Music / The ArchAndroid

Continuing the tale of Cindi Mayweather

A long long way to find the one
We'll keep on dancing till she comes
These dreams are forever
Oh these dreams are forever

— "Dance or Die"

The ArchAndroid is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe. It was released on May 18, 2010. The album is the second and third parts of Monáe's Metropolis concept album series (first started in the EP Metropolis: The Chase Suite), which is inspired by the 1927 film of the same name. The album tells the fictional tale of Cindi Mayweather, an android messiah sent back in time to free the citizens of Metropolis from The Great Divide, a secret society that uses time travel to suppress freedom and love.

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Tracklist:

1. "Suite II Overture" — Suite II
2. "Dance or Die" (featuring Saul Williams)
3. "Faster"
4. "Locked Inside"
5. "Sir Greendown"
6. "Cold War"
7. "Tightrope"
8. "Neon Gumbo"
9. "Oh, Maker"
10. "Come Alive (The War of the Roses)"
11. "Mushrooms & Roses"
12. "Suite III Overture" — Suite III
13. "Neon Valley Street"
14. "Make the Bus" (featuring of Montreal)
15. "Wondaland"
16. "57821"
17. "Say You'll Go"
18. "BaBopByeYa"

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Oh, Maker have you ever troped

• Afrofuturism: The album's core aesthetic for both the imagery and the story told in the lyrics. The main protagonist, Cindi Mayweather, is an android running from Droid Control who wants to punish her for the sin of falling in love.
• Baroque Pop: Especially noticeable on the tracks with full symphony orchestra, but all the songs are intricately detailed.
• Big Bad: Droid Control. This is “the man” she mentions in “Locked Inside.”
• Black Sheep: "Make the Bus" stands out as the only song on the album that does not feature a writing credit from Monáe. of Montreal's frontman, Kevin Barnes, is the song's sole writer. Janelle seems to have taken the back seat on this song unlike on the other tracks.
• Call-Back: "Neon Gumbo" is this to "Many Moons" from Metropolis: The Chase Suite.
• Chivalric Romance: “Sir Greendown” evokes a fairy tale version of this with mentions of dragons and riding horses.
• Cool Crown: Wears one on the cover.
• Fading into the Next Song: Many songs on the album do this seamlessly.
  • "Dance Or Die" into "Faster" into "Locked Inside."
• Genre Roulette: The album's tracks run the range from R&B to Hip-Hop to Rock and even includes Folk Music, Psychedelic Rock, Funk, you name it.
• Messianic Archetype: Our protagonist, Cindi Mayweather, serves as this for the Metropolis saga.
• Mood Whiplash: A few times over the course of the album:
  • "Cold War" into "Tightrope"
  • "Oh, Maker" to "Come Alive"
  • "Wondaland" to "57821"
• Non-Appearing Title: "Neon Gumbo" and "Neon Valley Street."^note Though it does get name-dropped in "BabopbyeYa" and "Violet Stars Happy Hunting!!!" (from Metropolis: The Chase Suite)
• One-Woman Wail: During the climax of "Come Alive."
• Run or Die: “Faster.”
• Sdrawkcab Speech: "Neon Gumbo" is comprised of the ending "Many Moons" from Metropolis played in reverse.
• Spoken Word in Music: Monáe is joined by poet Saul Williams on the album's opening track, "Dance or Die." He provides the intro as well as the bridge to the song.