Wall said:

Prince's forumla for songwriting seems to be to take a platitude and repeat it ad nauseum. Just keep hammering those few lyrics--usually the title--until the ears bleed. It's either a generic boasting--such as the number which kicked off MplsSound or, just when you thought that was bad--here comes Everybody Loves Me (possibly the worst song he's ever recorded, which is saying a lot) or a everybody should love everyone, we're all happy, such as the chugging wreck which opens this latest collection of songs. Then when you take into account the lyrical mastery in Hot Summer, it becomes pretty evident this guy is simply out of things to talk about. It's to be expected when you think you've got the universe figured out courtesy of your latest cult, but my god, talk about running on fumes. I know he had to take out the dirty words from his lexicon, but did he have to restrict himself from the rest of the dictionary while he was at it? We get it. This is where the party be. We up in this thing. Yeah, we gonna bounce and feel good cos we all get it on, feel good, party right on, hot summer, y'all. Yes, such good stuff there.

And it's like the last half of the album Prince just couldn't decide, Which would be the worst song I could end this on? Well, here's a drawn out boredom suite, no wait--I've got a jingle readymade for the 3-5 year old crowd--I'll beat them over the head with that for about 4 minutes and they'll eat it up. But, wait, what am I saying? Scratch that, here's my latest club number, where this 53 year old JW is gonna do his darndest to mime some southern sounds that were dated in 2005. The Purple Yoda line is fine, the rest of the song, like 80% of this album, is embarrassing.

I don't believe a word you say. Your opinion is worthless after all of your posts over the years, because I can predict exactly what you're going to say before you even say it. With every new album Prince releases, every million dollars he makes, every show he plays, here you are... criticizing your idol on a message board with the same predictable posts... butt hurt like your friend Bart. You and him MUST be secret lovers. Do you sit on his lap while your construct a post?

<3

[Edited 7/11/10 0:54am]

This album is like George Lucas making another Star Wars movie. I just haven't figured out which song is Prince's Jar Jar Binks yet.

m3taverse said:

This album is like George Lucas making another Star Wars movie. I just haven't figured out which song is Prince's Jar Jar Binks yet.

And I didn't think orgers could get any more stupid. Where's Housequake when you need it?!

m3taverse said:

This album is like George Lucas making another Star Wars movie. I just haven't figured out which song is Prince's Jar Jar Binks yet.

LMAO!!!

After listening to it now about ten times I've got to say it's a great album.

The real stand outs at the moment are Future Soul Song, Sticky Like Glue, Act Of God and Lavaux.

That's a great run of four tracks that rivals any on any other album. In fact the first 6 tracks are all of very high caliber.

Yet another great album.

All in all, I really dig this album. I the only track I skip over is "Sea of Everything", but I usually find most of his ballads post SOTT boring. Very solid album, dunno if I like it better than Lotusflow3r though...

I got it yesterday and listened to it in the car, I didn't care for it much. But during Werchter last nite it hit me...

Prince doesn't care much about his studio work anymore and writes most of his work in a live show fasion. Everybody Loves Me sound a thousands times better live. Most of these songs would work better live.

He should release these songs on a live album, I'm sure most of his recent work would benifit greatly from it.

Prince since 1998 (Personal Ranking)

TRC

Xpectation

NEWS

3121

Rave In2

Rave Un2

Planet Earth

LotusFlower

MPLSound

One Nite Alone

Indigo Nights

One Nite Alone... Live

Musicology

New Power Soul

And this album probably ranks.... somewhere between Musicology and MPLSound for me. It all just seems very so-so.

One thing I have always said about Prince was, to me, even his absolute worst albums always managed to have at least one song that I just thought redeemed the album. For me it was Come On from NPS, Reflection from Musicology, Beautiful Strange from Rave In2, etc.

But on this album I'm not sure I can name a song that I liked. To me it was just 7 average songs, and 3 not great songs. I was really optimistic by the groove I was feeling on the first 3 tracks and thought the album was on a good path, but it quickly faded into a lot of old tracks. I do feel I need to listen to it a few more times to render a verdict. There are some absolutely classic albums I have by other artists that I didn't feel at first and then eventually had a sort of "aha" moment and realized their awesomeness. I am skeptical this will be happening here.

