The Age of Pleasure
by Janelle Monáe
  • Record Label: Bad Boy
  • Release Date: Jun 9, 2023
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
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  1. The Line of Best Fit
    Jun 8, 2023
    60
    At only 32 minutes and housing five interludes, The Age of Pleasure is slim on ideas and music. It would be more successful if she followed the same pattern of zinging between genre and form effortlessly like on Dirty Computer, but this record largely sticks to reggae and funk, leading to a slower, more lax mood.
  2. The Guardian
    Jun 8, 2023
    60
    It’s an album about hedonistic abandon that occasionally makes hedonistic abandon sound like something challenging a therapist has tasked you to do before next week’s session. Then again, the album’s brevity means those moments pass quickly, to be supplanted by moments when Monáe sounds as light and warm as the music behind her.
  3. Clash Music
    Jun 9, 2023
    50
    On occasion, the record feels quite lazy in its lyrical direction and yet too direct, falling into moments of cringe rather than what could have been perceived as powerful and fun.

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Most Discussed Album of 2023

User Reviews

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User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 50
  3. Negative: 1 out of 50
  1. itsmiguelbee
    Jun 9, 2023
    10
    mother has returned. pronouns are they/them, she/her, and freeahhmuthaf*cka. album of the summer fr.
  2. heltondrew
    Jun 9, 2023
    10
    She's back and in her skin more than ever. She welcomes you along for her exploration of her brand of sexy. It's delicious, catchy, fun, andShe's back and in her skin more than ever. She welcomes you along for her exploration of her brand of sexy. It's delicious, catchy, fun, and absolutely the feel-good album of the summer.… Full Review »
  3. Heyitscarlos
    Jun 9, 2023
    8
    Janelle you have done it again! Her records are always so fun but with a lot of creative intention behind them, i want to shake my bootyJanelle you have done it again! Her records are always so fun but with a lot of creative intention behind them, i want to shake my booty listening to this record. This was the album of the summer i was waiting on! The Caribbean vibes are ridiculous, every song puts me in feel good mood, the tracks are complex with great lyrics none of that cheesy pop stuff. The one down side to this record which made me give it an 8 of 10 was that i found the songs to be way to short, each of them could've had an extra 30 seconds or up to an extra minute. Overall an excellent offering from Miss Monae, my favorite tracks are Float, Champagne **** Paid in Pleasure, Haute, A Dry Red and Know Better.… Full Review »
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