Only 2 stars for Elixer But still a nice review.

Nice.

^^Yeah I mean I dont like her voice and all, but its getting to be kinda sad.

salaciousV said:

Poor Bria-just can't catch a break

USA Today is always kind to Prince. Nice to hear that LotusFlow3r rocks like we all thought it would and I feel even more reassurance that MPLSound is good because from what I heard on the samples, I was a bit scared. Looking forward to "feel good..." reworked for LF.

At the end of the review, it says



anyone have any idea what that's about?
[Edited 3/23/09 19:49pm]

the rock-guitar-fueled LOtUSFLOW3R (* * * ½ out of four)
electronic-infused MPLSoUND (* * *)


Looking very very good!!!

alandail said:

It means that if you have the option to download (via iTunes for example), these are the standout songs to put on your ipod and the others the reviewer does not like.

alandail said:

Reviewer recommendations, pointing out which ones are good and which ones aren't worth the time.

I think half the problem is nobody knows who the funk Bria is? Some newbie with a cd nobody is familiar with aint gonna be too happening regardless.

None of his proteges got any love from critics.

Plus the days of him having them are ova.

I cant wait to hear Ol Skool Company studio version. Gonna blast it

Its still someone's opinion. I plan to have my own mind.

Nice review! This is exactly what I expected. I am looking forward to it!

Bria suffers from the fact that he is singing Prince's songs in Prince's way. You can almost HEAR Prince through her vocals (if you know what I mean?) its reminiscent of early Sheila E (A Love Bizarre) and The Time (Get it up) when Prince's vocals were so loud you thought Sheila was the backing vocal!

The problem is that Bria suffers a complete lack of identity because of this and therefore a lack of personality shines through on the music and as a consequence, we dont care at all about Bria. At least Sheila had a gift (as a brilliant percussionist) and Morris Day... well he was so COOL inevitably we dont get to see Bria's personality, she comes across to us as plastic.

In a way, I think it's also great that he included Bria on Elixir, because if he didnt, perhaps he wouldnt be giving us a Rock and FUNK album, but he would be giving us Elixir instead. So what Im saying is that we NEEDED Elixir in order to have MPLSOUND and LOTUS and all the brilliant self indulgence that goes with those two records. As I have said many times, use Elixir as a frisbee, but enjoy MPLS and LOTUS.

For those who can't be bothered clicking....

Prince likes defying conventions, and this time he's doing it with a 3-D sonic assault. He strikes out in several creative directions on a trio of new albums — the rock-guitar-fueled LOtUSFLOW3R (* * * ½ out of four), electronic-infused MPLSoUND (* * *) and pop-flavored Elixer, featuring protégé Bria Valente (* *).
The albums are available today as free downloads to fans who pay the $77 annual membership fee for his new LotusFlow3r.com website, marking Prince's official return to cyberspace since shutting down his pioneering NPG Music Club in 2006. The three discs will be sold exclusively at Target starting Sunday in an $11.98 bundle.

This isn't the first time the major-label-averse artist has bypassed traditional retail. He gave away 2007's Planet Earth as an insert in the U.K. national newspaper The Mail. Ticket buyers for 2004's Musicology tour got copies of that album with their purchase.

The new records are a bargain both in terms of the nearly three hours of listening time and audio treasures. LOtUSFLOW3R is loaded with rip-roaring guitar riffs and booty-agitating grooves as he explores love, politics and love's politics. Feel Good, Feel Better, Feel Wonderful is an orgiastic funk workout, while the hypnotic Colonized Mind and anthemic Dreamer share his worldviews.

MPLSoUND finds Prince revisiting the synth vibe of the '80s with his outsize ego intact on tracks like (There'll Never B) Another Like Me and Ol' Skool Company, which reunites some of his Minneapolis cohorts. The sly Valentina, bouncy Q-Tip-assisted Chocolate Box and wicked No More Candy 4 U also stand out.

Prince has toned down his music's Dirty Mind raunchiness since becoming a Jehovah's Witness in 2001. Still, the pop-lite Elixer, showcasing Valente's sensual yet indistinct vocals, could have really used a whiff of Prince's old Do Me Baby spice. Though there are a few tantalizing moments, the overall effect is more tepid than torrid — even with Prince producing and playing guitar.

Taken together, the three albums confirm that the eccentric genius still has his creative passion. And even if everything he tries doesn't hit a high note, it's still a pleasure to hear the Purple One work out.

he strikes out?

usa today?

i bet rolling stone gives it 3 stars too, bcuz they give everything 3 stars
[Edited 3/24/09 3:12am]

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I wish Edna Gundersen had reviewed Lotusflow3r for USA Today. I'd really like to hear her thoughts on the set.

livewire said:

I was thinking the same thing. She had written about her visit to his house and her sneak preview of some of these songs, though, so maybe they figured let someone else review?

As someone who's followed Prince's career very closely, she's one of the few who can really talk about his music substantively. She, and folks like John Bream.

I like Elixer and I am usually hard on Prince.

Soon all these reviews will be irrelevant to me. Once I listen to all 3 albums, I'll know which one is the best . I'm leaning towards Lotusflow3r though...

This is a cool review. Even with that, I am reserving full judgment till I've heard everything and that includes Bria's CD. I hope that I like her set but I won't be shocked if I don't but I'm going to give it a chance.

The countdown is on...

purplecam said:

I feel the same. Also, I think people just want to hear Prince and are not ready for Bria. Sorry, buts thats their problem. Prince does just what he wants. I hope Bria's cd is fine. I hope the fans rate her fairly. I hope she will be on J.Leno with Prince wherein we will get a chance to preview her. Lastly, I think Prince expects lots of criticism about Bria....it started some time along.

discuss this review here:

http://prince.org/msg/7/301816