I used to say that Lotusflower and MPLSound could have made a pretty good album if they were combined together and the filler removed.

I'm maybe going to have to throw a couple of songs from here into the mix as well.

Overall review (after 1 listen) - Let's say 6/10

edit: Some may be surprised by the top 3, especially NEWS, which many write off. But to me they stand out because they are the only albums of the last 12 years where I think Prince tried to branch out and challenge himself. That's why they go where they do, even though I haven't listened to Xpectation or NEWS in some time.

[Edited 7/11/10 3:24am]

Prince's best album since 'Lovesexy.'

'Extraloveble' or 'Eternity' would sit well on '20TEN', which is a great compliment in itself.

Wall said:

Prince's forumla for songwriting seems to be to take a platitude and repeat it ad nauseum. Just keep hammering those few lyrics--usually the title--until the ears bleed. It's either a generic boasting--such as the number which kicked off MplsSound or, just when you thought that was bad--here comes Everybody Loves Me (possibly the worst song he's ever recorded, which is saying a lot) or a everybody should love everyone, we're all happy, such as the chugging wreck which opens this latest collection of songs. Then when you take into account the lyrical mastery in Hot Summer, it becomes pretty evident this guy is simply out of things to talk about. It's to be expected when you think you've got the universe figured out courtesy of your latest cult, but my god, talk about running on fumes. I know he had to take out the dirty words from his lexicon, but did he have to restrict himself from the rest of the dictionary while he was at it? We get it. This is where the party be. We up in this thing. Yeah, we gonna bounce and feel good cos we all get it on, feel good, party right on, hot summer, y'all. Yes, such good stuff there.

And it's like the last half of the album Prince just couldn't decide, Which would be the worst song I could end this on? Well, here's a drawn out boredom suite, no wait--I've got a jingle readymade for the 3-5 year old crowd--I'll beat them over the head with that for about 4 minutes and they'll eat it up. But, wait, what am I saying? Scratch that, here's my latest club number, where this 53 year old JW is gonna do his darndest to mime some southern sounds that were dated in 2005. The Purple Yoda line is fine, the rest of the song, like 80% of this album, is embarrassing.

Another wedge of truth from Wall.

I agree pretty much with everything you add to these discussions. Whilst I like some 'moments' of the new album, much of it actually makes me cringe... i mean actually cringe.

When i heard 'Everybody loves me', my first thought was 'are 2.5 million brits really gonna get to hear this'?

Reading many others reviews makes me wonder what it is the are actually listening too. Thats not a dig at the folks who like the album.. im glad they are enjoying the new music. I genuinely am and im happy that so many seem to see this as a return to form. I really wish i could too, i just don't.

Keep contributing Wall, your posts are a good, honest and insightful critique of Princes current output... if only to a handful of folks here.

GoldiesParade said:

The Mirror are comparing it to Purple Rain. Man these people say anything to sell some newspapers.

This might not refer to your post exactly, but I don't particularly like the 'Purple Rain' album. Hardly definitive of Prince or his musical range. It is always refered to as his 'best' and it narrows him, particularly in the eyes of the public. 'Purple Rain' has actually cause Prince a lot of career problems. It built a bridge for his own back. It is a weight Prince is still carrying. 'Purple Rain' is largely a pop album and Prince is not truly a pop Artist.

More representative IMO is 'SOTT'. It is a much more mature, wide-ranging album. '1999' is less commercial, a more purer, tighter funk. I think people rate 'Purple Rain' because it is largely rock and pop, and many people do not appreciate Prince's funk or soul material. This, I think is evidenced in some of the comments regarding '20TEN.'

I prefer 'Dirty Mind', '1999', parts of 'Parade', 'SOTT', 'Lovesexy', 'The Gold Experience', 'The Truth' and 'One Nite Alone ... Piano & Vox' to 'Purple Rain.' 'Purple Rain' has nothing that compares to 'Sometimes it Snows in April', 'Anotherloverholeinyohead', 'Forever in my Life' 'Adore', 'If I was Your Girlfriend', 'AnnaStesia' etc, etc.

