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Thread started 09/29/14 9:09am

antonb

the guardian review. A O A, lacks focus!

the reviewer says aoa lacks any focus!! How do these people get music review jobs, the album is very focused and a complete album . Jeese

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Reply #1 posted 09/29/14 9:36am

2020

avatar

antonb said:

the reviewer says aoa lacks any focus!! How do these people get music review jobs, the album is very focused and a complete album . Jeese

Did you see the reviewers pic...talk about lack of focus

The greatest live performer of our times was is and always will be Prince.

Remember there is only one destination and that place is U
All of it. Everything. Is U.
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Reply #2 posted 09/29/14 9:42am

antonb

ha ha, yea i dont mind constructive criticism, like the la times review, which i think is fair.But when you completely miss the whole point it is annoying.And of couse people are linking the review all over twitter/ social media!

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Reply #3 posted 09/29/14 10:25am

Nikkie

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antonb said:

ha ha, yea i dont mind constructive criticism, like the la times review, which i think is fair.But when you completely miss the whole point it is annoying.And of couse people are linking the review all over twitter/ social media!



The Vibe review gets linked just as often! cool
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Reply #4 posted 09/29/14 10:32am

langebleu

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moderator

Here's a link to the review:


http://www.theguardian.co...rum-review


And, yes, he does say that 'Lovesexy' was from 1989, but it might be corrected in due course.


As to the journalist's credentials, you can read something about him here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...s_Petridis


ALT+PLS+RTN: Pure as a pane of ice. It's a gift.
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Reply #5 posted 09/29/14 10:35am

antonb

yea i know it is, and at the end of the day, i really like it, which is what matters the most ! But its an album you need to listen too a number of times to appreciate everything on it. And to say its not focused is just dumb!

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Reply #6 posted 09/29/14 10:48am

TrevorAyer

the lack of focus comes from prince pairing drivel like clouds with moments of real music like way back home .. the album is half a prince album and half a josh album and the josh album actually works .. the prince album is as bad as the last 20 years .. the focus should have been on making a josh album with prince lyrics dropped in here and there .. prince shouldnt even have been allowed to choose the lyrics .. seriously .. prince cant hang anymore .. he needs someone with talent to help him .. fact

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Reply #7 posted 09/29/14 10:49am

Nikkie

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antonb said:

yea i know it is, and at the end of the day, i really like it, which is what matters the most ! But its an album you need to listen too a number of times to appreciate everything on it. And to say its not focused is just dumb!



Agreed. It's focused and confident. If it's any good, of course that's up to the reviewer. smile
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Reply #8 posted 09/29/14 11:29am

antonb

TrevorAyer said:

the lack of focus comes from prince pairing drivel like clouds with moments of real music like way back home .. the album is half a prince album and half a josh album and the josh album actually works .. the prince album is as bad as the last 20 years .. the focus should have been on making a josh album with prince lyrics dropped in here and there .. prince shouldnt even have been allowed to choose the lyrics .. seriously .. prince cant hang anymore .. he needs someone with talent to help him .. fact

ha ha ha , your soo funny, a bit like a clown. biggrin

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Reply #9 posted 09/29/14 11:31am

WorldofPeace

antonb said:

TrevorAyer said:

the lack of focus comes from prince pairing drivel like clouds with moments of real music like way back home .. the album is half a prince album and half a josh album and the josh album actually works .. the prince album is as bad as the last 20 years .. the focus should have been on making a josh album with prince lyrics dropped in here and there .. prince shouldnt even have been allowed to choose the lyrics .. seriously .. prince cant hang anymore .. he needs someone with talent to help him .. fact

ha ha ha , your soo funny, a bit like a clown. biggrin

All are welcome naysayers and fams biggrin

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Reply #10 posted 09/29/14 11:41am

antonb

WorldofPeace said:

antonb said:

ha ha ha , your soo funny, a bit like a clown. biggrin

All are welcome naysayers and fams biggrin

and even frustrated michael jackson fans!

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Reply #11 posted 09/29/14 1:33pm

Romeoblu

TrevorAyer said:

the lack of focus comes from prince pairing drivel like clouds with moments of real music like way back home .. the album is half a prince album and half a josh album and the josh album actually works .. the prince album is as bad as the last 20 years .. the focus should have been on making a josh album with prince lyrics dropped in here and there .. prince shouldnt even have been allowed to choose the lyrics .. seriously .. prince cant hang anymore .. he needs someone with talent to help him .. fact




So which half is Joshua's and which half is Mr Nelson's?
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Reply #12 posted 09/29/14 1:44pm

calciumpaul

I don't agree with everything but unfortunately he is right - AOA does lack focus and is not a cohesive album.

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Reply #13 posted 09/29/14 2:03pm

2020

avatar

The only thing that lacks focus is the poorly written review
The greatest live performer of our times was is and always will be Prince.

