It is the only one that I have seen that deals with Josh's pedigree (or lack thereof) and the difference in quality between AOA and HitnRun

Prince's New Album Is a Huge Miss

BY CHRIS GERARD

9 September 2015

There are few artists that can create as much excitement with a new release as Prince. After all, the mercurial genius has been churning out classic albums for over 35 years now. Although his masterpieces of the ‘80s will always be considered his artistic peak, Prince has been on a rather torrid streak over the last 15 years. Several of his more recent albums—particularly 3121 (2006), Lotusflow3r (2009), and last year’s Art Official Age—have been important and quality additions to his peerless discography. When news hit a few months back that Prince would be issuing an all-new studio album exclusively to Jay Z’s new Tidal streaming service, fans were understandably torn between excitement over the prospect of new music, but frustrated over its limited access and the uncertainty about any physical release (especially on vinyl).

Read more here:

http://www.popmatters.com...hase-one1/

FUNKYNESS said:

It is the only one that I have seen that deals with Josh's pedigree (or lack thereof) and the difference in quality between AOA and HitnRun

You sure do waste a lot of time thinking about an album you don't like.

Posted for the third time in a month... But yes this review is dead on. I like how personal opinion also intersects with critical and musical critique based on the career and artistic abilites of Prince. Too many members just want to hide behind "IMO" without any musical or critical context based on the artists caliber.

No this is NOT A GOOD PRINCE album at all. Contains a few good tracks as stated, but it is a huge miss indeed.

TwiliteKid said:

FUNKYNESS said:

It is the only one that I have seen that deals with Josh's pedigree (or lack thereof) and the difference in quality between AOA and HitnRun

You sure do waste a lot of time thinking about an album you don't like.

I am intelligent enough to analyze and examine as much as I can because that is how I remain intelligent. You obviously dont understand that...

FUNKYNESS said:

TwiliteKid said:

You sure do waste a lot of time thinking about an album you don't like.

I am intelligent enough to analyze and examine as much as I can because that is how I remain intelligent. You obviously dont understand that...

feeluupp said:

Posted for the third time in a month... But yes this review is dead on. I like how personal opinion also intersects with critical and musical critique based on the career and artistic abilites of Prince. Too many members just want to hide behind "IMO" without any musical or critical context based on the artists caliber.

No this is NOT A GOOD PRINCE album at all. Contains a few good tracks as stated, but it is a huge miss indeed.

I think the author made a salient point by suggesting this is Prince's worst album

"trapped in the hard-drive of Welton’s soulless digital hell" Brilliant writing

He's engaged with modern pop trends in awkward ways many times, Diamonds & Pearls being the most commercially successful example. Even taking into consideration the production not being to everyone's taste this album is lacking in big songs. Even June, which generally seems to be liked by all (I certainly enjoy it a lot), doesn't seem to be much more than an unfinished idea.

[Edited 10/7/15 11:13am]

jaawwnn said:

He's engaged with modern pop trends in awkward ways many times, Diamonds & Pearls being the most commercially successful example. Even taking into consideration the production not being to everyone's taste this album is lacking in big songs. Even June, which generally seems to be liked by all (I certainly enjoy it a lot), doesn't seem to be much more than an unfinished idea.

[Edited 10/7/15 11:13am]

Indeed, Prince is sorely lacking in new big songs.

In another thread I have recently posted that for his next album he should focus on the songwriting. And deliver a new album with heartfelt and/or smart lyrics that people can relate to and musically interesting arrangements. Songs that tell a story and lead up to a good chorus, an interesting breakdown and/or an ecstatic climax. Songs that display good musicianship and worldclass engineering/production. That is what I am looking for in new Prince material.

Sounds like someone from this site wrote that article. I have most of P's released songs as well & I don't feel that Hit'NRun is an awful cd, I really like it. Everyone that I played it for thinks it's good & they are now singing along. Stop all of this hate!!!!!

FUNKYNESS said:

It is the only one that I have seen that deals with Josh's pedigree (or lack thereof) and the difference in quality between AOA and HitnRun

Naw, the review is a bit off. The album is better then they're,making it out to be. And "The X-s Face" is actually what I'd call an instant classic Prince song. And "Shut it Down" actually works, especially the double time bass climax. All the albums the guy listed as recent greats like 3121 ans AOA had truly dud tracks on them mixed with a few gems. This one is the same, but for some reason it works as a sequence and is a cohesive listen all the way through despite my aversion to that third track.

