Amazon.co.jp
前作『コントロール』に引き続き、ジャム&ルイスをプロデューサーに起用した、89年リリースの4枚目作品である。特筆すべきは、全篇細部にまでこだわりを感じる音作り! これがもう「参りました」の一言につきる。
いまだのしかかるこの重厚感など、とても10数年も前のサウンドとは思えない。自らもプロデュースに名を連ねている本作で、兄マイケルの七光りを完全に返上し、音楽性豊かなジャネット・ジャクソンを、人々に深く印象づけたようである。(春野丸緒)
Amazon.com essential recording
Picking up where the breakthrough funk-pop of
Control left off, Janet Jackson and her production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis laced
Rhythm Nation with high-minded references to societal ills--seldom the favored province of dance music, but a daring attempt nonetheless. Songs like "State of the World" and "The Knowledge" follow in the tradition of "free your mind and your ass will follow." Still, aside from the title track, it was the pure pop fare and dance music that stormed the charts: "Escapade," "Love Will Never Do (Without You)," "Alright," and "Come Back to Me" concentrate on the politics of personal relationships, not public policy, while "Black Cat" burns the place down with a fierce burst of hard rock.
Rhythm Nation 1814 doesn't necessarily hang together thematically, but it's so chock full of hits, you scarcely notice.
--Daniel Durchholz