The Rundown: Janelle Monae, Electric Lady

A track-by-track look at the ArchAndroid's latest.

Janelle Monae, The Electric Lady - Janelle Monae returned with her black tux uniform and edgy funk to finally get her props from the mainstream. With the release of The Electric Lady, she set critics pens wagging with her ode to strong women, "Q.U.E.E.N." featuring Erykah Badu. Prince even joined the LP to pump up the Archandroid with the cut "Give 'Em What They Love."  (Photo: Atlantic Records)

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The Rundown: Janelle Monáe, The Electric Lady - With the immense critical success of her first two LPs, psychedelic soulster Janelle Monáe managed to not only become the face of CoverGirl makeup but the unsung face of cutting-edge R&B. Now she is poised for major crossover into the limelight with the release of her third album, The Electric Lady. Check out this track-by-track snapshot of Monáe's latest masterpiece.  (Photo: Atlantic Records)

"Suite IV: Electric Overture" - Monáe's third LP opens with James Bond-like instrumentation, replete with lush strings and a majestic choir of voices. Brief, but it makes the point that a magnum opus has begun.   (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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"Suite IV: Electric Overture" - Monáe's third LP opens with James Bond-like instrumentation, replete with lush strings and a majestic choir of voices. Brief, but it makes the point that a magnum opus has begun.  (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

"Give Em What They Love" featuring Prince - Monáe and Prince combine forces, rocking out over a simmering guitar riff and singing about giving folks what they love.   (Photos from left: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images, Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

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"Give Em What They Love" featuring Prince - Monáe and Prince combine forces, rocking out over a simmering guitar riff and singing about giving folks what they love.  (Photos from left: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images, Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

BET Awards 2013 Performance,

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"Q.U.E.E.N." featuring Erykah Badu - For this melodic synth-n-guitar laced cut, the arch-android teams with Ms. Badu to celebrate being the type of woman that doesn't follow the rules of convention. It's about being from left field and taking a stand for the people. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for BET

"Electric Lady" featuring Solange - This track takes us on a mid-'80s inspired intergalactic trip to an outerspace party led by Monáe, who is accompanied by singer/DJ Solange. Add a touch of go-go timbales and this song gets a "spine to unwind."   (Photos from left: Jim Dyson/Getty Images, Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

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"Electric Lady" featuring Solange - This track takes us on a mid-'80s inspired intergalactic trip to an outerspace party led by Monáe, who is accompanied by singer/DJ Solange. Add a touch of go-go timbales and this song gets a "spine to unwind."  (Photos from left: Jim Dyson/Getty Images, Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

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Janelle Monaé feat. Miguel - “PrimeTime”  - Match made in artist heaven? That’s what Janelle Monáe accompanied by Miguel meant to “PrimeTime,” not to mention leaving listeners probably wondering the next time they’ll hear these two link up to collabo. (Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET)

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"PrimeTime" featuring Miguel - Over this smoldering track, Miguel and Monáe trade his and her versions of the same verses, which delve into the intertwining of love, lovemaking and creativity.  (Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET)

The One and Only... - When it comes to putting on the livest show for the Livest Audience, Janelle Monae is definitely the right artist for the job!   (Photo: John Ricard/Getty Images for BET)

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"We Were Rock and Roll" - Part funk pop and part funk gospel-fest, this track finds Monáe getting into her solo groove, crooning down memory lane and remembering the early days when inspiration made her feel invincible.  (Photo: John Ricard/Getty Images for BET)

"Dance Apocalyptic" - This track mines mid-'80s dance pop like Whitney Houston or Aretha Franklin (think anything produced by Narada Michael Walden) and '40s swing jazz. But Monáe gets a boost, adding her own swag to the mix. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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"Dance Apocalyptic" - This track mines mid-'80s dance pop like Whitney Houston or Aretha Franklin (think anything produced by Narada Michael Walden) and '40s swing jazz. But Monáe gets a boost, adding her own swag to the mix. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Futuristic Performance – June 30, 2013 - With more confidence than a fully gassed rocket launcher, Janelle Monae is poised yet refreshingly energetic. She's pretty much built to be seen on the biggest night in music.As said before we're confident Monae will not disappoint on June 30 at 8P/7C. You just get ready!(Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

