I can't stop playing this CD. So many great songs and they should be heard on the CD and not just by the samples. This is an amazing album.

I always thought that The Time should have done their own albums... now I see it in full force.

Fishnet was a sample of what they could do outside of Paisley. This is the meal.

SOme tracks are a little annoying because they are obviously trying to sound like kids on the radio that are young enough to be their children. Hey Yo sounds like almost every piece of crap on pop radio now - something like Rhianna or Lady Gaga would put their names on. Can a gang of 50+ year old black dudes from the 80s expect to capture that market today? I let it slide on #Trendin because you can hear a Time groove underneath the meaningless Black Eyes Peas keyboard noise. They are too good for that so I am glad that they managed to avoid it for the most part on this album.

Okay, here's my $0.02:

The documentary is GREAT! It's a juicy tell-all without being catty. There are some moments that made me double over with laughter and some that made me shake my head, but I won't go into details and spoil it for those who haven't yet seen it. I think the fact that I wasn't expecting them to be so revealing added to my enjoyment.

The album is strong. It think what appeals the most is that O7 is doing what many wish Prince would do--they are sticking to their roots. They kept that light-hearted, ladies' men, too-cool-for-school persona that we all fell in love with. Now, in my opinion that works on some songs and not on others. I am of the thought that normal people tend to evolve, which is why I tend to be an advocate for the 2000s Prince. However, I get the importance of sticking to the formula, especially with a forced name change. You can't have too many changes when trying to resurface after 20 years.

Now for individual tracks (thanks to NuPwrSoul for the formatting):

-Strawberry Lake I definitely agree with NuPwrSoul, who said this was dangerously reminiscent of Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People." But, I kind of like it. I get the sense that it was more of an ode to them rather than a rip-off. It gives me the warm and fuzzies.

-Condensate This is purely The Time. And it works here. The track is funky and the lyrics are playful.

Overall, purchase this album at Best Buy. The documentary alone is worth it plus you will get a chance to hear a strong album from an old favorite.

On a side note, I do think that it is a real shame that Prince did not allow this group to release this album under the name that made them famous. The truth is that outside of diehard fans that have kept up with The Time and Prince, most people are not going to realize that this is The Time unless they do some MAJOR press. On the upside, it does appear that they have The Tonight's Show coming up. More appearances like that will hopefully close the gap in people's minds. I think they would have done better calling themselves The Artists Formerly Known As The Time. That would have really stuck it to Prince's controlling butt.

Got the album last nite, been wearing out since then, im just happy 2 hear new music from the band, and i like the name The Original Seven, perfect stand in name for The Time. These guys will not be put 2 rest, talented all on there own

4everYoung said:

Just heard Trendin on the radio!! Yay!! They're gettin air play in The Bay!!

This news is from their Facebook page:

"Trendin" is starting to 'Condensate' at radio.Thanks to KJLH/Los Angeles,KJMS/Memphis,KOKY/Little Rock,WMJM/Louisville,KFXZ/Lafayette,KRMP/Oklahoma City for adding the single this week and helping the single debut on the charts.Let's get to number one!

There's no stoppin' this project! These guys are on a roll,and even radio is supporting them

2elijah said:

SoulAlive said:

The Original 7ven(The Band Formerly Known As The Time) – Condensate(Recommendation)

(album review by Grown Folks Music)

This is one of those recommendations where in a way I had reviewed the album in my mind before I actually had the album. After vibing to the first single #Trendin a few weeks ago someone on the GFM team hipped me to the snippets of Condensate that had made their way to Amazon. I distinctly remember having two thoughts upon hearing the teaser: 1. This project is great for music and 2. Notice has been served: Musicians are at work here.

My thought behind why Condensate is great for music is that when you listen to the project that’s truly what you find contained within all the tracks music. What do I mean? Well you know how sometimes you can go to a restaurant(fast food) and there might be hamburgers or chicken listed on the menu and after you dine upon said food you question if that’s truly what you had. But then you can go down the street to the local restauranteur(whose employees you have seen standing in line behind you from time to time getting supplies at the store that sells high quality food items) and get the real deal that satisfies and is good for you. The notice that is served is that there really are musicians out there who still respect music and their fans enough to give them good stuff that’s good for them.

As I listened to Condensate I had to keep reminding myself who I was actually listening to and then my inner-voice would kick in and say “This is what songwriting/production/arranging/entertainment sounds like.” Ultimately when you combine all those elements together you are ultimately trying reach that level where you are just simply entertained. Condensate is definitely entertaining: I cannot tell you the last time that I’ve laughed and smiled this much listening to an album of music. I mean between the interplay of Morris Day and Jerome Benton, the skits, the wordplay of the song lyrics… the album feels like you were given an opportunity to literally just hang with the 7ven listen to some stories, music, jokes and just have a great time.

