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Thread started 05/08/09 8:49am

tricky99

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Planet Earth

Many seem view “Planet Earth” as a weak album. Is the reason the quality of the songs or the cumulative effect of the listening experience? I like each song individually and consider each of them “good”, however I think where Planet Earth falls short is in coherence. Its plays as a collection of unrelated songs with no underlying theme or sound to unify it and give the whole set a distinct personality. So when one thinks of Planet Earth it doesn’t conjure an image. I think other fans have noted this has well.

With this mind I believe Prince heard the “constructive criticism” and birthed MPLSound and LotusFlower with cohesion of sound and structure more realized. Also taking note fans clamoring for a rock album while others begged from funk led to the two for one multi-album project. Prince indeed listens to his fans and tries to please them to some extent. Those who think otherwise aren’t really paying attention.

I also submit that the probable reason that “Elixer” was included in the set stems from what happened with Tamar’s CD. I think Record label politics lead to the CD being shelved. Prince decided to insure that the same thing would not happen to Bria by including the CD as a bundle with his. Thoughts?
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Reply #1 posted 05/08/09 8:54am

Graycap23

The problem with PE is that it was NEVER a real project 2 begin with.
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Reply #2 posted 05/08/09 11:40am

novabrkr

I don't see "Planet Earth" being any less cohesive in theme than most of his classic albums from the 80s, but I guess perceptions in that regard may vary. Funny how people were longing for the Dream Factory sound to return for so long and when they actually got some of it on "Planet Earth" they decided to spit on it.

I still consider it a better album than either "Musicology" or "3121". At least it's more interesting sonically.

Wrong forum, btw.
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Reply #3 posted 05/08/09 11:42am

purplecam

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Tricky, you my boy but this is the wrong forum. giggle
I'm not a fan of "old Prince". I'm not a fan of "new Prince". I'm just a fan of Prince. Simple as that
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Reply #4 posted 05/08/09 8:38pm

luv4u

Moderator

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moderator

purplecam said:

Tricky, you my boy but this is the wrong forum. giggle


I'm putting him into the right forum giggle

Moving to Prince: M&M forum
canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #5 posted 05/08/09 9:00pm

babynoz

To begin with, I think the title threw me off. I was expecting perhaps some experimentation with music from different regions of the world incorporated into his sound. That surely would have been interesting, but I don't blame Prince for my expectations.

I love the title track and like 4 other songs but I lost interest in the album as a whole pretty quickly...same with Musicology.
Prince, in you I found a kindred spirit...Rest In Paradise.
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Reply #6 posted 05/08/09 10:30pm

stanleylieber

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novabrkr said:

I don't see "Planet Earth" being any less cohesive in theme than most of his classic albums from the 80s, but I guess perceptions in that regard may vary. Funny how people were longing for the Dream Factory sound to return for so long and when they actually got some of it on "Planet Earth" they decided to spit on it.

I still consider it a better album than either "Musicology" or "3121". At least it's more interesting sonically.

Wrong forum, btw.


Co-sign.
it's time for a new direction / it's time for jazz to die
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Reply #7 posted 05/08/09 10:45pm

pplrain

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tricky99 said:

Many seem view “Planet Earth” as a weak album. Is the reason the quality of the songs or the cumulative effect of the listening experience? I like each song individually and consider each of them “good”, however I think where Planet Earth falls short is in coherence. Its plays as a collection of unrelated songs with no underlying theme or sound to unify it and give the whole set a distinct personality. So when one thinks of Planet Earth it doesn’t conjure an image. I think other fans have noted this has well.

With this mind I believe Prince heard the “constructive criticism” and birthed MPLSound and LotusFlower with cohesion of sound and structure more realized. Also taking note fans clamoring for a rock album while others begged from funk led to the two for one multi-album project. Prince indeed listens to his fans and tries to please them to some extent. Those who think otherwise aren’t really paying attention.

I also submit that the probable reason that “Elixer” was included in the set stems from what happened with Tamar’s CD. I think Record label politics lead to the CD being shelved. Prince decided to insure that the same thing would not happen to Bria by including the CD as a bundle with his. Thoughts?


