The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe
The ArchAndroid is the debut studio album of American recording artist Janelle Monáe, released May 18, 2010, on Wondaland Arts Society and Bad Boy Records. Production for the album took place at Wondaland Studios in Atlanta and was primarily handled by Monáe, Nate "Rocket" Wonder, and Chuck Lightning, with only one song without production by Monáe. It consists of the second and third parts to Monáe's Metropolis concept series. Incorporating conceptual elements of Afrofuturism and science fiction, The ArchAndroid continues the series' fictional tale of a messianic android and features lyrical themes of love, identity, and self-realization. The album has been compared to artists such as David Bowie, Outkast, Prince and Michael Jackson. The album features multiple collaborations with artists; Saul Williams, Big Boi, of Montreal and Deep Cotton. The album debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200, selling 21,000 copies in its first week. It achieved moderate chart success and produced two singles, "Tightrope" and "Cold War". Upon its release, The ArchAndroid received general acclaim from music critics, earning praise for its conceptual themes and Monáe's eclectic musical range. It was named the best album of 2010 by several critics and earned Monáe a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album. As of February 23, 2011, The ArchAndroid has sold 141,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Janelle Monáe is an optimist with purpose. On her debut, she plays an android in a dystopian future (detailed on “Locked Inside”), and endangers her existence by falling in love with a human on “Oh, Maker”. Despite a downbeat story line inspired by the German expressionist classic <i>Metropolis</i>, the music brims with joy. Her Wondaland production team takes cues from James Brown and Stevie Wonder, adding classical overtures and a dazzling pop sheen to romps like “Tightrope” and “Cold War”. Monáe herself is a powerhouse singer (and rapper) with a big personality to match.