Musically Condensate is everything you would expect from The Band Formerly Known As The Time. I don’t mean in a predictable way or a recycled way. This is all new music with a 2011 sensibility but with all the fire and playing that used to be the standard in music. We know the folks who continue to uphold that standard for music and 7ven of them happen to be in the same band and decided to make a great new recording for lover’s of music. Did I just say band? Yesss!!!

The energy is apparent when Monte Moir, Jellybean Johnson, Jesse Johnson, Jerome Benton, Terry Lewis, Jimmy Jam and Morris Day come together. You can hear the individuality but the sum of the parts… from Jesse Johnson’s incredible guitar work on cuts like “Sick” and “AYDKMN”, Jellybean’s drum work throughout and the personal fave “If I Was Your Man”, the aforementioned banter between Morris and Jerome plus Morris’ lead vocal/quaterbacking duties calling for solos and hits in a nod to the GFOS, the keyboard work on Monte and Jimmy Jam (a lot of those sounds you won’t find in a box), the bass work of Terry Lewis that locks the grooves in air tight.

Condensate is an album, not that you didn’t know that but the emphasis is on album something you can play from start to finish without skipping tracks. The recording will grab you from the outset: The opening skit into “Strawberry Lake” will have you ready to gas up the car put the disc in the player and hit the highway just to listen while you drive. It’s just that much energy emanating from the speakers that it implores you to want to experience the project uninterrupted in its entirety and sometimes you can only achieve that on a drive. My recommendation here is to pick up a bottle of the 30 year vintage in the form of Condensate out Tuesday October 18th.

Make sure to pickup Condensate right here.

Jesse looks great in that pic. Still handsome. Seems like this album is getting a lot of good reviews. Guess I better get to purchasing iit and checking it out.

[Edited 10/19/11 13:10pm]

I love this photo! The guys are sharp!!!

"Cadillac" by the Original 7Ven

SoulAlive said:

"Cadillac" by the Original 7Ven

Yep. Funky.

PurpleChi said:

SoulAlive said:

"Cadillac" by the Original 7Ven

Yep. Funky.

worth buying the CD just for this track alone - sounds like a modern twist on C.O.O.L.

As for Jesses' funk...Dayum - P hang yo head in shame, the Time just delivered the MPLS funk we bin waitin' fo. .

funkyhead said:

PurpleChi said:

Yep. Funky.

worth buying the CD just for this track alone - sounds like a modern twist on C.O.O.L.

As for Jesses' funk...Dayum - P hang yo head in shame, the Time just delivered the MPLS funk we bin waitin' fo. .

I like this album more than anything Prince has released in the last 15 years. Even the weakest tracks aren't bad at all. I did not expect it to be this good.

I got mine...hot diggity damn!!!

I was cold jammin in the car...I haven't even watched the dvd yet 'cause I was too busy playing the cd over and over since I got home. It is that GOOD!

Jesse is a beast and Monte is totally sick!

Jimmy and Terry...What? Totally badass!

Jellybean, Mo'iss, Jerome...superb!

I'm having a hard time even picking a favorite. For now Imma go with Cadillac, #Trendin, Condensate and Sick.

But the whole cd is tight as hell. I told y'all the fellas would bring it...I'm just mad that it took so long even though it was worth the wait.

Congrats to the Original 7ven. I'm beside myself because I knew y'all had it in you. Now get out there on the road and show 'em how it's supposed to be done!!!

Now I'm off the watch the dvd.

babynoz said:

I got mine...hot diggity damn!!!

I was cold jammin in the car...I haven't even watched the dvd yet 'cause I was too busy playing the cd over and over since I got home. It is that GOOD!

Jesse is a beast and Monte is totally sick!

Jimmy and Terry...What? Totally badass!

Jellybean, Mo'iss, Jerome...superb!

I'm having a hard time even picking a favorite. For now Imma go with Cadillac, #Trendin, Condensate and Sick.

But the whole cd is tight as hell. I told y'all the fellas would bring it...I'm just mad that it took so long even though it was worth the wait.

Congrats to the Original 7ven. I'm beside myself because I knew y'all had it in you. Now get out there on the road and show 'em how it's supposed to be done!!!

Now I'm off the watch the dvd.

Yeah!!!!!!!!!11

"If I Was Yo Man" is the SHIT!

On the DvD......the Alexander O'Neal story............

EFFIN' HILARIOUS!!!!!!

Agreed with all; pleasantly surprised by this. Kudos to the rest a ya for big upping it, I was prepared to ignore it.