I agree! I think Prince is very concerned about pleasing his fans, how can he not be? biggrin

I think some fans were a little disturbed by some of the lyrics in Chelsea Rodgers, Mr Goodnight and Future baby mama. I didn't really mind these songs, gave us an insight in Prince's mind when he was creating this album.
I loved Guitar, Somewhere here on earth, it is not my favorite album, but I can listen to it without cringing.
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Reply #8 posted 05/08/09 10:57pm

pplrain

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Elixer is very nice..... I have been listening to it alot. I especially like "home".
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Reply #9 posted 05/08/09 11:25pm

ernestsewell

Planet Earth is the best album of the 00's, by far.
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Reply #10 posted 05/08/09 11:25pm

stanleylieber

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pplrain said:

Elixer is very nice..... I have been listening to it alot. I especially like "home".


thumbs up!
it's time for a new direction / it's time for jazz to die
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Reply #11 posted 05/09/09 1:32am

thedance

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ernestsewell said:

Planet Earth is the best album of the 00's, by far.


eek really? - I don't think so.

The Rainbow Children (9)
N.E.W.S. (2)
ONA... Live (2)
Musicology (7)
The Chocolate Invasion (6)
Slaughterhouse (6)
3121 (6)
Planet Earth (5)
Indigo Nights (2)
Lotus Flower (8)
MPLSound (8)

Planet Earth is the Newpower Soul of the 00's biggrin
Prince 4Ever. heart
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Reply #12 posted 05/09/09 5:10am

Tame

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Love, "Planet Earth." cool
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight...
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Reply #13 posted 05/09/09 6:51am

spiritandtruth

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For me, PE is upbeat and positive in its entirety, second only to TRC in the 00's. My very first impression of it was that it evoked a happiness. It is lighthearted and stands out to me as a work possessing a purity and almost innocence. Definitely a "feel good" album. My husband said it reminded him of "Up with people" lol
http://prince.org/msg/105/307615
"Eternity is just one kiss away"
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Reply #14 posted 05/09/09 7:09am

Imago

It was a decent album, far more interesting than Musicology.

How someone can play Planet Earth and not be reminded of his Sign 'o' The Times era is beyond me.

All The Midnights of the World, one of his best short ballads ever IMO, could easily have been a bootleg hit like Heaven from Dream Factory. Even Planet Earth's title track could have been a Dream Factory era song.

The problem with Planet Earth to me is just that it had no emotional resonance. It had no 'classic' single. Guitar wasn't just unimpressive for a song about his guitar, it was bland and generic sounding---Prince , if anything, wasn't meant to sound normal.

Overall, it's one of my least favorite Prince albums of late, but I don't think it's as terrible as folks say it is.
[Edited 5/9/09 7:11am]
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Reply #15 posted 05/09/09 7:18am

errant

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I like it more than 3121, but not as much as Lotus/MPLSound or maybe Musicology.

It does feel like a mish-mash of things, though. I think in retrospect it's pretty easy to tell that it's outtakes from the 3121/LotusFlower sessions. The r&b/funk/soul tracks (and a couple of the rockers) suffer slightly from overproduction of 3121 and most of the rockers have the more organic sound of LF.
"does my cock look fat in these jeans?"
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Reply #16 posted 05/09/09 7:23am

squirrelgrease

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If prince.org were to be made idiot proof, someone would just invent a better idiot.
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Reply #17 posted 05/09/09 7:58am

ernestsewell

thedance said:

Planet Earth is the Newpower Soul of the 00's biggrin


Those two are night and day. PE had "Guitar" and "The 1 U Wanna C" which were great pop songs. Title track and S.H.O.E. were beautiful ballads. "Mr. Goodnight" and "Future Baby Mama" were fun mid-tempo numbers. The only song I don't care for is "Lion of Judah".

The NPGMC stuff is ridiculously dry, plastic, vapid, and uninspired. ONA Live was a joke advertising "your favorite songs like 'Condition of the Heart' LIVE" because it was the piano medley at best. Don't even get me started on the hateful TRC album.
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Reply #18 posted 05/09/09 11:30am

purplecorvette
1

Tame said:

Love, "Planet Earth." cool



Me too, Somewhere Here on Earth is my favourite.
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Reply #19 posted 05/10/09 6:59am

saafiir

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Minus "Mr.Goodnight" & "All The Midnights In The World"... Planet Earth is a Great Album !

cool
I'll die in your arms under the cherry moon...
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Reply #20 posted 05/10/09 9:02am

NouveauDance

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Imago said:


All The Midnights of the World, one of his best short ballads ever IMO, could easily have been a bootleg hit like Heaven from Dream Factory.

thumbs up!
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Reply #21 posted 05/10/09 11:11am

ernestsewell

saafiir said:

Minus "Mr.Goodnight" & "All The Midnights In The World"... Planet Earth is a Great Album !

