Well --- I am happy with the new album, I really like the fresh sound and 8 good songs out of 10 is fantastic....

but I hear some of you are not so satisfied.

My question to those who does not like "20TEN" :

A) What kind of a future Prince album with new music (not from the vaults) would you want to have instead...

B) In your ears what is wrong with "20TEN"..... the songwriting, production, what else

C) are some of you even about to give up hearing another brilliant Prince album again..

D) something else you would like to say about "20TEN": negative / positive

E) what kind of advises would you give Prince for another future Prince album, (just in case he is actually reading this thread lol)...

[Edited 7/17/10 12:54pm]

A)

Something which makes me want to listen to over and over again because it's actually interesting.

B)

- a mishmash of recycled sounds and song ideas

- an easy listening experience

C)

Yep…long time ago!

D)

It doesn't sound too forced like many of his previous efforts.

E)

Strive for the best!

thedance said:

Well --- I am happy with the new album, I really like the fresh sound and 8 good songs out of 10 is fantastic....

but I hear some of you are not so satisfied.

My question to those who does not like "20TEN" :

A) What kind of a future Prince album with new music (not from the vaults) would you want to have instead...

an album where he takes chances, works outside of his comfort zone, and experiments, whether those experiments are succesful or not

B) In your ears what is wrong with "20TEN"..... the songwriting, production, what else

musical direction on the album is predictable and derivative, or is simply not tonally interesting. Some tracks are listenable and even catchy, but don't stick with me and are not memorable

C) are some of you even about to give up hearing another brilliant Prince album again..

No. If he attempts to dig into a different musical style (as he did during Xpectation, NEWS, TRC), and try something different from what he's already done, I believe he could produce something good again

D) something else you would like to say about "20TEN": negative / positive

Ultimately I've tried to listen to it, but this might be my least favourite Prince album after several listens. It's probably generally more consistent than New Power Soul, but I think I would still rather have the latter due to a few standout tracks

E) what kind of advises would you give Prince for another future Prince album, (just in case he is actually reading this thread lol)...

Don't be afraid to stick your neck out! And get some people around you who are encouraged to provide constructive feedback. And listen to their feedback"

[Edited 7/17/10 12:54pm]

[Edited 7/17/10 14:51pm]

[Edited 7/17/10 14:51pm]

great thread!

a.) because i think his songwriting's gone limp, i'd like to see a covers album. but because his history w/ covers is spotty, and his concerts are generally stellar, I'd like to see a whole-band covers album. The best muscians he can get, just grooving, to a whole set of Beatles songs or something. It'd be like Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, only funky.

b.) I think the lyrics are oddly specific about very metaphysical, or political things. This is not Marvin Gaye asking What's Going On, this is a guy who's become Mr. Smarty Pants, he's telling you what's going on, literally how the wold works, and i politely disagree. Meanwhile, there's no great hooks presesnt. Lastly, it's plasticene to these ears. 1999 and Controversy sounded dirty and funky, this...sounds like it was put together in a sterile environment.

c.) No way Jose. He never stops writing music, his concerts are awesome, and he seems like he's in great health. I can't wait to see where he goes next.

d.) Positive - Back up singers, and the guitars on a few tracks, give it some organic life that mnplsound didn't have.

e.) same as everyone - collaborate, get the good musicians, follow them, and try to remember that he doesn't know everything.

b.) I think the lyrics are oddly specific about very metaphysical, or political things. This is not Marvin Gaye asking What's Going On, this is a guy who's become Mr. Smarty Pants, he's telling you what's going on, literally how the wold works, and i politely disagree.

Great post, but this point in particular is a fantastic one. I never thought about it, but as soon as I read it my mind went "Yeah! Totally! Exactly!"

Both savoirfaire and Mintchip said everything just about perfect. Great posts.

While 20ten is not terrible*, there just isn't enough substance there lyrically or musically to keep me coming back for more.