'Future Soul Song' on '20TEN' is superior to most of 'Purple Rain.' 'Lavaux' is as good as most material on 'Parade'. 'Sticky Like Glue' is tighter and funkier than anything on 'Prince'. Most of the '20TEN' songs sit nicely with '82-'83 outtakes such as 'Extraloveable', 'Eternity' etc.

If people had never heard 'Electric Intercourse' as a boot, and Prince had put that on '20TEN' they would be complaining about it - 'dreary, generic r&b etc'. Unless Prince does a fairly rock-heavy album such as 'Lotusflow3r' here he gets poorer responses. That is because it seems, many here prefer Prince's rock material.

PRNelson said:

Wall said:

Prince's forumla for songwriting seems to be to take a platitude and repeat it ad nauseum. Just keep hammering those few lyrics--usually the title--until the ears bleed. It's either a generic boasting--such as the number which kicked off MplsSound or, just when you thought that was bad--here comes Everybody Loves Me (possibly the worst song he's ever recorded, which is saying a lot) or a everybody should love everyone, we're all happy, such as the chugging wreck which opens this latest collection of songs. Then when you take into account the lyrical mastery in Hot Summer, it becomes pretty evident this guy is simply out of things to talk about. It's to be expected when you think you've got the universe figured out courtesy of your latest cult, but my god, talk about running on fumes. I know he had to take out the dirty words from his lexicon, but did he have to restrict himself from the rest of the dictionary while he was at it? We get it. This is where the party be. We up in this thing. Yeah, we gonna bounce and feel good cos we all get it on, feel good, party right on, hot summer, y'all. Yes, such good stuff there.

And it's like the last half of the album Prince just couldn't decide, Which would be the worst song I could end this on? Well, here's a drawn out boredom suite, no wait--I've got a jingle readymade for the 3-5 year old crowd--I'll beat them over the head with that for about 4 minutes and they'll eat it up. But, wait, what am I saying? Scratch that, here's my latest club number, where this 53 year old JW is gonna do his darndest to mime some southern sounds that were dated in 2005. The Purple Yoda line is fine, the rest of the song, like 80% of this album, is embarrassing.

Another wedge of truth from Wall.

I agree pretty much with everything you add to these discussions. Whilst I like some 'moments' of the new album, much of it actually makes me cringe... i mean actually cringe.

When i heard 'Everybody loves me', my first thought was 'are 2.5 million brits really gonna get to hear this'?

Reading many others reviews makes me wonder what it is the are actually listening too. Thats not a dig at the folks who like the album.. im glad they are enjoying the new music. I genuinely am and im happy that so many seem to see this as a return to form. I really wish i could too, i just don't.

Keep contributing Wall, your posts are a good, honest and insightful critique of Princes current output... if only to a handful of folks here.

When I read negative reviews of such great music, I have to shake my head and wonder what those people are thinking too. And quit with the "return to form" reviews... there's no such thing as a "return to form" and there never will be. There's no form to return to... except Prince being Prince... constantly writing and recording all kinds of new music. I hear the same thing when "reviewers" critique new Woody Allen films and I have a laugh just the same. The true geniuses can't escape everyone comparing their new works with 1 or 2 of their best, past works. That, and these reviewers always see those few so-called great works through rose colored glasses.

m3taverse said:

This album is like George Lucas making another Star Wars movie. I just haven't figured out which song is Prince's Jar Jar Binks yet.

Pretty much sums it up.

The more I listen to this album, the greater my indifference grows. For me it's yet another CD where I'll snatch a couple of tracks for era playlists, and forget about the rest. I find the album as a whole incredibly lazy and lacking in energy and inspiration. My opinion on it has definately gone down since first hearing it - it's a shame.

NeoGeo24bit said:

PRNelson said:

Another wedge of truth from Wall.

I agree pretty much with everything you add to these discussions. Whilst I like some 'moments' of the new album, much of it actually makes me cringe... i mean actually cringe.

When i heard 'Everybody loves me', my first thought was 'are 2.5 million brits really gonna get to hear this'?

