JANELLE MONÁE, ARCHANDROID

Janelle Monáe’s The ArchAndroid is a sprawling, cinematic statement, blending funk, soul, hip hop, R&B, psychedelic pop, and orchestral grandeur into a singular vision. Presented as the next chapters of her Metropolis saga, the album follows her android alter ego Cindi Mayweather through themes of freedom, identity, and rebellion. Songs like “Tightrope” burst with energy, while “BaBopByeYa” and “Sir Greendown” stretch into lush, theatrical territory. It’s a record that moves between the dance floor and the opera house, unified by Monáe’s electrifying presence and the sense that every note serves a bigger story. Every song on this album surprised me and picking one stand out from the 18 proved impossible to do.