Janelle Monae - The Age of Pleasure
by Zena Grieg
published: 3 / 7 / 2023

Label:
Atlantic
Format: CD
intro
Raunchy but inventive fourth album from American singer and actor Janelle Monae
American singer and actor Janelle Monae has brought out her fourth album. ‘The Age of Pleasure’ is a raunchy mix of chilled, laid-back sounds across reggae, rap, Latin Jazz, Afrobeat and pop. Monae, who has previously worked with Prince and Grace Jones (who provides a cameo on this album), references David Bowie midway through the album, his Ziggy Stardust creation previously inspiring her to create a glamorous, cyber-girl alter ego Cindy Mayweather for her 2010 debut album ‘The Archandroid’. She has also performed in several Hollywood films including ‘Moonlight’, ‘Hidden Figures’ and ‘Glass Onion’ and brings a cosmopolitan flair to this current collection. Highlights of this fourteen-track record include: the mellow opener ‘Float’; the catchy, melodic ‘Champagne Shit’ with its insidious beat and Egyptian-style flute; ‘Ooh La La’, featuring an evocative rap in French by Grace Jones; ‘The French 75’, a short ode to bar hopping and partying, featuring DJ and singer Sister Nancy; ‘Lipstick Lover’ with its sardonic lines: ‘Bite me on my neck, and you know what’s coming next’ ; ‘Water Slide’ with its smooth harmonies and sensual swimming metaphors; the exuberant ‘Paid In Pleasure’: “…if you pay me in pleasure/I'm a keep it coming for ever”; and the soulful paean to monogamy ‘Only Have Eyes 42’ highlighting Monae’s mellifluous vocals. ‘The Age of Pleasure’ is a sensuous journey through an inventive, colourful musical landscape.
Track Listing:-
1 Float (Ft. Egypt 80' & Seun Kuti)2 Champagne Shit
3 Black Sugar Beach
4 Phenomenal (Ft. Doechii)
5 Haute
6 Oooh La La (Ft. Grace Jones)
7 Lipstick Lover
8 The Rush (Ft. Amaarae & Nia Long)
9 The French 75 (Ft. Sister Nancy)
10 Water Slide
11 Know Better (Ft. CKay, Egypt 80' & Seun Kuti)
12 Paid In Pleasure
13 Only Have Eyes 42
14 A Dry Red
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/janellemonaehttps://twitter.com/janellemonae?lang=en
Play in YouTube:-
Have a Listen:-
live reviews |
Academy, Manchester, 7/5/2014 |
![]() |
Nicky Crewe watches soul/funk artist Janelle Monae play a magnetic show at the Academy in Manchester |
soundcloud
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Sukie Smith - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart