Rhythm Nation 1814

This is very reminiscent of Love Symbol/Diamonds and Pearls era Prince. Definitely does the “I’m making serious music about serious topics” lyricism, but it’s so much fun I’ll give it a pass. Lot of interludes here, but I’m glad they are their own separate tracks so I can skip them in future listens. Favorite songs were Rhythm Nation, Miss You Much, Livin’ In A World, and Escapade.

The album started very well. I liked the beats and the vocals and lyricism, but this is one of those albums that could have been a lot shorter to its benefit. Having 6 minute long slow songs makes it go on forever and it did no favors here. I appreciate it, but not my thing.

A very unique pop album that blends mainstream genres like dance pop, R&B and Prince's style of funk rock with new jack swing and industrial. It sounds like a mess but it blends together very well. Many of the songs (such as Love Will Never Do, and Miss You Much) are longing and loving R&B songs over a punchy electro industrial beat and I think it sounds fantastic. Towards the end it starts to mellow out into more traditional R&B, but it's still pretty good.

Unfortunately this sound didn't catch on, and as a result if you like this style of pop you really only have this album. It's probably my favourite album and one of the most unique pop albums on the list.

Varsin hyvä pop-levy! Hieman ehkä pitkä, mut toisaalta näin nää tänä CD-aikana oli.

Voce insopportabile, canzonette ridicole.
Come cazzo fai a fare una canzone di quasi 5 minuti ripetendo sempre i soliti 2 versi e senza che la base cambi minimamente?
Neanche Philip Glass approverebbe

No thanks !

nije mi ovaj arembi+world s generičnim porukama nešto

This is the most difficult review I've had to write so far. Parts of this album were really fun, and other parts were a real drag. I wasn't old enough to appreciate it, but it was nice that the big socially conscious things to talk about at this time were staying in school and using condoms. Compared to today, that feels so light and care-free.
I get why this album is on the list, but it doesn't really do anything for me. I think the highlights were all captured in the singles, and that means I'll get to revisit all the relevant pieces through the radio or on random playlists.

Soul and rap influences on typical 80s production. Socially conscious content.

Justin did her dirty, but this is so very 80s and hasn't aged well for my ears. So cheesy and artificial, couldn't wait for it to end, 2*

Seemed decent. Kinda busy, so didn't hear it all. Actually sounded like what I hoped a Michael Jackson album would sound like.

I get it. It's really good, especially for 1989. I don't love how many interludes there are, but those are easily skipped. Apparently, it was a massive commercial success that produced seven top-five singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and is the only album in history to have number-one hits in three different calendar years (1989–1991). I always associated Janet Jackson with cousin Mary, which lets me sit in comfortable, warm memories.

Everything about this carbon dates it to 1989 (including the reference to Tiananmen Square, which sounds so jarring amid the “children are our future” level of social commentary in the lyrics). That being said, it’s a lot of fun, and if Janet did bite off slightly more than she could chew, I respect the ambition.

Really enjoyed this one when it was new, and again now. A couple tracks feel like filler, but the majority are really fun.

2.17

Quite boring pop

I was genuinely surprised by how strong 𝘙𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘮 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝟣𝟪𝟣𝟦 still sounds decades later. The ambition, message, and energy are undeniable. But it suffers from a common late-’80s flaw: the overly uniform, mechanical drum sound that flattens the dynamics and makes too many tracks blend together. A bold, important album — just weighed down by its era’s production choices.

Too long. But got into it.

I have a soft spot for the early 90s production and some of the songs are fun, but the boring r&b ballads weigh it down.

This is my first time listening to a Janet Jackson album, so I didn't really know what to expect. It's a very solid pop album that's very of it's time. The crispy production in particular dates it - it reminds me a lot of Prince and Madonna in places. There are some great songs on here though, especially the title track, State of the World, Miss You Much, Alright, and Black Cat. I also surprisingly enjoyed Someday is Tonight, even though I usually hate those kind of sensual ballads. At times the lyrics are a bit cheesy, even though I do agree broadly with her views. But if you see it as a product of it's time it makes more sense. I think today's world is so cynical that this album wouldn't be too well received if it was released now. I can see why it was so influential at the time though, and also how it influenced Kendrick Lamar a bit on TPAB.