Just listened to it for the first time, but overall my impression is just ...meh.

I thought it was interesting that he was going for his own retro sound on this album. I loved "Future Soul Song" and thought "Act of God" was pretty good too, but the rest so far just sounded forgettable. Not atrocious or horrible, but just so-so. Maybe it will grow on me with a few more listens, but I feel this album will go the same way as Planet Earth.

violetblues said:

NeoGeo24bit said:

I doubt that Tony Parsons was paid to write a good review. Are you really saying a review from a writer of Tony Parsons caliber can't be trusted? Do you even realize who Tony Parsons is?

[Edited 7/11/10 17:27pm]

From the looks of it, a typical paid whore. Not that its anything new when it comes to checkbook journalism.

Your opinion is worthless because you don't even realize who Tony Parsons is...

Nice picture of Obama, btw. Talk about a whore.

Paisley Radio - "20Ten: The First Take"

Upcoming Show: 7/11/2010 10:00 PM Central Time

Call-in Number: (877) 486-3454

Show Name: 20Ten: The First Take

Length: 2 hours

Description: Chris welcomes Clint Laourdakis, along with Nicky Tuzio from WBAI New York, as they break down the new Prince album, "20Ten."

PurpleKnight said:

I won't bother doing an extensive track by track analysis. Others can do that better. I'll say this: I don't think it should take much longer than the combined length of 20Ten for it to be forgotten. There just isn't anything particularly awful or great about the album, and that's the problem with it. It's a consistently harmless MLPSound II (well, harmless aside from the dreadfully insipid last track) replete with pleasant but ultimately forgettable synth and linn drum beats, superficial lyrics that mean nothing, and by-the-numbers ballads that are forgotten the second they finish. It's rarely embarrassing, but it's also unaffecting. This is the sound of an album Prince casually threw together and wasn't particularly moved by while in the studio recording it.

I'd give it **1/2 out of *****.

Agreed. While Beginning Endlessly and Lay it Down are memorable to me (and I've already plucked them for a mix CD), the rest of the songs are pretty boring. It's a bad sign for an album if I dred the thought of sitting through it again w/ out just skipping to two or three tracks. These type of albums make Chaos & Disorder appear masterful. Trackcs 2 and 77 keep my hope alive!!

Having just heard some snippets, I don't think I'll hate this album. True, the dude seemed to work from a fairly limited palate on this one. But, I like the colors he used. That said, I think the cover art complements the music well.

I agree he seems to be mining from the shallow end of the lyrics pool -- but that's been the case for a long, long time.

I'm just surprised he hasn't featured Alicia Keys on an album yet... She seems like she would've fit on this one, for some reason.

NeoGeo24bit said:

violetblues said:

From the looks of it, a typical paid whore. Not that its anything new when it comes to checkbook journalism.

Your opinion is worthless because you don't even realize who Tony Parsons is...

Nice picture of Obama, btw. Talk about a whore.

I didn't mean to insult your daddy. I apologize if it got too personal, but I think just about everyone on this board and across the music world will laugh at the "best album since Sign O the Times" comment. Its just reeks of "tell me what to say and I'll say it after the check clears"

Prince always dances to the beat of his own drummer. I'm pleasantly surprised by several songs on 20TEN, so I'll list the songs that grabbed me and what I wrote as I listened...nothing too fancy; I'm not a critic.

1. "Walk in Sand"-Loved the little piano intro and the falsetto vocal is an A+ imo. Pretty yet simple melody.

Video possibilities.

2. "Future Soul Song"-Beautiful!! Love the lower register vocal, the harmonies, and melody. There's a

guitar hook that kicks in around the 2:50 mark that I like. Another video possibility.

3. "Beginning Endlessly"-Quirky but funky. The guitar at the end sounds good to me and I wouldn't complain

if he used it more in the song. It's a keeper for me.

4. "Lay Down"-Dark funky beat! This song cries for an extended version and Prince could kick ass on this

one live.

