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Thread started 12/30/18 12:17am

MattyJam

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Reevaluating 20ten

For a long time, my interest in this album began and ended with Future Soul Song, which I consider to be one of the finest ballads he ever wrote.

But lately I've been enjoying other cuts like Sticky Like Glue, Laydown and Act of God as well.

What are everyones thoughts on Walk In Sand and Sea of Everything? They feel a little Prince-by-numbers and not really amongst his most inspired ballads, but are nice enough if you're in the mood.

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Reply #1 posted 12/30/18 12:58am

yello1

MattyJam said:

For a long time, my interest in this album began and ended with Future Soul Song, which I consider to be one of the finest ballads he ever wrote.

But lately I've been enjoying other cuts like Sticky Like Glue, Laydown and Act of God as well.

What are everyones thoughts on Walk In Sand and Sea of Everything? They feel a little Prince-by-numbers and not really amongst his most inspired ballads, but are nice enough if you're in the mood.

For me one of his best albums! What do you say about "Beginnig Endlessly"?

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Reply #2 posted 12/30/18 1:15am

MattyJam

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yello1 said:



MattyJam said:


For a long time, my interest in this album began and ended with Future Soul Song, which I consider to be one of the finest ballads he ever wrote.

But lately I've been enjoying other cuts like Sticky Like Glue, Laydown and Act of God as well.

What are everyones thoughts on Walk In Sand and Sea of Everything? They feel a little Prince-by-numbers and not really amongst his most inspired ballads, but are nice enough if you're in the mood.



For me one of his best albums! What do you say about "Beginnig Endlessly"?



Yeah, I forgot to mention that one. Really good track, although the production feels a bit stale to me and I can't put my finger on why. Great rhythm guitar playing though and overall a decent tune.
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Reply #3 posted 12/30/18 1:25am

EmmaMcG

I hated the album upon release and I hate it now. Future Soul Song is the only song on the album that stands out. Laydown is alright too but very much a throwaway song and absolutely no need for it to be a "hidden track". Sticky Like Glue starts off well enough but doesn't go anywhere. The album as a whole feels like it was unfinished and just released because he had become bored with it. The fact that it was given away for free says a lot.
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Reply #4 posted 12/30/18 1:29am

yello1

MattyJam said:

yello1 said:

For me one of his best albums! What do you say about "Beginnig Endlessly"?

Yeah, I forgot to mention that one. Really good track, although the production feels a bit stale to me and I can't put my finger on why. Great rhythm guitar playing though and overall a decent tune.

WHOA...It´s a classic 4 me!!

It's a sound that evokes something utopian ... all of Prince's albums have some of that obviously ... but this one especially ... it seems to me. At least for me!

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Reply #5 posted 12/30/18 4:09am

stpaisios

Aside ‘Future Soul Song’, which is one of his arguably the best songs of the decade 2000 - 2010 (its sounds almost like symphony) ‘Sticky Like Glue’ and ‘Beginning Endlessly’ also take the cake on this album. Especially ‘Beginning Endlessly’, which for me represents Prince’s more pluralistic and multiverse view on the world (more refreshing than monism), this song is really his spiritual and philosophical statment, something artits feel but cant explain reasonably. It connects with his views on construction of time, the structure we made up, to be able to simply function in this life. For Prince there is no such things as time, everything, in every moment is new beginning, new era, new possibility. Everything is connected like ‘All of us in minerals and chemicals of space’. This are his most poignant chours:

‘Why should you be satisfied with just heaven and earth?
When if you look around there's so much more to the universe
Maybe every shining star, is just another part
If you and I could ever open up our dirty hearts’

Its sad how something as deep as this easily pass by ppl without any excitement. There is also a moment in song when he says: ‘Love is much to small a word for what you feel for me’ when he starts building very intresting bridge, that fades away in that high ‘beginning endlessly’ tone, which really try to convince you in endless part of beginning.
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Reply #6 posted 12/30/18 4:31am

TheFman

Most probably the physical album i have that i played less, not just Prince even. Two spins it got. Which is more than MLP sound which i never played after hearing uber-cringworthy Chocolate Box, but at least i ddint buy it physically smile

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Reply #7 posted 12/30/18 5:03am

Cindy

I also love Future Soul Song. My second favourite track is Sea of Everything.... Will you wander the wilderness searching for a king. Will you settle for a Prince and a sea of everything.
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Reply #8 posted 12/30/18 5:10am

Darshy

Walk In Sand is one my all-time favourite songs of his; just absolutely sweet and beautiful
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Reply #9 posted 12/30/18 5:41am

iZsaZsa

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I love it. It's a church if you walk in and Prince is in the pulpit. You don't talk, you don't nap, you don't slip out early.

