Radio 1 DJ Bobby Friction is a perfect example of the breadth of Prince's appeal - he was just seven when the star's first album came out, but is the station's biggest Prince fan.

When we asked him to review Planet Earth, he was nervous - would it live up to the hype?

After ten tracks, he was adamant: "This is a Prince fan's dream come true - he's on top form. You've got rock Prince, funky Prince, sexy Prince and pop Prince. It's his finest work in 13 years."

1.PLANET EARTH

Brilliant anthemic rock - and Prince is back on his guitar! The fans have been waiting for this for 20 years. This is a real mix- it's got the funky bass, cheesy-in-a-good-way keyboards,and that screaming Purple Rain guitar.

2. GUITAR

Sounds like he's been listening to the Killers. He's normally a rhythm guitarist but this is driving lead guitar. Listen to the melody: it's so instant. That's his skill. Nice and simple like AlphabetStreet. This is Prince at his best.

3. SOMEWHERE HERE ON EARTH

Slow, sensual jazz - sexy Prince. I prefer it when he does it in a jazzy way rather than R&B, and this is a great example of that. This album's shaping up to be his most commercial since PurpleRain.

4. THE ONE U WANNA C

You can see this being a big hit. It's got a country-ish, Midwest sound you don'tassociate with him.Itreminds me of I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Manon Sign'O'The Times,which became one of his best-loved songs.


5. FUTURE BABY MAMA

Classic R&£038; B. A poor quality version of this was leaked on a website ahead of the CD so I've already heard this.It's very much Prince talking to his female fans: it's got that talky bit in the middle, like Barry White.When he does that live, the women start screaming.

6.MR GOOD NIGHT

Feel-good,semi-rapped soul.He sounds at peace with what he is: a 49-year-old man talking to his lover.He tried rap in the Nineties but it didn't work.But this is honest.

7. ALL THE MIDNIGHTS IN THE WORLD

A pianoled ray of sunshine, with Magic Numbers-style West Coast harmonies. He's talking about God and love in an earnest, positive way. Great piano. It's another Prince song that has an older man's sense of experience, and I like that.

8. CHELSEA RODGERS

Three words - ecstatic disco funk. Wow, I love this, it shows the Scissor Sisters who had the funk first. This is the sound of his earliest albums when he was influenced by Stevie Wonder and Chic. Listen to that bass and brass! This is going to be excellent live.

9. LION OF JUDAH I'm a Prince air-guitar-head and this sad, guitar-driven anthem is great. The opening chords sound just like the start of Purple Rain. It's got that thick tone he hasn't used since the mid-Eighties.He's a meticulous composer and arranger, and his muso side is obvious here.

10. RESOLUTION

Happy psychedelic pop - that hippy, Seventies sound is big on this album. It shows you've got a bit of everything. He's back to the top of his form in every field.


Catch Bobby on Radio 1 Tuesdays,midnight to 2am, and the Asian Network weeknights,10pm to 1am

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