5. "Sticky Like Glue"-Catchy pop beat. Reminds of '78-'79 Prince with nice smooth vocals. Good dance

song. I'll be playing this in my car for awhile.

These are the ones that have me inspired and I like on first listen. Like all things Prince, the rest will probably grow on me after more listens. THANKS PRINCE!

[Edited 7/11/10 22:30pm]

love it love it love it love it love it love it love it love it Oh did i fail to mention I LOVE IT! We wanted an 80's feel album and we got it. WOO HOO! May not of been 100% of what i expected or wanted, but it's 96% f.ing amazing. THANKs PRINCE!

The only way a track like Laydown can work for Prince these days is if its' a call to his fellow senior citizens for a nap.

What t makes these trend chasing tracks so cringe inducing is not only their wretched music, but their disengenous lyrics. A moronic anthem like this when sung by some twenty something stooge works amidst the midnight rabble because at least the person spouting the crap is still in their youth when such empty calls to 'bounce' (for the love of) can be chalked up to being young and stupid. But when its a 53 year old pietistic Napoleon, it enters that area where its like watching your grandfather freestyle, and the old bastard is actually taking himself seriously while he's doing it. Prince needs to realize nobody thinks he's up in the club 'bouncing.' At best, he's in the back of the club, brooding like some tarted up Howard Hughes with a circle of meatbags protecting his every breath. Get a little genuine, maybe 'Here comes the Purple Yoda, going door to door for Jehovah,' and I'll be the indie kids will at least give you some credit for being ironic.

Wall said:

The only way a track like Laydown can work for Prince these days is if its' a call to his fellow senior citizens for a nap.

What t makes these trend chasing tracks so cringe inducing is not only their wretched music, but their disengenous lyrics. A moronic anthem like this when sung by some twenty something stooge works amidst the midnight rabble because at least the person spouting the crap is still in their youth when such empty calls to 'bounce' (for the love of) can be chalked up to being young and stupid. But when its a 53 year old pietistic Napoleon, it enters that area where its like watching your grandfather freestyle, and the old bastard is actually taking himself seriously while he's doing it. Prince needs to realize nobody thinks he's up in the club 'bouncing.' At best, he's in the back of the club, brooding like some tarted up Howard Hughes with a circle of meatbags protecting his every breath. Get a little genuine, maybe 'Here comes the Purple Yoda, going door to door for Jehovah,' and I'll be the indie kids will at least give you some credit for being ironic.

Exactly. It's pathetic that all a man has to sing about after all those life experiences (including tragedies like losing both parents, a baby and going through two failed marriages) are bragodocious party anthems that assert how hip he is. They reek of insecurity and desperation. Can it really be that he has become this shallow? It seems unlikely. I would bet money that he really just wants to sing about Jehovah but won't do so because he doesn't want to tamper with his post-2004 mainstream acceptance as a pop legend.

I actually think there might be greater depth on For You than on 20Ten. That is very telling.

[Edited 7/11/10 22:20pm]

Wall said:

The only way a track like Laydown can work for Prince these days is if its' a call to his fellow senior citizens for a nap.

What t makes these trend chasing tracks so cringe inducing is not only their wretched music, but their disengenous lyrics. A moronic anthem like this when sung by some twenty something stooge works amidst the midnight rabble because at least the person spouting the crap is still in their youth when such empty calls to 'bounce' (for the love of) can be chalked up to being young and stupid. But when its a 53 year old pietistic Napoleon, it enters that area where its like watching your grandfather freestyle, and the old bastard is actually taking himself seriously while he's doing it. Prince needs to realize nobody thinks he's up in the club 'bouncing.' At best, he's in the back of the club, brooding like some tarted up Howard Hughes with a circle of meatbags protecting his every breath. Get a little genuine, maybe 'Here comes the Purple Yoda, going door to door for Jehovah,' and I'll be the indie kids will at least give you some credit for being ironic.