What?
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Reply #10 posted 12/30/18 7:21am

kookooman73

EmmaMcG said:

I hated the album upon release and I hate it now. Future Soul Song is the only song on the album that stands out. Laydown is alright too but very much a throwaway song and absolutely no need for it to be a "hidden track". Sticky Like Glue starts off well enough but doesn't go anywhere. The album as a whole feels like it was unfinished and just released because he had become bored with it. The fact that it was given away for free says a lot.

He was without a record deal & yet again exploring the best way (for him) to get the product to the consumer. Was Planet Earth any less of an album because it was also included in a newspaper? Was the Undertaker album any less because he intended to include it with a guitar magazine? Was The Truth album any less because he bundled it with the Crystal Ball compilation? Was Musicolgy inferior because he gave it away with concert tix? I greatly admired these unconventional methods where he got his music out there & got the lion share of the profit. IIRC he got an advance of $400,000 for the album plus tons of publicity. Personally also I love the album. My brother runs a newsagents & gave me about 30 copies. I posted them out for free to fans all over the world. 💜
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Reply #11 posted 12/30/18 7:39am

EmmaMcG

kookooman73 said:

EmmaMcG said:

I hated the album upon release and I hate it now. Future Soul Song is the only song on the album that stands out. Laydown is alright too but very much a throwaway song and absolutely no need for it to be a "hidden track". Sticky Like Glue starts off well enough but doesn't go anywhere. The album as a whole feels like it was unfinished and just released because he had become bored with it. The fact that it was given away for free says a lot.

He was without a record deal & yet again exploring the best way (for him) to get the product to the consumer. Was Planet Earth any less of an album because it was also included in a newspaper? Was the Undertaker album any less because he intended to include it with a guitar magazine? Was The Truth album any less because he bundled it with the Crystal Ball compilation? Was Musicolgy inferior because he gave it away with concert tix? I greatly admired these unconventional methods where he got his music out there & got the lion share of the profit. IIRC he got an advance of $400,000 for the album plus tons of publicity. Personally also I love the album. My brother runs a newsagents & gave me about 30 copies. I posted them out for free to fans all over the world. 💜



Planet Earth seemed like an album of outtakes from the 3121 sessions. He even references 3121 on one of the songs. There's some good songs on Planet Earth but it's far from being a strong album. I think the price of a newspaper was just about the right price point for it.

The Undertaker wasn't really a complete album either. Six and a half songs, three of which were recycled from other projects and one was a cover. He'd have had some nerve releasing that and charging full price for it.

The Truth was a mainly acoustic album recorded during a time when his popularity was at an all time low. Releasing that seperately from The Crystal Ball wouldn't have done him, or the album, any favours at all. It would have been an even harder sell than it already was.

Musicology was him "comeback" album and in order for him to regain a fraction of the popularity he once had, giving the album away with concert tickets was a shrewd move. It also helped that by doing that, he fiddled the charts so it appeared that his album was a bigger seller than it actually was. Again, great promotional move for the tour, but that's all it was.

No artist, not even Prince, is going to give away something for free if they feel it's good enough to charge for it. Unless, as was the case with Musicology, it helped to promote another venture.
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Reply #12 posted 12/30/18 7:51am

TKO

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No love for Lavaux? lol

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Reply #13 posted 12/30/18 8:09am

SchlomoThaHomo

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I love this record and always have. I genuinely don't get why the fans didn't like it. I get why MPLSound gets shitted on, but not this one. He was trying to go for a retro Prince sound, much like MPLSound, but came with much better songs. It was almost like an apology for the way that record turned out, with a note attached that said, "This is what it should have been." Heck, maybe that's why it was free. Or maybe I'm projecting. I did often wonder how many of these songs, besides Future Soul Song (W. 1999), were actually new compositions.

Compassion - A nice album opener, with a positive energy and message. A bit like a Let's Go Crazy-lite, missing the guitars. Prince admitting there are things that piss him off, too, like turning on the radio and only hearing, "electro-magnetic pop," or the lack of rightousness on "the right," and no sanctity on "the left." Compassion shoud be a "new international anthem," damn it, especially right now. These lyrics have proven to be prophetic,

"When ego, fear, and judgment
Become the rule of law
Watch the polar ice caps
Heat up, melt down, and thaw
When the greedy one forgets
That he's the reason for it all."

