The album.... two standout tracks and a Whole Lotta Filler. Two rocker tracks Guitar and The One U Wanna C, Somewhere Here On Earth = Power Fantastic...but not as good.

Glad i got it for free, i would NEVER pay €20 for this, sorry but Prince's albums continue to slide, but what about the POOR sound quality?????

Tape hiss galore, i know Prince prefers the dirty analogue sound...but this is crazy, Prince...it's 2007, welcome to the digital age and digital recording.

Hissy tracks are NOT "cool" or retro, update your damn studio.

My gripe about the last 4-5 Prince albums is they have no longevity, as in you can't listen to them again and again and get that "buzz".

Anyone remember the buzz?...the days when ypu heard that new Prince album and got goosebumps?

I don't get that anymore...maybe i'm jaded and tired

liberation said:

hush u got it free

Katt..i'm a Prince EXPERT, that cannot be denied....respect my opinion.

liberation said:

Hush Mr Moany pants

Well, that was worth starting a new thread for!

Hey, I'm getting a buzz.

Maybe after a few listens you'll love it? Hopefully.

ian said:

hiya Ian

I've spinned it twice...who the hell is Chelsea Rodgers?

One thing i will say, nice to see Wendy do her guitar on Lion Of Judah and great to see Mavis Staples back

liberation said:

Some bird Prince is possibly boffing?*

www.chelsearodgers.com



*Note: This is just light-hearted speculation on my part.

liberation said:

The hisses as you refer to them are deliberate, they are sounds of a vinyl record and are supposed to make the music sound more authentic. Vinyl is more personal than cd if you get my drift. The music talks and not what you here in between the tracks.

It will be interesting what all the doom-mongers are saying after a couple more listens or better still after going to the concerts. This is a very good album and Prince continues to show the rest how it's done. If the likes of MJ did these songs the critics would be raving

It's not the vinyl "popping" sound like you hear on track 3, this is actual tape hiss...whether it's deliberate because of how he uses analogue recording...it's crap.

Mate, if you're listening to the new Prince album and worrying about tape hiss, it is time to take a break

I'm loving the new album!

It's a serious talking point and related to the album.

liberation said:

Got any evidence of this or is that just an educated guess

I can hear it, i've enough experience with Prince and his music to know.

You're just old and bitter. Like me.

There is a lot of filler but I can live with that. It's just a shame that some of these things get released when we know what's locked away.

I will agree with you on the sound quality. I downloaded the copy floating around last week and was looking forward to hearing the proper version.
I had a real WTF moment on first listen. An audiophile he ain't.

And we got our own Oirish branded Cds so we can pretend an Irish company was involved somewhere.

katt said:

hiya katt, love the avatar

liberation said:

I definitely noticed the hiss but I wouldn't let it ruin my enjoyment of the album. Some great songs on there all the same.

PopeLeo said:

lib isn't Irish, he's from Limerick! There is a difference.
We have to exclude Limerick in order to keep the national knife crime stats down.

ian said:

liberation said:

Sorry, I don't make the rules.

And since you've complained about the hiss it is all I can hear now. Damn you!

White Stripes seem to get away with lo-fi sound quality music without any problems.

It cheapens the sound, it's like we're listening to a fith generation copy of something.

The 1 U Wanna C - OK...it's growing on me

ian said:

Ah, leave the inhabitants of Stab City alone. Talk rugby and the locals are usually friendly.
Buy a Munster shirt made from kevlar and you'll be fine down there.

liberation said:

See a few more listens and ur enjoying it

.
[Edited 7/15/07 3:01am]

liberation said:

Yeah that's one of my favourites, it is really fun. My missus heard it and said "oh it sounds like old Prince!". (in this case, old = good I suspect). Can't stand "Future Baby Mama" as it really is the worst kind of bland R&B shit, and Lion of Judah is just a go-nowhere dirge, but the rest of it is listenable. It's a much stronger album than 3121 in my opinion. The title track is actually decent... somewhere between Empty Room and When I Lay My Hands On U). Guitar isn't Fury, but still a strong track. Somewhere Here On Earth is nice enough. All The Midnights is a funny little oddity, reminds me of old Prince outtakes like "A Place in Heaven" or even stuff from ONA. Chelsea Rodgers is good fun, and even Resolution does the job in a happy clappy sort of way. I do think Prince always structures his albums quite well.

Average at best 3 stars out of five. Mhhheh.

loved the first half, last 2 tracks head towards that 'christian rock' sound though. title track is awsesome, there's 5 keepers on thereAs with all things purple i'll probably change my mind after a few more listens!.