As we march further into the 21st century you can feel a deep division within the pop music genre. There are those that are content to give the singles charts exactly what they want and those who are willing to fly their freak flags and barge their way into the top 40. In this second group you can count the amazingly talented Janelle Monae. Her 2010 debut album sent shock waves through the industry and now she is ready to follow up the masterpiece with The Electric Lady.
Monae combines elements of pop, rock, funk, R&B, soul and slathers them all in sci-fi weirdness. This approach comes to a head on the slinky femme funk of 'Q.U.E.E.N' and the bona fide party anthem 'Dance Apocalyptic'. These great tracks are spaced out with instrumental interludes and fake radio chatter that further the plot behind the music. Along for the ride are some of her fellow outsiders: Solange, Miguel, Erykah Badu, and even the fabled Prince on 'Given Em What They Love'.
Janelle Monae is proving herself to be a fearless pop innovator and at the tender age of 27 she has plenty of classics left in her.