That seems to plague all the Musicology, 3121, 20ten type albums. Give me TRC, Xpectation, even Lotusflow3r type albums, or at least if it's gonna be a straightforward electronic/r&b album, put some more meat on the bone.

*Everybody Loves Me qualifies as terrible

I don't have a lot of complaints about his albums usually, but the overproduction and the canned sound is getting to be a bit much. In most cases his songwriting can allow me to move past it, in 20ten's case the majority of the songwriter is weak and lazy. I would love for something with a more live/raw sound, cut by a full band, or at least sounding like it's cut by a full band. As stated before, he should take some chances in his music again, I'd rather listen to The Rainbow Children (which I think is great) 20 times than PE or 20ten once. An actual producer that he would listen to wouldn't hurt either, if such a person exists.

the music IS there .. i was just listening to incense and candles the other day and it pissed me off how good the actual music was but the lyrics were beyond tony m bad ..

so the lyrics are ALMOST THERE on twenty10

the icing on the cake is NOT there .. as in the production still sounds like lonely prince demos

sometimes prince is genius on his own but at this point i want his palet to expand .. he is THE top songwriter and could likely get ANYBODY to play on his records .. when is he going to put together a group of musicians that can out play him on their instrument .. i wanna hear that .. and when i say outplay i dont mean technically i mean creatively .. add some spark that prince wouldnt have come up with himself .. let others mold and caress the music .. and be careful whom he chooses and work with them for a couple years before recording the album instead of recording an album then asking them to play it live

yes i am saying to move far beyond the one man recording man and put together a real band that is gonna blow our minds for a good decade .. then he can go back to his prolific self and pop out 3 records per year

and if hes gonna do a track or 2 by himself i wanna hear him play the drums not the linn

i wanna hear that tamborine new position crystal ball funk

i am not unhappy with the new record .. it just still sounds a bit lonely and tonally dry and monotonous .. those songs in the hands of a few extra musicians who can step up to the plate with prince would be amazing .. a few lyrical tweaks and

I think 20ten is totally awesome, only 3 tracks I skip...

For me my issue with 20ten is not really the music, more so the lyrics and the way he sings them. And why is the best track a hidden one? If the album was more like Laydown it would be a great album. It's is his most cohesive effort in the past decade, but lacks any good songs. It only reminds me of Planet Earth in that a lot of the songs are forgettable and have similar lyrical content. I was also a little disappointed that the songs also don't take any surprising twists either in the music or in the lyrical style.

I have no advice for any future album. I will always at least give anything he puts out a listen. I think his music is what it is. It's no longer all peaks, but peaks and valleys.

If 20Ten makes you happy - that's wonderful, enjoy it - you don't need my permission.

The albums is great.. Minus - 7 songs

20ten got some 1999/controversy - sounds in it.

now prince should go back to the parade/dream factory/crystal ball/sign 'o' the times - sound.

A) What kind of a future Prince album with new music (not from the vaults) would you want to have instead...

I would love to hear him do a blues rock album. I personnaly like his guitar rock and his love ballads. His love ballads are over cause he doesnt sing about sex anymore. I have not really liked a ballad of his since Man O War. Call my name was ok i guess but not great. All of the R&B BS in between i dont care for. Im not sure he could pull off a blues rock album but it would be interesting to hear. I noticed most of his guitar solos are very repetitive and I think that type of album would really challenge him and it COULD be great. I am a big fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Jonny Lang, Walter Trout, Buddy Guy so something along those lines.

B) In your ears what is wrong with "20TEN"..... the songwriting, production, what else

Just straight WEAK R&B Bull!! The music is comical it is so simplistic. The only song I like is Layitdown. I am just not an R&B fan at all.

C) are some of you even about to give up hearing another brilliant Prince album again..

