The song Planet Earth is quite possible the best thing I've heard in the last 5 years!

It is exactly what I wanted from Prince

a spooky, haunting, over-the-top, piano/guitar heavy song with some
twists and turns and interesting lyrics!!!

That song just gave me chills...for the fifth time
Now I'm pumped for this album!!!

Just got home from the lcoal shop with my copy of the Mail On Sunday, putting the kettle on having a piece of toast and sticking Planet Earth onto my iPod ready for a nice relaxing Sunday morning listen!

Got VIP tickets for the O2 on 3rd Aug plus tickets for the Aftershow.

Life is sweet!

Gazza

Okay so the sleeve is mega cheap... .just a basic cardboard sleeve, no track listing, no liner notes, no artist name, just the CD. The packaging says "Free with the Mail on Sunday" so I have to assume the version that hits the shops properly in a few weeks will be a bit snazzier.

Still, great hearing it in decent quality at last. It's line "Planet Earth" is a different song!

But I will miss that DJ and "Keila" on "Future Baby Momma" though

.
[Edited 7/14/07 22:59pm]

blackbob said:

Very well said, that's exactly how I feel about it. This is the first time I ever saw anyone put it into words like this, but that is exactly how I always felt whenever someone slams the new music: It's their elusive youth that they're missing. Get comfortable with who you are today, and the new music will sound a lot better.

Its really cool, listening to it right now.

ONe thing tho, it aint exactly free is it, £1.40, so its nearly free. Last time I bought a newspaper it was 30p, so this was a bit of a surprise.

I must admit, Future Baby Mamma is my favorite.

K I don't get the hate that half the org seems to be frontin on this new cd? Its not a masterpiece granted, but having listened to the crappy file for bout a week and now enjoying the upgrade in quality I think its pretty tight overall.

Its pure POP prince with the guitar front and center. Which really after the RNRHOF hes been pushing his skills for the last couple of yrs.

There's not a song that bores me, which is more than I can say bout 3121 or musicology.

p.s. I love the twangy guitar in The One U wanna C.

GoldiesParade said:

Sunday papers are often more expensive, as they've got all sorts of shite bundled in with them.

I just had an extreme moment of Prince fammyness.

I popped Planet Earth into the player and listened to the title track for the first time in proper quality...

And about half way through, I was crying because firstly I think it's a great, epic song, secondly because I'd just had the weirdest new-Prince-album-buying experience to date and thirdly, just the whole concept of Prince giving away his new album and the fact that right now in the UK, he's big news for the first time in years.

And I'll continue the fammyness by saying 'Cheers Prince. You've made this fan very happy today'.

Who is the female vocalist on Chelsea Rodgers?

Anyone got any idea?

sunday morning...with a hang over !!!

Sorry u lot but you lot are moany bitches!! I just listerened to the album..and i may be a little late but listeren don`t just hear it nor write it off !!
Its a good album..Mr goodnite is a track and future baby momma is beautiful ( and if you don`t like that one its cause you ain`t got nobody and you bitter ) !!

Prince sounds mature and neat !!
Keep your negativity to yourself and enjoy the day..the day prince brought the music to the masses through the newspaper..

i`m very proud of him....from "84" to today.....no one can touch him...
STOP HATING....

I've just heard the new album for the first time and I felt like a 5 year old in a toy shop, I have to admit it gave me goosebumps and a tear in my eye. Anyone harking back to the 80's and the 'You shoulda heard it when' should shut up and revel in this. Classic Prince.

Just went out and got it!!

havent played it yet although ive already heared guitar, fbm, shoe, cr, pe, 1uwc.

i love all of them songs, this albums amazing!

Nemo said:

That's exactly how I feel today.

I've now listened to an actual cd and I must say, this is pretty rubbish on Prince's part. It has a few good tracks and I still think Chelsea Rodgers is a good cut and will hopefully make some kind of single, as well as be a showcase live cut, but as a whole, it is his weakest, most uninspired album possibly of his career.

Very, very bland and passe'.

Lion of Judah and Resolution have to be the fluffiest things he's ever recorded.

