I'm guessing there will need to be a thread to capture peoples reviews of the new album, rather than scatter the comments across various threads concerning the release details. Mods, feel free to place where approriate.

Here's my quick two pence....

20ten Album Review - Purple Yoda is enjoying himself. but will the fans?

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.

Some could say its a backwards step, and it would be hard to argue, but I tend to think it more the work of someone who has grown to like his own age and curcumstance. This is no groundbreaker, but it sticks together and seems less like a hotch potch than some efforts this decade.

Compassion - Linn fest fast paced opener in the vein of "Never be another like me" or "Can stop this feeling I got". A Great cherpy melody with a lush overlays, and a nice understated horn. A Catchy pop opener.

Beginning Endlessly - At the moment, my favourite on the album. A mid tempo track that stomps out a beautiful groove. The song has a keyboard line as a chorus, in the vein of "Right back here in your arms". Some wonderful guitar licks in here too.

Future Soul Song - A rare thing, a prince falsetto style ballad without the falsetto. In fact, his voice has never sounded deeper. If you like "Call my name" and "future baby mama" then you are going to love this. A nice track which I can see becoming the wrong choice for a single.

Sticky like glue - A layed back funk groove with some excellent vocal layers. This is a summer breeze rather than a stomp but it catchy and enjoyable. Won't be remembered in a few years, but enjoy it while its here.

Act of God - Bankers are in Prince's sights. A mid tempo pop groove with a political stance. Not a bad track, but its the poor cousin to "Dear Mr Man" and "Money don't matter 2 night".

Lavaux - Out and out retro MPLS groove that could be lifted straight from a protege album. Probably the most forgetable track on the album.

Walking in the sand - A falsetto ballad, plesently under produced. Simple by effective. This is more a folk pop ballad with a tinge of RnB. Particlarly nice instrumentation, including flute and real drums.

Sea Of Everything - Another slow number, much more in the vein of the past few years. falsetto delivering a basic RnB ballad. There will be lovers and haters. This will be some peoples favourite.

Everybody Loves Me - A great pop tune with distorted vocals. Prince hasn't sounded this happy since Delirious. This is a real grower. Linn, layers and querk.

Laydown (hidden track) - A funk groove not to dissimilar to tracks like "Old Skool Company". Some great funk guitar going on here. And Purple Yoda? classic.

Overall, this album is going to vanish like Planet Earth. There is nothing wrong with it, but again it doesn't sent your pants on fire. Prince is still on cruise control. Whilst enjoyable, fans are going to be screaming for a new album in three months time.

I say, lets enjoy it this summer, with 20ten in the player!

.

[Edited 7/8/10 18:20pm]

[EDIT: added artwork - Mars23]

I'm just c&p-ing my initial thoughts from the other thread:

Compassion - Let's Pretend We're Married done by a 52 year old JW. It get's all 'Time Warp' in the second half, which I actually like, I think this would work really well live actually, with all the backing singers letting rip. Like it once it gets going.

Beginning Endlessly is really NPS-like. This isn't an insult, it just has that same sparse electronic sound. Probably my favourite on the album?

Future Soul Song is my one of my favourites so far. Very Lush and sugary, I like the layered harmonies though. Sometimes I think 'Insatiable', other times I think it sounds quite modern pop/R&B (which is icky), but it's also kinda classic Prince ballad too. Damn U comes to mind also - probably needs to kick off more at the end with guitar and screams, feels like it's missing that maybe.

Sticky Like Glue is airy and spars - funky but mid-tempo. Reminds me of something like 'If I Could Get Your Attention' if a little more laidback. I can see where Number 23 is saying the LP is quirky. This has a 78/9 era feel to me in terms of a light/simple feeling, not necessarily instrumentation though. Brings to mind Strollin'/Wonderful Ass/If I Could Get Your Attention. What's that guitar lick at the very start from?

Act Of God - Sounds like a comedy song with the synth bass. Like a Time song waiting for the rest of the instruments. Preachy/church sounding like 'When Will We Be Paid'. 'The Work' meets 'One Day I'm Gonna Be Somebody'.

Lavaux - The easiest 'most familiar' sounding track to get into - Like Prince of 79/80 trying to sound like 'Off The Wall' era MJ.

