So, it takes about a week for a Prince CD, and newspaper, to be mailed from the UK to Minneapolis.

Big props to the folks madhousemusic.co.uk for their excellent service.

Initial overview/thoughts------------------

Production/sound:

The album is very refreshing, light, and fun...like a purple breath mint. Cleans you right up and makes it easier to breath.

This is Prince using the classic Minneapolis sound production technique. The linn drums, chicken scratch guitar, and swirling/grinding keyboards. Mostly Prince making the noises with his current background singers and a few horn embellishments sprinkled in. Vocals are impeccable as usual. Did someone say "new Minneapolis sound"?

Words/lyrics:

Lyrics are delivered in a similar style as the last few albums. Covers the usual subjects of love, sex, God, society's ills and potential, raising vibrations/consciousness, and having a funky good time. Mostly upbeat, and positive, with the usual Prince cleverness/humor.

Songs:

"Compassion"

Whomever said "Can't Stop This Feeling I got" was very close. It's definitely a cousin with a more social outlook/commentary/wishing in the lyrics.

"Beginning Endlessly"

I would have liked it if this song kicked off the album, just because of the futuristic intro. This is the "darkest" feeling song on the album. It is dominated by a driving catchy keyboard melody. Ends with the keys dueling with the chicken scratch guitar.

"Future Soul Song"

Classic Prince soul/slow groove style. However, whereas Prince usually uses his falsetto for this type of baby maker, this one his uses a deeper vocal tone/range which makes this song quite unique in his army of sexy love songs. Love when he harmonizes with his own voice...gives it an epic feel towards the end.

"Sticky Like Glue"

48 hours in and this is my favorite, so far. Squeaky clean and funky as all hell. It's like Prince of 1979 got together with Prince of 2009 and put this one down. All the people who say "Prince doesn't do dirty anymore" aren't paying attention to the lyrics.

"Act of God"

A marching little number. Message similar to "Dear Mr. Man" and "Cinnamon Girl". The music however has the MPLS keyboards/drums. This may sound weird, but it sounds like if something on the Batman album would have had the ideology of James Brown.

"Lavaux"

Relaxed and cool get away from it all song. Celebrating freedom/free time Minneapolis style.

"Walk in the Sand" & "Sea of Everything"

Prince ballads with THE falsetto. These seem thematically linked. Like pt. 1 and pt. 2. Can songs be happy and melancholy at once? Both sound like the soul songs from Prince's youth done in that "Prince" way.

"Everybody Loves Me"

Ever heard the song "Turn it up"? That's what the music reminds me of. The lyrics/vocals remind me of a light Tevin Campbell "Round and Round" type of thing. This songs seem like they are from a soundtrack/musical. Graffiti Bridge-ish.

"Laydown"

You thought you were gonna get away without Prince telling you he is in his own league, that he is, "the main thing" ? This Star Wars fan is loving the "purple Yoda" reference.

Without a doubt, this song is a "hidden track" because sonically it is MPLSound and is more aggressive than the rest of 20TEN. Cynics will accuse Prince of following trends on this one, truth is this is much more true to Prince's Minneapolis sound than something like "18 & Over" or "Gett Off".

Final Word: Too early for this Prince fan to tell. As I said, it is very refreshing/cleansing type of album. It is a quick listen. I am very happy to hear Prince embracing his classic production style.

Per usual, I don't understand how a Prince fan would not like this album, but Prince fans are a weird bunch. Certainly this sounds more like traditional "Prince" than anything after 1984...

[Edited 7/18/10 14:18pm]

[Edited 7/18/10 14:25pm]

http://prince.org/msg/7/339828

Nice post.

skywalker said:

So, it takes about a week for a Prince CD, and newspaper, to be mailed from the UK to Minneapolis.

Big props to the folks madhousemusic.co.uk for their excellent service.

Initial overview/thoughts------------------

Production/sound:

The album is very refreshing, light, and fun...like a purple breath mint. Cleans you right up and makes it easier to breath.

This is Prince using the classic Minneapolis sound production technique. The linn drums, chicken scratch guitar, and swirling/grinding keyboards. Mostly Prince making the noises with his current background singers and a few horn embellishments sprinkled in. Vocals are impeccable as usual. Did someone say "new Minneapolis sound"?

