TRACK OF THE DAY: It's been a long time coming, but Janelle Monáe's album is finally on the horizon. After generating buzz with EP releases, energetic live shows and a visually striking pompadour, the Outkast affiliate will be dropping her The ArchAndroid album on May 18.
Any fears that Monáe will be diluting her unconventional style and approach for the release is addressed directly on lead-off single, "Tightrope," where her playful vocal delivery outlines her modus operandi. Even if the track did not sport a brief Big Boi cameo, an Outkast influence is more upfront here than on her previous material, as "Tightrope" appears to pull from the throwback vibe of "Hey Ya" and the 'everything but the kitchen sink' genre approach of "Bombs Over Baghdad."
Still, Monáe's own verve and presence dominates the record and the last two minutes where she invokes 'the funkiest horn section in Metropolis' implies her sonic taste on the long-awaited full length will be as eclectic and tasteful as her sartorial instincts.
Listen to Janelle Monae's "Tightrope" here.
Any fears that Monáe will be diluting her unconventional style and approach for the release is addressed directly on lead-off single, "Tightrope," where her playful vocal delivery outlines her modus operandi. Even if the track did not sport a brief Big Boi cameo, an Outkast influence is more upfront here than on her previous material, as "Tightrope" appears to pull from the throwback vibe of "Hey Ya" and the 'everything but the kitchen sink' genre approach of "Bombs Over Baghdad."
Still, Monáe's own verve and presence dominates the record and the last two minutes where she invokes 'the funkiest horn section in Metropolis' implies her sonic taste on the long-awaited full length will be as eclectic and tasteful as her sartorial instincts.
Listen to Janelle Monae's "Tightrope" here.