Reading many others reviews makes me wonder what it is the are actually listening too. Thats not a dig at the folks who like the album.. im glad they are enjoying the new music. I genuinely am and im happy that so many seem to see this as a return to form. I really wish i could too, i just don't.

Keep contributing Wall, your posts are a good, honest and insightful critique of Princes current output... if only to a handful of folks here.

When I read negative reviews of such great music, I have to shake my head and wonder what those people are thinking too. And quit with the "return to form" reviews... there's no such thing as a "return to form" and there never will be. There's no form to return to... except Prince being Prince... constantly writing and recording all kinds of new music. I hear the same thing when "reviewers" critique new Woody Allen films and I have a laugh just the same. The true geniuses can't escape everyone comparing their new works with 1 or 2 of their best, past works. That, and these reviewers always see those few so-called great works through rose colored glasses.

In your opinion, it's great. I would never question what is wrong with those who think it is. Why is there a problem for those who say it is not?

It seems like the songs need to be felt out more.

Like someone had said before, it sounds like demos.

Or we only got the radio version of each song when they are actually a bit longer.

Most of all I like the sounds in the manner that I like how the Symbol album sounds.

I like Sticky Like Glue like I like Star 69 and I Wanna Melt With U.

The track I like the least is Everybody Loves Me.

Over all the album is rather trippy. Future trippy. And I love trippy.

[Edited 7/11/10 7:05am]

NeoGeo24bit said:

Wall said:

Prince's forumla for songwriting seems to be to take a platitude and repeat it ad nauseum. Just keep hammering those few lyrics--usually the title--until the ears bleed. It's either a generic boasting--such as the number which kicked off MplsSound or, just when you thought that was bad--here comes Everybody Loves Me (possibly the worst song he's ever recorded, which is saying a lot) or a everybody should love everyone, we're all happy, such as the chugging wreck which opens this latest collection of songs. Then when you take into account the lyrical mastery in Hot Summer, it becomes pretty evident this guy is simply out of things to talk about. It's to be expected when you think you've got the universe figured out courtesy of your latest cult, but my god, talk about running on fumes. I know he had to take out the dirty words from his lexicon, but did he have to restrict himself from the rest of the dictionary while he was at it? We get it. This is where the party be. We up in this thing. Yeah, we gonna bounce and feel good cos we all get it on, feel good, party right on, hot summer, y'all. Yes, such good stuff there.

And it's like the last half of the album Prince just couldn't decide, Which would be the worst song I could end this on? Well, here's a drawn out boredom suite, no wait--I've got a jingle readymade for the 3-5 year old crowd--I'll beat them over the head with that for about 4 minutes and they'll eat it up. But, wait, what am I saying? Scratch that, here's my latest club number, where this 53 year old JW is gonna do his darndest to mime some southern sounds that were dated in 2005. The Purple Yoda line is fine, the rest of the song, like 80% of this album, is embarrassing.

I don't believe a word you say. Your opinion is worthless after all of your posts over the years, because I can predict exactly what you're going to say before you even say it. With every new album Prince releases, every million dollars he makes, every show he plays, here you are... criticizing your idol on a message board with the same predictable posts... butt hurt like your friend Bart. You and him MUST be secret lovers. Do you sit on his lap while your construct a post?

<3

[Edited 7/11/10 0:54am]

Don't agree with someone so you resort to personal attacks. That's a real grown up thing to do.

Oh dear. 20Ten is very poor from the start, and only "Sea Of Everything" (basically "Adore" part 2), "Everybody Loves Me" and to a lesser extent "Lavaux" and the hidden track "Laydown" redeem it. It's one thing having 'signature' drum and synth sounds, but half this album sounds like a bunch of demos he rejected - correctly - in 1984. And some of the lyrics, especially the save-the-world stuff, I'd have been embarrassed to write when I was 14. Never mind "his best album since Purple Rain". This isn't even his best album since Musicology.

PriceAndTheRevolution said:

Cobblepot said:

He should release these songs on a live album, I'm sure most of his recent work would benifit greatly from it.

