Prince Is "The One U Wanna C", July 24, 2007
By Anton Jackson "agentundercova" (Montgomery, AL) - See all my reviews
Coming off the heels of two of his most accessible albums in years, Prince continues his steady and consistent stream of releasing some solid material for the masses to hear.

Planet Earth - This title track opens to an eerie piano intro that eventually progresses into a grandiose production of heavy drums, spirited guitar playing and passionate vocal work. For some Prince fans, it may echo shades of the "Empty Room" and "Gold." A dramatic way to open the album - almost daunting to here the first time around. (5/5)

Guitar - Prince's most mainstream approach - a light pop/rock track with lyrics that almost anybody could write. It's a throwaway track, but it's got some spunk. Fun, nonetheless. (3.5/5)

Somewhere Here on Earth - A ballad track that taps into the jazz portion of Prince's varied forte. Renato's keyboard and piano contributions are a welcome change to this track, adding to the wonderful muted horns and trumpets with provoking lyrics. One of the more inspired ballads Prince has had in a while. (4/5)

The One U Wanna C - A very catchy track that dips into the country-rock category, but this maybe one of the few tracks that loses its appeal after a while. Plenty of fast guitar work, with thumping drums, a cool bassline and an energetic vocal delivery. But I think the country-twang attached to it gives the song its own charm. (3.5/5)

Future Baby Mama - An R&B melody that would fit comfortably on an Urban radio playlist. Touches of the old Linn-drum machine are scattered throughout, giving off the slight retro vibe that you would associate with Prince's sound. Cool and sensual are pretty much the words I'd use to describe this little ballad. Cool and sensual. (4/5)

Mr. Goodnight - Some Prince fans will have a problem with this track, since he brings out his dreaded "rap" skills on this one. In my opinion, it sounds more like spoken verse, so I had no problem with it, but that doesn't go without saying it won't give you a chuckle - it's slightly cheesy. This bassline reminds me of something you would hear out of the West Coast in 1994, but to the Prince fan that's familiar with more material, the overall track might remind them of "Player." I don't mind this track. It's a laidback R&B cut - nothing more. The guy's 49 years old, he's gotta chill every now and then. (4/5)

All the Midnights of the World - The shortest track on the album, with some pretty interesting arrangements. It's on the sugary side, but it has its charm. Its vibe is almost reminiscent to "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker" and "Starfish and Coffee," but I wouldn't put it in that league. It's more of a segue than anything. A decent segue, at that. (3/5)

Chelsea Rodgers - Finally, some FUNK! A fun disco-funk number with Prince bringing in the whole band to contribute - lots of bass, lots of horns and trumpets, and assisting vocals. Prince's vocals are turned down a bit to mix in with Shelby's soulful singing, reminiscent of the arrangements Earth, Wind and Fire brought to the game. Prince sounds like he's having a lot of fun - full of energy and spirit. Definitely a standout track, especially for the funk lovers. (4.5/5)

Lion of Judah - A nice pop/rock number that sounds like a cross between "Cinnamon Girl" and "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" - could have fit easily onto the Musicology album. Prince's vocals sound sincere, with nice guitar work and effects to boot. (4/5)

Resolution - Another light pop/rock number that could have fit easily on Musicology. It's simple and to the point, not too much to elaborate on here. Another nice production, in terms of arrangement, once again. (4/5)


Prince obviously isn't out to reinvigorate the music industry, he just wants to make music in his own quirky way. No shame in that, considering he's got a 30 year legacy and doesn't have to prove anything to anybody. He just wants to hang around and make music for as long as he wants, when he wants. Compared to Musicology and 3121, Prince doesn't sound like he's being forced to do anything - it seems like he made some of these tracks effortlessly. He's definitely more vibrant and energetic on Planet Earth than he was on his previous two albums, which helps it out in the end. Solid stuff.

Heeeey, I know him! Great guy.

awesome review and very well said - I'll give it a 4/5

I just noticed there's also a discussion forum there for those who are interested.

Also, it's #2 today.

That's my review! Sweet!

I didn't realize it would be the first one up, or the most helpful for that matter. Glad to see I could be of help to some people.