Beginning Endlessly - Such a great musical build on this song, with a fabulous payoff (the rhythm guitar breakdown). The lyrics referencing the beginning of humanity, and connecting with someone on that kind of basic, molecular level (Space) are interesting, and deep, if you let yourself go there with him. I love the live version he opened that one LA show with back around this time.

Future Soul Song - A definite highlight. Wonderful melody, with a thoughtful concept, and lyrics. My thought is that a "future soul song" is a song about a time when our bodies are gone, and only our souls are left. A place where I like to think he is now that he's gone. Verse 2 always spoke to me,"

"And when my voice rose, so did the sun
When the trees sang the harmony as one
Every living soul sang the most beautiful
Melody ever sung."

And I like when he references the eyerolls he got for being a man of faith. "I hear sighs. I hear whispers. But I don't care. This is between me and my Lord. U can go right on ahead and stare." He didn't apologize for who he was when he was nasty, why should he apologize for who he is now? I like that.

Sticky Like Glue - So tight and funky it almost hurts. There are musical moments in this song that sound straight out of 1982. I love that about it. And lyrics you can "see," which I always appreciate. I love the line, "Out of town - I had 2 go, but now I need a cup of something black and strong." He needed a strong black woman back in his life, and it sounds like he found her. Yes, the rap is one of his worst, but what comes after is so good, it's easily forgiven. The 10 minute rehearsal version is still one my most treasured Prince items.

Act Of God - The groove always reminded me of Computer Blue, but with with a juke joint feel. Mavis could have done some major justice to this. More thoughtful lyrics - "I got news 4 ya. Freedom ain't free. They lock U in a cell if U try 2 be." I could actually quote whole thing, I love it so much.

Lavaux - More classic early 80s musicality. I love the line, "A paradox's box's key. I am the Y in MYSTERY. U can unlock the secrets if U please." The "assembly in New York," sounds like a JW rally, of which I'll pass, but he does make it sound funky. Now where's that 10 minute version???

Walk In Sand - A lovely melody, with a sweet vocal from Prince. Could he write a song like this in his sleep? Yes. But that doesn't mean it isn't earnest.

Sea Of Everything - Cut from the cloth of Scandalous, but with the vulnerability and insecurities of a man who is no longer young. "Will U still feel the same when the spotlight fades?" "U wander the wilderness, searching 4 a king. Will U settle 4 a Prince, and a sea of everything?" Ironic, cocky. So Prince.

Everybody Loves Me - This song always made me chuckle. That he would even have the balls to record it, let alone release it. But that's always been one of the things I love about him - his sheer audacity. The song is clearly a novelty number, sounding like a childrens television show theme song, but with a Dirty Mind sort of synth groove to it. You can almost see Muppets singing the chorus.

Laydown - "From the heart of Minnesota, here come the purple Yoda." I mean...that's just classic. Corny? Definitely. But he could get away with it, because he was a purple Yoda, damn it. An absolute musical Jedi Master. So where's the lie?

God, I miss him. sigh

[Edited 12/30/18 9:14am]

"That's when stars collide. When there's space for what u want, and ur heart is open wide."
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Reply #14 posted 12/30/18 8:14am

NorthC

TKO said:

No love for Lavaux? lol


wave
I always liked this album. Sticky-Act-Lavaux are three good pop/funk songs in a row.
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Reply #15 posted 12/30/18 8:27am

TrivialPursuit

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There is a subtle exuberance on the album that is sort of refreshing. He's sorta playing around with hooks and word plays or whatever, and just letting it happen. I guess there is a casualness to it that perhaps things like 3121 or Planet Earth didn't quite achieve (nor were they supposed to). It also didn't quite have that flat, compressed, acrylic production that stuff like NewPowerSoul or Emancipation started to display. Although there are times when the drums sound super compressed or lack any reverb or natural echo.

The whole thing almost feels like one of those albums he completed but never intended to release, then decided "Boop - psyche! Here ya go." Opposed to a proper album release. This is all backed up by the fact it was slid into a slipcase and glued to the front of a newspaper.

I change up the tracklist just a bit, and start with "Cause and Effect" before "Compassion", and insert "Hot Summer" just before "Laydown". C&E is more of a banger opener, and HS is just fun.

