I really didn’t want to write this review because I love Janelle Monáe, but even taking this into account – her 5th studio album – I still will. She’s an amazingly talented artist (author, actress, songwriter… icon.)
Beginning in 2007 with the “Metropolis: Suite I” EP, she’s been steadily building an extensive, cinematic world on the themes of Afrofuturism, assuming the persona of Cindi Mayweather, Android 57821.
Set in the year 3005, her full length 2010 debut, “The ArchAndroid,” and 2013’s follow-up, “The Electric Lady,” follow Mayweather as she’s hunted, sexualized, and ostracised, eventually finding the courage to leave the city. Combining funk, soul, pop, R&B, hip-hop, psychedelic rock, soul, and other subgenres… blew my head off when they were released.
This led to 2018’s funky “Dirty Computer” (many consider a prequel to “The ArchAndroid“) with Cindi, still on the run, known as “Our Favorite Fugitive.” (Note: I severely doubt that “Dirty Computer” has anything to do with Cindi Mayweather, but it’s an incredible album, regardless!)
I think she’s an utter genius. So to hear “The Age of Pleasure” honestly ripped my heart apart.
It’s just over 30 minutes – which I don’t mind. I like concise albums – don’t get me wrong. There’s good stuff. This is very much a summer album. It’s interesting as very few of the songs breach the three-minute mark.
The opener, “Float,” makes it clear from the beginning: “No, I’m not the same.”
She tries to prove it outright later on “Water Slide“: “If I could f**k me right here right now. I would do that.” The fact that this album has been released during LGBT Pride Month cannot be a coincidence. Janelle is pansexual – meaning she’s attracted outside of conventional notions of gender, and this album is filled with a wide range of erotic expressions.
“Lipstick Lover” stands out – it’s… fun (“Leave a sticky hickey in a place I won’t forget!“). It’s a blatantly queer reggae jam, ready for this summer. The entire album is ready for it.
I love a lot of parts of this album. When she sings: “Yeah, I only have eyes, Yeah, I only have eyes for two, for two…” on “Only Have Eyes 42,” it’s kinda fun.
I think that was the purpose of this album – it’s just one great, erotic testament to pleasure. However, you obtain it sexually, who cares? She is also having fun, and initially when listening to her new album, I didn’t mind that.
But as hedonistic this 30-ish minutes becomes, it also becomes evident that this isn’t remotely in the category of “Dirty Computer” or “The ArchAndroid.”
In the super-funky “Haute,” she states: “They think I’m supreme. They say I look better than David Bowie in a Moon Age Dream.” This is song 5 of 14. It’s a hip-hop, trumpet-filled track but leaves you with… not much. It just all a bit samey and synthetic. Unfortunately, a number of other songs suffer that fate, but honestly – this is an album where only 8 of the 14 songs manage to make it over 2 minutes, so to go into detail here is a bit pointless.
On the closer, “A Dry Red,” she sweetly (and cleverly) sings: “We gon’ drink some tea. We gon’ smoke some wine. We gon’ light some tree.“
I’ll take it for what it is: a glistening, horny, funky summer R&B album. It succeeds at that.
I love you, Janelle, and all your collaborators in the Wondaland.
But, sorry, I miss Android 57821.
Favorites: I Only Have Eyes 42, Slack, A Dry Red
Errrrrrrrr: The French 75, Phenomenal, Haute
6.5/10
Chris Garrod, June 16, 2023