started listening to Janelle Monae in the last month or so, and am ever in awe of this very talented young woman and her fun, surprising and very enjoyable music. Thanks again for posting this!
2010 but looks like recorded in 1990s
Bababya(sp?) Is one of the bext tracks on the album. The layers is nuts!
I love Janelle Monae and i wanted to see what this guy had to say about this album since it was the first one i heard from her. but I cant get over how gorgeous this guy is. Im glad he said good things about the album too :)
Been waiting for you to review this behemoth of an album. I loved it from start to finish; it's worthy of a high 9 in my opinion. Nonetheless, great review, and I'm glad to see that both you and the viewers of this video will be enjoying this record for the weeks to come :)
That was one of the best cd reviews I have ever heard..you really payed attention to the music..I have been following Janelle for a long time..and I loved that she didn't change her style because she's kinda gettin big..more ppl should give her a chance..
My favourite album of all time next to Love Below and Electric Circus
This album feels like another time and place crashed into ours
This is one of the BEST ALBUMS OF THE DECADE
I don't know how I'm just discovering this review now, but I loved it. One tiny thing, though, Janelle isn't on P.Didddy's record label. She has her own label, The Wondaland Arts Society. Diddy coproduced the album with her.
Great review! I loved the album. I listened to snippets and did not care for it, but got hooked after seeing the "Tightrope" video. So familiar, yet new. So diverse, but it flows.
The most interesting "pop" album ever made in many respects
I was unsure how she was going to sound, but I came into this album with open ears and loved it because she's not afraid of mixing all these genres together. I would give a similar score, 4 stars out of 5 or probably 4.5.
You actually mean an 9/10
I've been a fan of Janelle since her first EP, and I'm so proud of her for making such a bold and fantastic album. Your review was spot on, and I'm happy that more people are beginning to appreciate her artistry and style. Great video...I give your review of this album a strong 10.
Oh Maker makes me cry every time.
The way the album was constructed reminds me of a rhapsody...an Opera if you will. I have been playing it all day everyday on loop for two weeks. And yes I did look up and study almost all of the lyrics. But thank you for providing references that will further my education.
Lee of Detroit
on the Of Montreal track. i mean i don't think there's anythign wrong with the song, other then the fact that it jets out of the album like a compound fracture.
i didn't realize i was so late on this album, but thanks for bringing it to my attention via that awesome review!
needle, thank you so much for doing a review on this artist and many more!
great work man, you're an objective reviewer and i appreciate and respect that!
I have not been excited about mainstream releases in years. This girl and her band are a revelation. Then I found out she is from Kansas City ,(my home town) and that was frosting on the cake. Two thumbs up and a perfect ten in my book.
I just watched Fritz Langs Matropolis the other day. Makes me feel special that I can understand a reference to a 1927 expressionist silent film. Great review and loved that album = favorite video
Does anyone else notice the irony that Janelle plays the character of a cyborg in these suites, yet she displays more human emotion than almost any other pop act out there? It would be redundant to talk about how great she is musically, but what I also appreciate is, listening to songs like Locked Inside and Cold War, she has a deeper message with her music. I feel that her using the Metropolis theme is brilliant...it draws such a parallel with what's really going on in the world
This album is easily one of the best albums ever made in any list, in any year. Years have passed, and yet it still feels unbelievably new!
@mennawave it's new to me, brah. :-p
best music reviewer on youtube!!!
@thiagofreitas89 Not only does she rework lyrics & melodies in different songs, but she's also keeping a through line from album to album! Has anyone else noticed the fact that Neon Gumbo is basically a psychotropic rehashing of Many Moons from her first EP, Metropolis? Especially the last 30 seconds where the funky organ rhythm comes back all discombobulated...
dude the last track(Babopbye Ya) also has Night in Tanshia in the background and so much more..SHE IS AMAZING. She also knows her music history because she put so many things like this track and in the other ones..
