I saw a link to this article posted on Moquake.com, from a member named "ZipZapZopZoup", but didn't see it posted here. If it's already, posted then mods can lock or delete it.

Anyway, Interesting article from Jim McGuinn at "The Current".

Posted at 3:09 PM on July 22, 2010 by Jim McGuinn )

"Isn't the sky beautiful tonight?" asked Prince as he welcomed me warmly into his Paisley Park studio complex in Chanhassen on a warm May evening.

Entering the famous sanctuary, I literally had no idea what was in store for me that night. We'd met at The Current's 5th Birthday Party at First Avenue in January, but when Prince called my cell phone the week before (after two assistants called me to confirm that this was indeed my cell phone number and to let me know to expect a call), he was under the mistaken impression that we ended our Member Drives with a gig at First Avenue - he wanted to come out that night! In the course of our phone conversation, he asked if I'd be interested in coming to Paisley Park to talk with him one-on-one about ideas, and maybe hear some new music. Are you kidding? Already in 2010 (the year, not the album) The Current had been fortunate to receive his support in the form of a World Exclusive debut for the song "Cause and Effect" and that appearance at our party, but an invite to his creative sanctuary. Too much!

So a few days later, I found myself being shown around by Prince himself, resplendent in white shoes, white pants, white shirt and looking in person 20 years younger than his age of 52. After checking my computer and cell phone at the door, Prince took me into Studio A and sat me in front of the big console and a ton of recording gear. "I've finished my next album, but first I want to play you some songs from the next record that I've been working on," he said, as he cued up a gorgeous track with an epic chorus a la "Hey Jude" with Prince working the multi-track mix on the fly. Then he played me "Hot Summer," the second song that The Current world debuted in June 2010. "I think this one has a B-52's feel to it," said Prince, as his ode to our precious short MN summers played loudly on the huge studio monitors. Just like any excited and nervous musician sharing his new music, he bounced around the studio, adjusting the mix and yelling ideas in my ear.

Then he switched over to the album he'd been working on the past few months that he said was finished. These are the tracks that have now been released in Europe as 20Ten, a CD that was included with July editions of the UK's Daily Mirror, Germany's edition of Rolling Stone, and other papers. While there's still no US release information available as of today, we expect that it will be in shops later this summer - although don't look for an iTunes type digital release, in his interviews before the UK Newspaper release, Prince told the world that to him "the internet is completely over." I can say that when I was listening to the record at Paisley Park and the topic of unconventional release strategies came up and I suggested the Radiohead pay-what-you-want model, Prince shugged it off, saying "Radiohead is the best at that. I want to do something different - something that can get my music in the hands of a million people at once," - and he wants to get paid, which he accomplished with his Euro newspaper deals on 20Ten.

So how does 20Ten sound? Opening with strong tracks like "Compassion" and "Beginning Endlessly," you hear the crazy vocal effects, instrumental virtuosity, and sonic creativity that ranks up to his best work. He gets political with "Act of God" ("Dirty fat banker sold a house today / sold it at an auction wants the family out today / kicked him to the street cause he couldn't pay the tax / call it an Act of God"). And while much of the album shows production tendencies that mix the style of his '80s peak with more modern flair (dry drum machines and slapped bass, phased vox lines, keyboards mimicking horn parts), on the bonus track "Laydown" Prince leaves the past behind - behind a metal guitar on top of a bouncing hip-hop beat, a solid rap from Prince, and the the playfully self-deprecating lyric of the year - "from the heart of Minnesota / here comes the Purple Yoda."

There are a few 'quiet storm' ballads like "Walk in Sand" and "Sea of Everything" that are too slick - Prince possesses the best vocal falsetto around, but fills the songs with dated synth sounds and chimes that fail to evoke the classic soul of Stevie, Curtis, and Marvin. Which is too bad. I found myself tempted to say "why not strip back the gloss and go vulnerable" to Prince, but how do you say that to someone who has sold 100 million records, at their house? So I complemented him on the sparser funk arrangement in the track "Sticky Like Glue," where the elastic groove made me feel like it was 1980 at the roller rink. And told me an amazing story I'd never heard: that there are actually 30 recorded tracks on his breakthrough hit, "When Doves Cry," but he couldn't find a way to mix all those parts in a way he liked. When he complained about it to a friend, the friend told him to "mix it the way you hear the song in your head," and the result became one of the biggest rock songs in history with no bass.