Haven't watched the DVD yet, but I did put it in my computer and the volume label is “FLYTE_TIME”… nice touch!

woogiebear said:

On the DvD......the Alexander O'Neal story............

EFFIN' HILARIOUS!!!!!!

MLK III story is pretty funny too.

runawayslave said:

SOme tracks are a little annoying because they are obviously trying to sound like kids on the radio that are young enough to be their children. Hey Yo sounds like almost every piece of crap on pop radio now - something like Rhianna or Lady Gaga would put their names on. Can a gang of 50+ year old black dudes from the 80s expect to capture that market today? I let it slide on #Trendin because you can hear a Time groove underneath the meaningless Black Eyes Peas keyboard noise. They are too good for that so I am glad that they managed to avoid it for the most part on this album.

How old are you? Not truly asking but you sound like you have no appreciation for contemporary music. Of course they are reaching out to this generation? Why wouldn't they? See ALL MAJOR LABEL releases for nearly every act with a 20-30 year legacy and they are all incorporating modern sounds into there new releases. Many of which SOUND GREAT, not just the new Original 7even.

Can a gang of 50+ year old black dudes from the 80s expect to capture that market today? See El Debarge and Charlie Wilson. Hell Black Eyed Peas are some cats damn near pushin 50. You soundin' a bit haterish.... I eat haters for dinner.

paisleypark4 said:

funksterr said:

I think it's clearly stronger than their entire back catalog. I'm not saying that to disparage their back catalog, or Prince or anything like that. Obviously the back catalog is really great music. But CONDESNATE is a much more diverse and mature product. As it should be. Over time, these guys have grown as writers, producers and musicians. The album reflects that. Now it's ours to enjoy.

I put it up there with Pandemonium. I really like the album...but there are too many tunes on the album. Hey Yo, Aydkmn, Lifestyle and One Step doesnt do it for me. The positive is that the songwriting and production was done very well, and I look forward to seeing more of this in the future. Been too long.

I was pictureing Lifestyle live like outdoors in Detroit. I think it will kill. One Step is a nice change of pace old school funk/gospel type of track. It's legit too.

All the critics love them on the org

Standout tracks for me are: "Strawberry Lake", "Condensate", "#Trendin", "If I Was Yo Man", "Role Play", "Sick", and "AYDKMN."

Damn, I wish the Mo'Nique Show and Lopez Tonight were still on the air. I know they would have been booked for them.

Conan and the others, I don't think they have a shot. Maybe Jimmy Kimmel.

Tracks I like the most are "If I Was Yo Man", "Faithfull" and "Toast to the Party Girl".

I aint gonna lie. Listening to this album almost brought a tear to my eye. The Album started a little slow(for me) but it got better and better and better. After listening to the whole album i would have to say this is the best "Minneapolis Sound" sounding album in years. The fellas did good. They killed it with the Grooves and the melody and the slow jams are on point. Also the mixing of the old sound with modern RnB was the right call. They definitely showed the younger cats how its done. What kinda suprised me is how well they incorporated, what would be considered 'Prince's Sound' on a few songs. Actually to me they did Prince better than PRINCE has in years. Overall everything works well and the guys should be proud of this release !

I'm curious to see what Prince comes up with next !

Okay, I gave in and listened to it.

My opinion remains the same.

Cadillac is the only song I truly enjoy.

All of The Time's worst songs are on this album.

"One Step" is simply terrible.

+ Anyone who believes that "Condensate" is funkier than 7779311 can just die.

Spinlight said:

"If I Was Yo Man" is the SHIT!

That has GOT to be the next single!

woogiebear said:

On the DvD......the Alexander O'Neal story............

EFFIN' HILARIOUS!!!!!!

I was laughing at that part,too Alex wanted too much "paper"...LOL

sextonseven said:

I like this album more than anything Prince has released in the last 15 years. Even the weakest tracks aren't bad at all. I did not expect it to be this good.

I agree,even the few weak tracks aren't that bad.I can listen to this album all the way through without skipping any tracks.

"Sick"

listening to this right now.

minneapolisFunq said:

Okay, I gave in and listened to it.

My opinion remains the same.

Cadillac is the only song I truly enjoy.

All of The Time's worst songs are on this album.

"One Step" is simply terrible.

+ Anyone who believes that "Condensate" is funkier than 7779311 can just die.

Your post starts with the words "Okay, I gave in and" and ends with "just die". Dude, CHEER UP!. The new record is a funny, funk filled blast! Give it a chance. Did you actually BUY the disc and listed to it in your car? You sound ready to jump off Grafitti Bridge or something.