It's not a top 10 album for me, but it's not at the bottom of the barrel either.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #16 posted 12/30/18 8:29am

pinkcashmere23

I loved the album when it first came out,even Everybody Loves Me. I thought he was just having a bit of fun and it made me laugh. When listening to the album now,I usually skip it along with Compassion. I start the album with Beginning Endlessly and go from there. I did and still do love Walk In Sand and Sea Of Everything and I think his vocals are beautiful on them. Favorite songs are Future Soul Song,Sticky Like Glue and Lavaux. I thought the latter two were classic Prince and reminded me why I fell in love with his music and I love the ethereal beauty of Future Soul.

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Reply #17 posted 12/30/18 8:47am

Se7en

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EmmaMcG said:

kookooman73 said:
He was without a record deal & yet again exploring the best way (for him) to get the product to the consumer. Was Planet Earth any less of an album because it was also included in a newspaper? Was the Undertaker album any less because he intended to include it with a guitar magazine? Was The Truth album any less because he bundled it with the Crystal Ball compilation? Was Musicolgy inferior because he gave it away with concert tix? I greatly admired these unconventional methods where he got his music out there & got the lion share of the profit. IIRC he got an advance of $400,000 for the album plus tons of publicity. Personally also I love the album. My brother runs a newsagents & gave me about 30 copies. I posted them out for free to fans all over the world. 💜
Planet Earth seemed like an album of outtakes from the 3121 sessions. He even references 3121 on one of the songs. There's some good songs on Planet Earth but it's far from being a strong album. I think the price of a newspaper was just about the right price point for it. The Undertaker wasn't really a complete album either. Six and a half songs, three of which were recycled from other projects and one was a cover. He'd have had some nerve releasing that and charging full price for it. The Truth was a mainly acoustic album recorded during a time when his popularity was at an all time low. Releasing that seperately from The Crystal Ball wouldn't have done him, or the album, any favours at all. It would have been an even harder sell than it already was. Musicology was him "comeback" album and in order for him to regain a fraction of the popularity he once had, giving the album away with concert tickets was a shrewd move. It also helped that by doing that, he fiddled the charts so it appeared that his album was a bigger seller than it actually was. Again, great promotional move for the tour, but that's all it was. No artist, not even Prince, is going to give away something for free if they feel it's good enough to charge for it. Unless, as was the case with Musicology, it helped to promote another venture.


There are also 3121s behind him on the cover. cool

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Reply #18 posted 12/30/18 8:49am

OnlyNDaUsa

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It was leaked a day or two before it was shipped out and I did have a chance to buy an actual copy... and Prince did tell the Peach and Black Podcast people that it would see a US release.

When it came out I liked it very much... I thought (as I do now) that its weak points were "Act of God" and "Sticky Like Glue" as well as what seemed like forced falsetto (which is weird but yeah it seemed like he was overdoing it and it did not work--same goes for the Studio "One Night Alone."

Highlights: "Compassion" Begining Endlessly, Everybody Loves Me. and Laydown... (with"Future Soul Song" and "Lavaux" being close)


But after a few days and several plays, it did not really grab me... So I did not pay it much attention...but since... I have come to like it more and more.



EDIT: and YES for some time my Sig was something like "20Ten? more like R0Ten" (which was partly just a joke, partly annoyed it was not released in the US and partly I was still being hassled by Prince via the web sheriff...

[Edited 12/30/18 10:01am]

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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Reply #19 posted 12/30/18 8:49am

Se7en

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I love the 20Ten album, almost start to finish. It sounds like he was re-energized during Lotusflow3r, and it carried over to 20Ten.


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Reply #20 posted 12/30/18 9:14am

AnnaStesia10

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I wasn't feeling 20Ten when it came out and it took me several turns to start to get it. But I do and I love it. My fav songs are Beginning Endlessly, Future Soul Song, Lavaux & Laydown. Having said that, 20Ten is one album I can listen to from start yo finish and not skip a track. I can feel his love, spirituality and humor in this work. On that note, I am gonna play this full album right now. 🎶🎧💜
"A strong spirit transcends rules." - Prince
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Reply #21 posted 12/30/18 9:36am

kingricefan

Listening to it as I type this....Not his 'greatest' effort but I still love it.

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Reply #22 posted 12/30/18 9:57am

OnlyNDaUsa

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kingricefan said:

Listening to it as I type this....Not his 'greatest' effort but I still love it.