After we tracked thru the songs that would show up a month later as 20Ten, we moved the hang to his living / party / dining room, listening to albums and chatting, with Prince, his management assistant Kiran, and Bria, his girlfriend and the artist whose CD he produced and attached to his Lotusflow3r/MPLS Sound Target triple-release in 2009. I brought him some Rhymesayers CDs (Brother Ali and POS), and some of my favorite local releases (Mason Jennings and Jeremy Messersmith), and a few Live Current CDs, but we spent the most time listening to the not-yet-released at the time Janelle Monae CD. Prince is no doubt a huge influence on her, but he also clearly sees a little of himself in her - her ability to mix up Funk, Soul, Rock, and R&B not unlike the Purple Yoda years ago.

As to questions about spending an evening at Paisley Park with Prince... No - I wasn't forbidden from looking him in the eye; Yes - the walls are covered with memorabilia and he did quiz me on who was portrayed in a mural of his influences on the wall outside the studio (I failed to recognize Grand Funk Railroad, who knew that would be on his wall along with Sly Stone, Miles, and Jimi?); Yes - Chappelle fans, I did see the basketball hoop, although pancakes were not served; No - we didn't jam, though I saw his classic 'symbol' guitar in the studio; Yes - he is energized and glad to be back making music in Minnesota; No - he didn't try to convert me to become a Jehovah's Witness; Yes - he is still burning with passion for music and thinks his best is still to come. He was a gracious and friendly host, and seemed to have fun talking and listening to music.

At the Current we're proud that Prince is a member and supporter, and proud that he listens and we're helping turn him on to new music. Until 20Ten finds a home in the US, we're one of the few places you can hear new music from Prince, and we're excited to hear whatever comes next from our Purple Yoda.

[Edited 7/24/10 20:49pm]

Thanks for posting this. It sounds like there were wall-to-wall reporters at Paisley Park as all of the "inside Paisley Park" articles are basically giving the same details.

I feel like Teena Marie, deja vu, I've been here before...

squirrelgrease said:

Thanks for posting this. It sounds like there were wall-to-wall reporters at Paisley Park as all of the "inside Paisley Park" articles are basically giving the same details.

Ur very critical. R all beautiful women that way?

PRNelson said:

I enjoyed reading that. However, I wish the journalist would have aired his dislike of certain aspects of tracks directly to prince. I appreciate why he didn't but I think his music could benefit from a little outside honesty.

That would be nice, but it probably wouldn't help. He seems to tune that sort of stuff out.

I just love, "Sticky Like Glue." I Love em' ALL.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

squirrelgrease said:

Thanks for posting this. It sounds like there were wall-to-wall reporters at Paisley Park as all of the "inside Paisley Park" articles are basically giving the same details.

Ur very critical. R all beautiful women that way?

Citing a fact is hardly being 'critical'.

squirrelgrease said:

Thanks for posting this. It sounds like there were wall-to-wall reporters at Paisley Park as all of the "inside Paisley Park" articles are basically giving the same details.

No problem.

Xibalba said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Ur very critical. R all beautiful women that way?

Citing a fact is hardly being 'critical'.

Was u @ Paisley Park with Prince that day? Is ur name squirrelgrease?

[Edited 7/24/10 17:47pm]

i wanna hear the new song with the "epic Hey Jude" chorus.

2elijah said:

I want to do something different - something that can get my music in the hands of a million people at once," - and he wants to get paid,

sounds like a nice guy

cool article. how fun would it be to sit around listening to records with Prince?

Is he right?

Are Walk in the Sand & Sea of Everything too slick?

I obviouly haven't heard the cd.

squirrelgrease said:

Thanks for posting this. It sounds like there were wall-to-wall reporters at Paisley Park as all of the "inside Paisley Park" articles are basically giving the same details.

Seriously... there are some different details... but it really makes me wonder if this was just a mass press release... and if that's true, and no one actually visited, it makes me question the jounalistic integrity of any of the magazines and newspapers who published it.

Just a thought... but it's all very strange...

This guy got to hear the album Prince is currently working on, with the unidentified song and 'Hot Summer'. As far as I'm aware, this differs from the previous interviews.

Good interview. Disagree about 'Future Soul Song' though.

Cool, but I foresee a thread started by Orgers upset that Bria is called Prince's girlfriend...

shiloh66 said:

squirrelgrease said:

Thanks for posting this. It sounds like there were wall-to-wall reporters at Paisley Park as all of the "inside Paisley Park" articles are basically giving the same details.

Seriously... there are some different details... but it really makes me wonder if this was just a mass press release... and if that's true, and no one actually visited, it makes me question the jounalistic integrity of any of the magazines and newspapers who published it.

Just a thought... but it's all very strange...

