we can post press reviews in this thread, right? What if they're really awful press reviews?

From NME, 4 out of 10:

http://www.nme.com/reviews/prince/11437

I like the line "Effortless' is a very different thing from 'making no effort' " Ha!

From musicOMH, 2 out of 5

http://www.musicomh.com/albums/prince-5_0710.htm

"2009's batshit Lotusflow3r was at least interesting in its preposterous, three CD sprawl, but 20Ten bypasses any of that stylistic divergence with nine equally inoffensive, equally boring tracks."

Mintchip said:

we can post press reviews in this thread, right? What if they're really awful press reviews?

From NME, 4 out of 10:

http://www.nme.com/reviews/prince/11437

I like the line "Effortless' is a very different thing from 'making no effort' " Ha!

From musicOMH, 2 out of 5

http://www.musicomh.com/albums/prince-5_0710.htm

"2009's batshit Lotusflow3r was at least interesting in its preposterous, three CD sprawl, but 20Ten bypasses any of that stylistic divergence with nine equally inoffensive, equally boring tracks."

I like the phrase "snooke-funk" so apt!

'dre

[Edited 7/12/10 14:42pm]

Mintchip said:

we can post press reviews in this thread, right? What if they're really awful press reviews?

From NME, 4 out of 10:

http://www.nme.com/reviews/prince/11437

I like the line "Effortless' is a very different thing from 'making no effort' " Ha!

From musicOMH, 2 out of 5

http://www.musicomh.com/albums/prince-5_0710.htm

"2009's batshit Lotusflow3r was at least interesting in its preposterous, three CD sprawl, but 20Ten bypasses any of that stylistic divergence with nine equally inoffensive, equally boring tracks."

What's funny is some of the same British press showered more praise for Planet Earth a cool little album that's not as realized, fun or confident as 20TEN....

It's kinda weird....

what is a poor uninformed American to do, dear British friends?

Mintchip said:

we can post press reviews in this thread, right? What if they're really awful press reviews?

From NME, 4 out of 10:

http://www.nme.com/reviews/prince/11437

I like the line "Effortless' is a very different thing from 'making no effort' " Ha!

From musicOMH, 2 out of 5

http://www.musicomh.com/albums/prince-5_0710.htm

"2009's batshit Lotusflow3r was at least interesting in its preposterous, three CD sprawl, but 20Ten bypasses any of that stylistic divergence with nine equally inoffensive, equally boring tracks."

Spot on.

He gets it.

NouveauDance said:

Mintchip said:

we can post press reviews in this thread, right? What if they're really awful press reviews?

From NME, 4 out of 10:

http://www.nme.com/reviews/prince/11437

I like the line "Effortless' is a very different thing from 'making no effort' " Ha!

From musicOMH, 2 out of 5

http://www.musicomh.com/albums/prince-5_0710.htm

"2009's batshit Lotusflow3r was at least interesting in its preposterous, three CD sprawl, but 20Ten bypasses any of that stylistic divergence with nine equally inoffensive, equally boring tracks."

Spot on.

We don’t expect – or even want – another ‘Housequake’, but the least his majesty could do is more than phone in snooze-funk for a presumably hefty advance from a newspaper.

He gets it.

He doesn't...

I find it hilarious that these same critics were lauding "Chelsea Rogers" as Prince's funkiest effort in ages ...It seems this critic seems more concerned with taking pot shots at the album because of its connection to a tabloid newspaper than he is with dissecting the qulaity and sound of the actual music...

Listen, I get it...As a journalist I sometimes fall into the same trap of going for the quick jabs to get a few yucks...But this review seems a bit uninformed about Prince's musical past....

More reviews pouring in....

Antiquiet.com

http://www.antiquiet.com/reviews/2010/07/prince-20ten-review/

By Steven Anthony

His bottom line:

"Okay. Disregarding the “hidden track” (I can do that can’t I?) you have a pretty nice little disc here Prince. Particularly since you are giving it out for free (at least in Europe). It’s not the best album you’ve ever released, and it’s certainly no Sign ‘O The Times, but there’s enough good material on here to warrant several playbacks from fans. It certainly ranks with the better material you’ve made over the last 15 years ago, that’s for sure...."