Like me and a friend will say "it's not Sign O the times... but it is good" The best come back he gave was "Hell Purple Rain is no SOTT"

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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Reply #23 posted 12/30/18 10:11am

pinkcashmere23

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I love this record and always have. I genuinely don't get why the fans didn't like it. I get why MPLSound gets shitted on, but not this one. He was trying to go for a retro Prince sound, much like MPLSound, but came with much better songs. It was almost like an apology for the way that record turned out, with a note attached that said, "This is what it should have been." Heck, maybe that's why it was free. Or maybe I'm projecting. I did often wonder how many of these songs, besides Future Soul Song (W. 1999), were actually new compositions.

Compassion - A nice album opener, with a positive energy and message. A bit like a Let's Go Crazy-lite, missing the guitars. Prince admitting there are things that piss him off, too, like turning on the radio and only hearing, "electro-magnetic pop," or the lack of rightousness on "the right," and no sanctity on "the left." Compassion shoud be a "new international anthem," damn it, especially right now. These lyrics have proven to be prophetic,

"When ego, fear, and judgment
Become the rule of law
Watch the polar ice caps
Heat up, melt down, and thaw
When the greedy one forgets
That he's the reason for it all."

Beginning Endlessly - Such a great musical build on this song, with a fabulous payoff (the rhythm guitar breakdown). The lyrics referencing the beginning of humanity, and connecting with someone on that kind of basic, molecular level (Space) are interesting, and deep, if you let yourself go there with him. I love the live version he opened that one LA show with back around this time.

Future Soul Song - A definite highlight. Wonderful melody, with a thoughtful concept, and lyrics. My thought is that a "future soul song" is a song about a time when our bodies are gone, and only our souls are left. A place where I like to think he is now that he's gone. Verse 2 always spoke to me,"

"And when my voice rose, so did the sun
When the trees sang the harmony as one
Every living soul sang the most beautiful
Melody ever sung."

And I like when he references the eyerolls he got for being a man of faith. "I hear sighs. I hear whispers. But I don't care. This is between me and my Lord. U can go right on ahead and stare." He didn't apologize for who he was when he was nasty, why should he apologize for who he is now? I like that.

Sticky Like Glue - So tight and funky it almost hurts. There are musical moments in this song that sound straight out of 1982. I love that about it. And lyrics you can "see," which I always appreciate. I love the line, "Out of town - I had 2 go, but now I need a cup of something black and strong." He needed a strong black woman back in his life, and it sounds like he found her. Yes, the rap is one of his worst, but what comes after is so good, it's easily forgiven. The 10 minute rehearsal version is still one my most treasured Prince items.

Act Of God - The groove always reminded me of Computer Blue, but with with a juke joint feel. Mavis could have done some major justice to this. More thoughtful lyrics - "I got news 4 ya. Freedom ain't free. They lock U in a cell if U try 2 be." I could actually quote whole thing, I love it so much.

Lavaux - More classic early 80s musicality. I love the line, "A paradox's box's key. I am the Y in MYSTERY. U can unlock the secrets if U please." The "assembly in New York," sounds like a JW rally, of which I'll pass, but he does make it sound funky. Now where's that 10 minute version???

Walk In Sand - A lovely melody, with a sweet vocal from Prince. Could he write a song like this in his sleep? Yes. But that doesn't mean it isn't earnest.

Sea Of Everything - Cut from the cloth of Scandalous, but with the vulnerability and insecurities of a man who is no longer young. "Will U still feel the same when the spotlight fades?" "U wander the wilderness, searching 4 a king. Will U settle 4 a Prince, and a sea of everything?" Ironic, cocky. So Prince.

Everybody Loves Me - This song always made me chuckle. That he would even have the balls to record it, let alone release it. But that's always been one of the things I love about him - his sheer audacity. The song is clearly a novelty number, sounding like a childrens television show theme song, but with a Dirty Mind sort of synth groove to it. You can almost see Muppets singing the chorus.

Laydown - "From the heart of Minnesota, here come the purple Yoda." I mean...that's just classic. Corny? Definitely. But he could get away with it, because he was a purple Yoda, damn it. An absolute musical Jedi Master. So where's the lie?

God, I miss him. sigh

[Edited 12/30/18 9:14am]

yes

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Reply #24 posted 12/30/18 11:11am

dodger

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I love this record and always have. I genuinely don't get why the fans didn't like it. I get why MPLSound gets shitted on, but not this one. He was trying to go for a retro Prince sound, much like MPLSound, but came with much better songs. It was almost like an apology for the way that record turned out, with a note attached that said, "This is what it should have been." Heck, maybe that's why it was free. Or maybe I'm projecting. I did often wonder how many of these songs, besides Future Soul Song (W. 1999), were actually new compositions.

