Mars23 said:

Gotta say, 1st impression? I really like it.

I even like the half assed hip hop of "Lay Down". It's cheesy as hell, but Prince can pull off cheesy as hell.

That's because he is cheesy as hell.

hahahahaha, damn, I'm amazed so many don't get Everybody Loves Me.

It's truly brilliant and one of his most catchy songs ever! It really just needs a Tim Burton directed video. It'd also be awesome in a Pixar film.

Act Of God is the ultimate grower. I didn't love it at first, but enjoy it more each time.

Good to see near universal opinion that Future Soul Song is classic Prince. I always loved his deep voice stuff.

Funkit, I'm gonna do my review lol

OK, you know howw they have that old saying that if you don't like an album upon first listen, give it a few more listens and then see what comes up... well after about ten listens (well up to that number), there were only a few standouts.

But this album is not too bad, there are things about Prince's music since 2004 that can be enjoyable and then painful at the same time. But then again he wouldn't be Prince if there wasn't always a thin line between perfect pop craft and drivel you can sleep on.

1.) Compassion - first listen to the snippet reminded me of "Sexuality" and "Delirious". The full song sounds like a mixture of both with a Rosie Gaines-like vocalist helping him. It's quite enjoyable especially considering the songs that have started up some Prince albums. Probably a good opener on par of "Musicology" but the lyrics kinda stall it for me a bit (though I do like the bridge). (6/10)

2.) Beginning Endlessly - though I don't fully love this song, there's some great portions that make it a listenable and enjoyable song. It's not really one of those songs that could benefit as a single but he could liven it up while onstage though. I do like the "come on, come on" flow on it and it has a quirky pop-funk appeal to it and Prince is real good at that. (7/10)

3.) Future Love Song - probably the first Prince song in YEARS where I fully enjoy it. This is what I would call VINTAGE Prince. A great ballad and one where he doesn't even sing in falsetto all the way, singing it with, at first baritone, then his natural mid-range with that classic Prince growl to it and nice guitar riffs on it too. This is like an "Adore" for the '10s lol The BEST song on the album to me. (9/10)

4.) Sticky Like Glue - this is quite smooth. The rap in it midway through the song is kinda disheartening but it's not too bad. I like the vamp of it and there's some laid back funk in it lol but this is probably one song I would've chose to reprogram a bit, it sounds as if he just copy and paste the lyrics, but I guess it kinda works for this. Without the rap it would've been a better song to me. (5/10)

5.) Lavaux - The Pointer Sisters meet The Time. That said, this song was not so nice hearing after five listens. The song touches on Prince's spirituality but it makes the groove in this more lazy. One of those songs Prince could've done in his sleep. (4/10)

6.) Act of God - Like I said earlier, this song is what you would probably play at your dad's juke joint club at two in the morning somewhere in the South. Though the song attacks bankers or something to that effect, it seems the more preachy the lyrics, the less I get to enjoy it. Not that I mind it when Prince goes socially conscious, but it sounded more like the lyrics overpower the music. And possibly a song Prince could've done better with than what he came with, it definitely has potential to be a better production than it is. (4/10)

7.) Walk in Sand - This is one of those lazy, mundane ballads that Prince did at 3 in the morning then went back to sleep which leads to... (2/10)

8.) Sea of Everything - I guess the songs are like a segue into one another but it's another one of those 3 in the morning productions he did and then yawned and went back to sleep, really does nothing for me but I guess as a two-part ballad, the songs could be a good 5/10. (3/10)

9.) Everybody Loves Me - Imagine Spongebob Squarepants, Sesame Street, vintage Adam Ant, the Time Warp and a cheerleader pep rally with a vocoder and some purple mix, put it into the pot, heat up in the microwave, this is what you get here. Possibly the WORST song on this record. (0/10)

10.) Laydown - OK, this song is not totally awful but it's not real good. Maybe it's the rap. Maybe it's the vocals or maybe it's how just ended abruptly with no climax and that's it. Really nothing to drive home about but if you like Prince's raps and his mention of being "the purple Yoda" you'd like it (and it has some funky guitar riffs). That said, not really one of his best. (2/10)

----

Overall I give this album a 42/100 and that's really for effort. I think Prince still has potential to do better and in this album there were examples he can still deliver a great album. Maybe some songs will grow on me but for me right now this is how my ratings would remain unless one of the songs I gave a low rating blows me away...which I deny but oh well.