20TEN Review

http://according2g.com/2010/07/prince-20ten-the-g-review/

Bottom line:

"Overall, I must say (and after first listen), this has been much more enjoyable than the last several Prince releases! I’m not sure I’d say “Prince is back” since most songs sound like he is doing cover versions of his older songs, but I am not finding myself cringing like I have in the recent past when listening to his new music for the first time. I also know that I will be listening to this a lot in the coming days. This is a step in the right direction..."

Another review...

http://mymusicmixtv.blogspot.com/2010/07/prince-20ten-review-95-outta-10.html

Bottom line:

"He finally did it and brought the funk back and a excellent CD front start to back."

[Edited 7/12/10 15:53pm]

It's like a time Machine to 1983. I love 20ten. Prince was the very last artist i would have thought to embrace his past so completely. The only reason people aren't calling it a classic is because theres no adult content or sexually charged lyrics. For example if "Everybody loves me" was named "everybody F*cks me" most of the people not impressed would think the album was a masterpiece.

NME is a piece of shit. Fucking smart assed brit ponzy hair dressers just want to hear themselves be clever. He doesn't even mention most of the songs. Remember, britain is big on electronica garbage so you know where this pub crawling, toothless mumser is coming from.

Let's not forget that NME also hated The Gold Experience. Gold is better than 20ten.

You purple Brits need to break some windows..lol

A lot of these bad reviews are given just to try and make fun of Prince. You notice the reviews don't offer any details at all about the music. The other reviews just want to give it a bad score because Prince said the internet is dead and he released the album through a tabloid. 4 out of 10? Are they serious? I'd think low ball scores like that should be reserved for Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. Then again, these magazines are mainstream rags...

Wall 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.

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.

Prince can't use the linn drum now without him trying to "recreate his past?" LOL.

I'd also like to know, one what song(s) from the album, other than Laydown, is Prince trying to chase the sounds of others? The answer is none. The answer to that question is none as well for the Lotusflow3r disc.

Mintchip said:

we can post press reviews in this thread, right? What if they're really awful press reviews?

From NME, 4 out of 10:

http://www.nme.com/reviews/prince/11437

I like the line "Effortless' is a very different thing from 'making no effort' " Ha!

From musicOMH, 2 out of 5

http://www.musicomh.com/albums/prince-5_0710.htm

"2009's batshit Lotusflow3r was at least interesting in its preposterous, three CD sprawl, but 20Ten bypasses any of that stylistic divergence with nine equally inoffensive, equally boring tracks."

Never liked NME when it came to Prince. I still remember cringing at their review of some his 80s stuff though obviously this reviewer is entitled to his opinion.

2freaky4church1 said:

NME is a piece of shit. Fucking smart assed brit ponzy hair dressers just want to hear themselves be clever. He doesn't even mention most of the songs. Remember, britain is big on electronica garbage so you know where this pub crawling, toothless mumser is coming from.

Let's not forget that NME also hated The Gold Experience. Gold is better than 20ten.

You purple Brits need to break some windows..lol

NME has been known as an Indie rag, so I'm not sure where you're coming from with the electronica line (is 20Ten not largely electronic itself? ) Also the reviewer of TGE is unlikely to be the same person, since that was 15 years ago.

Furthermore, Tony Parsons, who has been the recipient of some heavy brown-nosing in this very thread due to his thoroughly independent review in the Mirror, was a well known writer for NME.

kdj997 said:

It's like a time Machine to 1983. I love 20ten. Prince was the very last artist i would have thought to embrace his past so completely. The only reason people aren't calling it a classic is because theres no adult content or sexually charged lyrics. For example if "Everybody loves me" was named "everybody F*cks me" most of the people not impressed would think the album was a masterpiece.