Compassion - A nice album opener, with a positive energy and message. A bit like a Let's Go Crazy-lite, missing the guitars. Prince admitting there are things that piss him off, too, like turning on the radio and only hearing, "electro-magnetic pop," or the lack of rightousness on "the right," and no sanctity on "the left." Compassion shoud be a "new international anthem," damn it, especially right now. These lyrics have proven to be prophetic,

"When ego, fear, and judgment
Become the rule of law
Watch the polar ice caps
Heat up, melt down, and thaw
When the greedy one forgets
That he's the reason for it all."

Beginning Endlessly - Such a great musical build on this song, with a fabulous payoff (the rhythm guitar breakdown). The lyrics referencing the beginning of humanity, and connecting with someone on that kind of basic, molecular level (Space) are interesting, and deep, if you let yourself go there with him. I love the live version he opened that one LA show with back around this time.

Future Soul Song - A definite highlight. Wonderful melody, with a thoughtful concept, and lyrics. My thought is that a "future soul song" is a song about a time when our bodies are gone, and only our souls are left. A place where I like to think he is now that he's gone. Verse 2 always spoke to me,"

"And when my voice rose, so did the sun
When the trees sang the harmony as one
Every living soul sang the most beautiful
Melody ever sung."

And I like when he references the eyerolls he got for being a man of faith. "I hear sighs. I hear whispers. But I don't care. This is between me and my Lord. U can go right on ahead and stare." He didn't apologize for who he was when he was nasty, why should he apologize for who he is now? I like that.

Sticky Like Glue - So tight and funky it almost hurts. There are musical moments in this song that sound straight out of 1982. I love that about it. And lyrics you can "see," which I always appreciate. I love the line, "Out of town - I had 2 go, but now I need a cup of something black and strong." He needed a strong black woman back in his life, and it sounds like he found her. Yes, the rap is one of his worst, but what comes after is so good, it's easily forgiven. The 10 minute rehearsal version is still one my most treasured Prince items.

Act Of God - The groove always reminded me of Computer Blue, but with with a juke joint feel. Mavis could have done some major justice to this. More thoughtful lyrics - "I got news 4 ya. Freedom ain't free. They lock U in a cell if U try 2 be." I could actually quote whole thing, I love it so much.

Lavaux - More classic early 80s musicality. I love the line, "A paradox's box's key. I am the Y in MYSTERY. U can unlock the secrets if U please." The "assembly in New York," sounds like a JW rally, of which I'll pass, but he does make it sound funky. Now where's that 10 minute version???

Walk In Sand - A lovely melody, with a sweet vocal from Prince. Could he write a song like this in his sleep? Yes. But that doesn't mean it isn't earnest.

Sea Of Everything - Cut from the cloth of Scandalous, but with the vulnerability and insecurities of a man who is no longer young. "Will U still feel the same when the spotlight fades?" "U wander the wilderness, searching 4 a king. Will U settle 4 a Prince, and a sea of everything?" Ironic, cocky. So Prince.

Everybody Loves Me - This song always made me chuckle. That he would even have the balls to record it, let alone release it. But that's always been one of the things I love about him - his sheer audacity. The song is clearly a novelty number, sounding like a childrens television show theme song, but with a Dirty Mind sort of synth groove to it. You can almost see Muppets singing the chorus.

Laydown - "From the heart of Minnesota, here come the purple Yoda." I mean...that's just classic. Corny? Definitely. But he could get away with it, because he was a purple Yoda, damn it. An absolute musical Jedi Master. So where's the lie?

God, I miss him. sigh

[Edited 12/30/18 9:14am]



Great post.
Even though I think he probably threw the album together in a couple of hours I agree with almost every line. Especially about Everybody Loves Me; I've always thought it could have been a Muppets song. It's that bad it's almost good.
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Reply #25 posted 12/30/18 2:48pm

iZsaZsa

avatar

dodger said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I love this record and always have. I genuinely don't get why the fans didn't like it. I get why MPLSound gets shitted on, but not this one. He was trying to go for a retro Prince sound, much like MPLSound, but came with much better songs. It was almost like an apology for the way that record turned out, with a note attached that said, "This is what it should have been." Heck, maybe that's why it was free. Or maybe I'm projecting. I did often wonder how many of these songs, besides Future Soul Song (W. 1999), were actually new compositions.

