EW review

How sad is it that a magazine like Entertainment Weekly gives LotusFlow3r a C-?

Well, I would accept them having an opinion (even if I disagree), except for the fact that the person doing the reviewing is obviously unqualified... Why do I say that, you ask? Because she compared the track "4ever" to Funkadelic...

Get a FUNKin’ clue!

BTW... In the previous issue, in their "Bullseye" section, they claimed that the 3-disc set didn't contain enough good songs for even one disc... Whatever...

It's just an opinion.

Edit: here's the review:

peterv said:

Hello... I'm Come funkateer 'Danceelectric'
from Housequake.com

Dayclear said:

It's just an opinion.

peterv said:

Dayclear said:

It's just an opinion.

Yes... But an "unqualified" one. You (the reviewer) can't make a bogus reference in a comparison and expect to maintain credibility. That was point made in this thread.

Entertainment Weekly got lucky and actually gave an accurate review. The new 3cd set is a mess and should have been edited down. But the 3cds for the price of one gimmick worked so you gotta hand it to Prince for that tricky one.

Man, I don't know. I feel like some of MPLSound are at best comparable (quality wise) to b-side that were written around the "1999" era. Only I liked "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore", "Irresistible Bitch" and "Horny Toad" better.

Most reviews completely pan Bria's CD, and I think some of that negativity spreads to the other CDs.

Summing up the review in one sentence...

"Prince is old, therefore he is incapable of putting out a good album. C- "

Bullshit.

I don't think a lot of these reviews are based on really listening to the record to tell you the truth. I think they are ear scanned and listened to one time only, which in my opinion is not enough time to really know what U are saying.

These kind of negative reviews always seem to circulate when Prince does not work with the record industry.

'Musicology', '3121' in particular, garnered many positive reviews but 'Lotusflower' IMO is in many ways superior.

Hi,

The review is not that far off, yes a few dumb non-music related stupid comments, but as a 20yr plus fan, I would generally agree with the review.

I do think it comes in more like a C+ to B-. I have not yet listened to the Bria tracks, but have the 2 Prince based discs for 2 wks straight. Would/Could have been a B to B+ one cd set.

This is nothing new, he sometimes puts too much out (emancipation) while us critics wish he unearthed a deeper track from the vault, or cut it to one cd of stronger material

Overall not a bad release, but from the sales not exactly bringing him back to 84/85 fan status, which is ok with me.

My key to enjoying Prince these days is to treat the albums less like albums and more like compilations. This way I can pick the 3 songs for each album that I really dig, and return to those, instead of getting upset everytime Valentina comes on. Sorry guys, just don't dig it, ala poom poom.

On a positive note, the setlists from the LA 3 show are fantastic, and I can't wait to see him live.
[Edited 4/12/09 6:57am]
[Edited 4/12/09 6:58am]
[Edited 4/12/09 6:59am]

See that's why Prince makes music he likes and for fans who will always find the parts they like.

Tame said:

I don't think a lot of these reviews are based on really listening to the record to tell you the truth. I think they are ear scanned and listened to one time only, which in my opinion is not enough time to really know what U are saying.

There was a time when there were a hand full of respected music critics that on their recommendation I would fork out my allowance when i was a kid or my measly young adult paycheck on.

Robert Hilburn of the LA Times who is now retired, and Kurt Loder to name a few, they were not great writers, but had great taste in music.

Now we have almost anonymous critics who seem not to even know basic facts about the artist they are writing about.

Can anybody cite a good music critic right now? one whose positive critique will inspire you to go out and buy a record?
If you do turn me on to them because I keep bumping in these kind of reviewers.

if you're picking up entertainment weekly for your critical reading you have bigger problems than amateurish reviewers simply doing their jobs and writing what's expected of them. on the other hand, i'm not aware of any source of good critical writing on mainstream pop. the whole thing is a mug's game. pop music is not a platform for serious art. it can only be seen as an extreme fluke that an artist like prince made headway in the industry to begin with. prince continues to keep playing the game so if he doesn't do what it takes to earn/buy positive reviews then he can only be seen as failing at that particular aspect of the game.

entertainment weekly used to mention prince in almost every issue, back when he was on wb records (ew is owned by the same parent company). they started dropping little digs at him into the magazine back around the time of the 'o(+>' album and the negotiations/arguments about princes so-called '$108 million' deal.

stanleylieber said:

.
[Edited 4/12/09 18:25pm]

why would one expect that? it's crap about crap.

i say this as a former subscriber.

That's a pretty much spot on review actually.

After listening to it for a week or so, I haven't really listened to much of it at all, and I suspect that the majority of the songs will not enter my frequently played playlists.

I think that Prince as a recording artist is pretty much over. He doesn't have anything original or innovative to say, and he (or his ego) isn't willing to challenge himself to create anything of substance anymore.

That said, I'll be first in line to see him when he plays live.

stanleylieber said:

why would one expect that? it's crap about crap.

i say this as a former subscriber.

stanleylieber said:

BTW... I didn't start this thread because some magazine posted a negative review about Prince. If someone has a case, and makes it, then cool… However, I am also of the opinion that if one is gonna go up against someone who is of the caliber of Prince, then they best get their facts straight. Period.

EW is a lame magazine with soundbyte reviews, they cant even rate tv and movies properly. Sure its all opinions, but we all know alot of people read them and take them as Gospel and quote reviews, so opinions they may be, but i think people who write them should have some credentials. Just the fact that the review pulls out PR and SOT just like every other review, it has no meaning

Se7en said:

EW wasnt always this bad was it?
Tt looks like its only a matter of time before it turns itself into direct print copy of cable channel E,
[Edited 4/12/09 19:36pm]

Ok, C- is a little bit too harsh.

I would go for a C+/B- rating. (It is not B+, guys, get real)

It has too many filler songs (What is 77 Beverly Park doing in this album, for example)

It could have been a solid B+/A- album if it was a single album with songs mostly from MPLSound (anything but the ballads) and 3,4 songs from Lotusflow3r (Colonized Mind, Crimson & Clover, Dreamer etc.).

Bria's album is a nice B- album in my opinion.

Anyways, let's see if he releases anything more in the website

I still think im in one othe those Twilight Zone episodes when critics prefer MNPLSOUND, like the one when the pig-faced folks want pig-face the pretty girl.
[Edited 4/12/09 19:49pm]

C- minus seems like i would imagine how a non fan would view this album. I don't believe it's a C.. but if I wasn't a fan, this would be junk.
[Edited 4/12/09 21:08pm]

I'd give it a B- at best.

And opinions = asshole. Everyone has one, and they all stink. Move on.