Wow so 2009 is a heck of a year for Prince fans!
Purely in numbers we've far exceeded what most of us would have expected in terms of records. Let's check out the list:

Prince - Lotusflow3r

Prince - MPLSound

Bria Valente - Elixer

Wendy & Lisa - White Flags of Winter Chimneys (download in 2008, but physical CD 2009)

Jesse Johnson - Verbal Penetration (on it's way)

The Family or Family2.0 LOL (release hopefully this fall)

Ingrid Chavez - A Flutter and Some Words (September release)

The Time - new record? (a man can dream right...)

Did I miss any?
Over all what I've heard of these records it's a pretty good quality year as well. Both Wendy & Lia and Ingrid Chavez records are really pushing the envelop artistically, which is great to see. I love artists you can grow with. From what I've heard The Family album is going to be a real Mpls-Sound record... even recorded their... haha... go figure. So let's hope the second half of the year is as aurally (note the spelling, ya'll dirty minders) pleasing as the first!

cookiejarmelody said:

Recorded their what?

ernestsewell said:

HAHA... er... "recorded there"

The album has been recorded in Los Angeles and Minneapolis. St. Paul has taken numerous trips to LA to Susannah's to work on the album at her house. He's also worked on the album in Wendy and Lisa's studio. When he's in Minneapolis, it's usually Jellybean and Eric doing work there. However, Susannah has visited Mpls to work on it as well. Paul is really pushing to get it done soon. They're targeting the fall for a release. There'll be multiple packages (like W&L had for their album), autographed copies, etc. It'll be VERY gross roots, and word of mouth. They'll probably use various outlets like CDbaby.com, Facebook, etc to get the release out.

Monte Moir of The Time is also working on his second solo album.

ernestsewell said:

Wow! Mister Details , LOL, you should be an editor (if you aren't already)... yeah. recorded also in LA to be sure but very "Minneapolisy". We should all chip in to make sure the claire fisher thing happens!

Monte Moir, yeah! Another great one.

We could probably count Tyka's record too although it was technically the end of '08.

The Family's album is going to be far and above anything Prince did. However, it'll also have that classic Family feel. It's a perfect blend of past and present.

and for those reading....NO, there won't be "Feline" or "Miss Understood" bonus tracks. That's Prince stuff. This isn't about Prince. It's about the fans, and the group, a real family, working on a project for the fans. Prince is such a tight ass, he won't let them use the name. It's why they're, for now, using the moniker of The Family 2.0. It's not the final name of the group, but for now, it's what they use. I have a feeling they might end up using the name though of The Family 2.0.

ernestsewell said:

funksoldier said:

Okay. Let me be simple. This project is NOT about Prince or copying the previous sound. I mentioned all that because a lot of fans in the live Q&A chats have consistently asked about those two songs I mentioned being included. I don't know if they forget Prince owns all that stuff, or if they just think The Family has some magical powers to include old stuff on there. This album is a full on new album, nothing old. "Far and above" means it's just not about Prince at this point. Of course they know the draw of the popularity w/ Prince, etc. They get that. But they also know as artists in their own right, they want their project to be considered on its own, not in the reflection of Prince's history (although some comparisons are bound to be made.)

It's interesting in the Q&A just how little Prince comes up. Even Susannah, Paul, myself and others in or interested in the project have said "This is just so far past THAT past." Not dissing Prince, but it's about moving onward and upward. I'm stoked about it. I've heard a lot of it, and it's down right good music. I'd welcome it in an age of freakin' Jamie Foxx singing about booze and some MFer talking about "birthday sex".

ernestsewell said:

In London when we say " going to be far and above" in the comparative sense it means "will be better." It does not mean "not about" but seeing as it does in you corner of the world I will withdraw my blah blah.

That said, seeing as though you tend to get a hard-on every time the Family is mentioned I think you might actually believe it will be better than Lotusflower but, from the songs I have heard, it won't.

funksoldier said:

The "far and above" is just the approach and attitude they have toward the project. Not in a snotty way, just "let's do this regardless..."

I just believe in the project they're doing. A lot of people, not you, are dismissive of anything any artist does that Prince isn't directly connected with. People even poo poo'd W&L's latest album. And although I wasn't a huge fan of Girls Bros. album, I did love this one. These artists are people in their own right as musicians. We all know how popular and ridiculously talented the Peterson family is in Minneapolis. That alone is hopeful for me. But throw in W&L, Doyle Bramhall, etc...it's bound to be INTERESTING if nothing else.

I'm not sure I made a direct correlation between Lotus and the new Family album, and one being better than the other. They're not trying to be better than Prince. They just want to rise out of the ashes of the first album, and yet recognize the popularity of that album and do something better this time. These guys are so incredibly nice to me, and to ALL the fans. They're genuine people, and I have grown to appreciate and love them as much as I can from across the U.S. I'm just a full supporter of this record. How it'll age as time goes on....well, I guess you and I and everyone will have to wait and see. But let's at least give it a shot when it hits the streets. That's all.

I knew what your blah blah meant. It's why I wanted to just clarify, so you or others didn't think I was blindly following The Family while shitting on all things Prince. It's all good, brother.

talk about bitter, defensive, arrogance/insecurity and emotionally attached.
[Edited 6/30/09 12:47pm]

ernestsewell said:

I will watch The Family project from afar and hope it's as good as you think it will be.

funksoldier said:

Tension up in here! I thought this was supposed to be fun.
Nah, for real dough... The Family record should be the hotness (especially if claire gets down). It's an ill line up of folks and some great new tunes. A real labor of love. I am excited and believe it or not, that takes a lot. From my experience, it's unusual that an album sounds as good in the end as it does in early stages... but we'll see... fingers crossed.