I mean from the samples....

[Edited 7/8/10 16:37pm]

This really sounds cool thanx for your reviews

Now 2 bribe my newsagent

NouveauDance said:

Beginning Endlessly is really NPS-like.

Ok, now im listening, give it to us straight. Track by track.

I could take it. dont hold back. It was sounding too good to be true.

If Everybody Loves Me sounds like anything, it's like a hybrid of a Jack U Off/No More Candy-style stomp and a bar-room boogiewoogie piano hook. Pretty fun-sounding, but lightweight. Nice wee finisher, until..

Laydown - which is Prince meets the Black Eyed Peas to me. Not as horrible as that sounds, quirky as fook and it sounds like he's enjoying himself. Lovely synth work, actually. Heavy groove.

And now Im off to bed. I'll probably hate it tomorrow and deeply regret everything I've written tonight.

Number23 said:

If Everybody Loves Me sounds like anything, it's like a hybrid of a Jack U Off/No More Candy-style stomp and a bar-room boogiewoogie piano hook. Pretty fun-sounding, but lightweight. Nice wee finisher, until..

Laydown - which is Prince meets the Black Eyed Peas to me. Not as horrible as that sounds, quirky as fook and it sounds like he's enjoying himself. Lovely synth work, actually. Heavy groove.

And now Im off to bed. I'll probably hate it tomorrow and deeply regret everything I've written tonight.

Thanks SO much for the minute by minute impressions!

Thirdeye said:

This really sounds cool thanx for your reviews

Now 2 bribe my newsagent

Snap doing the same thing tomorrow!

Just phoned the local newsagent here in Australia and they have confirmed that they do not stock these British Newspapers, will he sell this online?

First of all, before you ask. I could share a link, but it would do no good. The place I got it dried up. I would expect it to start popping up all over the place though over the course of the day. Not being greedy, just not able to point anyone to a source that will work. Good luck! Shouldn't be too tough.

On my first listen and REALLY enjoying it so far.

Compassion is a cool track. Lots of stereo effect going on in this one.

Beginning Endlessly is just ridiculously good. If I weren't so psyched to hear the rest I would repeat it a few times for sure.

Future Love Song sounds like it could have been an outtake ballad from the love symbol / diamonds and pearls era. To me that's a good thing.

Sticky Like Glue is Linn funk but doesn't bring old Prince to mind at all. It's totally funky, but cool as a cucumber and chill. Not a riotous funk track but still has an irresistibly dance-y groove going on. I keep picturing the Charlie Brown characters dancing to this. No idea why.... weird.

Act Of God sounds like it would have fit in on the MPLSound album nicely. Only it doesn't totally suck.

Lavaux has some seriously old school synth sounds going on but to different effect than retro Prince here. I could stand to stop and repeat this one a few times as well, but I can do that later. This one could be a monster live, for real. You could vamp hard on the end of this song all day and it wouldn't get old in a live setting.

Walk In Sand sounds like an updated ballad from 'For You'. Pretty simple and sweet, but I'm not loving it to death. I'm digging his drum playing in this though. Tasty and tasteful.

Sea Of Everything is another ballad. The vocal styling reminds me of 'Somewhere Here On Earth'. Again, not loving it to death, but it doesn't suck at all. This one will likely grow on me as it soaks in over multiple listens. What can I say, I like Prince ballads. Not all of them, but this one seems like it may be along the lines of ones I like

Everybody loves me is super poppy, in an 80's new wave way. Sounds like Queen and and Devo getting together to pogo dance and sing-along. Very new-wave. Authentic. Prince 'Turning Japanese'. Halfway through the song there is a section that get a little MPLSound-y and kinda throws off the vibe for me. The new-wave bouncing was working perfectly without that little section imho.

The bonus track is a menacing, dark sounding funk romp. Weird, psychedelic militaristic hip-hop funk. This song has to be called 'Lay It Down' I dig it. I see why it was separated from the rest of the album by all the tracks of silence. It has a very different feel than the rest of the songs.

[Edited 7/8/10 16:54pm]

NouveauDance said:

I'm scared.

Compassion - Let's Pretend We're Married done by a 52 year old JW. It get's all 'Time Warp' in the second half, which I actually like, I think this would work really well live actually, with all the backing singers letting rip. Like it once it gets going.

Beginning Endlessly is really NPS-like. This isn't an insult, it just has that same sparse electronic sound. Probably my favourite on the album?