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"Look Into My Eyes" - Gliding on this Flamenco-inspired track, Monáe dolls her voice in an elegant '30s chanteuse style and drifts on the subject of deep love.  (Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

Best R&B/Soul Female Artist: Janelle Monáe - Monáe left walking on the "Tightrope" to become a "Q.U.E.E.N"Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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"Suite V: Electric Overture" - Using the same lush orchestration here as she did for the intro, this indulgent cut eventually segues nicely into a samba rhythm and then on to an Austin Powers-ish ending.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Janelle Monáe - 2010's breakout soul space-cadet Janelle Monáe frequently channels Wonder's joyful, unclassifiable soul-pop blend. Her 2010 "Locked Inside" recalls his "Golden Lady" in the best way, and "Sincerely, Jane," from her 2008 debut, uses a loop of "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)." (Photo: Kristian Dowling/PictureGroup)

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"It's Code" - Infused with the elegant funkiness of early '70s love R&B, this track finds Monáe sounding a bit like a young Michael Jackson and singing about needing amor that she's taken for granted. (Photo: Kristian Dowling/PictureGroup)

Rock Your Body – August 29, 2012 - On August 29, 2012, a never disappointing Janelle Monae performed at 2012's AfroPunk Fest, a concert event reminiscent of the early days of hip hop. Monae's no holds barred fast-forwardness was only right to lend itself to such a progressive movement, and move she did as she performed in front of this electric crowd.    This was just rehearsal for the '13 BET Awards.(Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images for Bud Light)

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"Ghetto Woman" - Monáe offers ghetto women inspiration to "carry on" by dipping into Stevie Wonder's orchestral dance melody and chord changes (think "Brighter Star"). "Even in your darkest hours I still see your light," she sings.  (Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images for Bud Light)

Peaceful Beauty - Singer Janelle Monae performs at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert at Oslo Spektrum in Oslo, Norway. (Photo: Ragnar Singsaas/Getty Images)

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"Victory" - On this track Monáe sings of fighting against life on the ropes. Accompanied by a rolling snare and piano mix, the diva's voice soars as she croons, "To be victorious you must find the lovely in the little things." (Photo: Ragnar Singsaas/Getty Images)

"Can't Live Without Your Love" - This cut extracts the essence of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It," with Monáe belting out her undying feelings for a special someone. (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images for BMI)

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"Can't Live Without Your Love" - This cut extracts the essence of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It," with Monáe belting out her undying feelings for a special someone. (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images for BMI)

"Sally Ride" - Monáe draws from blues-rock for this song, where she's belting out an ode to being a spirited woman who needs to find stability and inner peace.   (Photo: WENN)

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"Sally Ride" - Monáe draws from blues-rock for this song, where she's belting out an ode to being a spirited woman who needs to find stability and inner peace.  (Photo: WENN)

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"Dorothy Dandridge Eyes" featuring Esperanza Spalding  - The black-and-white dressed singer is joined by Esperanza Spalding on this smooth jazz cut. On it, Monáe flattens out her vocals to sing the praises of a hypnotically beautiful woman who dazzles folks with her eyes.   (Photos from left: Jemal Countess/Getty Images, Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images for Smithsonian Magazine)

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"Dorothy Dandridge Eyes" featuring Esperanza Spalding  - The black-and-white dressed singer is joined by Esperanza Spalding on this smooth jazz cut. On it, Monáe flattens out her vocals to sing the praises of a hypnotically beautiful woman who dazzles folks with her eyes.  (Photos from left: Jemal Countess/Getty Images, Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images for Smithsonian Magazine)

"What an Experience" - Monáe closes out this LP with a low-key love tune fueled by a Caribbean-infused mix of upright keyboard work and ethereal vocals.   (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Etam)

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"What an Experience" - Monáe closes out this LP with a low-key love tune fueled by a Caribbean-infused mix of upright keyboard work and ethereal vocals.  (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Etam)