Cindi falls in love with a human, Anthony Greendown and is therefore scheduled for recycle. There are laws forbidding androids to feel. And the opening sequence; which is more of a segue than an actual track is a Public Service Announcement letting bounty hunters know Cindi is a legit target with a bounty on her head. 'The March Of The Wolfmasters' is this disc's equivalent of a starting pistol in a race.
'Violet Stars Happy Hunting!!!' is where the album actually takes off and you get your first exposure to Monae. The drum beat kicks in and it reminds me heavily of Outkast. It's got a classic 50's feel and a live quality that stands out dramatically. It's a great song and sets an outstanding pace for the disc. It's followed by another song that maintains that retro beat and sound. 'Many Moons' continues to showcase Monae's lovely voice and the music on this one is edgy and tense. There's a lot of static pauses and delayed beats that create a sense of urgency and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you groove along with it.
'Cybertronic Purgatory' starts as a quieter experience. You hear a voice vocalizing in the distance and the title makes one think of Romeo fleeing Verona. An exile for love, living in purgatory. It's a soft but lovely number. 'Sincerely, Jane.' starts off sounding like a big band production from a fargone age. The silver screen. But suddenly, the drums kick in and Monae takes the song and turns it into a blockbuster motion picture epic theme song. She's dynamic, flamboyant and expressive all at the same time. The strings and horn builds in this tune are stunning and you can't help but feel a great sense of respect for what this new artist is attempting to create with this sound. It's amazing!
Comparatively speaking, 'Mr. President' by all intents and purposes is dramatically different from the rest of the album. That Motown Soul sound still radiates from the track, but it's got a more pop sensible structure and arrangement. By far, this is the most accessible of all the tracks on the album and it's also my favorite. I think it's wonderful and I love Monae's vocalizing. She proves with this one track she's a voice and a force to be reckoned with. The final track on the disc is 'Smile' and it's a cover of the classic tune written by Charlie Chaplin. I don't recall if he actually recorded and released it. But there you go. Like some long forgotten screen goddess, Monae ends the disc on a lonely, distant sad note bravely facing an uncertain but hopeful future. She couldn't have planned it better. It works out flawlessly.
She has a unique and different vision of music. It's the strength of her lyrics, the power of her music and the expanse of her vocals that promise something different and far-reaching. I personally think Monae is an artist we should all watch carefully in days to come. She's just too darn talented not to.
My final words: THE BEST FRESHMAN EFFORT FROM A NEW ARTIST I'VE HEARD IN YEARS. WITHOUT A DOUBT, BRILLIANT.
JANELLE MONAE - METROPOLIS: THE CHASE SUITE (SPECIAL EDITION)
01. The March Of The Wolfmasters
02. Violet Stars Happy Hunting!!!
03. Many Moons
04. Cybertronic Purgatory
05. Sincerely, Jane.
06. Mr. President
07. Smile
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