Future Soul Song is my one of my favourites so far. Very Lush and sugary, I like the layered harmonies though. Sometimes I think 'Insatiable', other times I think it sounds quite modern pop/R&B (which is icky), but it's also kinda classic Prince ballad too. Damn U comes to mind also - probably needs to kick off more at the end with guitar and screams, feels like it's missing that maybe.

Sticky Like Glue is airy and spars - funky but mid-tempo. Reminds me of something like 'If I Could Get Your Attention' if a little more laidback. I can see where Number 23 is saying the LP is quirky. This has a 78/9 era feel to me in terms of a light/simple feeling, not necessarily instrumentation though. Brings to mind Strollin'/Wonderful Ass/If I Could Get Your Attention. What's that guitar lick at the very start from?

Act Of God - Sounds like a comedy song with the synth bass. Like a Time song waiting for the rest of the instruments. Preachy/church sounding like 'When Will We Be Paid'. 'The Work' meets 'One Day I'm Gonna Be Somebody'.

Lavaux - The easiest 'most familiar' sounding track to get into - Like Prince of 79/80 trying to sound like 'Off The Wall' era MJ.

Walk In Sand - So boring. Plinky/plonky 'All The Midnights In The World' (which I like). OK the piano is nice, at one point I was reminded of Vince Guaraldi, but nowhere near as enjoyable. Might grow on me. The vocals do nothing for me though.

Sea of Everything - Starts with the Prince ballad "Huuurrrhoooo, baby" - More Satisfied/On The Couch snooze stuff. Cheesy twinkly Emancipation type noodlings.

Everybody Loves Me - Oh my God..... Wet Dream and Do It All Night's cousin does a song and dance in the aisle on the short bus. Sesame Street Jesus Happy Clappers. It is fun, you can't really hate it for too long.

Laydown - No. Just no. This is the most modern sounding track on the album. As if Black Eyed Peas had produced 'GCS2000'. I want to press 'next', but it's the last track

The album as a whole sounds quite quickly made, not TOO much going on musically, sparse synth stuff, clean and light on guitar - no big rock out numbers, nothing like Dreamer or even Fury here (I only bring this up as a point of interest, I'm not particularly a fan of Prince's rock stuff especially, so I don't look for that - but some of his better more recent stuff has been guitar led, IMO). For me it's quite NPS-like overall. None of the songs are really very long - None really take any strange or unexpected twists and changes.

Better than MPLSound, nothing really as good as the highlights on Lotusflow3r ($, Boom, Dreamer etc), more cohesive and less patchy than Planet Earth. More enjoyable already than either 3121 or Musicology. It's simplicity is pleasing, but maybe it's all a little too simple?

(Just initial impressions, typed as I had a first listen through of each track, not set in stone).

[Edited 7/8/10 17:31pm]

I loving "Beginning Endlessly" the most!

Compassion: Play In The Sunshine pt 2. I understand the SOTT references now. Fun song, doesn't come off like he's done it before. Surprisingly fresh. Some nice guitar work and female backing vocals.

Beginning Endlessly: Track sounds like he constructed it in Pro Tools, as opposed to playing drums live, for example. I like the sparseness. So far, this album sounds like Prince back in the day, but new, as others have said. He doesn't sound like he's forcing it or something. Synths rule this and nice slow funk guitar riffs start at 3:47. Interesting bridge at 4:07. Nice pop writing.

Future Soul Song: Finally a slow song where he doesn't try to make his voice sound younger. This is a mature, lush soul song. Beautiful. I anticipate heavy rotation at slow R&B stations for this one. Would have been a massive 70's hit, except maybe for the vocals from outer space. 3 songs in and it's my favorite Prince album in over 20 years, easily.

Sticky Like Glue: Sounds like a cross between classic Prince and classic Michael Jackson. DAMN Prince where you been? Amazing song! Raw, Funky, Catchy yet fresh. Best shot at a radio hit so far on this album. The rap mixed with singing at the end really works. Instant vintage!

Lavaux: ok ok, dang! Don't understand why some don't like this one. More vintage Prince! Somebody must have helped him keep this set focused. It's brilliant! No true P fan will be disappointed. He's nailed a new/retro kind of sound. Sounds like another nod to MJ, in a way.

Act Of God: Steely Dan style track and they'd be proud to have this on one of their albums.

Walk In Sand: Jazzy slow song with very clean production. 70's feel to it too, in a good way.

Sea Of Everything: Linn drum infused slow jam. He's done it a million times, but never this mature. Some nice dense backing vocals toward the end, as only he can do.

