Janelle Monae - The Age of Pleasure

by Zena Grieg

published: 3 / 7 / 2023

Label: Atlantic
Format: CD

Raunchy but inventive fourth album from American singer and actor Janelle Monae

Review

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