A CELEBRATION: PLANET EARTH

Continuing the one Prince album a day we arrive at Planet Earth. Share your thoughts on how it first hit you, and how you feel it now.

PLANET EARTH

With Planet Earth’s release I was back in the purple thick of things. Following on from seeing him in 2003 just prior to the release of Musicology I had recently returned from seeing him play 2 shows (and amazing after shows) at 3121. I got a real sense that with the announcement of his 21 shows at the O2, Prince was once again getting the public recognition that had had gone lacking during his period.

So when Planet Earth was released I had to keep my expectations in check, and despite the 3121 allusions in the background graphics, had to separate this work from it’s predecessor.

So with a degree of excitement I pressed the play button on the CD player and waited to see what the view was like from Planet Earth.

With its soft piano and vocal intro Planet Earth quickly drifts into a Princely rock-opera with crescendos a plenty. An interesting song to kick off the album, I always felt it was a more of a closer track than an opener. And for all its pomposity the breakdown at 2:39 is light and airy and salvages the song from being too overly blown, but just. I always felt that in these types of song Prince was just trying a little too hard to show his musical prowess as both composer and performer.

Guitar with its hook you from the get go riff grabs you immediately. A rock-fused track of the ilk of Endorphin machine the song might be a tad light on the lyrical content but delivers on the rock scale. And nice to see the man finally have his priorities in place.

With the grove of a record introing the track, Somewhere Here on Earth is a throwback to the smooth as velvet ballads of the Prince of past. The production is lush without being too syrupy, and allows for Prince’s vocal to carry the melody to perfection. But for all its wondrous arrangements it fails to connect with me, and sadly it has my fingers hovering over the >> button.

Again strutting his rock creds Prince lays out The One U Wanna C. With hints of “when you were mine” in it, the song’s production is even more bedded in the classic rock sphere than in today. It immediately became a song you wanted to cruise the city listening to. Light and happy, it bops along with ease and you could see how this would be a simple crowd pleaser in a live show – it just has that sweep up the crowd in a joyous hook feel to it.

If Somewhere Here on Earth was a throwback, FutureBabyMama was rooted in the present (despite the appearance of the Linn). The whole song is super smooth, it just lays itself out on a silky flow and lets you chill to it. The layering of the background vocals adds extra warmth to the track and a touch more seductive, especially during the final minute.

Mr Goodnight musically feels like Prince has been listening to a few Marvin Gaye and Maxwell tracks. Unfortunately the little rap verses is a bit too cringe worthy to be taken seriously especially the line “all over the world they call my Prince but you can call me Mr Goodnight”. And with the 3121 call out, it further cements the idea that maybe this track (and perhaps the whole album) are the left overs once the crème of the crop had been released.

All the Midnights in the World feels weak to me. As try as I do to get into the song, it feels undercooked and like it is more suited to a middle of the road rock group of the 70s than a vibrant (and relevant) artist of the 2000s.

Thankfully Chelsea Rodgers breaks the losing streak of the album and delivers a slamming funk jam that you can’t sit still too. Packed with energy the track struts like the model on the runway it references, with horn blasts going off like photographers flashes. Lyrically it presents some of Prince’s views on religion and age but they are delivered in a take them or leave them fashion that lets the listener choose to pick em up or just have them wash over them and get caught in the undertow of the music.

Following up with Lion of Judah may not have been the wisest move. Again the song feels a little too forced musically and makes me wonder if Prince is more driven by the need to be seen as doing epic tracks that are musically impressive than actually just letting the tracks go where they want. With all that in mind relistening to it now I feel the final 2 minutes of the song more listenable that the first 3, but still not a track I would find myself going back to for quintessential Prince playlists.

Resolution/Revelation is sadly not one. Whereas Prince’s early politically tinged tracks where rooted in music you couldn’t resist and had lyrics that challenged, this feels like politics for Sesame Street rather than the world at large. Sadly it doesn’t put forward a persuasive argument or musical hook.

As a follow up to Musicology and 3121, Planet Earth just pales. It’s always hard to listen to a Prince album without his back catalogue playing in your mind, but sadly I think people discovering Prince for the first time on this album wouldn’t be that interested in seeing what he came up with next. The harsher critic might argue the reason he gave it away for free was because it wasn’t worth much, but from a strategic point of view it probably served its purpose and that was get people to be aware he was still making music and head on out to the shows. Sadly it would have only left them wanting to hear more from the cannon of Prince and less from the current offering.