8.5/10. Great album!
damn, a pop album on P Diddy's label that's traveling outside the atypical pop culture spectrum and actually COMBINING influences and producing a strong conceptual product? its a wonder that i haven't sold any copies. then again, most pop music fans in this area enjoy their "music" as watered down as humanly possible, like every fire department doused it with their hoses for 11 hours straight. awesome review as always, sir.
An album of my childhood.
I like the way she incorporates existing melodies into her music. Where most pop artists today shamelessly copy an entire rhythm section of an 80's song for their own, she just uses a sample or an intro, just to say "Hey, here is what influenced me" Dream Theater does this all the time, paying homages to Rush and Pink Floyd.
I truly like this album. I recently saw her in KC, MO on Memorial Day Weekend. Janelle's music is refreshingly different. I've mentioned before that she's an Oxymoron...and I mean this in a good way. She appears to be so simple, yet her music is incredibly complex. I like it. I hope she keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Absolutely one of the best albums EVA!
@thiagofreitas89 ...And I applaud her for knowing not just her contemporary music history, but classical as well - she quotes Debussy's "Clare de Lune" on Say You'll Go. She is simply amazing and I am a true fan.
LOVE this CD!!!!!!!!!! I've always been a fan of hers
I don't know why people give you shit for your reviews. It's not like you enforcing your opinions on others, you're just giving your thoughts. Sure, I may not see eye to eye with a few, but I honestly appreciate your takes. I also have to thank you for The Weeknd. I know you didn't love it, but GOD!!! WHAT A RECORD!!! I LOVE IT!! Keep doing your thing.
This is an easy 10 for me
We need a redux review; this review doesn't do it justice.
what's your beef with lush production man
He doesn't like nice things
"""Hi, my needledrops"""
still a masterpiece. one of my favorite albums ever
I bought this album becasue of this review. It's simply amazing! Candy for the ears!
it’s so good
that was a great review!! I like her in fact i am going to see with her with of montreal this weekend. When I listen to her I feel almost as good as when I listen to Bjork and that is a huge compliment towards janelle.
I love all but one favorite song he has, awesome review
Hey dude great review, I know popular music ain't really your thing but could you review Brandon Flowers 'Flamingo' when it comes out, I just really would like to see that.
Like you said- "Thrilling!"
This is the first work of music that I had friends over to do nothing but sit and listen w/ the knowledge I was turning people I cared about to something amazing- fresh- smart-and gotta "shake my thang" good time
ps & BTW in this magic world of old skool and new kewl~ Miss Monae's recording studio is inda basement
Thanx for being music nerd of heroic proportions
xoxo
I knew from the start this cd was going to be something that i have never experienced before.. I WAS SOOO F-INGG RIGHT.. this is one of the most unique releaes in music period..and THE most creative in mainstream right now
It’s at least a 9
This is def. one of the best album out in years! I know it may sound weird, but it's so old school that it's futuristic. haha Also when I heard this album I skipped "BaBopByeYa" simply because of it's length, but as I was laying in my bed I decided to listen to the whole thing & the song blew my mind! I swear as I had my eyes closed I could see every instrument and busrt being played. It was as if they instruments were running though my head. The album is truely fantastic.
Best thing I bought in 2010. Her album sounded more like a movie score than most movies movie scores. I also have the first EP. She is just unbelievable and her voice is amazing.
Your hilarious! Thank goodness someone can have a sense of humor and a great ear for music. Keep it up!
GREAT AND VERY INTELLIGENT REVIEW!! I LOVE THE ALBUM BECAUSE, IT'S THE R&B ALBUM I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR YEARS, IT'S FUNN PLAYFUL, BOUNCY, ECLECTIC AND MOST OF ALL BRILLIANT, GROOVY, FUNKY AND COOL...AND IT'S HEADED BY SOMEONE VERY UNIQUE, INDIVIDUAL TALENTED, AND BEAUTIFUL...IT'Z PRETTY MUCH ALL THAT I COULD ASK FOR AS FAR AS MUSIC IS CONCERNED...NOW IF SHE WAS A CLASSICALLY TRAINED PIANIST, SHE BE PERFECT, LOL
Yep, my album of the year so far. Good review!