Girls have to relax. Girls have to go funk. Girls have to have fun. Janelle Monae’s 4th studio album, ‘The Age of Pleasure’, is a sexy under the sun by the pool.
The 14 tracks of pan-African sounds flow seamlessly into one another, some ending gently around the minute, morphing into THE vibe, and some declaring loud and clear what the song is about (well, “Lipstick Lover”). The artist isn’t afraid to experiment with sounds like vintage funk, trumpet, flute, steel, drums, jazzy piano, or profess to enjoy cigarettes, drinks, or heavy smoothing.
Listening to this album feels like being at the most polite orgy in the world. The lyrics are dirty and bold, but the sound is gentle, subversive, and enveloping you like a safety blanket. This is certainly not Monae from “Dirty Computer”. “I am not the same,” as she declares in the first single on her tracklist, “Float,” someone who boasts of newfound confidence and bisexual conquests on both coasts.
Guests at the party include Seun Kuti (featuring “Float”), Nia Long (featuring “Rush”) and Grace Jones (featuring “Oh la la”), but it’s a great ride, so why not invite yourself? Be aware that there are
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