[Edited 10/7/15 12:13pm]

Prince's worst output was the released version of Planet Earth.

Nothing compares.

Graycap23 said:

Prince's worst output was the released version of Planet Earth.

Nothing compares.

Agree. One of the worst Prince releases is Planet Earth. Not because the songs are bad, it's because the album as a whole is just so bland and boring...

Is Hitnrun still shit today?

I've played it 3 times today, loved it each time.

ufoclub said:

jaawwnn said:

He's engaged with modern pop trends in awkward ways many times, Diamonds & Pearls being the most commercially successful example. Even taking into consideration the production not being to everyone's taste this album is lacking in big songs. Even June, which generally seems to be liked by all (I certainly enjoy it a lot), doesn't seem to be much more than an unfinished idea.

[Edited 10/7/15 11:13am]

now THIS is what raises my ire. i love June, despite the album sucking monkey balls. however, I think June is EXACTLY what he intended it be, a contemplative "stream of conscious" type song in the vein of Dorothy Parker. Opinions we can have aplenty but to speculate as to what an artist INTENDED is a slippery slope

funkomatic said:

ufoclub said:

Naw, the review is a bit off. The album is better then they're,making it out to be. And "The X-s Face" is actually what I'd call an instant classic Prince song. And "Shut it Down" actually works, especially the double time bass climax. All the albums the guy listed as recent greats like 3121 ans AOA had truly dud tracks on them mixed with a few gems. This one is the same, but for some reason it works as a sequence and is a cohesive listen all the way through despite my aversion to that third track.

[Edited 10/7/15 12:13pm]

Who the hell cares what journalists write?! What's your problem with the third track? It's my favorite from the album.

That Rita Ora song sounds annoying to me, the instrument voices and arrangement. The chant at the end. I'd much rather skip ahead to "X's Face".

BEAUGARDE said:

Sounds like someone from this site wrote that article.

Yeah, the "Jughead" comparison gives the author away...

Great review! I like how they give props to Lotusflow3r because HitnRun has me going back to that album to hear some decent music. I almost feel like HardrockLover belongs on Lotusflow3r. It's that good. Here is my favorite quote but I really did like the "Josh's soulless hell" one too. "HITNRUN Phase One sounds like something an aspiring DJ working ‘til three in the morning in his parents’ basement on Garageband might come up with." And that is just what I think this album is. Just a few guys having fun. Josh I bet is a really nice guy and fun for Prince to hang out with. They should have just put this on 3rdeyetunes instead of going for a major release.

djThunderfunk said:

BEAUGARDE said:

Sounds like someone from this site wrote that article.

Yeah, the "Jughead" comparison gives the author away...

Probably FUNKYNESS

" If history is any guide, Prince will largely ignore the album anyway, as he has almost all his recent work. In his live shows he’s basically performing the same string of hits he’s been doing for years, and largely ignores the many great tunes of the last 15 years. He shows almost no investment in these albums, with haphazard promotion at best. If he doesn’t care, why should the fans?"

True fucking fact.

Aerogram said:

steakfinger said:

Nothing is Jughead-bad except Arms of Orion.

nope Orion gets SOME love here when the subject comes up, mine included but Jughead, consistent, universal hatred unless its a troll

TheEnglishGent said:

djThunderfunk said:

Yeah, the "Jughead" comparison gives the author away...

Probably FUNKYNESS

If I wrote one about Prince now, it would be almost identical to this Popmatters article.

datdude said:

FUNKYNESS said:

TheEnglishGent said:

Probably FUNKYNESS

If I wrote one about Prince now, it would be almost identical to this Popmatters article.

Your next thread will be much the same.

I’ve been listening to Prince for over 30 years. I own every note he’s ever released, and have absorbed every album, even the bad ones. I have every B-side and remix. I’ve even tracked down all the scattered tracks he’s released online over the years, and have collected works by his protégé artists.

Never write a review of an artist you love too much