Words/lyrics:

Lyrics are delivered in a similar style as the last few albums. Covers the usual subjects of love, sex, God, society's ills and potential, raising vibrations/consciousness, and having a funky good time. Mostly upbeat, and positive, with the usual Prince cleverness/humor.

Songs:

"Compassion"

Whomever said "Can't Stop This Feeling I got" was very close. It's definitely a cousin with a more social outlook/commentary/wishing in the lyrics.

"Beginning Endlessly"

I would have liked it if this song kicked off the album, just because of the futuristic intro. This is the "darkest" feeling song on the album. It is dominated by a driving catchy keyboard melody. Ends with the keys dueling with the chicken scratch guitar.

"Future Soul Song"

Classic Prince soul/slow groove style. However, whereas Prince usually uses his falsetto for this type of baby maker, this one his uses a deeper vocal tone/range which makes this song quite unique in his army of sexy love songs. Love when he harmonizes with his own voice...gives it an epic feel towards the end.

"Sticky Like Glue"

48 hours in and this is my favorite, so far. Squeaky clean and funky as all hell. It's like Prince of 1979 got together with Prince of 2009 and put this one down. All the people who say "Prince doesn't do dirty anymore" aren't paying attention to the lyrics.

"Act of God"

A marching little number. Message similar to "Dear Mr. Man" and "Cinnamon Girl". The music however has the MPLS keyboards/drums. This may sound weird, but it sounds like if something on the Batman album would have had the ideology of James Brown.

"Lavaux"

Relaxed and cool get away from it all song. Celebrating freedom/free time Minneapolis style.

"Walk in the Sand" & "Sea of Everything"

Prince ballads with THE falsetto. These seem thematically linked. Like pt. 1 and pt. 2. Can songs be happy and melancholy at once? Both sound like the soul songs from Prince's youth done in that "Prince" way.

"Everybody Loves Me"

Ever heard the song "Turn it up"? That's what the music reminds me of. The lyrics/vocals remind me of a light Tevin Campbell "Round and Round" type of thing. This songs seem like they are from a soundtrack/musical. Graffiti Bridge-ish.

"Laydown"

You thought you were gonna get away without Prince telling you he is in his own league, that he is, "the main thing" ? This Star Wars fan is loving the "purple Yoda" reference.

Without a doubt, this song is a "hidden track" because sonically it is MPLSound and is more aggressive than the rest of 20TEN. Cynics will accuse Prince of following trends on this one, truth is this is much more true to Prince's Minneapolis sound than something like "18 & Over" or "Gett Off".

Final Word: Too early for this Prince fan to tell. As I said, it is very refreshing/cleansing type of album. It is a quick listen. I am very happy to hear Prince embracing his classic production style.

Per usual, I don't understand how a Prince fan would not like this album, but Prince fans are a weird bunch. Certainly this sounds more like traditional "Prince" than anything after 1984...

[Edited 7/18/10 14:18pm]

[Edited 7/18/10 14:25pm]

OMG, at last a Sticky Like Glue fan who pegged the right year!! yeah it's like pre record deal prince. I can see Sue Ann, Andre and Morris on drums !. Even the rap (which i dont hate) is tounge and cheek that people take too seriously. Listen too the flow, this isnt prince trying too hard or trying to appeal-its old school MC schtick nothing more. The rappers of late 70's early eighties always rapped as master of ceremony, you know the host with the most. That flow did it for me, i was like 1979!!!. I imagined a video with younger actors with a kid (playing prince) is sitting on the floor getting his hair braided-cut to garage Grande Central rehearsing for a block party. Girl sewing something watching them jam, shows him a trenchcoat she sewed studs on and he smirks like what tha?. The close the song in the park and the real prince (sittin with the old folks, suit and hat with cane) sings the last part to one of the grown sista's walking by. The grown sista?... susan moonsie. Because she was that girl to him, the first that believed in him and the first to cuss his ass out, sticky like glue.

nice review but skywalker, didn't you see the big ol thread for fan reviews?!!

http://prince.org/msg/7/339828

DoffieParker said:

nice review but skywalker, didn't you see the big ol thread for fan reviews?!!

http://prince.org/msg/7/339828

Have you clicked on that link?