Rhythm Nation 1814

iTunes Review

Janet Jackson’s previous album, Control, had seen the artist’s firm declaration of artistic independence rewarded with spectacular commercial success. Three years may have ensued before this 1989 follow-up, but any notion that Jackson’s hard-won superstardom had inspired her to rest on her laurels were quickly dispelled only a handful of songs into this collection’s expansive 20 tracks. In fact Jackson seems content about very little here – especially the general state of mankind. While societal protest had long been the province of hip-hop, Janet brought its essence onto the dance floor and into mainstream r&b with a muscular artistic ambition here that’s hard to ignore. Yet she was also shrewd enough to retain the musical catalysts behind much of Control’s success, and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis responded by setting such sociopolitical infused songs like “The Knowledge” and “State of the World” to spare, infectious beats that only served to add a compelling dollop of irony to the mix.