2 each their own, and all that... and everything is subject 2 taste, yes, BUT...

Planet Earth is an incredible album, straight up. I have already gone into detail about what I dig about it.

I would have thought that this would have satisfied a lot of long-time fans, and have been stunned at how many couldn't dig this.

There is a lot of "care" in the instrumentation on this album. There are a diverse set of elements, which occur naturally.

I think Prince was likely disappointed with the reaction 2 this album.
[Edited 2/4/08 18:46pm]

I was expecting a lot more funky energy. I like some of the tracks.

OK. I'll start with one...

From the 5 minute mark of "Planet Earth" 2 the end of the song.

luv4u said:

I am "primarily" a Funk musician, and of course I ADORE Prince's Funk.

Always hungry 4 it, but this album covers so much "ground", that I'm satisfied with what I get from "Chelsea Rodgers"... especially with Prince on drums, bass, and guitar on that track.

In fact, he is all over this album.

The credits were 4 anyone who did anything in the project, but he's playing most of the parts.

The sonic quality of the parts recorded is impeccable. Both rich and crisp. Nice mix, nice placement of effects, in the right places.

Giovanni777 said:

chelsea rodgers, future baby mama

as my last post tonight, PE is something that has really grown on me lately, I have no idea why, but i like it´s laided back groove´s

It is no classic, but it is one of the finest free albums ever

I love Planet Earth.

Giovanni777 said:

What's up Giovanni777! It satisfied me!

I love Planet Earth:
'Somewhere Here on Earth' is brilliant!
'Future Baby Mama' and 'Mr. Goodnight' are off the hook!!!
'Lion of Judah" It was nice to hear him, Wendy and Lisa jammin' again.
'Resolution' and 'Planet Earth' I like what he's saying in these songs and all the others.

That's my boy. He's creative and I appreciate anything he puts out.

Giovanni777 said:

Very nice 2c a thread praising this album. I started one myself a few months ago when things were pretty negative and it was something positive amongst the negativity.

I didn't need to let this album grow on me. I loved it right away.
Let me just say, though, that I had no expectations of this album. I wasn't guessing what it was going to be like because I didn't have the experience to even want to guess what I'd be faced with. The only thing I asked for was something that I liked better than 3121. Something that had and soul in all the right places.

I didn't expect the title track to be the kind of song it was, but it just kept getting better and better. In the instrumental break in the middle of the song, I could have sworn I felt something magical and special was about to happen in this album. Then the final solo... I can still hear it now... the most amazing guitar work Prince had done in what feels like a long time. 3121 and Musicology certainly had nothing like it.

Somewhere here on Earth was something very unique and pleasant that I didn't expect... a very nice surprise all wrapped up in a bow.
Then "Mr. Goodnight"... what can I say about it? From the moment he 'rapped' "All over the world they call me Prince, but u can call me Mr. Goodnight"... he had me... and it just kept getting better & better.

Even better, it confirmed in my mind that Prince was in a very good place musically and spiritually and it was only going to get better. That's what mattered most to me in the end.

As for the last thing you said, its very sad how so many people here turned on the album this hard. They go as far to say its the worst he's ever done.

For me, personally, I had taken the time to surround myself with all eras of Prince's music so I knew his musical reporteire pretty well before coming into this album. The last 2 albums b4 it didnt have quite the same impact as all the ones b4 them... I felt like Planet Earth was just as good as anything he had done in previous decades. Plain & simple, it was magic.

I don't know how much the opinion of a relatively new admirer is worth to Prince, but I'll speak up for this album even when no one else will. I see this as a crowd of nay-sayers and I'm one of the voices that will fight through the crowd to let him know that he didn't disappoint everyone with this project.

PE and will stand by it no matter what they say against it.

Tree-hugger!

Giovanni777 said:

Gio, bro, you need professional help

No, it still sucks.

I love PE!

It's a fine album, and overall, I think it's a major step up from 3121, but where's the energy?

I know Prince is getting a little older, but where's the "spark" that characterized his work as recently as Rave? It just hasn't been there in any of the albums he's released this decade.

Risico said:

Oh... I thought u said "a major step back" I was going to debate that.

I guess my post was so long that people don't have the patience to read through it, especially since its pro-PE.

I found more energy in Planet Earth than 3121... but I feel like overall, PE is a contemporary album... and not many people who know Prince would call him a contemporary artist... but I PE because that's the type of music I grew up listening to.