Everybody Loves Me: Wow, this track is genius. I can hear it in a kindergarden or an NBA game. It's ultra cheese and it works! Wow, amazing song!

Laydown: Raw funk power jam. Funny and most current sounding track. Not my style but not bad at all. I won't skip it, since it's last anyway..

Overall: I'm very impressed with 50's Prince. He seems to really have found "it" again whatever the heck that is. A lot of people are going to love this album.

I have just listened to it 7 times now. I am on new album euphoria and i need a break, going to bed now, it's late.

All i can say is i like the album very much, when stuff like Musicology, 3121, PE and Lotus came out, i cannot recall listening to those so much in the first day.

Gonna take another listen in the morning once i have calmed down a bit, see what it sounds like then.

Bye all.

Thanks for reading all of my ramblings.

Overall impression is that I REALLY like the record. 'Beginning Endlessly' is fucking out-of-control. This could be a huge single. Huge. I'm not sure who wouldn't like this song? Maybe metal-heads? OK Rest of my day is this album on repeat and weeeeeeed.

is there still compassion in this world??

[Edited 7/8/10 17:08pm]

i would love some compassion too

edit

[Edited 7/8/10 17:07pm]

MikeyB71 said:

I have just listened to it 7 times now. I am on new album euphoria and i need a break, going to bed now, it's late.

All i can say is i like the album very much, when stuff like Musicology, 3121, PE and Lotus came out, i cannot recall listening to those so much in the first day.

Gonna take another listen in the morning once i have calmed down a bit, see what it sounds like then.

Bye all.

Thanks for reading all of my ramblings.

I fully agree. Musicology was pretty solid but had it's "meh" moments for me. I still listen to it beginning to end from time to time though. 3121 had a handful of songs I really got into and same for Planet Earth, but both are albums I pull out just to listen to a song or so. Don't often play them beginning to end. Lotus/MPL I like maybe 3 or 4 songs on total between the entire three discs. Not my thing. This one actually has me REALLY excited to spend some time with as a full album though. I'm pleased and actually quite excited for a solid US release. Hopefully vinyl. But I WILL be going out and buying this record as soon as it is available here. Prince earned my money for real with this one.

Ive not found it yet, sounds like it could be hit with newsreaders

i would LOVE for an person to do an ACT OF GOD

but i cant expect nothing from humans......

[Edited 7/8/10 17:10pm]

Hey orgers, THE RIVER SEEms TO BE DRY!!! When the water starts flowing again I will try to help water the crops!

Jakeasaurus said:

My previous review was completely made up, as if everyone didn't already know that. Thanks again for the website hits Laydown is my favorite Prince song in a long ass time, in the top 5 for me. This is exactly the type of song I have wanted him to do for a good while now. LOVE it. I want an album like this song I will be skipping the ballads and probably Compassion. My 2nd favorite is Beginning Endlessly, also extremely cool I really don't even have much else to say right now, I need to spend some time digesting this album in full.

^

Ok Ok before you guys start another brawl on here back on topic...

So those who've heard how do rate 20ten at this early state with 00's releases?

Bfunkthe1 said:

^

Ok Ok before you guys start another brawl on here back on topic...

So those who've heard how do rate 20ten at this early state with 00's releases?

It's my favorite of his albums in the 00, though, technically it's his first album of the 10's.

Bfunkthe1 said:

^

Ok Ok before you guys start another brawl on here back on topic...

So those who've heard how do rate 20ten at this early state with 00's releases?

Read the last paragraph of my initial thoughts above, I just edited it to cover the whole LP.

gamera said:

Bfunkthe1 said:

^

Ok Ok before you guys start another brawl on here back on topic...

So those who've heard how do rate 20ten at this early state with 00's releases?

It's my favorite of his albums in the 00, though, technically it's his first album of the 10's.

Well yes I suppose your right there.

Strongest group of material since....?

jeromba said:

i would love some compassion too

me too... wish I could hear it

"now that i have the proper equipment im ready help others climb the mountain --great lyrics

Bfunkthe1 said:

gamera said:

It's my favorite of his albums in the 00, though, technically it's his first album of the 10's.

Well yes I suppose your right there.

Strongest group of material since....?

For me personally I would say Rainbow Children. Before that probably the love symbol album. Different people like different records though, you know? I thought Rainbow Children was a fucking fantastic reinvention and was musically amazing. Other people HATE that record. Some people think 'The Gold Experience' is a major classic while I just sort of like a couple of songs on it and find the NPG Operator things to be CRAZY annoying. Etc etc.