“Lady” is a worthy title for Janelle Monáe.
After awing the music world with her debut album, The ArchAndroid, Monáe has proven that she is immune to the sophomore slump.
Her second album, The Electric Lady, continues the story of Cindi Mayweather—Monáe’s self-proclaimed alter-ego—an android living in a utopian future whose life turns upside down when she falls in love with a human. A conceptual series of five suites so far, The Electric Lady (Suites IV and V) picks up where The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) and Metropolis (Suite I) left off. And while The ArchAndroid is an album about newfound freedom and adventure, The Electric Lady explores maturity and empowerment.
The first half is infectiously danceable, seamlessly blending disco, rock ’n’ roll and something that sounds like the theme from James Bond into a rich orchestration of funk. When Monáe sings for the first time on “Givin Em What They Love,” her voice hits like an electric shock. Along with an appearance from Prince, “Givin Em What They Love” is mysterious, psychedelic and sexy. It’s one of the most impressive tracks on the album.
Not only does Monáe prove herself as an innovative producer, but also a dynamic vocalist. She raps, she croons, she screams—all with raw, effortless grace.
The Electric Lady features performances from both her influences and her peers—from Prince and Erykah Badu, to Solange and Esperanza Spalding. Additionally, her duet with Miguel on “PrimeTime” is both sweet and painful.
While every song on the album offers something new, The Electric Lady follows a very similar progression as The ArchAndroid. The first suite builds up the energy and an uncontrollable need to dance while the second takes a reflective tone as the music slows and her lyrics become more revealing, most notably on “Victory.”
Still, at just over an hour long, The Electric Lady can be a lot to take in in one sitting. Despite the album’s length, Monáe proves herself as the spirited child of some of the best artists of the past few decades. She looks to her roots on The Electric Lady, the same way Cindi Mayweather can never truly escape her past, and learns how to grow from it.
Although the feeling of listening to Monáe on The ArchAndroid for the first time cannot be topped, The Electric Lady offers a mature, sparkling continuation of Cindi Mayweather’s story. I can’t wait to hear what happens next.
Rating: A-