I honestly can't believe people are still saying things like this. NO-ONE gives a duck about the lack of swearing.

.

[Edited 7/12/10 16:39pm]

NeoGeo24bit said:

Wall said:

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.

Prince can't use the linn drum now without him trying to "recreate his past?" LOL.

I'd also like to know, one what song(s) from the album, other than Laydown, is Prince trying to chase the sounds of others? The answer is none. The answer to that question is none as well for the Lotusflow3r disc.

This guy's M.O. is to try and ruffle feathers on a messageboard (yes, he's pretty good at it).

A couple of years ago during the Presidential election, he made a daily appearance over in politics and religion to remind people how much of a fuck up Obama was, and how he would "undoubtedly blow the election".

First I have to say I love this cd. I don't actually have it yet, but I've been listening to the tracks over and over. My first listen and I was truly impressed. I agree with many that this is his best since TGE. I can't say I didn't like anything after that, because I did. 20ten just feels like he's claimed his sound back, which I guess he attempted with MPLSound. This time around he's gone back to the old sound without sounding dated. There's some new feeling in there without trying to sound like the crap that's on the radio these days. Yes there's nothing groundbreaking, guitar heavy, or whatever many are whining about. It's just plain fun and that's all it need to be. Anyways there is some catchy stuff on here and my only complaint is some of the songs just end too soon. I'm glad to hear the return of the purple funk. If I were to rate the whole cd I would say 8 1/2 out of 10 . I hope it will be realeased in the US soon and if so maybe add a little something extra. Btw my favorite right now is Everybody Loves Me. Despite it sounding silly, musically it's a really good song.

I am not feeling the 20Ten album right now but I am glad that many are liking the album.

What's more perplexing than the lack of bad reviews, is the lack of any professional reviews at all. I haven't seen any outlet out of NME touching this album yet.

It's almost as if they aren't even wasting their time. I can't necessarily blame them.

I'll be writing my own review for my school's paper, and once I've finished it and it's posted, I'll send a link.

But I'm just kind of curious as to when or if any professional outlets are going to start publishing their reviews. If they do, get ready for some lashing, fams.

livewire said:

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.

Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who gives a damn about these so called professional outlets?

I would rather hear Langebleu or Boris Fishpaw or even Bart give a review.

WetDream said:

Agree with Murph. Here's a review that proclaims Prince is back with a stunner, ranks as one of best ~ http://www.culturebully.c...bum-review

I won't go that far Dream...lol.....Although I think 20TEN is a "good" effort...And to me, that says a lot....But you know how I get down...I'm not one for dealing with extremes on both sides of the fence...The thing I take exception to is people not being sincere when critiquing art....

I see the games that are being played here...And it's the same 5 or 6 folks here...If they were real in their actual dissection of this album and not concerned with merely playing the resident bad guys on the Org I could take their opinion as heartfelt...

But everytime I hear someone say how dude is living in the past (this from the same folks complaining that Prince was running away from his sound) I have to laugh....Then there's the one about the songwriting not being "diverse" enough (code word for where's the screaming rock guitars, Revolution-era "groundbreaking" production????...It's too blaaaaaaack!!!!...lol)

I like the way this album has become a litmus test for some Prince fans...Most of the folks poo-pooing it on this site seem to be bigger fans of Prince's 85-88 run....In other words, they never had any real use for Prince's first two albums and think that his following efforts while def. great, were more straight-forward (i.e....No Wendy & Lisa....lol)...

But worst of all are the heads saying that Prince is trying to compete with the Black Eyed Peas of the world...Such talk makes me think these people have no idea how contempoary music really sounds....People are just saying bullshit now...It's evident...

20TEN is a cool little album that shits on most of his works after Rainbow Children...What's funny to me is by leaving the "groundbreaking" shit at the door this has allowed Prince to make a tight, cohesive, fun album that sounds like he isn't trying too hard...And trust me, I'll take that over the LotusFlower Prince anytime, anyday....

shonenjoe said:

What's more perplexing than the lack of bad reviews, is the lack of any professional reviews at all. I haven't seen any outlet out of NME touching this album yet.