Remember there is only one destination and that place is U
All of it. Everything. Is U.
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Reply #14 posted 09/29/14 2:36pm

Aerogram

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The problem is that Prince was initially accused of lacking focus on ATWIA, Parade (very much) and SOTT (and many albums since). I think the critical reception for AOA is likely to be his best in a while, but for sure not everyone will agree.

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Reply #15 posted 09/29/14 2:46pm

JellyJam

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Petridis is a notoriously shite writer. Just another cliched middle-class hack completely out of his depth when reviewing anything that isn't landfill indie crap. He's of the type that wets themselves over Kanye West to try and garner "street" cred but actually he doesn't know his third-rate arse from his elbow. I remember him hailing Franz Ferdinand as the next great thing a while back.

Contrast this shower of shit with a writer who actually knows his stuff, like Will Hodgkinson's review of Plectrum Electrum in The Times.

Also, great point made by Aerogram about a lot of Prince's 80s albums getting mediocre reviews by similarly pointless hacks back in the day. I remember ATWIAD and SOTT distinctly being criticised for lacking coherence/focus.

Class is permanent, but sadly shit music journos are two a penny.

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Reply #16 posted 09/29/14 2:56pm

purplethunder3
121

avatar

JellyJam said:

Petridis is a notoriously shite writer. Just another cliched middle-class hack completely out of his depth when reviewing anything that isn't landfill indie crap. He's of the type that wets themselves over Kanye West to try and garner "street" cred but actually he doesn't know his third-rate arse from his elbow. I remember him hailing Franz Ferdinand as the next great thing a while back.

Contrast this shower of shit with a writer who actually knows his stuff, like Will Hodgkinson's review of Plectrum Electrum in The Times.

Also, great point made by Aerogram about a lot of Prince's 80s albums getting mediocre reviews by similarly pointless hacks back in the day. I remember ATWIAD and SOTT distinctly being criticised for lacking coherence/focus.

Class is permanent, but sadly shit music journos are two a penny.

Yeah, I remember reading a lot of negative stuff about ATWIAD when it first came out. Needless to say, I didn't agree with any of it... lol

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0
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Reply #17 posted 09/29/14 3:03pm

Darshy

JellyJam said:

Petridis is a notoriously shite writer. Just another cliched middle-class hack completely out of his depth when reviewing anything that isn't landfill indie crap. He's of the type that wets themselves over Kanye West to try and garner "street" cred but actually he doesn't know his third-rate arse from his elbow. I remember him hailing Franz Ferdinand as the next great thing a while back.

Contrast this shower of shit with a writer who actually knows his stuff, like Will Hodgkinson's review of Plectrum Electrum in The Times.

Also, great point made by Aerogram about a lot of Prince's 80s albums getting mediocre reviews by similarly pointless hacks back in the day. I remember ATWIAD and SOTT distinctly being criticised for lacking coherence/focus.

Class is permanent, but sadly shit music journos are two a penny.

Spot on. The truth is Petridis just has never dug Prince.

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Reply #18 posted 09/29/14 3:12pm

antonb

oh, just glad that some people feel the same about the review. The guy just basically hasnt listened to it properly. Which you think would be a important part of his job! This album could be important to prince and to pick up some new fans along the way. I was just disappointed to see this review being put across social media by quite alot of people, which does not reflect the album.

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Reply #19 posted 09/29/14 3:32pm

2020

avatar

JellyJam said:

Petridis is a notoriously shite writer. Just another cliched middle-class hack completely out of his depth when reviewing anything that isn't landfill indie crap. He's of the type that wets themselves over Kanye West to try and garner "street" cred but actually he doesn't know his third-rate arse from his elbow. I remember him hailing Franz Ferdinand as the next great thing a while back.

Contrast this shower of shit with a writer who actually knows his stuff, like Will Hodgkinson's review of Plectrum Electrum in The Times.

Also, great point made by Aerogram about a lot of Prince's 80s albums getting mediocre reviews by similarly pointless hacks back in the day. I remember ATWIAD and SOTT distinctly being criticised for lacking coherence/focus.

Class is permanent, but sadly shit music journos are two a penny.

Thank you for the background on this lame ass writer. Figured as much and very well said...

The greatest live performer of our times was is and always will be Prince.

Remember there is only one destination and that place is U
All of it. Everything. Is U.
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Reply #20 posted 09/29/14 3:51pm

Aerogram

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And here's the Chicago Tribune review:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/kot/ct-prince-reviews-plectrum-art-official-age-20140929-column.html

AOA: 3.5/4

PLEL: 3/4

Qyote:

In an era when innovative artists such as Frank Ocean and The Weeknd are redefining the form and feel of R&B seduction ballads, Prince sounds not just relevant, but renewed. As Prince declared on his 1982 classic "D.M.S.R., "I … try my best to never get bored." He sounds like he's staying true to his word.

