Author Topic: JANELLE MONAE'S THE ELECTRIC LADY OUT NOW - album of the year :bow (Read 18672 times)

ZephyrFate · « **Reply #60 on:** September 04, 2013, 05:48:30 PM »

I could do without What An Experience, honestly. Possibly Victory, too. Can't Live Without Your Love isn't so hot, either.

Himu · « **Reply #61 on:** September 04, 2013, 05:52:20 PM »

Completely disagree!

BTW

Queen -> Electric Lady

That transition

Beezy · « **Reply #62 on:** September 04, 2013, 06:36:09 PM »

I agree with all of Zephyr's comments except that last one. I love What An Experience. Victory is cool too. Not sure about the last one at the moment.

Both of her albums are great for different reasons. I can't say which one I like better yet. Leaning towards The ArchAndroid for now because I loved the experimentation on it and I can't forget how fucking happy I was that she didn't sell out in anyway for her first studio album or get fucked over by Bad Boy Records.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #63 on:** September 04, 2013, 06:42:25 PM »

Quote from: Beezy on September 04, 2013, 06:36:09 PM

I agree with all of Zephyr's comments except that last one. I love What An Experience. Victory is cool too. Not sure about the last one at the moment.

Both of her albums are great for different reasons. I can't say which one I like better yet. Leaning towards The ArchAndroid for now because I loved the experimentation on it and I can't forget how fucking happy I was that she didn't sell out in anyway for her first studio album or get fucked over by Bad Boy Records.

Yeah, before we had any details, I was worried her next album might leave behind the savior sexbot narrative and just toss the Metropolis Suite concept out the window in a bid for mainstream accessibility.

I rewatched the Many Moons video last week in preparation for Electric Lady. It's hard to remember what it was like seeing this drop into the world back in 2008 fully formed.

Also if you haven't seen the Cold War Nobel Prize performance...

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #64 on:** September 04, 2013, 06:45:09 PM »

Also, while I hate skits - and I hate these skits - they're ALMOST worth it for the line:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

"Robot love is queer."

[close]

Himu · « **Reply #65 on:** September 04, 2013, 06:49:03 PM »

I was worried she was going to sell out after I first heard QUEEN.

She didn't.

Beezy · « **Reply #66 on:** September 04, 2013, 06:49:49 PM »

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on September 04, 2013, 06:42:25 PM

Quote from: Beezy on September 04, 2013, 06:36:09 PM
I agree with all of Zephyr's comments except that last one. I love What An Experience. Victory is cool too. Not sure about the last one at the moment.

Both of her albums are great for different reasons. I can't say which one I like better yet. Leaning towards The ArchAndroid for now because I loved the experimentation on it and I can't forget how fucking happy I was that she didn't sell out in anyway for her first studio album or get fucked over by Bad Boy Records.

Yeah, before we had any details, I was worried her next album might leave behind the savior sexbot narrative and just toss the Metropolis Suite concept out the window in a bid for mainstream accessibility.

Aye, fuck you.

I'm talking about her sound. I thought she'd be forced to make some poppy shit to cater to radio stations.

Himu · « **Reply #67 on:** September 04, 2013, 06:51:16 PM »

Same, Beezy.

Queen being the first single for this album had me worried.

Himu · « **Reply #68 on:** September 04, 2013, 06:53:39 PM »

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on September 04, 2013, 06:45:09 PM

Also, while I hate skits - and I hate these skits - they're ALMOST worth it for the line:

spoiler (click to show/hide)
"Robot love is queer."
[close]

I thought she was a lesbian ever since I first saw her. My gaydar goes off when I see her in non performance mode. I feel like that line was a nod to people who thinks she's a lesbian, not that it matters, but it's funny to have included.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #69 on:** September 04, 2013, 06:54:12 PM »

Quote from: Beezy on September 04, 2013, 06:49:49 PM

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on September 04, 2013, 06:42:25 PM
Quote from: Beezy on September 04, 2013, 06:36:09 PM
I agree with all of Zephyr's comments except that last one. I love What An Experience. Victory is cool too. Not sure about the last one at the moment.

Both of her albums are great for different reasons. I can't say which one I like better yet. Leaning towards The ArchAndroid for now because I loved the experimentation on it and I can't forget how fucking happy I was that she didn't sell out in anyway for her first studio album or get fucked over by Bad Boy Records.

Yeah, before we had any details, I was worried her next album might leave behind the savior sexbot narrative and just toss the Metropolis Suite concept out the window in a bid for mainstream accessibility.

Aye, fuck you.

I'm talking about her sound. I thought she'd be forced to make some poppy shit to cater to radio stations.

Maybe I wasn't clear:

The paragraph was my actual thoughts before release.

was Janelle releasing the Electric Lady.

Beezy · « **Reply #70 on:** September 04, 2013, 06:57:24 PM »

Ah, understood.

Never once thought she was a lesbian. And I always knew she was hiding a bad body under all them tuxedos.

Himu · « **Reply #71 on:** September 04, 2013, 06:58:07 PM »

I'm so surprised how much I've flipped on Queen. I love it now, but was cold on it when it first dropped and preferred Dance Apocalyptic. I now think Dance Apocalyptic is the weakest on the album.

Beezy · « **Reply #72 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:00:08 PM »

Dance Apocalyptic is the track that had me worried. I've seen clips of her performing it live though and it sounds so much better.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #73 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:02:34 PM »

What an Experience is gorgeous

haters to the left

Himu · « **Reply #74 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:03:23 PM »

Janelle Monae - Danice Apocalyptic Official Music Video
2 months ago 892,013 views

No!

If this album bombs...if it bombs...

On the other hand, QUEEN has 6 million views.

We good.

Himu · « **Reply #75 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:03:51 PM »

What An Experience is a great closer. Zeph is loco. Suite V is classic status.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #76 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:03:57 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on September 04, 2013, 07:03:23 PM

If this album bombs...if it bombs...

Can you explain

to me, I don't get it

ZephyrFate · « **Reply #77 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:04:52 PM »

I LOVE QUEEN and Dance Apocalyptic. The latter is so goddamn fun to dance to!

Himu · « **Reply #78 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:05:13 PM »

It's TO crying.

It's good to have a smilie that represents my sad emotions.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #79 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:06:40 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on September 04, 2013, 07:03:51 PM

What An Experience is a great closer. Zeph is loco. Suite V is classic status.

What an Experience reminds me of this divisive album closer:

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #80 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:07:17 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on September 04, 2013, 07:05:13 PM

It's TO crying.

It's good to have a smilie that represents my sad emotions.

Oh, I didn't know it was someone named TO and was reading it as "it is to cry, my brother"

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #81 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:12:56 PM »

The skits don't bother me, as they blend in to the album and don't take up much time. They're like a futuristic version of De La Soul Is Dead or The Listening's skits.

ZephyrFate · « **Reply #82 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:20:00 PM »

They fit into an aesthetic of this whole album being on the radio by DJ Crash Crash of the Wondaland Jam Authority. In other words, it dovetails with the world she's creating.

I know I can't even imagine how amazing Suites VI and VII will be when we get those in 3 years.

can we just talk about

how great

dorothy dandridge eyes is?

fucking perfect feature. Esperanza's voice is such a great combo with Janelle's.

Himu · « **Reply #83 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:21:23 PM »

I'm definitely warming up to the skits.

That The Listening comparison was a good one, PD.

Himu · « **Reply #84 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:26:13 PM »

Quote from: ZephyrFate on September 04, 2013, 07:20:00 PM

They fit into an aesthetic of this whole album being on the radio by DJ Crash Crash of the Wondaland Jam Authority. In other words, it dovetails with the world she's creating.

I know I can't even imagine how amazing Suites VI and VII will be when we get those in 3 years.

can we just talk about

how great

dorothy dandridge eyes is?

fucking perfect feature. Esperanza's voice is such a great combo with Janelle's.

Not only that, but the production. Holy moly.

It's one of the reasons that I think your claim that Electric Lady is only rnb/funk is wrong as it's very jazzy.

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on September 04, 2013, 07:06:40 PM

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on September 04, 2013, 07:03:51 PM
What An Experience is a great closer. Zeph is loco. Suite V is classic status.

What an Experience reminds me of this divisive album closer:

I wouldn't call What An Experience divisive. Only Zeph dislikes it in this thread!

ZephyrFate · « **Reply #85 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:28:23 PM »

At times, but not often. DDE and the Erykah Badu cameo are the only real forays into jazz. I said it was a blend of pop/funk/R&B, which it, the majority of the time, is. It has splashes of jazz, and DDE is the only one that really gives a strong vibe, but that's mostly because it has Esperanza on it.

Beezy · « **Reply #86 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:28:58 PM »

Not sure if any of you are in NY besides Eric P, but tickets for her NY date at the Apollo Theater go on sale tomorrow at 12pm.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #87 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:32:27 PM »

Quote from: Beezy on September 04, 2013, 07:28:58 PM

Not sure if any of you are in NY besides Eric P, but tickets for her NY date at the Apollo Theater go on sale tomorrow at 12pm.

I have Oct 30 tix for Seattle

Himu · « **Reply #88 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:40:19 PM »

I may be in WA when she's in town and may go to Seattle or to Portland so Zeph and I can hang.