Walk In Sand - So boring. Plinky/plonky 'All The Midnights In The World' (which I like). OK the piano is nice, at one point I was reminded of Vince Guaraldi, but nowhere near as enjoyable. Might grow on me. The vocals do nothing for me though.

Sea of Everything - Starts with the Prince ballad "Huuurrrhoooo, baby" - More Satisfied/On The Couch snooze stuff. Cheesy twinkly Emancipation type noodlings.

Everybody Loves Me - Oh my God..... Wet Dream and Do It All Night's cousin does a song and dance in the aisle on the short bus. Sesame Street Jesus Happy Clappers. It is fun, you can't really hate it for too long.

Laydown - No. Just no. This is the most modern sounding track on the album. As if Black Eyed Peas had produced 'GCS2000'. I want to press 'next', but it's the last track

The album as a whole sounds quite quickly made, not TOO much going on musically, sparse synth stuff, clean and light on guitar - no big rock out numbers, nothing like Dreamer or even Fury here (I only bring this up as a point of interest, I'm not particularly a fan of Prince's rock stuff especially, so I don't look for that - but some of his better more recent stuff has been guitar led, IMO). For me it's quite NPS-like overall. None of the songs are really very long - None really take any strange or unexpected twists and changes.

Better than MPLSound, nothing really as good as the highlights on Lotusflow3r ($, Boom, Dreamer etc), more cohesive and less patchy than Planet Earth. More enjoyable already than either 3121 or Musicology. It's simplicity is pleasing, but maybe it's all a little too simple?

(Just initial impressions, typed as I had a first listen through of each track, not set in stone).

does anyone have the lyrics yet?

I'm locked in for a review with my school newspaper. I'll publish it when it's published.

Listenin' now!

NouveauDance said:

I'm just c&p-ing my initial thoughts from the other thread:

Compassion - Let's Pretend We're Married done by a 52 year old JW. It get's all 'Time Warp' in the second half, which I actually like, I think this would work really well live actually, with all the backing singers letting rip. Like it once it gets going.

Beginning Endlessly is really NPS-like. This isn't an insult, it just has that same sparse electronic sound. Probably my favourite on the album?

Future Soul Song is my one of my favourites so far. Very Lush and sugary, I like the layered harmonies though. Sometimes I think 'Insatiable', other times I think it sounds quite modern pop/R&B (which is icky), but it's also kinda classic Prince ballad too. Damn U comes to mind also - probably needs to kick off more at the end with guitar and screams, feels like it's missing that maybe.

Sticky Like Glue is airy and spars - funky but mid-tempo. Reminds me of something like 'If I Could Get Your Attention' if a little more laidback. I can see where Number 23 is saying the LP is quirky. This has a 78/9 era feel to me in terms of a light/simple feeling, not necessarily instrumentation though. Brings to mind Strollin'/Wonderful Ass/If I Could Get Your Attention. What's that guitar lick at the very start from?

Act Of God - Sounds like a comedy song with the synth bass. Like a Time song waiting for the rest of the instruments. Preachy/church sounding like 'When Will We Be Paid'. 'The Work' meets 'One Day I'm Gonna Be Somebody'.

Lavaux - The easiest 'most familiar' sounding track to get into - Like Prince of 79/80 trying to sound like 'Off The Wall' era MJ.

Walk In Sand - So boring. Plinky/plonky 'All The Midnights In The World' (which I like). OK the piano is nice, at one point I was reminded of Vince Guaraldi, but nowhere near as enjoyable. Might grow on me. The vocals do nothing for me though.

Sea of Everything - Starts with the Prince ballad "Huuurrrhoooo, baby" - More Satisfied/On The Couch snooze stuff. Cheesy twinkly Emancipation type noodlings.

Everybody Loves Me - Oh my God..... Wet Dream and Do It All Night's cousin does a song and dance in the aisle on the short bus. Sesame Street Jesus Happy Clappers. It is fun, you can't really hate it for too long.

Laydown - No. Just no. This is the most modern sounding track on the album. As if Black Eyed Peas had produced 'GCS2000'. I want to press 'next', but it's the last track

The album as a whole sounds quite quickly made, not TOO much going on musically, sparse synth stuff, clean and light on guitar - no big rock out numbers, nothing like Dreamer or even Fury here (I only bring this up as a point of interest, I'm not particularly a fan of Prince's rock stuff especially, so I don't look for that - but some of his better more recent stuff has been guitar led, IMO). For me it's quite NPS-like overall. None of the songs are really very long - None really take any strange or unexpected twists and changes.