Swa
[Edited 7/19/09 20:44pm]

You are spot on with your description, especially Chelsea Rogers.

God DAMN there are a lot of dumb motherfuckers walking around! - George Carlin
Stalkerwomen of the world unite in delusion!!!!!

overall, i like it (although there really is no excuse in the world for the existence of "Resolution"). was very happy to have it after the disappointment of 3121. i don't listen to it on its own very often, though. that's less to do with the music than some things i associate with it.

i might break it out and give it a listen.

"And with the 3121 call out, it further cements the idea that maybe this track (and perhaps the whole album) are the left overs once the crème of the crop had been released."

I had the same feeling..i dont know if its the order or what,but i cant get into this album..Future Baby Mama and Chelsea Rodgers were the only two i liked.

I realy like this one...8.5/10

planet earth-the content is meaningful with a powerful climax...
guitar- love this simple groove with a passion..the last solo..oohh
somewhere here on earth- beautiful & touching
the one u wanna see- good vibes but I don't feel it
future baby mama- these vocals are superb...one of my favs by p, a classic
mr goodnight- this some player shit right here, i can burn one 2 this, ya dig
all the midnights in the world-love the lyrics, lacking production
chelsea rogers-one of his funkier cuts this decade, wish of more prince vocaly
lion of juda- does not stand out but it is still a good song, love to listen
resolution- i just simply love it

i can listen to this whole album str8 through...
i think this is his best behind the lotus project this decade...
they call me crazy


.
[Edited 7/19/09 21:47pm]

I don't agree, to me Planet Earth tops off a trio of 3 of his most accessible and polished sounding albums since the 1980s. It did not appeal to me first but has got better with each listen. Planet Earth is a soaring conscience rock/ballad number. Guitar is so tongue in cheek as he plays its so effortlessly and yet so well, its that typical Prince , (Hey look at me, look at what I can do!). All the Midnights, Mr Goodnight are quite good but not as strong, Chelsea Rodgers is funky and should have been a single. The one u wanna c is pure Prince accessible mid tempo pop (Another genre he practically owns), Future Baby Mama may be a bit silly but is funky and Resolution a bit soupy but ok. The star though is Lion Of Judah one of his best rock ballads in the style of Gold and Dolphin (This is Purple Rain's older brother), all 5 minutes make me shake in awe all over. An outstanding album overrall if somewhat inconsistent, the good songs with the less good, but only Resolution I could consider filler.
B+
This was the last in a triology of brilliant mid millenium albums. I Feel with some exceptions, the three can be introduced as

Musicology - The Serious One
3121 - The Funky One
Planet Earth - The Accomplished One

^^^^^
you know the deal...planet earth is brilliant..

The lotus project is the pinnacle of his 2G out put

Planet earth ain't too bad.


The problem is that the song (and I disagree it should have been a closer--I think it's a perfect opener) kicks off what appears to be an ambitious "Sign of The Times" style approach to an album. But like SOTT, which never really lives up to being a statement but rather a very very well done party album, Planet earth ends up being a less-than-well done party album.

All the songs are a bit subdued, and though there are moments I love in the album (even on tracks others hate), for the most part, it feels a bit stale.

I also don't care too much for Chelsea Rogers--it's one of those songs that is catchy, funky, and fun, but doesn't seem to know how to end.


But who am I to judge? I liked "Mr Goodnight" especially the "Mouth full of raisonettes" line
And I LOVE "All the Midnights in the World"

C:\Otaassk~.exe




Oh dear lawd, life is strange.

vivid is my new boo!

What I love is how this album has brought out different points of view. As I mentioned its not high on my princely playlist, but hearing others views on it I will now listen with new ears. All what the celebration thread has been about.

Swa

I've listened 2 the album 2wice, just plain hate it, unlike others - I loved "RAINBOW CHILDREN", "MUSICOLOGY" and "3121" from start 2 finish, but "PLANET EARTH" just bugs the hell outta me - half-hearted, forgettable throwaway tracks... "Future Baby Mama" and "Mr.Goodnight" are okay, but still far below his usual standard, easily the worst album of his career... IMHO... and I know people LOVE it, and that's fine, different strokes 4 different folks, but cuts like "GUITAR" and "THE 1 U WANNA C" r simply embarrassing.

