I Cannot Stop Listening To Janelle Monáe's "Americans"

'Dirty Computer' is the era from Janelle Monáe that transformed me into a full fledged fan. I have been listening to the album all weekend.

From Monáe's introduction, I always noticed her talent and there were a few songs that I found to be sonically delicious. However there was something about her image that just did not appeal to me: the cold android persona. Now, for her fourth album her tone is warm and flesh-filled.

Everything from the visuals to the sound of the music this go around are just so pleasing. There are maybe one or two songs that I don't repeat after each play but there is one song that I became addicted to from the first five seconds. So addicted to the point that I replayed the song's first 30 seconds 15 times before I allowed the remainder to play.

Yes, "Americans" is the politically-charged closing track on 'Dirty Computer' that I cannot get enough of. The song starts off with one of those choir/ vocal harmonies lifted right from an 80's power ballad. What follows is an instrumental directly-inspired by a Prince classic. Janelle mentions just about every social issue that is going on in America from police shootings, same sex love, sexism, the gender pay gap, immigration and more. 

It is the perfect close to a great album. Take a listen below and if you have not seen the 'Dirty Computer' film do so as well.