That's what a lot of people are thinking, and I tend to agree - though, I think a sort of "press release" printed outline was probably handed to reporters visiting PP and they were asked not to deviate too much from it until the album release. It would help explain the word-for-word similarities of several "interviews" and the additional information that is coming out now after the newspaper give-aways, such as new songs that remain unreleased.

It was reported that Paisley park was getting a very thorough housecleaning prior to the press invite.

It seems Prince's need to control a situation has reached epic proportions. I doubt he realized how ridiculous it would look when different reporters all had the same exact story. Of course, not everyone reads all of these articles like we do.

squirrelgrease said:

shiloh66 said:

Seriously... there are some different details... but it really makes me wonder if this was just a mass press release... and if that's true, and no one actually visited, it makes me question the jounalistic integrity of any of the magazines and newspapers who published it.

Just a thought... but it's all very strange...

That's what a lot of people are thinking, and I tend to agree - though, I think a sort of "press release" printed outline was probably handed to reporters visiting PP and they were asked not to deviate too much from it until the album release. It would help explain the word-for-word similarities of several "interviews" and the additional information that is coming out now after the newspaper give-aways, such as new songs that remain unreleased.

It was reported that Paisley park was getting a very thorough housecleaning prior to the press invite.

It seems Prince's need to control a situation has reached epic proportions. I doubt he realized how ridiculous it would look when different reporters all had the same exact story. Of course, not everyone reads all of these articles like we do.

If only they knew...

squirrelgrease said:

shiloh66 said:

Seriously... there are some different details... but it really makes me wonder if this was just a mass press release... and if that's true, and no one actually visited, it makes me question the jounalistic integrity of any of the magazines and newspapers who published it.

Just a thought... but it's all very strange...

That's what a lot of people are thinking, and I tend to agree - though, I think a sort of "press release" printed outline was probably handed to reporters visiting PP and they were asked not to deviate too much from it until the album release. It would help explain the word-for-word similarities of several "interviews" and the additional information that is coming out now after the newspaper give-aways, such as new songs that remain unreleased.

It was reported that Paisley park was getting a very thorough housecleaning prior to the press invite.

It seems Prince's need to control a situation has reached epic proportions. I doubt he realized how ridiculous it would look when different reporters all had the same exact story. Of course, not everyone reads all of these articles like we do.

It is still possible that all those reporters were there the same day. That is why the articles are similar. But there not all the same . Each one has different details.

What is wrong with having a press release to give each reporter? Prince is trying to sale a product. Him having a detailed Press release is very proffessional to me. Prince is not signed to any major label he is promoting himself U know. He has to have everything mapped out if he is having people visit his studios Paisley Park to listen to his successful mega hit album 20TEN.

What is wrong with him wanting to control his unreleased product at that point? I swear U people always find every little thing to complain about concerning Prince instead of honoring his new product. U put a negative spin on it as usual...

Because he's not trying to sell the product, he gave it up to newspapers and tabloids and kept the advance pay. Those who release the albums or get by through Prince's people are gonna have to say the same stuff anyway to prove there's at least a bit of an interest. Right now it's real quiet if anyone thinks Prince is really promoting it, which he isn't.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

squirrelgrease said:

That's what a lot of people are thinking, and I tend to agree - though, I think a sort of "press release" printed outline was probably handed to reporters visiting PP and they were asked not to deviate too much from it until the album release. It would help explain the word-for-word similarities of several "interviews" and the additional information that is coming out now after the newspaper give-aways, such as new songs that remain unreleased.

It was reported that Paisley park was getting a very thorough housecleaning prior to the press invite.

It seems Prince's need to control a situation has reached epic proportions. I doubt he realized how ridiculous it would look when different reporters all had the same exact story. Of course, not everyone reads all of these articles like we do.

It is still possible that all those reporters were there the same day. That is why the articles are similar. But there not all the same . Each one has different details.

What is wrong with having a press release to give each reporter? Prince is trying to sale a product. Him having a detailed Press release is very proffessional to me. Prince is not signed to any major label he is promoting himself U know. He has to have everything mapped out if he is having people visit his studios Paisley Park to listen to his successful mega hit album 20TEN.

What is wrong with him wanting to control his unreleased product at that point? I swear U people always find every little thing to complain about concerning Prince instead of honoring his new product. U put a negative spin on it as usual...

In the grand scheme of things, it really isn't unexpected coming from Prince. Everyone knows he's one of the most megalomaniacal entertainers in the known universe. So I guess there isn't anything "wrong" with it as long as the columnists feel no shame in attaching their name to what is essentially a story ghost written by Prince. I doubt anyone held a gun mic to their heads, but it seems they did as they were told.