Giovanni777 said:

It was a good album! Loved Planet Earth, the title song was the first to draw my attention and instantly became my fave song in the beginning.

Whitnail said:

perhaps it reflects a more laid back Prince certainly in London he seemed to be pretty laid back in his performances - well the ones I saw (7) - in fact laid back and confident and that's very attractive

Planet what?

I like Planet Earth I dont particularly care what anyone else says


That includes U Freddy L4OAtheorigional

Giovanni777 said:

Hi giovanni

This album is not what i was expected from Prince.....i consider this album a little bit better than Musicology/3121...but i consider this album as a follow up to the 2 previous ones too.....this album for me is for the masses ...this is not an album to push Prince to be in competition with himself..this is a weak album for me (not for the production..excellent)....the last Great Prince Album for me is Rainbow children....the false particiption from the girls Wendy/lisa(the working sessions for this album have been made only by Emails) is laughable...where is the Magic from the Purple era?.....not on this album for sure....i know from some insiders that different configurations from this album are 10 times better than the official One....the only GREAT song to my ears is PLANET EARTH the song....Prince since several years made Music for the Fun and the Money...he don't wanna be again to be in competition with himself....he is like someone full of food.....he's no longer hungry for sharing something Exciting musicaly!


PS>What to expect from A new Prince Album.....For sure ....something in the vein of Musicology/3121/PE.....I say it loud.....PRINCE BORING TIMES!
[Edited 2/5/08 2:26am]

REPS>PFUNK (or FUNK) is the Music that i wanna hear from the Man in the Future....i don't care if the song is in the vein from his 80's psychedelica Era ....this kind of song is to my ears 100 times better than anything on PE!
[Edited 2/5/08 2:33am]
[Edited 2/5/08 2:33am]

He has done much better work. He could have done much better work. He should have done much better work.

i dont like it, but i've never wasted a lot of space saying so because it would be ungrateful for the joy he did give me. he had his run (80-88'), i'm content with that, he may have a few gems on progressively weak albums but i'm excited about going to find them. it's OK, that's where he is, he's in his pop star winter and i am glad i get to celebrate him as an institution.

he's actually so talented that we expect more from him past his creative prime than any other artist. when stevie started doin soundtracks no one complained because stevie had already sealed the deal, we should give prince the same space. Even if it is space to be a boring 50 year old guy, he wont be the first. while we are at it we might as well tell micheal jordan to stop smokin those cigars and playing golf, go out there and kick lebrons ass LOL. I dont like planet earth but damn if chelsea rodgers dont give you glimpse of the funkiest old dude going today. We should be happy he can still rock a house and have the archive to tear any band to shreds. the next great prince album will only be great to us, it will feature more guitar work (which is where he's still growing) and it wont sell. The tour will be small venues and we'll all drag our old asses out to pay homage.

Flowerz said:

Hey there Girl!

We all dig the Funk, but like I said, I got my little fix with "Chelsea Rodgers", especially since Prince is playing the drums and bass guitar on that cut.

We'll always hear some Funk coming from Prince, whether organic, or more electronic... it's all good. But I dig his other expressions 2, and he feels very free on this album 2 me.

Much Love... and don't call me "Gio"!

; )

I like Planet Earth. Not one of my favorites, but I like it and as long as I like it, it's all good for me.

Giovanni777 said:

G, that is what happens when u drag W&L out of the MOTHBALLS.

Giovanni777 said:

Awwww...poor Prince.

Look, I don't hate PE. In fact, I think the music was quite awesome throughout.

But I was disappointed with the lyrics on several of the tracks - most notably Planet Earth and Resolution. It bothers me that a man who has written jaw-droppingly fantastic lyrics - clever, deep, and with mad wit and humor - would let anything drop that is so corny, juvenile and pedestrian.

I know I come at this from a different perspective than most (I make my living as a writer) and I'm probably a harsher critic on this point. It's just a hard comedown when I've seen such brilliance in the past.

Maybe he shouldn't have set the bar so high to begin with.

Giovanni777 said:

Well then maybe he should have tried harder to make a good album.

Upon first listen of a Prince album I am used to having a strong reaction.

If I either hate it or love it at first, it keeps me interested. Planet Earth upon first listen had the same effect that NPS had on me.... it's aiight, overall its enjoyable.... but not interesting or "different". So, this album failed to keep my interest, the music is good, it just feels like "same stuff".

I guess after so many years of impressing me, I have become "desensitized" to the good stuff. Maybe I should just turn on my radio again. learn to appreciate the latest Prince release more.