Zeph: the intro to Ghetto Woman also has bossa nova.

It's no surprise that Electric Lady is my favorite song though.

Listening to Ghetto Woman now and I hear flirtations with rock, bossanova, and funk.

ZephyrFate · « **Reply #89 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:45:52 PM »

Ghetto Woman just sounds like a Stevie Wonder track that then trails off into a rock song with a beautiful guitar solo.

(praying for reviews like ArchAndroid... PLEASE, gracious critics, give her the praise she deserves!)

Himu · « **Reply #90 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:46:47 PM »

Guitar solos.

Beezy · « **Reply #91 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:51:59 PM »

Quote from: Howard Alan Treesong on September 04, 2013, 07:32:27 PM

Quote from: Beezy on September 04, 2013, 07:28:58 PM
Not sure if any of you are in NY besides Eric P, but tickets for her NY date at the Apollo Theater go on sale tomorrow at 12pm.

I have Oct 30 tix for Seattle

Her NY tix are for Oct 18th. I had to double check with my mom to see when my uncle's wedding in JA is and luckily it's not the same week. She asked if I really would have to think about which one to attend if they were on the same day. I chose not to respond and silently walked away. Clearly she doesn't understand how much I stan for this woman.

Himu · « **Reply #92 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:55:04 PM »

Beezy, how many weddings have you been to? I've been to enough to know what will happen. Give Janelle your money.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #93 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:57:04 PM »

Honestly the weakest tracks are the singles, but they are also probably the most marketable tracks. This summer has been dominated by a lot of songs that sound like throwbacks to the 60s and 70s (Blurred Lines and Get Lucky, especially) so this would be the perfect time for her to catch attention. Alas, I expect the album to bomb. I feared she'd get a Nicki Minaj feature or something but the album seems like it had no label tampering. Still...never sign to Bad Boy Records, boys and girls.

Himu · « **Reply #94 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:58:31 PM »

Electric Lady not being her first single

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #95 on:** September 04, 2013, 07:59:27 PM »

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on September 04, 2013, 07:57:04 PM

Honestly the weakest tracks are the singles, but they are also probably the most marketable tracks. This summer has been dominated by a lot of songs that sound like throwbacks to the 60s and 70s (Blurred Lines and Get Lucky, especially) so this would be the perfect time for her to catch attention. Alas, I expect the album to bomb. I feared she'd get a Nicki Minaj feature or something but the album seems like it had no label tampering. Still...never sign to Bad Boy Records, boys and girls.

Just a general lack of promotion, or?

Himu · « **Reply #96 on:** September 04, 2013, 08:02:57 PM »

Lack of promotion AND Puffy isn't great at management.

That said I think Janelle has done a great job herself getting her mug out there, being the poster girl for Cover Girl this year, being featured in Fun's song...so she's definitely making a name for herself. Whether or not this translates into a lot of record sales though....

ZephyrFate · « **Reply #97 on:** September 04, 2013, 08:07:39 PM »

Thankfully, her live performances are so amazing and so blowing-everyone-else-out-of-the-water that even with a weak sophomore album sales-wise, she'll still be making music and we'll get the final suites of the Metropolis series.

I doubt Bad Boy records will drop her if this album bombs. She'll have a place somewhere; hopefully under a better label.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #98 on:** September 04, 2013, 08:16:23 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on September 04, 2013, 08:02:57 PM

Lack of promotion AND Puffy isn't great at management.

That said I think Janelle has done a great job herself getting her mug out there, being the poster girl for Cover Girl this year, being featured in Fun's song...so she's definitely making a name for herself. Whether or not this translates into a lot of record sales though....

To put it lightly. Bad Boy (specifically Sean Combs) is one of the absolute worse labels for artists, and signing guarantees you're going to get fucked.

Although to be fair, I don't think she goes into the studio thinking "ok time to make my radio song."

Himu · « **Reply #99 on:** September 04, 2013, 08:19:33 PM »

The problem is that Janelle is a hard sell. I don't even consider the girl pop though she's on a major label. How many albums is under her contract? She needs to sign with Def Jam.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #100 on:** September 04, 2013, 08:33:22 PM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on September 04, 2013, 08:19:33 PM

The problem is that Janelle is a hard sell. I don't even consider the girl pop though she's on a major label. How many albums is under her contract? She needs to sign with Def Jam.

I don't think she's a hard sell in 2012/2013, given how much weird shit there is on display. She just needs a hit song.

Himu · « **Reply #101 on:** September 04, 2013, 08:56:12 PM »

She's definitely an easier sell in today's music arena.

