Genesia said:

I love Splash, but don't really see that at all. To be honest, I don't think they could be any more different; in both feel and approach.

Genesia said:

Splash was airy and delightful though whereas 4Ever has a dull chorus and perfunctory lyrics. It's a real weak spot on a good album. At least the piano in it is nice.

PurpleKnight said:

This post was sponsored by:

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By the way, I disagree with you about the lyric. I think it's deceptively profound. One may even choose to describe it as an abstruse lyric. The criticism may also lead one to believe that the lyric is perhaps a little more esoteric than one had originally thought.

B/B+

Absolutely happy with this one and MPLSoUND.

Feel Better, Feel Good, Feel Wonderful
A verbal kiss off to an enemy who Prince is religiously instructed to be loving towards. Irony. Insincerity. Humor. Beatz. Hornz. Screamz. Hand clapz. The most convincing rap he's done of late. Bouncy hook. Lyrical reference to "I wish you Heaven."

Chocolate Box
Is he referring to the "'box' a penis comes in?" Almost as hip as Fergalicious, vid is the best he's done in 10 years. "I'm your Willy Wonka". Great.

No More Candy 4 U
Fun song. Insane piano. I like the punk rock-meets-Chuck Berry. Is this a response to Madonna's Hard Candy?

Dreamer
Prince gets refreshingly political again — finally. A solid hat tip to Hendrix. Great guitar.

Dance 4 Me
"I like it when you dance, cuz it gets me hot. I like it when you shake everything you got." I've been waiting for Prince to get back to fun licks like this forever. Bouncy. Sexy. Makes me think of 319 and Darlin' Nikki. "Halelujah" — hilarious! Do I hear a harp in there somewhere? It's old (school) and fresh at the same time.

Colonized Mind
Dylanesque and beautiful.

Wall Of Berlin
Mesmerizing fun. Trippy. Fantastic drumming.

Ol' Skool Company
Nice parody of (and message to) popular youngsters' sound, but on point Prince lyrics. He's just showing he can speak the youngsters' language.

$
This message to the most popular girl (is it still Madge or is it Brit?) comes at a time when the Obama's and the family values they are trying to promote make Michelle, Malia and Sasha more interesting that Madge these days.

77 Beverly Park
Prince can't play enough spanish guitar thing.

Valentina
I would have never gotten that this was a "MILF" song until someone told me. Suggests that Prince knows what's on some young dirty minds these days.

From The Lotus and Love Like Jazz
Remind me of the great instrumental bits in Parade

There's definitely some disposable fluff in these albums that I will permanently delete from my computer. But there are more keepers on these than I've heard in a very very long time. Tighter editing and P could have served up ONE classic album. But classics albums are not necessary in today's music downloadable world. I love it when Prince hunkers down and pays tribute to past musicians and gets back to an entertaining mix of love, sex, politics, spirituality, beatz, and delightful hooks.
[Edited 3/28/09 21:54pm]

TyphoonTip said:

What is abstruse about lines like "You could be my future girl"? The song is jejune and one-dimensional. I think Prince wrote more challenging lyrics on For You than the ones we hear in 4Ever.

PurpleKnight said:

somebody's about to tell you that someday when you grow up you'll understand.





i hope that day never comes.

PurpleKnight said:

That was far too easy. No fun @ all.

By the way, check out this masterpiece:



Rhyming 'phone' with 'alone' leaves me particularly breathless.

Wait! I take that back. 'Our love is a real one, 2gether we'll have so much fun'.

...Sublime.

purplewisdom said:

it reminds me most of "everywhere" from TRC, probably because of the
vocal layering on the 'chorus'.

TyphoonTip said:[quote]

PurpleKnight said:

LMFAO.

purplewisdom said:

it reminds me of the Crucial or Pink Cashmere kinda vibe... like it could have been written around that time
[Edited 3/29/09 6:58am]

I must have listened to both the Leno and album version of 'Dreamer' a gazillion times now, it's so amazing. That song is beast.
[Edited 3/29/09 7:33am]

Just listened to the entire album once thorugh. Overall I like it.

"Lotusflow3r" track by track:


"From The Lotus..." I think I'm becoming a really big fan of Prince instrumental tracks which makes me sad when I think about the fact that I missed out on his online only instrumental albums. Oh well. This guitar is front and center (as it is with the entire album) and is beautiful against the trippy background.

"Boom" Prince's crazy psychedelic lyrics and music meets some funky, crazy guitar in an end of the world scenario. I like the flow of this track and the fact that it might be a bit tongue in cheek about the acploypse, shifting from mellow to hard.

