"Dirty Computer" has shown through all the other albums released this year so far. Janelle Monáe released her best album and it is a statement among R&B music. Not only that, it's also so fun to listen to. Track after track, Monáe is telling her audience to shut up and listen and to "let the vagina have a monologue." There is an air of power and confidence all over the album and that is a highlight of "Dirty Computer." There are some fun songs here too, but with each one Monáe is sending us a message, mostly personal and some political. Before I even go into the specifics, go ahead and listen to it. If you have already, listen to it again.
Straight from the get-go, the title track threw me off since, with a name like "Dirty Computer," I was expecting an album like her previous albums, which were robotic and electronic heavy. However, with a beautiful background vocal from Brian Wilson, Monáe soothes the ears and welcomes you to experience a beautiful album. It is a perfect opener and among some of the best, in my opinion. Following that is one of the best songs on the album, "Crazy, Classic, Life." With a nice, organic, poppy beat, Monáe is telling us that she wants to stand out from the crowd but not for the reasons people might judge her for. Throughout the album, she comes out as queer, also stated in many news articles as well, but she does not want to be known for just that. She is an artist and this song wants to stress that idea.
Following that track is a plethora of hits that make up the bulk of the album. Starting with "Take a Byte," we start to see the confidence surrounding her coming out. It's a nice song but not perfect. "Screwed," is another amazing song. Featuring Zoe Kravitz, it is a statement on sexual power and how women have more power than men give them credit for. Also, just a great song to listen to and jam with. The combination of both singers feels just right. There is a small interlude where Monáe raps and her statements really stand out as the core of the album. She raps about women's power and the men behind the struggle for women, including a specific president (I wonder if you can guess who).
"Pynk" featuring Grimes, is taking the norms put on women and embracing it to its fullest potential. "Cause boy it's cool if you got blue, we got the pink." Grimes, in a soft, impactful voice, tells us all the positive things that are pink, empowering women even more. If I sound like a broken record, it's because this album has so much confidence, more so than any other album by a woman that I have heard in a while. It's a refreshing experience. "Make me feel," is the obvious hit from the album but it deserves it. With funky beats and sweet guitar licks, it feels like a perfect song, at least for me. I can listen to it on repeat, and I have. It is not a very controversial song, but it does feel good.
"I Got the Juice," is the most political song on the album. There are many subjects of women empowerment and a direct jab at a specific someone. Pharrell Williams provides an unprecedented rap verse here as well as some chill background vocals, much different than what he usually does but somehow it works. With a line like "If you try to grab this pussy, this pussy grab you back," there is no holding back and I love it.
There are a few more songs near the end that don't quite stand out but are by no means bad songs. Just with all the songs that precede them, they feel less powerful. "I Like That," has a nice message of liking something no matter what anybody says. In this case, Monáe is talking about loving another person. "Don't Judge Me," is a slow ballad, a left turn from the rest of the album but it relaxes the listener. There is even a nice interlude from Stevie Wonder, talking about love and how we all need to love each other (which is not much different from what he usually talks about).
"So Afraid," stands out as a cry for help. With a passionate chorus about the fear of revealing yourself to the public who you really are and not being able to be accepted. It is a sad song but knowing all the previous songs, I don't feel as scared for Monáe, just because she has so much confidence. It feels more like one of the first songs she wrote for the album, and she still might think this, but not as much. It is a sad song taken out of context of the album. Finally, she closes with "Americans," the most "American" song I've heard in a while. Almost as a response to "So Afraid," she comes out saying that she is not putting up with this "bullshit" anymore and does not appreciate these norms of reducing women power and pay. She is mad as hell and with the contrasting happy-go-lucky music, there is a very passive-aggressive feeling going on, but in a good way. She calls the same person from before the devil and tells him, and those like him, that she is coming to take her America back. She concludes with "Please sign your name on the dotted line," foreshadowing the imminent control she, and women, will have of America so they better give up now while they have the chance.
4.5/5. "Dirty Computer" is a powerful album and a controversial one that I think we needed today. Although not every song is perfect, there is a message here that exceeds music, speaking to the masses and to those that will listen. For those that won't listen, Monáe will make them listen.
