Janet Jackson - Rythym Nation 1814

Decade - 1980's


Janet Jackson - Rythym Nation 1814

This came out while I was in my last years of primary school so I remember most of the tracks quite well. In fact I even remember the "cool kids" doing a dance to Black Cat for our talent show! So it's rather strange to listen to this as an adult.

This was Janet's fourth studio album and was a huge hit, spawning 7 hits over a few years. Rhythym Nation's mission statement is pretty much summed up in the first of many interludes - "Interlude - Pledge" - "We are a nation with no geographic boundaries, bound together through our beliefs, we are like-minded individuals, sharing a common vision, pushing toward a world rid of color-lines."

It may be 'just' a pop album but you have to give it props for having an enormous amount of hit singles, a social conscience, and no filler. It's a reasonably well thought out concept album for its time and is filled with a bunch of catchy, strong R&B pop tunes that sound a little dated now but are still funky and fun.


Score - 7.5/10

Genre - R&B, pop

Best Tracks - Rythym Nation, Escapade, Black Cat, Alright

Recommended? Sure