Damn! The reviews started flooding in and the positivity seen on this boards for this new joint has been unseen in a while which is maybe the best part!

Compassion

The snippet we heard was nothing! This songs definitely rivals Play in the Sunshine with a progression in a song we have not seen in a while! It builds and builds and yes hearing the Linn thrown in for 1999 effect is very nice! We all need to be friends again...catchy as hell!

Beginning Endlessly

Damn P is back in the funk and its slammin'! This was my favorite snippet and now I know why! I'm only 1/4 way through and I gotta go back to the beginning to hear this...beginning - bad ass beat - futuristic layers in choclate funk! damn! YES! Layers and layers of vocals too! This is a killer track and a sound I've not quite heard from Prince before. Shit the showman is back with this track. Live this will be bad ass! I could go on and on about this song! Classic old skool P ending - lovin it!

Future Love Song

Wow! I love great Prince ballads and this is now one of them. He kills it with his voice and the amazing layers! Damn! MBGITW mixed with Shhh. This is how I used to listen to Prince CDs - with each song just driving me nuts and just wanting to hear each song again. Classic.

Sticky Like Glue

This production on this song and CD is fantastic! P is actually pulling off some new vox and I'm diggin it! A totally different song again - and Prince rappin' niiiiiiice. A great summer song with the top down thats for sure! Prince has passion on this one and his voice is dope!

Laveaux

From the beginning he goes deep on this one all the way back to 82! The snippet was promising and he is outdoing himself again! I can see this being an outtake from 1999.

Act of God

I can instantly see the comparison to Mr Man and Money Dont Matter Tonight. I like it - its preachy but in a good way and he is groovin on all these tracks. His lyrics have been consistently good and not cringe worthy which has been the case with the 00's

Walk In Sand

A great ballad again - very jazzy with P at the piano. I bet Alicia Keys will love this song!

Sea of Everything

As others have mentioned this is very similar to Scandelous/Somewhere Here On Earth yet with a cool different 70's vibe twist. Yet another great song - better than SHOE.

Everybody Loves Me

A great way to close out a very diverse and solid CD. The descriptions of other reviews didn't really prepare me for this one. It is a bit Controversy/Horny Toad and the piano riff its hilarious and fits so well! "Their aint nothing 2 it but 2 do it!" I likey!

77 Laydown

Damn! The Purple Yoda is one for the records! haha! I dont see the BEP produced similiarity. This is very much a Prince out there track. Damn he's funky! Guitar is off the hook on this one and his use of Pro Tools paid off on this one!

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

Hot Summer indeed!

9.5 outta 10

[Edited 7/8/10 21:57pm]

[Edited 7/8/10 21:59pm]

.....

[Edited 7/8/10 23:14pm]

[Edited 7/10/10 16:37pm]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

How could U people do this 2 Prince?????

The love is scaring me.

Where is the Haterinas and Barts when you need them?

I'm giving Walk In Sand a grower tag. Sometimes you just need to put a cd on random and let it play. Very nice ballad. Genuine Prince.

(note to Prince's sound engineer)

Whatever compressor or distortion you guys used on Mr. Man and Act Of God ruins his voice when it overdrives. Try a Retro 176 compressor, it'll squash it with impact, w/o ruining it. Seriously, this is what Michael Brauer and Chris Lord Alge use on vocals now..

MarcelJ said:

I'm giving Walk In Sand a grower tag. Sometimes you just need to put a cd on random and let it play. Very nice ballad. Genuine Prince.

It's growing on me too. It gets better with more listens.

MarcelJ said:

(note to Prince's sound engineer)

Whatever compressor or distortion you guys used on Mr. Man and Act Of God ruins his voice when it overdrives. Try a Retro 176 compressor, it'll squash it with impact, w/o ruining it. Seriously, this is what Michael Brauer and Chris Lord Alge use on vocals now..

He sounds like this dude:

muleFunk said:

The love is scaring me.

Where is the Haterinas and Barts when you need them?

If Prince releases it, they will come.

[Edited 7/8/10 23:17pm]

Can we all agree, Prince needs to dream more often?

Future Soul Song "I had a dream last night"

1999 "I was dreaming when I wrote this"

Any others?

Can`t find it.....

About to listen...

[Edited 7/8/10 23:34pm]

i too cant find it

MarcelJ said:

Can we all agree, Prince needs to dream more often?