"Crimson and Clover" I would rather Prince used his "regular" vocal rather than getting his Camille on with this track but that would be only complaint. Probably my favorite on the album. Another great jam session combing two (three?) classic rock staples. I don't think the album has a single but maybe this should be it, even if it's only on the Target/retail verision.

4Ever-If Prince can't find love, what hope is there for the rest of us? Part childish crush song meets Christian rock ideas (we'll be together in heaven...blah). It's a cute little song and while it hardly sounds like old school Prince (back in the day, he would have been seducing and not singing this smulctz), it has some nice musical touches of classics that I can't quite identify. Overall, cute.

Colonized Mind-Prince gets political and ranty....I like! Not 100% sure what he is talking, especially since he doesn't even vote but the song has a great blues vibe. Lyrically without a doubt the most interesting song.

Feel Better, Feel Good, Feel Wonderful-It's about time we got to the "James Brown"-esque track filled with horns. It beats "Musicology" though by a mile because of the killing them with kindness theme. Great sound.

"Love Like Jazz"-A nice mellow track and the place where the album slows down substantially. It's got a nice breezy quality and the lyrics and singing are not great however the musicians are having a good time. Perhaps it would have been better off as just an instrumental. A nice little track but nothing special.

"77 Beverly Park"-I had no idea what this song was going to be like when I saw it listed but it is basically just builds up to a bit of self indulgent guitar playing and into very bland Italian dinner music! And I love Prince's guitar and would have loved if he made an entire rock album (perhaps this is the closet he'll come to it) but in some cases on the album (and this is one), it's just there to prove he can play like nobody else. It doesn't work for ever track, but it's Prince and we'll forgive him for this track...maybe.

"Wall of Berlin"-A funky little rock gem with some typical strange Prince-isms, musically and lyrically ("The sound of the train interrupts the question mark"...what?). But the again a good song that shifts from poppy verses and choruses into rock that reminds me of the 90s alternative music. On second listen, I like it a lot.

$-It's a fun little ditty but the song really feels out of place. I thought "Lotusflow3r" would be a lot tighter than something like "Musicology", which was sporadic for the sake of showing all types of music, but this throws me for a complete loop on an album that isn't one of anything. Camille has done better but the lyrics are kind of entertaining and it makes for enjoyable burst of energy.

"Dreamer"-A great Henedrix guitar meets some clear political points about race and the audacity of hope (and Prince didn't even vote for Obama!). The closet the album comes to having an epic track. The guitar blends nicely with the drums and makes for one hellvu a funky rocker with a message.

"...Back 2 The Lotus"-A light instrumental track but one that is sadly burdened by vocals waaay in the background that are inaudible. I guess Prince gave us a great album, so he is entitled to do an instrumental track with shit like "corrupted" being echoed in computer voice in the background.

I would say a solid B. Not as good as 3121 (although that is just a personal favorite) but a step up from "Planet Earth". Lately Prince has been on quite a roll I just hope he keeps recording. This won't win new fans, but should keep the fam satisfied.

I gotta say the most out of place track on the album is Feel Better, Feel Good, Feel Wonderful. The guitar is definitely not front and center on that one.

"Crimson and Clover" I would rather Prince used his "regular" vocal rather than getting his Camille on with this track but that would be only complaint. Probably my favorite on the album. Another great jam session combing two (three?) classic rock staples. I don't think the album has a single but maybe this should be it, even if it's only on the Target/retail verision.

Prince got his Camille on with this track? Maybe thats a typo? Prince sings this song in his regular voice not Camille

Prince is not a particularly great lyricist and he hasn't developed much either. In fact, his early lyrics were more original and unpredictable. These days there are too many cringe-worthy moments. I still consider myself a fan, but it's sort of disappointing... p

All right, first listen:

I do like the new songs.

The main standout track is "Dreamer", which really struck me.

I also like the opening and closing instrumentals and I wish he could record more material with Michael B. and Sonny T.

I'll b back for more.

I really like the flow of the CD version. Crimson and Clover sounds perfect where it is, it makes a 4 out of 5 album become 5 out of 5.

I'm loving this album more and more each time I listen to it. I can listen to it all the way through - can't say that about a Prince album for a VERY long time.

The weakest links for me are probably 4Ever and Wall of Berlin, but in the context of the album they work better than standalone tracks. Crimson & Clover also works a lot better than 'The Morning After'.

Favourites are Boom (I love the drippy-hippy lyrics and the melody of the verses), $ (come on, who doesn't love this? Instant classic, could see this slotting into Parade/SOTT era without sticking out like a sore thumb). Love Like Jazz is also brilliant, and Dreamer. I love the whole damn thing really, even 77 Beverly Park.

