A full review will probably appear in the next issue. This one was based on the playback at the Purple Lounge. I've just cut and pasted this from their website.



How good can an album be if its creator is giving it away with a newspaper? That was the question looming over Prince’s twenty sixth LP Planet Earth, which the diminutive Minneapolis genius is distributing as a covermount CD with that time-honoured champion of genre-traversing sex-funk, The Mail On Sunday. You suspect the latter was chosen more for the fact that it has a print run of two million, rather than its political affiliations, but it’s still a tacky move.

Understandably, the Purple One’s putative label Sony BMG has cancelled his one-album deal in the UK, while major retailers have been sent into a tailspin: HMV first lambasted the decision, then decided to cut its losses and stock the tabloid in its stores.

Last night, MOJO was able to hear what all the fuss is about first-hand, at an exclusive playback at the aptly titled Purple Lounge in The Indigo: a wine bar-style enclave of The O2 in North Greenwich. The arena formerly known as the Millennium Dome has been transformed from an unlovable large tent into a pleasingly airy, spotless and futuristic shopping mall/conference centre, full of soothing blue lights.

As a video of Prince’s triumphant half-time Superbowl show played silently in the background, his people announced that more tickets would be released this Sunday (onsale 10am) for the 21 shows he’s playing at the arena, and that the very bar we were sitting in would function as the official aftershow venue for all 21 nights, with Prince and his band jamming into the small hours. Entrance to these aftershow parties will be £25 (plus a £2.50 booking fee), with ticket holders for the gigs themselves being given first priority.

The assembled hacks were then treated to three spins of Planet Earth. Written and produced by Prince alone, with guests including old hands Wendy and Lisa, the album was recorded at Paisley Park this year. A concise effort, it features the following ten songs...

1 Planet Earth
An eco-themed power ballad that starts with a gentle piano intro before exploding into axe-strafed bombast. Prince’s vocal straddles the solemn/silly divide: “Imagine you could rid the Earth of anyone you choose... careful now, next one could be you.” Could almost be an outtake from 1985’s guitar-heavy pop-psych masterpiece Around The World In A Day, were it not for the brass and backing vocals outro, which resembles Barry Manilow’s cornball toe-tapper Could It Be Magic.

2 Guitar
The nominal first single (if he still had a record deal) and an undeniable blast, this streamlined rocker cheekily takes its guitar line from U2’s early anthem I Will Follow - seriously, The Edge could sue - while echoing the vocal melody of Prince’s own Parade-era smash Girls & Boys, with a hint of Robert Palmer’s yuppie favourite Addicted To Love. Easily worth the price of a hectoring, right-wing tabloid rag.

3 Somewhere Here On Earth
The kind of ballad that divides casual fans from the true Purple heads, complete with falsetto come-on (“I really want to touch you!” etc) and smoky muted trumpet solo. Once you get past the silky smooth setting, this is actually a rather touching lament for the downgrading of human contact in today’s computer world: “In this digital age, you could just page me/ I know it’s the rage, but it just doesn’t engage me/ LIke the face to face...”

4 The One U Wanna C
An arena-boogie update of U Got The Look’s very ’80s pop-rock, complete with slap-happy bass, syndrum and cheerfully banal lyric: “Got a lotta money/ Don’t want to spend it all on me/ I like pretty things and you’re as pretty as can be.” Sounds silly on paper, but is oddly charming over the speakers.

5 Future Baby Mama
Oh dear. Neo-R&B is not Prince’s forté. Not even a clever double-tracked vocal (one basso profundo low, one balls-in-a-vice high) can save this tedious slow jam. Slushy and aimless...

6 Mr Goodnight
...As is this one. Creeping bass and bad sex-raps, further proof that His Purply Majesty has never really been down with hip hop. He may as well be going on about the importance of a good night’s sleep. Putting these last two tracks back-to-back has rather halted the album’s momentum.