Compassion - A nice album opener, with a positive energy and message. A bit like a Let's Go Crazy-lite, missing the guitars. Prince admitting there are things that piss him off, too, like turning on the radio and only hearing, "electro-magnetic pop," or the lack of rightousness on "the right," and no sanctity on "the left." Compassion shoud be a "new international anthem," damn it, especially right now. These lyrics have proven to be prophetic,

"When ego, fear, and judgment
Become the rule of law
Watch the polar ice caps
Heat up, melt down, and thaw
When the greedy one forgets
That he's the reason for it all."

Beginning Endlessly - Such a great musical build on this song, with a fabulous payoff (the rhythm guitar breakdown). The lyrics referencing the beginning of humanity, and connecting with someone on that kind of basic, molecular level (Space) are interesting, and deep, if you let yourself go there with him. I love the live version he opened that one LA show with back around this time.

Future Soul Song - A definite highlight. Wonderful melody, with a thoughtful concept, and lyrics. My thought is that a "future soul song" is a song about a time when our bodies are gone, and only our souls are left. A place where I like to think he is now that he's gone. Verse 2 always spoke to me,"

"And when my voice rose, so did the sun
When the trees sang the harmony as one
Every living soul sang the most beautiful
Melody ever sung."

And I like when he references the eyerolls he got for being a man of faith. "I hear sighs. I hear whispers. But I don't care. This is between me and my Lord. U can go right on ahead and stare." He didn't apologize for who he was when he was nasty, why should he apologize for who he is now? I like that.

Sticky Like Glue - So tight and funky it almost hurts. There are musical moments in this song that sound straight out of 1982. I love that about it. And lyrics you can "see," which I always appreciate. I love the line, "Out of town - I had 2 go, but now I need a cup of something black and strong." He needed a strong black woman back in his life, and it sounds like he found her. Yes, the rap is one of his worst, but what comes after is so good, it's easily forgiven. The 10 minute rehearsal version is still one my most treasured Prince items.

Act Of God - The groove always reminded me of Computer Blue, but with with a juke joint feel. Mavis could have done some major justice to this. More thoughtful lyrics - "I got news 4 ya. Freedom ain't free. They lock U in a cell if U try 2 be." I could actually quote whole thing, I love it so much.

Lavaux - More classic early 80s musicality. I love the line, "A paradox's box's key. I am the Y in MYSTERY. U can unlock the secrets if U please." The "assembly in New York," sounds like a JW rally, of which I'll pass, but he does make it sound funky. Now where's that 10 minute version???

Walk In Sand - A lovely melody, with a sweet vocal from Prince. Could he write a song like this in his sleep? Yes. But that doesn't mean it isn't earnest.

Sea Of Everything - Cut from the cloth of Scandalous, but with the vulnerability and insecurities of a man who is no longer young. "Will U still feel the same when the spotlight fades?" "U wander the wilderness, searching 4 a king. Will U settle 4 a Prince, and a sea of everything?" Ironic, cocky. So Prince.

Everybody Loves Me - This song always made me chuckle. That he would even have the balls to record it, let alone release it. But that's always been one of the things I love about him - his sheer audacity. The song is clearly a novelty number, sounding like a childrens television show theme song, but with a Dirty Mind sort of synth groove to it. You can almost see Muppets singing the chorus.

Laydown - "From the heart of Minnesota, here come the purple Yoda." I mean...that's just classic. Corny? Definitely. But he could get away with it, because he was a purple Yoda, damn it. An absolute musical Jedi Master. So where's the lie?

God, I miss him. sigh

[Edited 12/30/18 9:14am]



Great post.
Even though I think he probably threw the album together in a couple of hours I agree with almost every line. Especially about Everybody Loves Me; I've always thought it could have been a Muppets song. It's that bad it's almost good.

hug
What?
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Reply #26 posted 12/30/18 3:40pm

Militant

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It's interesting that people speak so highly of "Future Soul Song", since it actually was written back in the 90s, as confirmed in my interview with Hans-Martin Buff.


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Reply #27 posted 12/30/18 3:41pm

feeluupp

Militant said:

It's interesting that people speak so highly of "Future Soul Song", since it actually was written back in the 90s, as confirmed in my interview with Hans-Martin Buff.


But the main question is... When was Sticky Like Glue written... It has that 80's vibe to it...

