“Electric Lady” is comprised of the fourth and fifth installments of Janelle Monae’s “Cindi Maywater Android” series that began with her 2007 debut EP. The album, a follow–up to critically acclaimed “ArchAndroid,” is definitely more laidback than her last effort. Featuring a slew of crooner guests like Prince, Miguel and Solange Knowles, Monae delves deep into her R&B roots. “Primetime,” which features Miguel, is a prime example of this as it showcases Monae’s sultry side with the current reigning king of sultriness. The two jammiest songs on the album, “We Were Rock and Roll” and “Dance Apocalyptic,” are fun departures from the general tone of the album and leave you wanting for Monae's upbeat side. She is even found rapping on some tracks, but there are a few too many relaxed songs for an album boasting a 19–song tracklist. Overall, the album showcases Monae’s undeniable musical talent, but the fierceness Monae is striving for is sometimes too understated in the series of slower tunes.
Review: "Electric Lady"—Janelle Monae
