purplecam said:

I think it could have been a HUGE hit if promoted properly and if Prince and WB hadn´t had a feud back then. I Hate U was not really a big hit in the commercial sense but a lot of non fans who heard it liked it immediately, especially the remix was getting a lot of airplay on RnB stations.Sure, he made a video for it but other than that, the song quickly disappeared.

That being said, this bad review has made me really curious about Lotusflow3r for the simple fact that I didn´t really care too much about those songs from 3121 or Musicology that were hailed by most critics as a "true return to form". I bet that musically,if not in the lyrics department, this is going to be his most interesting project since TRC and the ONA tour.

$11 for all three?

its £30 odd quid here in england

bohany said:

You´re right. I mean, Sign of the Times was VERY uneven and sketchy but critics still praise it as his masterpiece to this day.I´m getting sick and tired of slick and polished albums where on song sounds like the other.

syble said:

£12.99 at HMV

So the reviewer say "Lotus Flow3r" is weird. I like weird when it comes to Prince so I prolly will love this! Also the reviewer thinks MPLSoUND is awesome.

2 out of 3 ain't bad.. Sounds like an honest review and to those of you that think P can do no wrong, even with proteges! you will more than likely love the Bria cd.

The rest of us just decide if we replace the Bria cd with the Wendy and Lisa cd and all is good. Either way it sounds like two Prince cds that I will enjoy.

the "problem" with this review is that it tells us absolutely zero
about the albums that we didn't know yet.

the bits we've heard from the lotusflower album, including reports
on "boom" and "dreamer" from the rare live performances.

we also know that lotusflower doesn't have just guitar based songs
but also slow stuff like 4ever and cocktail jazz and a dance/funk
track called "$".

we know that mplsound contains a few balads, a cover of u're gonna
c me and a "space aged ballad" called better with time which was
inspired by kirsten scott thomas.

plus the "controversy" connection to mplsound which was trumpeted
at dr funkenberry months ago as a quote from john blackwell.

i don't see anything in this review that i didn't already know.
there are no lyric quotes, no real song descriptions and no word
on musicians playing on any of the songs or guests.

realm said:

i'm interested in the bria CD just to hear prince's songwriting, musicianship and backing vocals. if bria can carry a tune, that's just an added bonus to me.

ButterscotchPimp said:

Woooo...Neither did many thousands of people!You got yours at The O2 or got it free with a paper?

the rainbow children is the only prince album i don't like. except for the songs work pt.1 and Family Name on it.

it's far 2 sporadic and unfocussed. i always felt it was a left over's album, where prince just tried to make music out of left over samples.

i hope the new albums arn't like that.

but i never listen to reviewers.
[Edited 3/20/09 10:31am]
[Edited 3/20/09 10:32am]

asideorderofham said:

Did u see the recommended price? £42.99!!!!

syble said:

yeah but u did get "planet earth" 4 free

I'm still excited for both LOtUSFLOW3R and MPLSOUND. Never was very excited for Elixer, but I will certainly give it a listen before hating it.

I don't understand the hate for 3121/Planet Earth. I think they are both decent albums in their own way. If I hadn't heard Planet Earth, I never would have even researched Prince's back catalog. I know that is like sacrilege here, but it IS NOT my favorite album... just simply opened the door.

Anxiety said:

Me two. I also don't think that it is a highly negative review. Many of Princes greatest albums are highly dividing works. I don't mind an uneven album if it is at least interesting. I enjoy hating tracks only to fall in love with them a year later. I'm quite keen to hear the record after this.
[Edited 3/20/09 10:45am]

TwiliteKid said:

I think a lot of old school Prince fans, including myself,simply know what Prince is ( still ) capable of and don´t see him as just another artist who´s had his time to shine. Unlike most other musical icons from the 70s and 80s who have become a tad predictable and boring over the years, Prince remains interesting and still surprises his skeptical old school fans every now and then, and sometimes I get the feeling that most of those who don´t like his most recent releases or actions of the past couple of years are just a bit frustrated,as I am sometimes because the things that drag down the quality of some of his newer material are often details that could have been avoided. It´s not that he´s run out of creativity but some of the things he´s done are a bit difficult to stomach when you know what he´s still capable of, especially during his live shows.It´s still there, buried somewhere but he doesn´t seem to let it out in a way that can be appreciated by those who know he could do better.