Does anyone else think that "Colonized Mind" reminds them of a Jimi Hendrix track? That song, to me, has Jimi written all over it. it!
[Edited 3/29/09 12:34pm]

77 Beverly Park is boring elevator music. The type of song you'd hear at a wedding reception, while drinks are being served before the bride and groom arrive. Horrible stuff. The rest of the album is smoking though, although I avoid the into/outro tunes. I love the Morning After Too. More so than Crimson and Clover, which despite being a decent song, is nowhere near as good as Joan Jett's version. I prefer Prince originals anyway.

That said, these 2 Prince discs are IMHO the best music he's put out since the Gold Experience.

I'm slightly sad. After getting the CD version from Target, I fear that I will never make it past "Crimson & Clover" ever again when I listen to this album, because I keep hitting back to listen to it again.


It hasn't happened so far anyway

listened to it two more times today. totally love it. can't wait to get
the retail version tho because i feel that with crimson and clover that
album is gonna be even better.

only very slightly disappointing thing is that i can't help but feel he
took "F.U.N.K." off it to release it when he did. the album would have
been 11 out of 10 if it had also included f.u.n.k.

aaaaanyway. after disliking most of musicology, liking only 2/3 of the
3121 album and disliking the last 3 songs with a vengance, then *hating*
planet earth, the surprise of this album (and mplsound as well, somewhat)
is enormous.

love it. very surprised to love it this much. not a dud on it. everything
sounds healthy, interesting and organic.

errant said:

it's addictive when i first got an mp3 rip from the radiobroadcast of
that song in december, i had it on repeat so many times that i didn't even
notice anymore i'd been listening to it for 90 minutes on repeat. lol. such
a nice cover.

IstenSzek said:

cream72 said:

thanks you soo much! it was doing my head in.

i am loving the crimson and clover video! still trying to download the rest.

alexnvrmind said:

I revised my playlist to the following and I feel that is flows quite well! Tell me what you think;

Ol' Skool Company
Crimson & Clover
U're Gonna C Me
Chocolate Box
Colonized Mind
Feel Better, Feel Good, Feel Wonderful
Beggin’ woman blues
Dance 4 Me
Boom
Wall of Berlin
PFUnk
Dreamer
...Back 2 the Lotus
Disco Jellyfish

Peace Out!

Lotus Flow3r.

As the Lotus Flow3r opens with…“From the Lotus…,” just like the song of the morning glory, I knew that the inside of this disc would present a sweet day.
“Boom,” is like a wind storm stirring up the sun and clouds and kicking up the notes of the guitar on the sidewalk. The sound in this song is hard yet the message is like a soft psycadelic lawn in your front yard.
Prince’s rendition of the classic, “Crimson&Clover,” with a slice of “Wild Thing,” makes for a soothing glass of music memory.
“4Ever,” could bring tears of yearning to any girl that would adore to spend 4Ever with this Romantic, and tears of Eternal Joy for the girl that Prince wants to kiss.
“Colonized Mind.” When you pull up a swing and look out over the swaying trees’, you will glide into a peace of concentration. This song is a thoughtful snack if you understand the importance of how the world and it’s family conditions feed her children.
“Feel Good. Feel Better. Feel Wonderful.” This is a fun song that keeps the music sunny and light.
“Love like Jazz,” had me imagining a rest in a Hammock and a rainbow tindell effect blowing through the day.
“77 Beverly Park.” This heavenly instrumental only reminds me of one beautiful vision that one lover would whisper to another. “I guess my eyes can only see as far as you.”
“Wall of Berlin.” Clever. I really think that you have to be well versed in Prince music to get an inkling of this song’s cunning charm.
“$.” All that I can say is: Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Thank God I went inside and took shelter from the 80 somethin’ degree’s outside, or else the Myrtle Beach Police would have ticketed me for having a “No Parking on the Front Porch,” attitude.
“Dreamer.” Rock-n-Roll that talks about changes. Changes the world needs. Dreams coming true.
“…Back 2 the Lotus.” As the petals close around this disc and Prince takes the music back inside, you will probably do like I did and play it again. ~T

Tame said:

indeed.

i feel this album is about to blossom into something very special among us all...

SPOOKYGAS said:

Hmm I don't recall specifically defending the lyrics of Splash so much as the total end result. Even so, it's a bad idea in general to defend one song by merely criticizing another. It only makes the potential argument that both Splash and 4Ever are bad rather than any argument that 4Ever is good.

Here is a claim I don't believe anyone will refute: Splash actually has a good chorus, whereas 4Ever does not.
[Edited 3/29/09 14:54pm]