Atlantic Schallplatten & CDs

Review: While working on The Age of Pleasure, her first album for five years, Janelle Monae frequently played rough cuts of the tracks at parties, choosing to dispense with any that didn't rock the dancefloor. As a result, the album is tons of fun from start to finish, with Monae's lyrics exploring "all the things that give me pleasure" atop music that giddily blurs boundaries in pursuit of genuine good times. 'Float', featuring mighty horns from Afrobeat combo Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, sets the tone, blurring the boundaries between hip-hop, reggae and modern soul, while 'Lipstick Lover' delivers another low-lung reggae/r&b fusion from the top drawer. Throw in guest spots from Grace Jones, Sister Nancy, CK, Amarea and Nia Long, and you have a vibrant and entertaining set that won't leave your headphones all summer long.