Like many, OutKast's 'Idlewild' gave me my introduction to Janelle, for which her great voice took over the songs and was one of the more memorable things about that album. So her debut major album was always going to be a must-listen.
While I don't love everything here, after a few listens I enjoy most, and it's definitely different to a lot of the other mainstream R&B/pop out there. No song sounds the same - there are many different themes present; some funk, hip hop, R&B, rock, pop and soul. The beginning of 'Oh Maker' sounds like something from the '60s and there is even what sounds like something from the 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' soundtrack on the intro of 'Neon Valley Street' and 'Suite III Overture'. What's also great is that some songs just effortlessly flow on to the next like 'Dance or Die' to 'Faster' to 'Locked Inside' - I always like that in an album.
Of the few negatives, some of tracks are skippable. For example, lyrically 'Neon Gumbo' sounds like things Borat says in Kazakh and could have probably been left out. Also 'Make The Bus' is easily my least favourite here - it's punk-influenced and does little for me, and is often skipped along with some of the short 'instrumental interlude' type of tunes.
Overall, from a unique artist you have a different, fairly ambitious, multi-layered album in which could have possibly lost a track or two, but more than most of it works very well.
Best Tracks: Faster, Cold War, Tightrope, Mushrooms & Roses, Neon Valley Street, Wondaland, Say You'll Go, BaBopByeYa
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