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Reply #21 posted 09/29/14 3:58pm

Aerogram

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And here's the New York Daily News liking PLEL more than AOA, which he considers more of the same old, same old.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/prince-back-times-2-article-1.1956949

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Reply #22 posted 09/29/14 4:11pm

Aerogram

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And here is Jon Bream, positive with reservations.

http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/277473101.html

Quote:

Prince is blurring plenty of lines between old and new on these two new albums. Neither matches his personal gold standard, but they are a welcome end to the longest recording drought of his career.

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Reply #23 posted 09/29/14 4:13pm

nonesuch

2020 said:

antonb said:

the reviewer says aoa lacks any focus!! How do these people get music review jobs, the album is very focused and a complete album . Jeese

Did you see the reviewers pic...talk about lack of focus

How dare you say something derogatory about the reviewers picture! You guys lack of respect big time. The Guardian's review on the albums IS SPOT ON! Especially his notion of Parsons truly stupid review of the awful 20ten record.

Would like to read your review 2020 and please post your picture with it.

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Reply #24 posted 09/29/14 4:19pm

lastdecember

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Aerogram said:

And here's the New York Daily News liking PLEL more than AOA, which he considers more of the same old, same old.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/prince-back-times-2-article-1.1956949

Its Jim Farber the biggest dick on earth he is such a KISS ASS to the new generation. Gave 4 stars to a justin beiber album in the same paper 2 stars to John Mellencamp, really Jim. This cat one time spent a whole page reviewing a Bon Jovi album and all he spoke about was Jon's hair and how he cut it, fucking guy should drop off the face of the earth. Not sure why he is even allowed to write


"We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F
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Reply #25 posted 09/29/14 4:45pm

robertgeorgeak
abob

Like Lovesexy it's an album that becomes more cohesive with repeated play. And like Lovesexy it's an album that is best listened to with headphones to appreciate the touches and embellishments that are unique to Prince. Way Back Home is quite simply the best thing he's released since Joy In Repetition, it's that good. The way Prince resists letting a full drum beat kick in and just lets the feel dictate the song, it's little touches like that that make Prince a genius. There are no turkeys on the album, bar maybe Funk 'N' Roll, the production being too derivative for me (like the ending though). At long last a Prince album feels like an experience, a journey.
I've pretty much thought much of Prince's albums have been drivel since '89 but this one is a gem. This is why I've suffered the crap for so long. I knew he had it in him. Been a hell of a wait!

Plectrumrectum is awful though. Stop playing the elder statesman rock musician, Mr. Nelson and stay knob twiddling.


Disclaimer: in no way is the author saying AOA is as good as Lovesexy. He is, however, saying it is better than stinkers like Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds and Pearls, Chaos and Disorder, 3121...
[Edited 9/29/14 16:47pm]
don't play me...i'm over 30 and i DO smoke weed....
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Reply #26 posted 09/29/14 4:55pm

robertgeorgeak
abob

nonesuch said:



2020 said:




antonb said:


the reviewer says aoa lacks any focus!! How do these people get music review jobs, the album is very focused and a complete album . Jeese




Did you see the reviewers pic...talk about lack of focus



How dare you say something derogatory about the reviewers picture! You guys lack of respect big time. The Guardian's review on the albums IS SPOT ON! Especially his notion of Parsons truly stupid review of the awful 20ten record.



Would like to read your review 2020 and please post your picture with it.




As Parsons worked for the 'newspaper' that gave 2010 away (and he's also a rat-faced, champagne socialist, sell-out gobshite) anybody with half a brain could see through his shameless plug.
AOA is garnering great reviews from many creditable reviewers. Including me.
don't play me...i'm over 30 and i DO smoke weed....
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Reply #27 posted 09/29/14 6:15pm

2020

avatar

nonesuch said:

2020 said:

Did you see the reviewers pic...talk about lack of focus

How dare you say something derogatory about the reviewers picture! You guys lack of respect big time. The Guardian's review on the albums IS SPOT ON! Especially his notion of Parsons truly stupid review of the awful 20ten record.

Would like to read your review 2020 and please post your picture with it.

The greatest live performer of our times was is and always will be Prince.

Remember there is only one destination and that place is U
All of it. Everything. Is U.
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Reply #28 posted 09/29/14 7:33pm

Blixical

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I actually think that despite lackluster and pretty standard tunes, it's the most strongly sequenced album Prince has released in years and years. However, I'm dismayed the guy sequenced 5 slow tempo songs back-to-back. That's just insane. lol

มีเพียงความว่างเปล่า rose 只有空虚 rose Dim ond gwacter rose 만 공허함이있다 rose 唯一の虚しさがあります wilted There is only the void.
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