Gotta agree with that. After hearing 'Fury', at the Brits, and 'Dreamer,' on Leno, I was so disappointed with the album versions. For me, it seems that he's getting better and better live, but his studio output is pretty bland in parts. As someone who is not too keen on Prince ballads post SOTT either, I found this album a bit slow. Absolutely love 'Beginning Endlessly,' and 'Laydown,' but the rest just doesn't do it for me I'm afraid. A 5/10 album.

Pentapus said:

Cobblepot said:

He should release these songs on a live album, I'm sure most of his recent work would benifit greatly from it.

Gotta agree with that. After hearing 'Fury', at the Brits, and 'Dreamer,' on Leno, I was so disappointed with the album versions. For me, it seems that he's getting better and better live, but his studio output is pretty bland in parts. As someone who is not too keen on Prince ballads post SOTT either, I found this album a bit slow. Absolutely love 'Beginning Endlessly,' and 'Laydown,' but the rest just doesn't do it for me I'm afraid. A 5/10 album.

No More Candy 4 U is the shit live.

Cuddles said:

Pentapus said:

Gotta agree with that. After hearing 'Fury', at the Brits, and 'Dreamer,' on Leno, I was so disappointed with the album versions. For me, it seems that he's getting better and better live, but his studio output is pretty bland in parts. As someone who is not too keen on Prince ballads post SOTT either, I found this album a bit slow. Absolutely love 'Beginning Endlessly,' and 'Laydown,' but the rest just doesn't do it for me I'm afraid. A 5/10 album.

No More Candy 4 U is the shit live.

And I saw it with you.

I hear a lot of talk about this album sounding like a demo....But i say that's what gives 20TEN its cool little mojo....I think Prince approached 20TEN the same way he did Dirty Mind, in terms of making sure the songs all fit in the same sonic feel, groove and production pocket...Short and to the point...

I remember talking to a friend of mine who became a hardcore Prince fan after 1999 and Purple Rain...She had never heard the Dirty Mind album and during her first listen she said: "The songs sound all the same; they sound rushed..." ....It took her a couple of years to see that this was all by design...

To me, the feel of 20TEN is a nod to all of Prince's work from For You to Purple Rain....While it never reaches the artistic heights of his best albums, it has something that a lot of Prince albums have lacked over the last few years: True heart....

This is a quite simply a good, solid and (gasp!!!) fun album....That's what I always looked for when picking up Prince releases back in the days...

Sure, I can understand some folks charging that its "lazy"....But what's so lazy about someone doing THEM?

All in all, some Prince fans seem to take themselves and the man much too seriously...Guys: breath a little, enjoy the world and understand that music does not always have to be a groundbreaking, life-changing experience....

Yep...

PRNelson said:

Wall said:

Prince's forumla for songwriting seems to be to take a platitude and repeat it ad nauseum. Just keep hammering those few lyrics--usually the title--until the ears bleed. It's either a generic boasting--such as the number which kicked off MplsSound or, just when you thought that was bad--here comes Everybody Loves Me (possibly the worst song he's ever recorded, which is saying a lot) or a everybody should love everyone, we're all happy, such as the chugging wreck which opens this latest collection of songs. Then when you take into account the lyrical mastery in Hot Summer, it becomes pretty evident this guy is simply out of things to talk about. It's to be expected when you think you've got the universe figured out courtesy of your latest cult, but my god, talk about running on fumes. I know he had to take out the dirty words from his lexicon, but did he have to restrict himself from the rest of the dictionary while he was at it? We get it. This is where the party be. We up in this thing. Yeah, we gonna bounce and feel good cos we all get it on, feel good, party right on, hot summer, y'all. Yes, such good stuff there.

And it's like the last half of the album Prince just couldn't decide, Which would be the worst song I could end this on? Well, here's a drawn out boredom suite, no wait--I've got a jingle readymade for the 3-5 year old crowd--I'll beat them over the head with that for about 4 minutes and they'll eat it up. But, wait, what am I saying? Scratch that, here's my latest club number, where this 53 year old JW is gonna do his darndest to mime some southern sounds that were dated in 2005. The Purple Yoda line is fine, the rest of the song, like 80% of this album, is embarrassing.

Another wedge of truth from Wall.

I agree pretty much with everything you add to these discussions. Whilst I like some 'moments' of the new album, much of it actually makes me cringe... i mean actually cringe.