It is extremely weird and seemingly unprecedented.

2elijah said:

Posted at 3:09 PM on July 22, 2010 by Jim McGuinn )

Then he played me "Hot Summer," the second song that The Current world debuted in June 2010. "I think this one has a B-52's feel to it," said Prince, as his ode to our precious short MN summers played loudly on the huge studio monitors.

Seriously, the B-52s? He means the band, right? Not the plane?

He thinks...??? How about he KNOWS it sounds like a B-52's track lol

[Edited 7/26/10 2:10am]

shiloh66 said:

squirrelgrease said:

Thanks for posting this. It sounds like there were wall-to-wall reporters at Paisley Park as all of the "inside Paisley Park" articles are basically giving the same details.

Seriously... there are some different details... but it really makes me wonder if this was just a mass press release... and if that's true, and no one actually visited, it makes me question the jounalistic integrity of any of the magazines and newspapers who published it.

Just a thought... but it's all very strange...

Sigh... You guys still don't get it: this is Prince's MO. Go read all the interviews he did around Emancipation: he did non-stop interviews for two days at PP and they all sound exactly the same. He just kept saying the same BS over and over, never answered questions. He does this all the time. Read the Ebony POS: it's Prince saying what he wants to say and completely ignoring actual questions.

Same with pics: go look at Prince pics and notice how many of them are virtually the same, despite being taken years apart by completely different photographers. I've read plenty of complaints from well-known, respected photographers who never were able to get Prince to do anything they wanted, and thus they ended up with bland pics.

They've obviously set up this scenario and then invited a bunch of journalists and replayed the same scenario over and over again. But instead of controlling his message, this makes it look creepy and phoney. He wants to pretend he's very open (no bodyguards, etc), but instead all I see is Prince putting on a fake show.

Bart

Do you EVER have anything positive to say about Prince or anything he does?

I mean, if you're hatin' that much, than what are you doing on this website ... look on the top of your screen, it says "online fan community".

And yes, of course it's okay to be critical, but all you ever do is to spew negativity! If you don't like the guy and his work that much, then get over it and move on instead of hanging around here!

thedoorkeeper said:

Is he right?

Are Walk in the Sand & Sea of Everything too slick?

I obviouly haven't heard the cd.

I don't know, man, you'll have to decide when you hear it. For what it's worth - and I'm definitely not one who enjoys the slick side of things - I find Walk In The Sand is cheesy but not too slick. It's the only song on the album with live drumming, and thank god it's Prince playing the drums, not a nasty session player. When Prince records his own drumming, it's often very 'rough' sounding, and that saves the song from the Slick. He's also actually bothered to record live piano, which helps. So it's cheesy but extremely enjoyable to listen to, one of my favourites on the album.

piepie1976 said:

i wanna hear the new song with the "epic Hey Jude" chorus.

i never liked that song

2elijah said:

I saw a link to this article posted on Moquake.com, from a member named "ZipZapZopZoup", but didn't see it posted here. If it's already, posted then mods can lock or delete it.

Anyway, Interesting article from Jim McGuinn at "The Current".

Posted at 3:09 PM on July 22, 2010 by Jim McGuinn )

"Isn't the sky beautiful tonight?" asked Prince as he welcomed me warmly into his Paisley Park studio complex in Chanhassen on a warm May evening.

Entering the famous sanctuary, I literally had no idea what was in store for me that night. We'd met at The Current's 5th Birthday Party at First Avenue in January, but when Prince called my cell phone the week before (after two assistants called me to confirm that this was indeed my cell phone number and to let me know to expect a call), he was under the mistaken impression that we ended our Member Drives with a gig at First Avenue - he wanted to come out that night! In the course of our phone conversation, he asked if I'd be interested in coming to Paisley Park to talk with him one-on-one about ideas, and maybe hear some new music. Are you kidding? Already in 2010 (the year, not the album) The Current had been fortunate to receive his support in the form of a World Exclusive debut for the song "Cause and Effect" and that appearance at our party, but an invite to his creative sanctuary. Too much!

So a few days later, I found myself being shown around by Prince himself, resplendent in white shoes, white pants, white shirt and looking in person 20 years younger than his age of 52. After checking my computer and cell phone at the door, Prince took me into Studio A and sat me in front of the big console and a ton of recording gear. "I've finished my next album, but first I want to play you some songs from the next record that I've been working on," he said, as he cued up a gorgeous track with an epic chorus a la "Hey Jude" with Prince working the multi-track mix on the fly. Then he played me "Hot Summer," the second song that The Current world debuted in June 2010. "I think this one has a B-52's feel to it," said Prince, as his ode to our precious short MN summers played loudly on the huge studio monitors. Just like any excited and nervous musician sharing his new music, he bounced around the studio, adjusting the mix and yelling ideas in my ear.