Future Soul Song "I had a dream last night"

1999 "I was dreaming when I wrote this"

Any others?

Dreamer.

In all my dreams.

I think this is one of the less sperimental prince album, and one of the most enjoyable so far. Simple melodies, a lot of nice bridge and choirs on it, less pretentious than last ones, and with fortunate melodies in slow-tempo tracks. A lot of '80 feeling in a right key: I do not see a 'automatic pilot' here, but every track has got a idea. Not a masterwork, but the first album that I can suggest to someone interested to prince today.

There is a positive felling in all the tracks that gives to the album a personality. *Great* works of female choirs to support the voice of our friend.

Good idea put the last track like ghost-track because it have nothing to do with the rest of the album.

The first listen is quite positive.

I don't get it - where is this coming from?

The album is not out until tomorrow ... where d'yall get it from?

[Edited 7/9/10 0:46am]

I can see why he seems so happy lately. Listen to what he's been sittin' on?! This album is brilliant and a total Prince classic. I think this is the one that will stop the annoying "so and so is out-Prince-ing Prince these days..." kind of comments. This is unmistakably the real deal operating at his pop/funk-sensible best.

I don't want to go through all of the tracks but man....Future Soul Song??! And Sticky Like Glue?!! Beginning Endlessly?! Try to stop playing these. I can't.

If these songs are indeed new, I'm thrilled he's so inspired again. And I hope he's writing and recording like there's no tomorrow if that's the case. If they're vault tracks, that's okay too. He still has a lot to be proud of with this release. Get it, Prince!

God, I'm happy right now. The thing I find so particularly satisfying about "20Ten" isn't the throwback production (although it's great and I LOVE it). It's the superior quality of the SONGS that's killing me. This is a late-career stunner. In fact, if Prince released this during his untouchable period (80-88) I have no doubt it would be universally considered a second-tier classic at minimum.

Thanks, Prince!

I fucking LOOOVVVEEE it!

Almost done with my first listen and I'll say that it's not his best... not his worst...but it definitely has two feet planted firmly on the 'good' side of the fence.

i really love it.....^^

Great album, great songwriting and production.....( after first impression )

[Edited 7/9/10 1:06am]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

How could U people do this 2 Prince????? I'm going to wait till Prince wants me 2 hear it.....

[Edited 7/8/10 23:14pm]

Do what exactly? When this album is released, I'll be one of the first in the store to buy it. In the meantime should I shut my ears every time I hear Prince somewhere? I heard Price at the supermarket yesterday. Should I have sent him a check?

Bland, uninspired, Prince on autopilot. Instantly forgettable. Not an ounce of conviction. Completely lacks passion. The best bits on this album wouldn't have been considered good enough for filler on his 1980s albums.

If you need half a dozen listens to "start to get into it", it's a sign that it's rubbish -- and don't pretend it ain't.

BartVanHemelen said:

If you need half a dozen listens to "start to get into it", it's a sign that it's rubbish -- and don't pretend it ain't.

I disagree. It can just mean there's more going on than you might catch at a casual or first listen. The best albums and songs are always the ones that you find yourself hearing new nuances in years after you first heard them.

BartVanHemelen said:

If you need half a dozen listens to "start to get into it", it's a sign that it's rubbish -- and don't pretend it ain't.

This part is empirically false. Many great albums have received initially lukewarm reviews only to be regarded as classics later on.

BartVanHemelen said:

Bland, uninspired, Prince on autopilot. Instantly forgettable. Not an ounce of conviction. Completely lacks passion. The best bits on this album wouldn't have been considered good enough for filler on his 1980s albums.

If you need half a dozen listens to "start to get into it", it's a sign that it's rubbish -- and don't pretend it ain't.

yeah right, like you got into parade and lovesexy in the first listen?

BartVanHemelen said:

Bland, uninspired, Prince on autopilot. Instantly forgettable. Not an ounce of conviction.

Fossero tutti così ci metterei una firma. I think there is more passion here than in last 5 albums.

Completely lacks passion. The best bits on this album wouldn't have been considered good enough for filler on his 1980s albums.

Ah, 198x. Good old times: nice videogames, reagan, and tv-popstar. what about Georgio?

If you need half a dozen listens to "start to get into it", it's a sign that it's rubbish -- and don't pretend it ain't.

yes, like wagner. If you don't like it the first time is rubbish.