Control showed her to be a massive singles act, but Rhythm Nation: 1814 proved that Janet Jackson was not only capable of propelling a song, but fully conceiving a concept album as well. Rhythm Nation: 1814 was her most coherent artistic statement and, sadly, also her last truly great album: Edgy and diverse, dark but never completely forboding, Rhythm Nation combined tough beats, irresistible melodies and anthemic lyrics to build an R&B landmark.

The title track opens the album with a real kick, with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' mighty rhythm track, the massive backing vocals and the stunning chorus. "State of the World" was a deserved radio hit (which but for the lack of a commercial release would've been the album's *eighth* Top 10 single); "Miss You Much" added a maturity and a harder-edged sound to her Control dance formula and triumphed in spades; "Come Back to Me" and "Lonely"'s Spanish guitars and moody keyboards helped Janet achieve her first good ballad performances ("Let's Wait Awhile" from Control came tumbling down into the syrup jug); "Black Cat" was "Beat It" updated with snarling guitar riffs and a growling Janet Jackson lead vocal; and "Escapade" proved that Miss J. hadn't lost her sense of fun.

Sonically this is the only Janet Jackson album that doesn't sound dated at all -- even The Velvet Rope and janet. heralded to an '80s sound, looking back instead of forward. Rhythm Nation: 1814, on the other hand, was a prophetic and important work, and ten years after its release holds up to scrutiny on all fronts -- vocal performance, arrangement, recording, groove.

This is really terrific. I listened to this album a lot in 1989-90 while all its hit singles were spinning into the charts and playing from the radio.

Janet Jackson was 23 when she made this excellent album, and it remains her best work. She had really good producers on her team, wrote strong social-comment lyrics, and made stylish videos , usually with squads of well-drilled dancers performing funk workouts in formation . The mission statement on Track 1 of Rhythm Nation is the dream of a "nation with no geographic boundaries... free from colour lines" and this admirable ideal is promoted on funky title tune. The lead single Miss You Much also funked out with a staccato beat and hit US #1 in October 1989. Further hits were also squarely in the dance/pop tradition , such as the upbeat Escapade, the happy-sounding Love Will Never Do ( Without You ) and the groovy Alright . Social injustice is highlighted on the rather-good ballad Livin' In A World ( They Didn't Make ) and the uptempo State Of The World , while the rocking number Black Cat really works very well, with its heavy rock guitar sound precisely capturing the song's raunchy sentiments. The Knowledge is an angular funk groove all about getting a good education. Janet's albums always balanced funky and smooth elements, so here we had the nice, stately love ballad Come Back To Me and the seductive bedroom tune Someday Is Tonight to represent the softer side of her music. Interspersed throughout the running order of the disc are sound snippets and fragments of commentary that help to link the songs together rather like a sound collage. A very good idea !

Every song here succeeds - that's why Rhythm Nation 1814 deserves a 5 star rating.

Highly Recommended to all music fans.

In 1986, Janet Jackson burst onto the music scene with the cd Control. In 1989, Rhythm Nation surpassed it. I don't believe Janet has made such a consistently pleasing cd since. 1993's Janet and 1997's The Velvet Rope didn't quite match the consistency nor the great songs that Rhythm Nation had. Half of Rhythm Nation is hits: "Miss You Much", "Rhythm Nation", "Escapade", Love Will Never Do Without You", "Alright", "Black Cat" and "Come Back To Me." Janet and The Velvet Rope lack these kinds of remarkable songs. Control is more adolescent in nature than Rhythm Nation. This is a must have for any rock collector.

I had the fortune to see Janet interpret this music live, during her European tour. I even got a piece of Johny Gill's (her opening act) towel, when they played in Paris! (although it totally got ripped to shreds). Needless to say, I had a great time, and my review of this album is based not only on my assessment of the music but of the entire vibe of 1989/90.

This is an excellent record, the best comprehensive showcase of Janet Jackson's performing skills, and the best overall concept she ever brought to an album. Whether it is the insistent and heartfelt march of "Rhythm Nation," the skillfull groove of "The Knowledge" and "State of the World" or the wonderful, sweet, and lovely vibe of "Escapade," and "Alright" this album just works from beginning to end. The interludes do not distract from the feel of this record, they are part of the organic whole.

Janet's choreography on this tour is also worthy of note. Hugely influential, there is almost NO video on MTV today that hasn't taken a page out of that book.

This is Janet Jackson's masterpiece, an album that holds up well fifteen years later, and should remind her of the true standard she should be living up to.

Get out of the bedroom Janet, we know you're sexy. Start saying something again and it will all fall back into place.

top 5 rhythm nation picks:

love will never do without you

alright

state of the world

the knowledge

living in a world they didn't make

honorable mention: come back to me, this ballad is too beautiful to be ignored