Then he switched over to the album he'd been working on the past few months that he said was finished. These are the tracks that have now been released in Europe as 20Ten, a CD that was included with July editions of the UK's Daily Mirror, Germany's edition of Rolling Stone, and other papers. While there's still no US release information available as of today, we expect that it will be in shops later this summer - although don't look for an iTunes type digital release, in his interviews before the UK Newspaper release, Prince told the world that to him "the internet is completely over." I can say that when I was listening to the record at Paisley Park and the topic of unconventional release strategies came up and I suggested the Radiohead pay-what-you-want model, Prince shugged it off, saying "Radiohead is the best at that. I want to do something different - something that can get my music in the hands of a million people at once," - and he wants to get paid, which he accomplished with his Euro newspaper deals on 20Ten.

So how does 20Ten sound? Opening with strong tracks like "Compassion" and "Beginning Endlessly," you hear the crazy vocal effects, instrumental virtuosity, and sonic creativity that ranks up to his best work. He gets political with "Act of God" ("Dirty fat banker sold a house today / sold it at an auction wants the family out today / kicked him to the street cause he couldn't pay the tax / call it an Act of God"). And while much of the album shows production tendencies that mix the style of his '80s peak with more modern flair (dry drum machines and slapped bass, phased vox lines, keyboards mimicking horn parts), on the bonus track "Laydown" Prince leaves the past behind - behind a metal guitar on top of a bouncing hip-hop beat, a solid rap from Prince, and the the playfully self-deprecating lyric of the year - "from the heart of Minnesota / here comes the Purple Yoda."

There are a few 'quiet storm' ballads like "Walk in Sand" and "Sea of Everything" that are too slick - Prince possesses the best vocal falsetto around, but fills the songs with dated synth sounds and chimes that fail to evoke the classic soul of Stevie, Curtis, and Marvin. Which is too bad. I found myself tempted to say "why not strip back the gloss and go vulnerable" to Prince, but how do you say that to someone who has sold 100 million records, at their house? So I complemented him on the sparser funk arrangement in the track "Sticky Like Glue," where the elastic groove made me feel like it was 1980 at the roller rink. And told me an amazing story I'd never heard: that there are actually 30 recorded tracks on his breakthrough hit, "When Doves Cry," but he couldn't find a way to mix all those parts in a way he liked. When he complained about it to a friend, the friend told him to "mix it the way you hear the song in your head," and the result became one of the biggest rock songs in history with no bass.

After we tracked thru the songs that would show up a month later as 20Ten, we moved the hang to his living / party / dining room, listening to albums and chatting, with Prince, his management assistant Kiran, and Bria, his girlfriend and the artist whose CD he produced and attached to his Lotusflow3r/MPLS Sound Target triple-release in 2009. I brought him some Rhymesayers CDs (Brother Ali and POS), and some of my favorite local releases (Mason Jennings and Jeremy Messersmith), and a few Live Current CDs, but we spent the most time listening to the not-yet-released at the time Janelle Monae CD. Prince is no doubt a huge influence on her, but he also clearly sees a little of himself in her - her ability to mix up Funk, Soul, Rock, and R&B not unlike the Purple Yoda years ago.

As to questions about spending an evening at Paisley Park with Prince... No - I wasn't forbidden from looking him in the eye; Yes - the walls are covered with memorabilia and he did quiz me on who was portrayed in a mural of his influences on the wall outside the studio (I failed to recognize Grand Funk Railroad, who knew that would be on his wall along with Sly Stone, Miles, and Jimi?); Yes - Chappelle fans, I did see the basketball hoop, although pancakes were not served; No - we didn't jam, though I saw his classic 'symbol' guitar in the studio; Yes - he is energized and glad to be back making music in Minnesota; No - he didn't try to convert me to become a Jehovah's Witness; Yes - he is still burning with passion for music and thinks his best is still to come. He was a gracious and friendly host, and seemed to have fun talking and listening to music.

At the Current we're proud that Prince is a member and supporter, and proud that he listens and we're helping turn him on to new music. Until 20Ten finds a home in the US, we're one of the few places you can hear new music from Prince, and we're excited to hear whatever comes next from our Purple Yoda.

[Edited 7/24/10 20:49pm]

Yes - he is still burning with passion for music and thinks his best is still to come. He was a gracious and friendly host, and seemed to have fun talking and listening to music.

[Edited 7/26/10 7:31am]