God.

Prince has seriously lost his marbles.

What a shitty record sleeve and the music is horrid.

It's so hard to believe that this is the same man that wrote Controversy, Purple Rain and Around The World In A Day.

So so sad.

My first impression of "20Ten" appears way back on page 1, and I must say that nothing's changed in the interim: I adore the album. In fact, I've come to enjoy and appreciate it even more after living with it for a few days. This feels completely like what the Prince I loved in the '80s should sound like at 52 -- and that's the highest praise it could ever receive from me. "20Ten" is a new classic in my estimation.

mschirmer said:

God.

Prince has seriously lost his marbles.

What a shitty record sleeve and the music is horrid.

It's so hard to believe that this is the same man that wrote Controversy, Purple Rain and Around The World In A Day.

So so sad.

Hmm, Controversy is a pretty mixed bag I have to say.

Wall said:

The only way a track like Laydown can work for Prince these days is if its' a call to his fellow senior citizens for a nap.

What t makes these trend chasing tracks so cringe inducing is not only their wretched music, but their disengenous lyrics. A moronic anthem like this when sung by some twenty something stooge works amidst the midnight rabble because at least the person spouting the crap is still in their youth when such empty calls to 'bounce' (for the love of) can be chalked up to being young and stupid. But when its a 53 year old pietistic Napoleon, it enters that area where its like watching your grandfather freestyle, and the old bastard is actually taking himself seriously while he's doing it. Prince needs to realize nobody thinks he's up in the club 'bouncing.' At best, he's in the back of the club, brooding like some tarted up Howard Hughes with a circle of meatbags protecting his every breath. Get a little genuine, maybe 'Here comes the Purple Yoda, going door to door for Jehovah,' and I'll be the indie kids will at least give you some credit for being ironic.

And Wall knocks it out of the park again.

NouveauDance said:

Wall said:

The only way a track like Laydown can work for Prince these days is if its' a call to his fellow senior citizens for a nap.

What t makes these trend chasing tracks so cringe inducing is not only their wretched music, but their disengenous lyrics. A moronic anthem like this when sung by some twenty something stooge works amidst the midnight rabble because at least the person spouting the crap is still in their youth when such empty calls to 'bounce' (for the love of) can be chalked up to being young and stupid. But when its a 53 year old pietistic Napoleon, it enters that area where its like watching your grandfather freestyle, and the old bastard is actually taking himself seriously while he's doing it. Prince needs to realize nobody thinks he's up in the club 'bouncing.' At best, he's in the back of the club, brooding like some tarted up Howard Hughes with a circle of meatbags protecting his every breath. Get a little genuine, maybe 'Here comes the Purple Yoda, going door to door for Jehovah,' and I'll be the indie kids will at least give you some credit for being ironic.

And Wall knocks it out of the park again.

Um...sure....

Wall said:

The only way a track like Laydown can work for Prince these days is if its' a call to his fellow senior citizens for a nap.

What t makes these trend chasing tracks so cringe inducing is not only their wretched music, but their disengenous lyrics. A moronic anthem like this when sung by some twenty something stooge works amidst the midnight rabble because at least the person spouting the crap is still in their youth when such empty calls to 'bounce' (for the love of) can be chalked up to being young and stupid. But when its a 53 year old pietistic Napoleon, it enters that area where its like watching your grandfather freestyle, and the old bastard is actually taking himself seriously while he's doing it. Prince needs to realize nobody thinks he's up in the club 'bouncing.' At best, he's in the back of the club, brooding like some tarted up Howard Hughes with a circle of meatbags protecting his every breath. Get a little genuine, maybe 'Here comes the Purple Yoda, going door to door for Jehovah,' and I'll be the indie kids will at least give you some credit for being ironic.