It's almost as if they aren't even wasting their time. I can't necessarily blame them.

I'll be writing my own review for my school's paper, and once I've finished it and it's posted, I'll send a link.

But I'm just kind of curious as to when or if any professional outlets are going to start publishing their reviews. If they do, get ready for some lashing, fams.

Says who?

murph said:

shonenjoe said:

What's more perplexing than the lack of bad reviews, is the lack of any professional reviews at all. I haven't seen any outlet out of NME touching this album yet.

It's almost as if they aren't even wasting their time. I can't necessarily blame them.

I'll be writing my own review for my school's paper, and once I've finished it and it's posted, I'll send a link.

But I'm just kind of curious as to when or if any professional outlets are going to start publishing their reviews. If they do, get ready for some lashing, fams.

Says who?

Critics are going to tear 20ten to shreds.

NeoGeo24bit said:

A lot of these bad reviews are given just to try and make fun of Prince. You notice the reviews don't offer any details at all about the music. The other reviews just want to give it a bad score because Prince said the internet is dead and he released the album through a tabloid. 4 out of 10? Are they serious? I'd think low ball scores like that should be reserved for Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. Then again, these magazines are mainstream rags...

Most music critics I've read have enormous respect for Prince's artistry, as does everyone on this forum (at least for a certain time period). I don't think any critic just feels like making fun of Prince, maybe they, like many people here, simply don't like the album? In fact, I'd argue that most critics, like those in this forum, keep listening to hold out hope that the next "masterpiece" will arrive.

I'm listening to it again, playthrough 2, and it actually is better than the first time for me, but I'm still not fawning over it. I think the critics have a right to review this album, or any album of Prince's, negatively, without people just saying they're trolls.

murph said:

shonenjoe said:

What's more perplexing than the lack of bad reviews, is the lack of any professional reviews at all. I haven't seen any outlet out of NME touching this album yet.

It's almost as if they aren't even wasting their time. I can't necessarily blame them.

I'll be writing my own review for my school's paper, and once I've finished it and it's posted, I'll send a link.

But I'm just kind of curious as to when or if any professional outlets are going to start publishing their reviews. If they do, get ready for some lashing, fams.

Says who?

If the album is officially released, then we might see some real reviews, but until then, why would they bother? Even if the album was his greatest masterpiece, Prince simply isn't relevant enough to the public to warrant reviewers going out of their way to acquire an album of his for review that may/may not be available in their country.

shonenjoe said:

murph said:

Says who?

Critics are going to tear 20ten to shreds.

I love the Prince fan on a Prince fan site rooting for bad reviews...This is what it has come to...

LOL...

savoirfaire said:

murph said:

Says who?

If the album is officially released, then we might see some real reviews, but until then, why would they bother? Even if the album was his greatest masterpiece, Prince simply isn't relevant enough to the public to warrant reviewers going out of their way to acquire an album of his for review that may/may not be available in their country.

Brilliant....

[Edited 7/12/10 18:05pm]

murph said:

shonenjoe said:

Critics are going to tear 20ten to shreds.

I love the Prince fan on a Prince fan site rooting for bad reviews...This is what it has come to...

LOL...

Hey now. I'm not rooting for bad reviews, I'd just like to read more of them. Reading fan accolades is nice and all, but being surrounded by the all the "yes!" is getting old.

I just anticipate negative reviews for this album.

shonenjoe said:

murph said:

I love the Prince fan on a Prince fan site rooting for bad reviews...This is what it has come to...

LOL...

Hey now. I'm not rooting for bad reviews, I'd just like to read more of them. Reading fan accolades is nice and all, but being surrounded by the all the "yes!" is getting old.

I just anticipate negative reviews for this album.

I see...So you want the album to be shitted on because there's too much positivity about a new Prince album on a Prince fan-site that over the last two months has made P public enemy no. 1?

Brilliant....