Beezy · « **Reply #102 on:** September 04, 2013, 09:29:32 PM »

http://pitchfork.com/features/cover-story/reader/janelle-monae/

Quote

“Diddy is very afraid to mess it up,” Monáe says of her artistic partnership with the hip-hop mogul. “And he should be.”

Monae

ZephyrFate · « **Reply #103 on:** September 04, 2013, 10:04:21 PM »

I don't agree with their assessment that she needs to get out of her own head, that the album is confused, or that she comes off as emotionally detached. Pitchfork must not have heard Ghetto Woman very well, then.

Himu · « **Reply #104 on:** September 04, 2013, 10:17:28 PM »

Janelle?

Stuck... in her own head?

Oh my god, pitchfork shut the fuck UP

Himu · « **Reply #105 on:** September 04, 2013, 11:48:38 PM »

let's take a look at bad boy's track record with this article:

http://www.refinedhype.com/hyped/entry/signing-to-bad-boy

Himu · « **Reply #106 on:** September 05, 2013, 12:06:13 AM »

Janelle needs to go to GOOD Music. Kanye always looks out for people he's trying to market.

ZephyrFate · « **Reply #107 on:** September 05, 2013, 12:27:29 AM »

just so long as he stays the F out of her production. She don't need it!

anyway

to be VICTORIOUS you must learn to LOVE the LITTLE THINGS

Himu · « **Reply #108 on:** September 05, 2013, 12:34:27 AM »

'tis true, I don't.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #109 on:** September 05, 2013, 12:44:19 AM »

yea....keep her away from GOOD Music breh

I wouldn't regulate her to just urban labels. Ultimately it's up to her to expand, and I think she's capable of doing it without "selling out." TBH I'm surprised Tightrope wasn't bigger, sonically it fits right in current throwback r&b. Perhaps if Jay-Z was on the track instead of Big Boi

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Jay lost

[close]

Beezy · « **Reply #110 on:** September 05, 2013, 12:44:55 AM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on September 05, 2013, 12:06:13 AM

Janelle needs to go to GOOD Music. Kanye always looks out for people he's trying to market.

No. Hell no.

ZephyrFate · « **Reply #111 on:** September 05, 2013, 02:45:11 AM »

no matter how the story goes

we were like rock & rollll

Beezy · « **Reply #112 on:** September 05, 2013, 10:52:29 AM »

Quote from: Formerly Known As Himuro on September 04, 2013, 10:17:28 PM

Janelle?

Stuck... in her own head?

Oh my god, pitchfork shut the fuck UP

*shrugs*

She's the one who tweeted the link. I don't see why she'd do that if it wasn't true.

Himu · « **Reply #113 on:** September 05, 2013, 11:39:56 AM »

"A lot of your favorite artists including wannabe indie distinguished black fellows like Nasir"

That shade.

I am NOT accepting this.

Anyways, a few years back Kanye was great at promoting. What happen?

If this is all true, then it's best for Janelle to not be on any urban label, I think. She's above that stuff anyways.

Himu · « **Reply #114 on:** September 05, 2013, 12:25:43 PM »

Choice quote from album stream in op

"As a long time Prince fan(as many others are around here) I’m always disgusted by the fact that he only wants to collaborate or align himself with silly pop girls(Stefani, TLC, etc…) instead of actual talented artists who might help him get out of this creative rut he’s been in for the last decade. What in the hell can this kid bring to the table musically? Twenty producers that are exactly what Prince bitches about when he talks about today’s pop stars? She’s also on the most corporate label there is that’s also known for payola type practices. He needs to wake up. There’s only so many of his die-hard fans left."

Himu · « **Reply #115 on:** September 05, 2013, 12:32:33 PM »

Well, I don't want to get this thread riled up with hip hop shit so I'll take this to the hip hop thread.

Beezy · « **Reply #116 on:** September 05, 2013, 12:47:35 PM »

Her tickets went on sale at 12pm. I was on the page at 11:59. Nothing. Refreshed at 12:00. Tickets and seating chart show up. Chose 2 tickets and best available seats. "Sorry no tickets are available." Tried again. And again. And again...

Himu · « **Reply #117 on:** September 05, 2013, 12:51:02 PM »

Buy them on stubhub. You can buy someone's bought ticket.

Positive Touch · « **Reply #118 on:** September 05, 2013, 01:38:57 PM »

Quote from: Eschaton on September 05, 2013, 12:29:20 PM

'above that stuff', huh (Image removed from quote.)

Himu · « **Reply #119 on:** September 05, 2013, 01:45:00 PM »

I don't get why that's funny?

News:

Author Topic: JANELLE MONAE'S THE ELECTRIC LADY OUT NOW - album of the year :bow (Read 18672 times)