I honestly do not see what the problem with an older artist playing songs that can appeal to a younger crowd?? I can see your point with regards to him painting a picture of himself as a youthful club goer. But if you were around during London o2, you would see that he actually did play a fucking shit load of nights and aftershows to boot. So he may not be the spring lamb that he once was, but he can still pull it out the bag stamina wise. The point is, "Laydown" is a successful contemporary Funk jam that would fill floors in most decent(contemporary) clubs. Do you really think folk give 2 fux about his age when that guitar kicks in.

I don'

scandalousalan said:

I honestly do not see what the problem with an older artist playing songs that can appeal to a younger crowd?? I can see your point with regards to him painting a picture of himself as a youthful club goer. But if you were around during London o2, you would see that he actually did play a fucking shit load of nights and aftershows to boot. So he may not be the spring lamb that he once was, but he can still pull it out the bag stamina wise. The point is, "Laydown" is a successful contemporary Funk jam that would fill floors in most decent(contemporary) clubs. Do you really think folk give 2 fux about his age when that guitar kicks in.

Stop it!

What strikes me is the way he is using backing vocals in a better way-to me this almist used to define Prince.

This album may not smack of genius but it sounds completely fresh to me.

Wall said:

The only way a track like Laydown can work for Prince these days is if its' a call to his fellow senior citizens for a nap.

What t makes these trend chasing tracks so cringe inducing is not only their wretched music, but their disengenous lyrics. A moronic anthem like this when sung by some twenty something stooge works amidst the midnight rabble because at least the person spouting the crap is still in their youth when such empty calls to 'bounce' (for the love of) can be chalked up to being young and stupid. But when its a 53 year old pietistic Napoleon, it enters that area where its like watching your grandfather freestyle, and the old bastard is actually taking himself seriously while he's doing it. Prince needs to realize nobody thinks he's up in the club 'bouncing.' At best, he's in the back of the club, brooding like some tarted up Howard Hughes with a circle of meatbags protecting his every breath. Get a little genuine, maybe 'Here comes the Purple Yoda, going door to door for Jehovah,' and I'll be the indie kids will at least give you some credit for being ironic.

Still not had your hole I see.

NouveauDance said:

scandalousalan said:

I honestly do not see what the problem with an older artist playing songs that can appeal to a younger crowd?? I can see your point with regards to him painting a picture of himself as a youthful club goer. But if you were around during London o2, you would see that he actually did play a fucking shit load of nights and aftershows to boot. So he may not be the spring lamb that he once was, but he can still pull it out the bag stamina wise. The point is, "Laydown" is a successful contemporary Funk jam that would fill floors in most decent(contemporary) clubs. Do you really think folk give 2 fux about his age when that guitar kicks in.

Stop it!

Well I would dance to it at the disco and I am only 45.

NouveauDance said:

scandalousalan said:

I honestly do not see what the problem with an older artist playing songs that can appeal to a younger crowd?? I can see your point with regards to him painting a picture of himself as a youthful club goer. But if you were around during London o2, you would see that he actually did play a fucking shit load of nights and aftershows to boot. So he may not be the spring lamb that he once was, but he can still pull it out the bag stamina wise. The point is, "Laydown" is a successful contemporary Funk jam that would fill floors in most decent(contemporary) clubs. Do you really think folk give 2 fux about his age when that guitar kicks in.

Stop it!

Wow you are easily amused..

Remind me not to go to the clubs you go to, ..Do you play bridge?

NeoGeo24bit said:

Timmy84 said:

My thoughts keep changing and now I can tolerate songs I initially gave the to.

Walk in Sand now gets an 75 rating from me. Sea of Everything gets an 80.

Nice "baby-making" ballads.

"Everybody Loves Me" is strangely tolerable and silly.

"Lay Down" is turning into a banger.

"Compassion" is back in my "best album track". "Beginning Endlessly" is nice overall though I still think it drags.

"Future Soul Song" is still the shit. "Sticky Like Glue" is now my favorite song on the record. "Act of God" has turned into a jam of mine's. "Lavaux" has a nice groove.