If you're thinking the actual cd will reveal nuances, you are GRAVELY mistaken -- this record is as deep as a 14 year old Smiths fan.

Rating: D

Dear mr man..a 6...damn u a critic..open your mind brother..analization of the highest order..

Wall said:

I'll see your Lion of Judah and Resolution, and raise you a Graffiti Bridge.

I love it. A couple of fillers (lion and Mr goodnight) but a few Prince classics.

Its way better than 3121 and Musicology. A very live sounding album, cant wait for the shows!

ian said:

I think GB at least has a faux Gershwin vibe. Lion of Judah and Resolution, as well as the majority of tracks on Planet Earth are utterly worthless.

Chelsea Rodgers is a worthy single and live cut, but on a true, strong Prince album would be nothing more than a b-side.

Wall said:

You're living in a fantasy world mate. Prince's albums are always somewhat inconsistent. You could count the number of consistently brilliant Prince albums on one hand.

Planet Earth has some low points, this is true - but your comment about the majority of tracks on the album being "worthless" is just hyperbole on your part. Without getting into issues of taste and subjectivity, the title track is reasonably decent. So is Guitar, so is Somewhere Here on Earth, The One U Wanna C, All the Midnights in the World, and Chelsea Rodgers. That's six strong songs, and what remains is variable and depends on your taste. Considering we've had Musicology and 3121 in the past few years, the new album is certainly no worse (I'd argue it's a good deal better than those albums)>

How strange to pick up the latest Prince album from my local cornershop at 730 in the morning. Bizarre. Sounds very good. Bound to woo the masses. Chelsea R would be a great single.

Only moan i have is no tracklist on the sleeve.

Cant have it all!

Electrostar said:

I can just predict the conversations at work tomorrow.

Me: 'Did you like the new Prince album?'
Them: 'Yeah'
Me: 'Which songs did you like?'
Them: 'Erm, that one about the Guitar, that one with the guitar playing at the end, that one in the middle somewhere with them women singing backing vocals and that one about Chelsea'
Me: 'Oh'

ian said:

I wholeheartedly agree that you could count his brilliant records on one hand and if you think the aforementioned tracks on Planet Earth are worthwhile, then enjoy them; I simply cannot believe how uninspired the same songs sound to my ears.

I should add that Somewhere Here on Earth does have a great vocal and as I've said before, is closer to cool jazz than smooth -- but not by much -- but the album as a whole in its pristine quality absolutely leaves me underwhelmed. A tragedy.

I tend to agree with those who say Prince should never use an outside producer as his hit and miss style is a big part of his persona, but by god, if it would mean he'd understand such a simple thing as how to record a rock groove and make a basic rock album, then get someone, anyone, in who can offer a word or two of advice.

I honestly cannot think of more than two or three Prince songs that are 'rock' and here we were told by obviously false 'insiders' this record was going to be a rock album. HA!
[Edited 7/15/07 2:13am]

I remember standing outside WHSmiths the morning The Gold Experience was released, waiting for them to open so i could buy a copy.

This morning, I had a WHSmiths newspaper guy bring me a copy of Planet Earth before the shops had even opened. Strange but True, haha.

Listened about 5 times now, enjoyable enough, but short on classic/standout tracks imho.

Chelsea Rogers, however, had me within 10 seconds. So funky!!!

Have to agree with some of the comments here that while many of the songs are nice enough, it doesn't seem to "fit" together very well as an album. :/
[Edited 7/15/07 3:22am]

so I've heard it in high quality now. I think it's going to have to grow on me. Some songs I liked better in low quality, some I like better in high quality. For example, the title track is even more impressive when you hear the layers in such crystal clear adio. On the other, hand, I think "The One U Wanna C" sounded much more energetic in its rawer, 96kbps quality.


Probably just take some getting used to, since I had the low quality version on repeat at work on my iPod all week and iTunes says it's gotten 50 plays.

blackbob said:

I agree totally with Bob... some good points and I absolutely love "somewhere here on earth" its just as good as adore etc

Spot on, Wall. I always felt P should hook up with MAW, and Chelsea R really does remind me of their work.As for the Album, yeah well, fast forward to the next one.