Album Review
'Dirty Computer': The spirit of Prince lives on in Janelle Monáe's new album
Janelle Monáe's just released her inspired third album, and for the first time it feels like she's being authentic
06 May 2018 - 00:00
Janelle Monáe's talent has always been undeniable, but she was also - to put it politely - boring. Her music was sterile, even when it was meant to be funky and full of attitude. Her trademark monochrome outfits, red lipstick and "this is a man's world" James Brown hair were cute, but their predictability lost flavour pretty quickly.
But something happened between her last album, 2013's The Electric Lady, and her new one, Dirty Computer. The world has changed drastically since then, and it seems Monáe could no longer live in her android-filled dream world and was instead pulled down to earth by its politics and sociopolitics.
And her mentor, the magnificent and inimitable genius Prince, died in 2016...
There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.
From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.
For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.
Already subscribed? Sign in below.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.