IstenSzek said:

Fair point.

Meh. Who really follows "professional" or "high-name" reviews anyways.
Make up your own mind! (TGIF).

Anxiety said:

isnt it a pity that the general public "average joe" cant enjoy his music and only Prince fans "get" him.

WetDream said:

TRC was a peice of shit, I hope it sounds nothing like TRC. I hope it is the antithesis of TRC!!!

Anxiety said:

I'm guessing Bria cd will end up being one that I rarely go to. But thats the thing with P's music it's expansive. 2/3 cds that I will prolly enjoy for a long time and always be able to go back to - for $12 it's worth it.

I love Prince music. I found it difficult to enjoy much of the the New Power Pack. Now, Chaka and Sly/Larry G. = I enjoy the backcatalog from those artists. With something like New Power Pack, it was 3 Prince cds with Larry and Chaka singing over 2 of the cds. Prince production all over it. To the point where the Chaka/Larry albums did not feel like Chaka or Larry albums but Prince albums. Umm..Doesn't let the artists he work with be themselves IMO. Too much control. Which is sad because it seems like his better music was when Wendy and Lisa would challenge him and inject influences. If he is gonna do this he may as well just record his own vocals and release them as P albums IMO. Anything else is like Lenny Kravitz singing over Duran Duran recorded music, or something like that!

Bria's cd will be some Prince recordings with Bria singing the vox, if past repeats itself.

Ouch! That was a tough review. Like others have said, most of the review is not about the record itself, but concerned with the listener's (possible) reaction to the record. I'm interested in more description, less interpretation, because when it comes to Prince's music other people's interpretations usually have very little relevance to my personal enjoyment of his music.

Still, did the writer just compare Bria Valente to Eliot Spitzer's hooker? DAYUM:

eireboy34 said:

yep

Anxiety said:

me too.

the bria songs i've heard so far sound like good prince '90s r&b -- the kind we didn't get enough of in the '90s.

Genesia said:

Co-Sign, I'm gonna be patient and wait til I have my copies.

The reviewer pretty much writes what has been written for the last two decades about Prince's releases. A few good tracks mixed in with a bunch of crap. I'm looking forward to ripping about ten tracks from the Target release to my iPod and never hearing the rest of it ever again.

My only fear for the die hard fans out there that are flying into Los Angeles is that they're going to be forced to sit through a set by Bria (or whatever her name is.) Bring your earplugs to Los Angeles just in case.

But seriously folks. Look at his setlists at the concerts if you want to see how much faith he has in his material from the last 20 years. A track here or a track there. He now plays covers instead of his own material. Pretty sad. At least he's become a much better guitarist.

I think we should all know by now that one person's opinion on Prince's output has absolutely zero relevance as to whether you will like it.

Look at the original reviews for many of Prince's albums, or closer to home, here on the org, where every song he has ever made is simultaneously one person's favorite tune in the universe and someone else's toilet paper.

I want Prince to be a musical freak, which requires an investment to appreciate.
After all these years, I trust him. I know that if I am willing to put in the listens that I will be rewarded.

Bring it!

I hardly read it...I am saving it for a suprise until it comes, so that I will not be dissapointed. Reviewers destroy albums half the time for me..either hyping it too much, or putting it down when i find the album good ..sometimes excellent.

Is there a REAL need 4 critics?

I never listen to what a "critic" has to say. Who knows he prolly woke up on the wrong side of the bed the morning he wrote this review.
I will purchase the music myself and listen on my $400.00 headphones and decide for myself.
My soma and cocktail will be accompanying me for my listening pleasure

My expectations for Lotusflow3r are through the freakin' roof after reading this review! I already LOVE all four of "Crimson & Clover," "4EVER," "Colonized Mind" and "Wall of Berlin." Plus, I've been excited about the minute-long snippet of "Feel Good, Feel Better, Feel Wonderful" since it was first released. NOW, this review proclaims that the two highlights on Lotusflow3r are "Boom" and "Dreamer," tracks we still haven't heard. That's 7 out of 10 songs! This album is gonna kill.me.dead. DEAD, I tell you.

and didnt an orger say that he was told by another guy that lotusflow3r is prince's best album in 20 years? There's nothing to worry about.. just wait till u hear it to make your own opinions.
[Edited 3/20/09 11:33am]