I dig Planet Earth. I think it is the most consistent of the 2004-2007 albums. You could argue that both Musicology and 3121 have stronger individual tracks but I think that both of those albums also have a couple of duds. It's true that lyrically some of Planet Earth is a tad naive but I really enjoy the music so I can overlook some of the lyrical flaws. I think the consistency of Planet Earth is due to it's relative brevity. It's only about forty minutes long where Musicology is about forty-eight minutes long and 3121 is about fifty-six minutes long.

I'm actually listening to Planet Earth now. I downloaded it for free when it was initially released.Months later my computer had a bug resulting in the loss of Planet Earth (stupid me did not back up the file).

I went to a local music shop and found it for $7.00. My favorite song has always been Chelsea Rogers. It's my work out song. I like Guitar, Somewhere Here on Earth...and that's about it! It's not a a bad cd, but I wasn't feeling every song!

I'm always up for the title track, The One U Wanna C and Lion Of Judah.

When I'm in the mood for Somewhere Here On Earth, no other ballad will do.

Guitar is lovely when I want to hear him kill it as a soloist.

The rest of the album.....if I'm having a Prince all-day playlist, I can sit through it, no problem.

A celebration eh?

i celebrated when i found my disc scratched and unplayable, but then i found a free one i got from the O2 gig and i was sad again.

Planet Earth .... Like of all of Prince's Albums in recent years may not be his best work but is by far so much greater than all the current 'crap' thats been played on MTV these days: Beyonce, Rhianna, T - Pain. Ciara and Akon and not to forget the crap that is Kanye West come to mind!!!!!

Some may think I'm crazy for saying this but some of the songs on it are some of my fav Prince tunes ever like 'Mr Goodnight, Future Baby Mama. Chelsea Rogers and Lion of Judah.

Mr Goodnight is one of my favourite prince songs of all time .... its amazing and I just don't understand why others fans don't like or apperciate it. It just hightlights that Prince is just getting cooler and sexier as times goes by!!! I cant believe someone of his age (51) can sound so cool and sexy!

Some songs are quite standard like Guitar and Resulution but its still a very fine album.

I think people need to listen to it more to fully to appercaite its greatness, personally there are some songs that I have put aside as ok and after a more through listen have noticed just how great it sounds.

I love Prince more and more each day and I think he looks and sounds better with age and yeah as we know we are never gonna hear Purple Rain again I think he is one of the few eighties legends that contunies to make outstanding music way after his peak. Look at Madonna for example she is often given credit for still staying in the game but her recent work is average and could be made by anyone. Her recent tracks like 4 minuets and Give it to me are nothing special! And that me being Kind!

So give me Planet Earth and Prince at his worse over any crappy contemporary singers with limted talent, overexposure and egos the size of the ocean any day!!!!!

Huggiebear said:

Lion Of Judah is musically one of the more captivating rock songs he's released in the past few years. The guitar work is gorgeous, and the vocal work is spot on too.

i thought the album was ASS when i first heard it. My opinion hasn't changed.

by far Prince's worst album imo.

nyse said:

I realy like this one...8.5/10

planet earth-the content is meaningful with a powerful climax...
guitar- love this simple groove with a passion..the last solo..oohh
somewhere here on earth- beautiful & touching
the one u wanna see- good vibes but I don't feel it
future baby mama- these vocals are superb...one of my favs by p, a classic
mr goodnight- this some player shit right here, i can burn one 2 this, ya dig
all the midnights in the world-love the lyrics, lacking production
chelsea rogers-one of his funkier cuts this decade, wish of more prince vocaly
lion of juda- does not stand out but it is still a good song, love to listen
resolution- i just simply love it

i can listen to this whole album str8 through...
i think this is his best behind the lotus project this decade...
they call me crazy


I understand why.
'Musicology' and '3121' are far better albums, this decade.
There's nothing on this album that compels me to listen.
Prince knew what he was giving away for free . . . .

.
[Edited 7/19/09 21:47pm]

i remember i was surfin the web and i came across an article that said prince new album planet earth coming out soon so like i jumped on it and the day it came out i bought it