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Reply #28 posted 12/30/18 4:06pm

pinkcashmere23

Militant said:

It's interesting that people speak so highly of "Future Soul Song", since it actually was written back in the 90s, as confirmed in my interview with Hans-Martin Buff.


That's right. I had forgotten about that. I thought at the time of the album's release that it might have been written more recently with the lyrics at the end seemingly referencing his conversion to the JW faith.

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Reply #29 posted 12/30/18 4:07pm

jdcxc

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I love this record and always have. I genuinely don't get why the fans didn't like it. I get why MPLSound gets shitted on, but not this one. He was trying to go for a retro Prince sound, much like MPLSound, but came with much better songs. It was almost like an apology for the way that record turned out, with a note attached that said, "This is what it should have been." Heck, maybe that's why it was free. Or maybe I'm projecting. I did often wonder how many of these songs, besides Future Soul Song (W. 1999), were actually new compositions.

Compassion - A nice album opener, with a positive energy and message. A bit like a Let's Go Crazy-lite, missing the guitars. Prince admitting there are things that piss him off, too, like turning on the radio and only hearing, "electro-magnetic pop," or the lack of rightousness on "the right," and no sanctity on "the left." Compassion shoud be a "new international anthem," damn it, especially right now. These lyrics have proven to be prophetic,

"When ego, fear, and judgment
Become the rule of law
Watch the polar ice caps
Heat up, melt down, and thaw
When the greedy one forgets
That he's the reason for it all."

Beginning Endlessly - Such a great musical build on this song, with a fabulous payoff (the rhythm guitar breakdown). The lyrics referencing the beginning of humanity, and connecting with someone on that kind of basic, molecular level (Space) are interesting, and deep, if you let yourself go there with him. I love the live version he opened that one LA show with back around this time.

Future Soul Song - A definite highlight. Wonderful melody, with a thoughtful concept, and lyrics. My thought is that a "future soul song" is a song about a time when our bodies are gone, and only our souls are left. A place where I like to think he is now that he's gone. Verse 2 always spoke to me,"

"And when my voice rose, so did the sun
When the trees sang the harmony as one
Every living soul sang the most beautiful
Melody ever sung."

And I like when he references the eyerolls he got for being a man of faith. "I hear sighs. I hear whispers. But I don't care. This is between me and my Lord. U can go right on ahead and stare." He didn't apologize for who he was when he was nasty, why should he apologize for who he is now? I like that.

Sticky Like Glue - So tight and funky it almost hurts. There are musical moments in this song that sound straight out of 1982. I love that about it. And lyrics you can "see," which I always appreciate. I love the line, "Out of town - I had 2 go, but now I need a cup of something black and strong." He needed a strong black woman back in his life, and it sounds like he found her. Yes, the rap is one of his worst, but what comes after is so good, it's easily forgiven. The 10 minute rehearsal version is still one my most treasured Prince items.

Act Of God - The groove always reminded me of Computer Blue, but with with a juke joint feel. Mavis could have done some major justice to this. More thoughtful lyrics - "I got news 4 ya. Freedom ain't free. They lock U in a cell if U try 2 be." I could actually quote whole thing, I love it so much.

Lavaux - More classic early 80s musicality. I love the line, "A paradox's box's key. I am the Y in MYSTERY. U can unlock the secrets if U please." The "assembly in New York," sounds like a JW rally, of which I'll pass, but he does make it sound funky. Now where's that 10 minute version???

Walk In Sand - A lovely melody, with a sweet vocal from Prince. Could he write a song like this in his sleep? Yes. But that doesn't mean it isn't earnest.

Sea Of Everything - Cut from the cloth of Scandalous, but with the vulnerability and insecurities of a man who is no longer young. "Will U still feel the same when the spotlight fades?" "U wander the wilderness, searching 4 a king. Will U settle 4 a Prince, and a sea of everything?" Ironic, cocky. So Prince.

Everybody Loves Me - This song always made me chuckle. That he would even have the balls to record it, let alone release it. But that's always been one of the things I love about him - his sheer audacity. The song is clearly a novelty number, sounding like a childrens television show theme song, but with a Dirty Mind sort of synth groove to it. You can almost see Muppets singing the chorus.

Laydown - "From the heart of Minnesota, here come the purple Yoda." I mean...that's just classic. Corny? Definitely. But he could get away with it, because he was a purple Yoda, damn it. An absolute musical Jedi Master. So where's the lie?

God, I miss him. sigh

[Edited 12/30/18 9:14am]



Thanks for the Great Read! Some underrated gems on the album.
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