When i heard 'Everybody loves me', my first thought was 'are 2.5 million brits really gonna get to hear this'?

Reading many others reviews makes me wonder what it is the are actually listening too. Thats not a dig at the folks who like the album.. im glad they are enjoying the new music. I genuinely am and im happy that so many seem to see this as a return to form. I really wish i could too, i just don't.

Keep contributing Wall, your posts are a good, honest and insightful critique of Princes current output... if only to a handful of folks here.

The $1 million question is this: What is your favorite Prince album and era?

This may offer insight to your dislike for the new joint...

Vendetta1 said:

Cuddles said:

No More Candy 4 U is the shit live.

And I saw it with you.

PriceAndTheRevolution said:

Oh dear. 20Ten is very poor from the start, and only "Sea Of Everything" (basically "Adore" part 2), "Everybody Loves Me" and to a lesser extent "Lavaux" and the hidden track "Laydown" redeem it. It's one thing having 'signature' drum and synth sounds, but half this album sounds like a bunch of demos he rejected - correctly - in 1984. And some of the lyrics, especially the save-the-world stuff, I'd have been embarrassed to write when I was 14. Never mind "his best album since Purple Rain". This isn't even his best album since Musicology.

I used to love Mr. Agreeable!

murph said:

I hear a lot of talk about this album sounding like a demo....But i say that's what gives 20TEN its cool little mojo....I think Prince approached 20TEN the same way he did Dirty Mind, in terms of making sure the songs all fit in the same sonic feel, groove and production pocket...Short and to the point...

I remember talking to a friend of mine who became a hardcore Prince fan after 1999 and Purple Rain...She had never heard the Dirty Mind album and during her first listen she said: "The songs sound all the same; they sound rushed..." ....It took her a couple of years to see that this was all by design...

To me, the feel of 20TEN is a nod to all of Prince's work from For You to Purple Rain....While it never reaches the artistic heights of his best albums, it has something that a lot of Prince albums have lacked over the last few years: True heart....

This is a quite simply a good, solid and (gasp!!!) fun album....That's what I always looked for when picking up Prince releases back in the days...

Sure, I can understand some folks charging that its "lazy"....But what's so lazy about someone doing THEM?

All in all, some Prince fans seem to take themselves and the man much too seriously...Guys: breath a little, enjoy the world and understand that music does not always have to be a groundbreaking, life-changing experience....

Yep...

I like the slightly crude, offhanded feeling of the album. For me, the problem is (as a few have mentioned) the overall lack of distinguishing melodies or hooks. I've given the album four run-thoughs & I'm still having trouble retaining any of the songs. They sound fine for the most part and there are, as always, some very nice grooves, but there seem to be very few memorable moments.

At this point it sounds like a fun but very slight throw-away.

[Edited 7/11/10 8:28am]

Vendetta1 said:

NeoGeo24bit said:

I don't believe a word you say. Your opinion is worthless after all of your posts over the years, because I can predict exactly what you're going to say before you even say it. With every new album Prince releases, every million dollars he makes, every show he plays, here you are... criticizing your idol on a message board with the same predictable posts... butt hurt like your friend Bart. You and him MUST be secret lovers. Do you sit on his lap while your construct a post?

<3

[Edited 7/11/10 0:54am]

Don't agree with someone so you resort to personal attacks. That's a real grown up thing to do.

Don't agree with someone who don't agree with someone else so you resort to personal attacks. That's a real grown up thing to do. (This could go on forever)

Compassion, Beginning Endlessly, Sticky Like Glue, Walk In Sand, and Laydown are all real keepers for me.

The only what the fuck moment for me is Everybody Loves Me. I understand tongue in cheek, but I'm not certain that is what Prince was going for here. If he was, it just doesn't work with me.

I played it for my six year old and he said, "Dad, you know I'm too old for this shit."

Hey Prince, work on the melodies. You're on the right track.

murph said:

All in all, some Prince fans seem to take themselves and the man much too seriously...Guys: breath a little, enjoy the world and understand that music does not always have to be a groundbreaking, life-changing experience....

Co-sign.