7 All The Midnights In The World
And he’s back! Poppy harmonies, bright piano and a finger-clicking Stevie Wonder vibe make this pop-soul gem another keeper. My notes say ‘Cranberry Beret’, which is surely a good thing at this stage of the game.

8 Chelsea Rodgers
Bah. Honking would-be street jam which is too jaunty to be funk and not graceful enough to convince as disco. Wailing diva backing vocals, flaccid horns and unresolved ‘bridge’ contribute to overall air of embarrassment. It’s like Rick James without the coke. No fun.

9 Lion Of Judah
The title suggests some ghastly reggae-toned cod-spiritual, so it’s a relief to report that this is superior AOR, like Fleetwood Mac on a massive downer. Catchy chorus and searing fretwork support Prince’s melancholy musings, which involve “sitting on the floor in an all-white room”, possibly regretting a relationship gone south.

10 Resolution
Finger-clicking pop-soul with vague allusions to social commentary: “How many people really want resolution?” A good time, Curtis Mayfield-lite vibe ensures this variable album ends on a high note. While it doesn’t recapture the form of his 1980s imperial phase - only a fool would expect that - Planet Earth does at least show that Prince remembers what made him great in the first place. Which surely bodes well for those 21 London shows...
[Edited 7/12/07 11:47am]
[Edited 7/12/07 11:48am]

WTF is a "cranberry beret"?


Other than that, it's an interesting review.

Who ever wrote this frequents this board (or one just like it). The Could It Be Magic and I Will Follow (give me a break) references are a bit much to spot from one listen.

Best review I've read so far. Though I think he's selling FBM short (don't think Mojo like modern R&B too much)

emesem said:

a lot of people have spotted that on one listen apparently. Also I would have to disagree with the reviewers view of Future Baby Mama. I think that track is an old school prince gem.

ElCapitan said:

I think he was trying to elicit a feel for Raspberry Beret or making this sound like it's sequel.

p.s. ElCapitan, you have the BEST avatar by far!!!

I'd like a cranberry juice thankyou Mr barman

ElCapitan said:

ufoclub said:

Seriously, that guy acts like he never heard of Do Me Baby. SHOE is better but FBM is waaaay more legitimate Prince than Mr. Crapnight.

RenHoek said:

He refences other songs without changing the names. I think he just got the wrong fruit. Meh, it happens


p.s. And the avatar makes me happy every time I see it. Just like a cranberry beret.

IMO he is right about Future Baby Mama and Mr. Goodnight.

Just like most contemporary R&B, and even most 'Nu-soul' these songs use style-elements out of traditional R&B and soul, but the main element: SOUL, is missing. I consider modern R&B as slick, polished, superficial pop-music in that essence.

When it comes to the true meaning of soul, i detect more soul in All the midnights in the world, then in Future Baby Mama or Mr. Goodnight.

Actually a very good and accurate review IMO.


I'm with you guys on FBM too, I think it's more than they give credit for.


.
[Edited 7/12/07 11:59am]

While some may not like FBM, at least it sounds like real Prince> whereas on Mr. Goodnite he's still, at 50, trying to be something he's not.

I think its unfair to lump them both together.

They're not far off at all.

Seriously, skywalker.

What kind of black and white-thinking that is?

Maybe they got a reason for not liking 'this kind of R&B'?

Sorry to say, but modern R&B is just not very good. And when Prince tries to copy that kind of music its even worse.

Not want to sound 'old' here: but people like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Solomon Burke had or still have 'soul'.

99 percent of current R&B is generic, boring, superficial music that is most of all lacking what is essential in ANY style of music: SOUL

It's going to be interesting to watch these British music magazines to see how they write about Planet Earth initially versus once the concerts (and the accompanying shark-attack media frenzy) are underway.

I wonder if a number of these outlets won't be calling the album a gem by the end of year.

Obviously an Arsenal fan.

I enjoy Chelsea Rogers a helluva lot more than the reviewer but otherwise, not too bad.

HELLO ASSHOLE!!! Who wrote this review!!!
Why do you feel a need to SLAM HIS CHOICE of how he wants to release HIS OWN GOTDAMN MUSIC!?????
Prince has always done the unthinkable with his tactics in promotion and marketing.