cool


I agree with NoveauDance, thumbs up on this. Although....I like "Mr. Goodnight", but the spoken word part is a bit LOOOOONG for my taste. I'd keep Midnights in lieu of ditching "Lion of Judah" and "Resolution". But if I had to get rid of midnights too, I would. I'd insert a few songs from 3121, and beef up the disk to near 75 minutes, and have a really great full CD.
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Reply #22 posted 05/10/09 11:35am

nosajd

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There were only two songs I didn't care for on the album, the rest of it to me was pretty good, the title track opening alone had me convinced. I was expecting something different as someone had mentioned before, but most of the album was entertaining enough for my appetite. I was hoping it would've been a little longer but the fact that he released it & that I wasn't really expecting anything from him for awhile & then boom he dropped it was pretty cool. I was just excited that he released something so soon.
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Reply #23 posted 05/10/09 11:44am

peter430044

I like Planet Earth a lot. I've never thought about the album as inchoherent. Although he could've placed the title track at the end, it's rather gloomy.

It's hard to say if Elixir was included partly because of what happened to Tamar's CD. In any case, it was a good move to include it. If you're an artist starting out and you get a chance to be included next to Prince, that's very good.
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Reply #24 posted 05/10/09 11:49am

ernestsewell

peter430044 said:

I like Planet Earth a lot. I've never thought about the album as inchoherent. Although he could've placed the title track at the end, it's rather gloomy.


I think it's heady, and moody, but it's positive. Doesn't seem dismal or depressive or anything. It is odd that Prince started an album with a ballad like that. I can't really think of another CD where that happened.

It's hard to say if Elixir was included partly because of what happened to Tamar's CD. In any case, it was a good move to include it. If you're an artist starting out and you get a chance to be included next to Prince, that's very good.


Too bad he didn't just include Tamar's CD with 3121. Would have been so simple, and a good thing. Would have been a very strong package, opposed to the Lotus schlock. Lotus is one decent disk at best of the three CDs. I have moments when I like Bria's CD, then other times when days or a couple of weeks pass before I even remember it.
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Reply #25 posted 05/10/09 12:09pm

peter430044

ernestsewell said:

peter430044 said:

I like Planet Earth a lot. I've never thought about the album as inchoherent. Although he could've placed the title track at the end, it's rather gloomy.


I think it's heady, and moody, but it's positive. Doesn't seem dismal or depressive or anything. It is odd that Prince started an album with a ballad like that. I can't really think of another CD where that happened.

It's hard to say if Elixir was included partly because of what happened to Tamar's CD. In any case, it was a good move to include it. If you're an artist starting out and you get a chance to be included next to Prince, that's very good.


Too bad he didn't just include Tamar's CD with 3121. Would have been so simple, and a good thing. Would have been a very strong package, opposed to the Lotus schlock. Lotus is one decent disk at best of the three CDs. I have moments when I like Bria's CD, then other times when days or a couple of weeks pass before I even remember it.


The title track is both negative and positive, I just feel that I don't want a song that starts the album that talks about "Imagine you could rid the Earth of anyone you choose...". It's not that it's a bad song, it's good, but it's not the kind of song I want to hear at the beginning.
[Edited 5/10/09 12:10pm]
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Reply #26 posted 05/10/09 12:19pm

bigd74

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I really like PE, much more than 3121 but i do like Musicologyalot aswell.






cool
She Believed in Fairytales and Princes, He Believed the voices coming from his stereo

If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me?
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Reply #27 posted 05/10/09 1:40pm

Smillan

With the CD being given away for free in the UK and Ireland, I wonder if some of the tracks were more/mere throwaways which Prince saw as a way to release them. The album starts off quite strongly (IMO) with the first three songs and goes through the motions afterwards, finishing off with two pleasant songs.

I think that a difficulty with Planet Earth was the two songs that were released afterwards, F.U.N.K. and Turn Me Loose both being of a strong tracks.

All in all though, I quite like Planet Earth, although I'd rate 3121 higher.
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Reply #28 posted 05/10/09 3:22pm

bigd74

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Smillan said:

With the CD being given away for free in the UK and Ireland, I wonder if some of the tracks were more/mere throwaways which Prince saw as a way to release them. The album starts off quite strongly (IMO) with the first three songs and goes through the motions afterwards, finishing off with two pleasant songs.

I think that a difficulty with Planet Earth was the two songs that were released afterwards, F.U.N.K. and Turn Me Loose both being of a strong tracks.

All in all though, I quite like Planet Earth, although I'd rate 3121 higher.


Turn Me Loose is still unreleased although a studio version has been played on the radio


cool
She Believed in Fairytales and Princes, He Believed the voices coming from his stereo

If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me?
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Reply #29 posted 05/10/09 3:24pm

101

ernestsewell said:

Planet Earth is the best album of the 00's, by far.


you can't be serious...
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