Overall it's probably his best record since 2006.

[Edited 7/11/10 13:28pm]

Timmy... why don't you hold off posting "reviews" until your opinion is final? Two days ago you were blasting the album, and now it's his best since 2006? Are you two years old or what?

No way, keep on posting Timmy.

My opinion on the songs evolve as well, and this counts for a lot of people I guess. I disliked Everybody Loves Me at first as well, and now I love it. Beginning Endlessly is evolving in the bad direction as well to my ears...

How is the album packaged with the magazine, cardboard or a proper case? And does it say anywhere if it is an NPG Records product? Just curious since we don't get the album here in Finland.

SquirrelMeat said:

First out, this is an album about keys and drum machines. It has all the elements of MPLSounds, but without the full retro nod. This album seems more about Prince reclaiming his "sound" and attempting to drag it into the 10's. He now seems comfortable with a mature version of his 80's sound. He's not longer running away from his past. He is simply letting it influence his current sound to a far higher degree than ever before.

That's it in a nutshell, couldn't have said it better myself. You mentioned elements of "MPLSound", I got elements of "1999". This is why I'm glad to have taken my time and listened to it all weekend before reading even one review here. This is the first one I'm reading, the first in the thread by the OP, and I'm very happy to see right from the top; someone hears this album in the same way I do.

I'm really excited about this music, there's so much I could say, but I suspect I'm just gonna lay back and enjoy it. I'm sure everything there is to say has already been said in triplicate, lol.

BTW: Google must crawl this site like HOURLY, lol. Prince.org is huge on The Internetz. And no advertising, that's very powerful.

scandalousalan said

I honestly do not see what the problem with an older artist playing songs that can appeal to a younger crowd?? I can see your point with regards to him painting a picture of himself as a youthful club goer. But if you were around during London o2, you would see that he actually did play a fucking shit load of nights and aftershows to boot. So he may not be the spring lamb that he once was, but he can still pull it out the bag stamina wise. The point is, "Laydown" is a successful contemporary Funk jam that would fill floors in most decent(contemporary) clubs. Do you really think folk give 2 fux about his age when that guitar kicks in.

I don'

My point isn't that Prince should be making lounge music, it's that Laydown represents everything that's gone wrong with a number of his compositions in the past 5 or so years. There's not a genuine element to it. It's just a amalgam of the trendy and trite plucked from pop culture. There's no spark of creative endeavor or sense of adventure, just phrases and sounds that were best left in the dingy back alley of Club Dirty South, circa 2004.

If Prince isn't doing a c-rate version of recreating his past on 20ten (we get it, you still have the Linn) then he's chasing the time-stamped sounds of others. This is ultimately the musical equivalent of arrested development. Like your mother tweeting while dressed in skinny jeans and using phrases she's picked up from whatever recent reality monstrosity she's obsessed with. These things just shouldn't happen. But as Prince has proven over the years, anything is possible.

scandalousalan said:

Remind me not to go to the clubs you go to, ..Do you play bridge?

I was employed as a club dancer for many years if that helps.

I thought I'd give this another go, it's just meh. Just plain and simple elevator music.

Lotusflow3r had a few half-decent tracks, Planet Earth a couple, Musicology the same but really you could maybe make one decent 10 track album with Prince's output since The Rainbow Children.

It's a sad shame to see one of the best musicians ever keep churning out this kind of rubbish, and somewhat amusing that his fanbase are lapping it up.

I'll go and return to my Sleigh Bells / Zola Jesus / Wildbirds & Peacedrums etc etc CD's. Music from 2010 that you listen to and go wow, not this rehashed garbage.

Hello org, I'm a new member and baby Sir Prince stan. I've always known about him but never took the time to actually see what he was all about. I became seriously interested after falling in love with Te Amo Corazon (beautiful video by Salma Hayek) and later Black Sweat & Fury. Needless to say that 3121 was purchased and I believe its his definitive album of the 2000's time period. I call myself a baby Prince stan because I only have albums that were released by Warner Bros and his 2000's work. I have alot more music to hear and alot more research to do to fill in the gaps. I hoped joining this forum will help my cause. Anyways I just wanted to give a little info before I give my take on the album.

