First thing I thought when I listened to Planet earth was how childish it sounded. The hokey environmentalism, naive anti-war message, and there's a nursery rhyme/children's song vibe throughout, especially 'All The Midnights.'

And what's up with the play by play 'getting ready for a big date/big night out' thing? Prince has done that with 3121, Life of the Party, Incense and Candles, Mr. Goodnight, There Will Never B Another Like Me. It's kinda played out, innit? They say write what you know, and if that's the case Prince must spend all day getting ready, primping and prepping, fussing and planning. Listen to how much detail Mr. Goodnight goes into when describing how he pampers his date. It's a rigidly planned operation of wealth porn. It's laden with intoxicating and luxurious amenities, but zero spontaneity, zero intimacy.

And Prince claims to know exactly what a woman wants on 'Future Baby Mama.' According to P, women want their girlfriends to hate them. And on 'The 1 U Wanna C' he says 'eye no u ain't no concubine.' But that's exactly what he's soliciting. He's flashing his wealth around, calling for a woman who wants to be ensconced in riches to make her friends jealous. It's a terribly shallow look at women and romance.

Planet Earth is the album the narrator of 'Movie Star' would make. It's got the environmental records that's supposed to make you horny, it's got the conspicuous spending of cash, and the puerile misogyny. It's more advertisement than art, a personal want ad: Rock star seeking skank. Prince is pimping his lifestyle to some gold digger, promising her the empty pleasures of wealth and the privilege of being ranked somewhere beneath his guitar in importance.

It's more advertisement than art, a personal want ad: Rock star seeking skank. Prince is pimping his lifestyle to some gold digger, promising her the empty pleasures of wealth and the privilege of being ranked somewhere beneath his guitar in importance.

padawan said:

*cough* just dont say it too loudly or we might upset the purple cart.

vivid said:

No, I don't go to the doctor, because I don't get sick. Come on baby, Light my fire ..

what is there 2 NOT like about this album?

lottielooloo1968 said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...udness_war

as with musicology and 3121, some of these songs actually hurt my ears. not because of the songwriting but because of the screeching dissonance caused by waveform clipping.

stanleylieber said:

ok...so he shouldn't have clipped his waveforms?

The777Man said:

First who died and said that you get to judge who is and is not a Prince fan anymore because they don't like one album. Let's be real here its an opinion ONLY. If I recall there are many who didn't like ATWIAD but ended up liking it later. AND there are LOTS who have been fans since 1999 and before as well. Some liked some or all his albums some didn't so no need to put the ones who didn't like PE in the non fan category

Constructively...constructively...constructively...awww...hell...I've got nothing!

It was crap!

Prince knew it...that's why he released it the way that he did! He got his money up front because he knew he wouldn't make any on the other end.

I'm sorry if that's harsh but it is the truth!

Future Baby Mama

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

I respect your opinion on the fact that you did not like the album but, how do you know Prince himself knew or thought it was crap and then proceeded to release it the way he did?

Planet Earth, i understand the dislike of the album but i like several things about it:

Title track - i like the arrangement, atypical and unexpected which i always like. that could never be called formulaic. and i understand the lyrics. call it hokey environmentalism if u want but its communicating the idea of what many call "karma" or biblically, reaping and sowing, lots of validity to it, talks about our stewardship of the land and the consequences if we don't do better. God haters will not like the idea of the song.

Guitar - ok, could've been better. comical but it seems too repetitive lyrically. its not unlistenable, but i'd never put the album on to hear that.

SHOE - sublime. my be my fave track on the album. some of his best vocals, moody. not a typical R & B ballad. could be played on diverse formats

the 1 U Wanna C - cool, poppy, fun. i like it. P is talking junk (he CAN do that can't he and not be accused of being a shallow, womanizing hypocrite can't he; some ppl don't understand when he's just being a tongue n cheek artist playing the cat and mouse game)

Future Baby Mama - love the track. i understand the dislike because of the title. but got over that quickly. P is not trying to be "GHETTO", he's just having fun (paradoxical fun with it being a well-sung ballad) with a recent term, nothing deep to read into it

Mr. Goodnight - good track, Prince is in "mack mode" again; it seems poorly mixed. its comical but catchy, great background vocals too.

ATMITW (all the midnights) - mediocre - i like that it showcases P's diversity. its almost in a musical category unto itself, i like the vocal arrangement and the chorus at the end and all but it seems incomplete for some reason and not because its so short

Chelsea Rodgers - good track; love the way he so easily funks the album up a bit. he lets Shelby shine here to the chagrin of many. love the story the song is telling about a non-shallow model for a change.

Lion of Judah - good track; poppy again, with some guitar, non-formulaic, kind of confusing lyrically though. i understand the resentment from the God haters again. its mostly because of the title. it's a biblical term and ppl don't want to believe there is a "wrath" associated with God nor do they want to accept that prince is a JW and his beliefs will surface in his music at times. it seems they think that to like songs where that happens is to agree with his beliefs.

Resolution - an ok song, but a TRUE song. its simplicity is mistaken for naiveite (sp?). i like how he seems so "loose" at the beginning of the acoustic riff and says, "come wit it".

Overall, i'd give the album a 7 of out 10. Nothing on it is unlistenable for me. its mature, reflective and shows where he is at 50 and its a curveball to fans, which i can always appreciate, TRUE artists follow their own muse and not what ppl WANT or EXPECT.
[Edited 2/25/09 10:38am]

btw, i think Tricky99 might be my new favorite org'er - lots of balance and truth
[Edited 2/25/09 10:39am]

TikiColadas said:

this is my favorite song from the album. i also like 'somewhere here on earth' but the record crackling effect almost ruins it for me. all the subtlety of a phone ringing at 3am.

there's a nursery rhyme/children's song vibe throughout, especially 'All The Midnights.'

alright i'm back with my review track by track

PLANET EARTH - WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SHIT? usually with the 1st track of album it's some kick ass track but this immediately sets the tone that this album is going 2 put u 2 sleep. the melody itself is like some fisher price piano that u find in a toy dept. after the great starts of prince's previous 2 albums..wrong placement 4 this song 2 being a album


MR. GOODNIGHT - the beat is alright but the lryics and delivery ruin it



planet earth should have been renamed planet shit

And what's up with the play by play 'getting ready for a big date/big night out' thing? Prince has done that with 3121, Life of the Party, Incense and Candles, Mr. Goodnight, There Will Never B Another Like Me. It's kinda played out, innit? They say write what you know, and if that's the case Prince must spend all day getting ready, primping and prepping, fussing and planning. Listen to how much detail Mr. Goodnight goes into when describing how he pampers his date. It's a rigidly planned operation of wealth porn. It's laden with intoxicating and luxurious amenities, but zero spontaneity, zero intimacy.