If he wants to give it away free at McDonalds with a Happy Meal, thats his own F**KING CHOICE!
Why can't ppl just review the music and stop making their reviews a personal rant, like Prince actually insulted you in the flesh and said go screw yourselves!

I also find it odd how so many english folk diss him and his music, yet he wants to go overseas and play his heart out for you.

Not everyone from the UK is like this, but alot of you write nasty things about Prince and then your the first standing in line to get a ticket.

If you live in the UK and you work at a record store, why be pissed that the album isn't gonna be on your shelves!!?

Get a damn paper and you'll have it for free!
Stop Bitching all the time about what Prince does and what he don't do!

I'm done with reviews because the writers always seem to comment about the past and his dealings with record labels. Just REVIEW THE DAMN RECORD!

Your not the one behind the record company getting a pay check off of the artist, your just a fan who has nothing else better to do but complain about the way this man handles his own business. At the end of the day, Prince knows whats best for him and his legacy.


PEACE

Although homegirl is not fond of R&B (LOL), it's a pretty positive review and gives the man his props...That's all you can ask at this stage of Prince's career....

Riverpoet31 said:

1.One only needs to know the history of Mojo magazine to know that they don't like anything that comes close to "modern" R&B. Plus, they marginalize old R&B much of the time. Count how many times James Brown or Stevie wonder has been on th cover compared to Bowie, Zeppelin, or The Stones.

2.Old soul sound that you mention is very much in the style that "future Baby Mama" is going for. It's that old philly soul sound to me.

Mojo is off on the review of this song and Prince's abilities.


Slow Love
Adore
Dark
Most Beautiful Girl in the World
Betcha By Golly Wow
Man O' War
On the couch
Satisfied

are all songs that are in a similar vein/style to "future baby mama" Prince has this style of R&B down pat and his vocals are as tight as ever. Future Baby Mam is evidence of this and Mojo is off the mark on this one. They celebrate rock/pop 80% of the time and any kind of R&B (new or old) maybe 20%.

It's cool if they don't like the song "Future Baby Mama"--their reasoning behind it is faulty though.
[Edited 7/12/07 12:39pm]

Some people are slating "Future Baby Mama" due to the genre from which it comes. Others of us love it for being an example of the genre's potential when done well.

PE2007 said:

Tell us how you really feel

How is "Could it Magic" a "toe-tapper?" Anyway.

We dis him all we want but in the 70s, Barry was the shit. And some of his songs are classics.

MOJO always seemed to hate a little on P ... I remember in 1996 when he had the Emancipation concert they gave a funky review ... "There was no Oprah, no Jordan...no one cares."

I.m just curious, is this same Mojo(D.J from Detroit), that supposely use to play all P's music when Prince first started out? Please can someone tell me. I just recently heard some folks from Detroit talk about how Mojo put P on the "map" and not Minneapolis.

4bjb said:

You´re talking about "The Electrifying Mojo" from Detroit. This review was in MOJO, a British magazine.

PE2007 said:

Jesus, it was just a review and the writer complimented a lot of the tracks. You're right to not read reviews, but if you think the nature of reviews is going to change, you'll be waiting a long time. By their nature, reviews are picky, they make comparisons, and they're unforgiving.


I'm so sick of fans who claim to be above it all, always saying that they (and Prince himself) don't care about album sales and don't care about reviews, but then go crazy when anything they perceive as negative is written. What do you expect? That everybody will like every song Prince has ever written and buy his album and gush appropriately?


We pick apart Prince all the time here, and the vast array of opinions is what makes this place interesting. Yet, there are those (and I'm not saying that PE2007 is one of them) who seem to expect a customized experience where there are no voices of dissent and everybody agrees with everything they say. They're common refrain is "why do you come here then?" whenever anybody has anything bad to say about a brilliant musician who they have elevated to God-status.

Dream on.

emesem said:

yup! *nods*