My expectations of his cds have lowered DRASTICALLY so it really would not take a brilliant album to impress me. I would be happy with a 3 out of 5 star album nowadays. I just dont think he can do better. I rated LotusFlower as 3 out of 5 and i was happy with that. Its nothing GREAT but it will do. Although there are 5 or 6 songs that I REALLY LIKE!!

D) something else you would like to say about "20TEN": negative / positive

Negative - Its the worst PRince album ever in my opinion. 1 good track and a bunch of crap. Songwriting is terrible, music is very simplistic and weak.

Positive - Lay it down is a Prince CLASSIC in my opinion. He should make a video and promote this track. The only thing he should do though is remix it with a banging bass heavy beat for the kids boomin systems.

E) what kind of advises would you give Prince for another future Prince album, (just in case he is actually reading this thread lol)...

Please quit the preaching of being treated like a slave. It was cool at first with the Gold Experience and even Emancipation but it is SO OLD and a turnoff now. He needs to loosen up and have fun. His albums are way too serious now and preachy. I respect his religion but keep it light and give us more fun party jams. They dont have to be dirty to be party classics. AND PLAY THAT GUITAR!!

thedance said:

Well --- I am happy with the new album, I really like the fresh sound and 8 good songs out of 10 is fantastic....

No Prince album is going to please everyone and that's perfectly okay. We all have different tastes and the good thing about Prince is his versatility allows him to appeal to different people at different times.

but I hear some of you are not so satisfied.

My question to those who does not like "20TEN" :

A) What kind of a future Prince album with new music (not from the vaults) would you want to have instead...

I think that there are so many sounds in the world that he could explore. I prefer his more adventurous moods.

B) In your ears what is wrong with "20TEN"..... the songwriting, production, what else

I would not call it wrong just because I don't happen to care for it. Personally, it doesn't grab me because I'm not that interested in revisiting sounds like the Linn, for example. Also, with only a couple of exceptions, it sounds cold, barren and sterile to me. Finally, the backing vocals sound very bland and the songwriting, except for 2 tracks is kind of shallow....even a fun song can be clever and interesting.

C) are some of you even about to give up hearing another brilliant Prince album again..

Not a chance! I don't think any less of Prince's ability to astound me just because a couple of albums don't click with me. I won't be joining the crew who runs around with their hair on fire, wailing that "Prince is over"...

D) something else you would like to say about "20TEN": negative / positive

I said in the other thread that his vocals on Sea of Everything are superb. Other than that, Act Of God is pretty good and Laydown is kind of fun. Unfortunately, the only memorable thing on the entire album for me was two words..."purple Yoda",

E) what kind of advises would you give Prince for another future Prince album, (just in case he is actually reading this thread lol)...

I still respect Prince's skill and artistry and don't expect him to cater to my whims on every release. I may be one of the few who likes it when he changes direction and band members. He is always more interesting to me when he is curious and adventurous.

[Edited 7/17/10 12:54pm]

An album, with no biblical refernces, or any lyric that isolate non Christian and non negro people, also preferably one where he acknowledges sexuality again, and even better still one that celebrates his delayed coming out and a song where he says Fuck Jehovah and fuck Christian superstitous claptrap dogma. Now that would sell gajillions in Britain and Europe, but not in the States wheres theres a conservatism and dogma friendly stance.

B. It's lack of longevity. It's a pebble of his capabilities!

The reason why I can't seem to connect with it on a musical basis is because I don't hear the hunger or boldness in this body of work.

He's reached an age where he has nothing to prove to anybody.. the flame has turned into a matchbox, musically. He's not grabbing anyones attention!

Spiritually he's clearer than ever- however his beats are matching up. Let's Go Crazy is a prime example... then again that was when he was in his prime

C. Never. Despite it being far from encouraging.

D. The inspiration & intent spirituality was intact

E. Go raw, hungry, & UNPROCESSED. I turn on the radio and every song is synth/computer generated.. how far away does 20ten stray away from that? Do something musically no one else is DOING!