The Electric Lady
by Janelle Monáe
  • Record Label: Bad Boy
  • Release Date: Sep 10, 2013
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
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  1. Los Angeles Times
    Sep 10, 2013
    50
    Though long and featuring a bounty of ideas, The Electric Lady is surprisingly slight.
  2. Mojo
    Nov 25, 2013
    60
    This time around, the radio programmers will be listening harder, but taken as a 68-minute whole, The Electric Lady is quite a trip. [Dec 2013, p.84]
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  3. NOW Magazine
    Sep 12, 2013
    60
    Whatever is driving her interest in self-identity is obscured by overwrought conceptualism and confused by a push to sound more slickly commercial.

Awards & Rankings

66
#66 Best Album of 2013
33
#33 Most Discussed Album of 2013
71
#71 Most Shared Album of 2013

User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 227 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 211 out of 227
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 227
  3. Negative: 7 out of 227
  1. daniboy123
    Sep 10, 2013
    10
    Without a doubt the best album of the year. Janelle is one of the greats and time will continue to prove that. Consulting greats like Badu,Without a doubt the best album of the year. Janelle is one of the greats and time will continue to prove that. Consulting greats like Badu, Prince, and Stevie she is continually proving that she belongs in their company. She is a genius. Her maturity, fire and the cohesiveness of this record far exceeds that of her first full length LP 2010's The ArchAndroid, not to mention that impeccable quality. Janelle has truly arrived and she knows it. Just make sure you take notice.… Full Review »
  2. ZacharyMatson
    Sep 14, 2013
    8
    If you were to ask a pretentious snobby music critic like myself, "What is your opinion on pop music?" You might hear in reply, "it's nothingIf you were to ask a pretentious snobby music critic like myself, "What is your opinion on pop music?" You might hear in reply, "it's nothing but top 40 sh*t from Katy Perry or Lady Gaga." Which in a sense is true. Pop these days is represented by female artist like Perry, Gaga, P!nk, etc. Who's lyrics are lackluster and formulas are almost identical to one another. Luckily for us pretentious kids who still like to shake our hips and not hate our selves for doing so, there's Janelle Monae.… Full Review »
  3. WadeVS
    Sep 19, 2013
    9
    Janelle is fresh, exciting and has single handedly re-defined the pop, R&B, electronic and hip hop fusion in a way that hasn't been seenJanelle is fresh, exciting and has single handedly re-defined the pop, R&B, electronic and hip hop fusion in a way that hasn't been seen since Lauryn Hill made her debut in the 90s. This is incredibly well put together, irresistible, and surprisingly does not collapse on itself like 'The Archandroid' did. If she could streamline her inspiration I feel it would yield stronger results.… Full Review »
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