_____________________________________________________________________________

20TEN

Let me first start by saying the artwork is beautiful and as always out the box which is one of the things I love about Sir Prince. He's not only a musical artist but visual one as well and he helps paint a picture of what the music inside will contain.

This is meant to be a fun, light summer celebration of his 80's material. The album succeeds in that regard but that doesn't mean its a great album. The album is merely ok and nowhere near a return to form as certain critics have deceived us to believe.

I love Laydown and I think it should have been the opening track because it sets the pace of what the album is gonna be. Very nice, dark funky beat even with average lyrics.... you can't tell me that you didn't smile or laugh after hearing "from the heart of Minnesota, here comes the Purple Yoda" One of my 4 favorites.

Compassion is another nice cut musically with the horns giving it that extra PUNCH... the lyrics is its only downfall but its not too bad. Definitely a keeper track. Beginning Endlessly is very good but TOO DAMN LONG. It gets boring after awhile when nothing comes in to make the song wroth 5 minutes. I just knew a nice jam session was gonna end it but it never came. A keeper nonetheless.

Future Soul Song is HANDS DOWN the BEST song on the album. Hearing Prince just FLAT OUT sing and use that rich baritone of his is an EARGASM!! I love how he brings back his doo-wop harmonies and never uses his falsetto. His vocal range at 52 is still SICK and puts the male singers of my generation to fucking shame. I need more vocals like this Prince on uptempos and not just ballads. Very similar to his other soul ballads but I'm loving those vocals too much to really be annoyed.

Sticky Like Glue and Everybody Love Me are ridiculous and just straight up bullshit. This was acceptable in the 80's because he was young, now it just a joke.

Act Of God is amazing and the 2nd of my 4 favorites. I love the lyrical content and metaphorical use if each song is a best of each 80's albums then this one would be Sign Of The Times. Definitely the best uptempo on the album, that beat just makes me dance.

Lavaux has a great groove and familiarity to it. But its shortcoming is that is Prince-by-the-numbers. Another weak ass cousin of Kiss but its tolerable. Filler.

Ok, now the final 2 songs of the review happen to be the last of my 4 favorites and are both ballads. Both songs have a beautiful beach-like feel. I love how Walking In The Sand reminds me of a Beatles style ballad. Very simplistic with a very good vocal. This is different for Prince so its definitely has my full interest. This ties into Sea Of Everything very nicely. Sea Of Everything has nice harmonies toward the end of the song. I love how it fade to acapella. This would have made a nice ending to the album.

I would highly recommend to take the best songs of the album and combined them with the best of Planet Earth & MPLSoUND for a full album of classic Prince-by-the-numbers yet showing us he is still better than his peers and followers. At this stage in the game, he doesn't have to break new ground or cure cancer . Just give me something worthwhile, full of passion and something that builds onto his legacy like Stevie Wonder's A Time 2 Love or Sade's Soldier Of Love. 3121 and Lotusflow3r does that. I need to revisit Musicology as I continue to play 20Ten and think of a nice tracklist for the impending cd that I'll be putting together.

MrGravyLumps said:

How is the album packaged with the magazine, cardboard or a proper case? And does it say anywhere if it is an NPG Records product? Just curious since we don't get the album here in Finland.

It's in a cardboard sleeve, like Planet Earth. It's not physically attached to the newspaper itself. When I went to get it, the guy behind the counter took the cd from a shelf.

At the Werchter concert, I heard of people who got the newspaper, but the cds were all handed out. The are waiting for an extra order now.

The sleeve says 'NPG Records', and also 'for promotional use only'. See: http://www.discogs.com/vi...se=2349465

[Edited 7/12/10 3:56am]