Album Review - The Age of Pleasure by Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe is the epitome of an aura. Whether classy, sexy, socially powerful, attention-demanding, sassy, or gender-ambiguous, her presence is powerful, and her music is always the stamp of approval, letting the populace know of the atmospheric phenomena Monáe defines.

On her latest album, “The Age of Pleasure,” Monáe's aura/energy is undoubtedly sexy. However, this album cements what we, as fans, have known for a long time. She is one of the best artists in the world.

Chalked to the brim with positive affirmations, lush melodies, afro-beat rhythms, and INFECTIOUSLY good songs, Monae once again crafts a project that’s less akin to an album but more in line with a genre-defining masterpiece of carefree R&B.

The first highlight of this album is the song transitions. Each production of this album crafts its winding road and explores multiple genres throughout a single track. Each moment of the album is a time to define Monae’s new aura, and our favorite arch-android stamps each ebb and flow with confidence, sincerity, and happiness.

During the album’s initial trio of songs, "Champagne Shit," "Black Sugar Beach," and "Phenomenal," finds a way to become a shit-talking hip-hop-esque venture, which transitions to an afro-dancehall anthem and finally settling its way to a soft-to-the-touch home in the later half of the trio of tracks. More impressively, Monae finds a way to ride the wave without a single audio-hair being out of place.

To classify this album with any numerical or letter grade would be a humbling understatement. With features from rising superstar Doechii and unexpected, yet, not out-of-place appearances from big names like Nia Long, the album is as much of a euphoric jump for Black-joy, as it is an exploration of sexy-fun-carefree times.

“The Age of Pleasure” is an album that should be your anthem for 2023 and beyond. You can listen to the album here.