Better than MPLSound, nothing really as good as the highlights on Lotusflow3r ($, Boom, Dreamer etc), more cohesive and less patchy than Planet Earth. More enjoyable already than either 3121 or Musicology. It's simplicity is pleasing, but maybe it's all a little too simple?

(Just initial impressions, typed as I had a first listen through of each track, not set in stone).

$, that's not a highlight on LotusFlow3r ?

I've generally been a fan of his work from Musicology forward, with Planet Earth being the weakest and Lotusflo3r and 3121 vying for strongest.

I really can't form an opinion about this yet. Need more time to absorb.

"Future Soul Song" is my initial favorite; it's the one i want to keep going back to.

20ten is ........

BANGING!!!! .I LOVE IT

don't wanna hear you stingy fucks opinions

^ this

From what I'm hearing, I'm feeling this CD. I'm on Future Soul Song right now.

Lavaux is my favorite track by far.

I would rate this album 3/5

I might actually like Lotusflow3r/Mplsound more than this.

Purple Yoda strikes back!

I may have to take more listens but I would say that only 4 of the 10 songs really impressed me. Two were just OK and the others were just forgettable...

My take.

Much better than MplSound, it is a fun record, I agree that it sounds quickly thrown together, It shares virtually nothing with Lousflow3r, and in some ways very different to MplSound.(read not as cringe-worthy)

I'm still trying to decide if i would recommend this to vainandy because I kinda like "Laydown" but it may be too "shit-hop" for him, but overall i think i would.

This album is not really my taste but it is not bad at all. The Ballads are the the best produced tracks.

While i thought Lotusflow3r had new instant Prince classics in "Dreamer" and "Colonized Mind" nothing here is of that caliber.

From the production point of view, It has a "look mom" homemade feel because it sounds like an amateur production, not because its sounds like a demo. There is a difference to me between a talented producer who "gets it" and creates a demo sounding record, and someone who doesn't get it and produces something sounding worse than the kids on their pc's.

Today more than ever we are bombarded daily with great sound production in our everyday lives, in commercials, records, films and documentaries in both slick and avant-guard ways that's why this record's production stood out to me like a sore thumb. Very clunky and unsophisticated and too slick for a demo...... other than the slower tracks which I'm sure he had a lot more help on.

His isolationism as an artist is clearly visible here, as this is not a terrible album, it just offers nothing new. He is working on the same exact same themes and sounds. He is working on purple vapors.

An artist must continue to grow and learn and take in as much as possible to develop. While it's true that his playing ability has gotten better from years and years on constant touring, he has kept a very closed off mind that has not matured or grown as an artist from his peak as he rehashes JB and his early hero's without anyone in his company to expand his horizons.

Truthfully to me 20ten and MplSound and like most evrything for the longest time sound like the mongoloid offspring of inbred unions. He needs to deversify the gene pool, move and expand instead of doing the same sound for 25 years. Even crops need to be changed from season to season as the the soil needs to be replenished with nutrients or will not grow. He should take a page from his friend Miles Davis who fed off innovation, who's mind was always open to fresh new sounds, an openness that led him to seek out Prince when he was at his peak in the first place. If Miles was alive today I am sure he would be very bored and stunned by Prince's stagnation.

The standouts for me.

Beginning Endlessly - The most creative and impressive one to me of the bunch.

Future Soul Song/Sea of Everything/Walk in The Sand - Very nice well produced slow ballads.

Act Of God - I really liked what he did on the live mashup with "Forever in My life" in Berlin, it had a more soulful feel, on this one i kept hearing "melody cool" but its ok

Laydown - a 90's "Days of Wild" feel, I dont feel the "most modern" that some have mentioned. I like it but it sounds dated to me, but ist ok.

What i didn't like?

Ok I said it was different that MplSound, well maybe i lied a little. "Everybody Loves Me" and "Compassion" would fit t better on that album than anything from the 80's

.....and to me Lavaux still sound likes the Pointers sisters "Automatic", so with that i will paraphrase that song to sum up my review.

Its totally automatic

He's walking blindfolded

completely automatic

all systems are

down

down

down

[Edited 7/11/10 12:36pm]

Your review sucks.

SquirrelMeat said:

I'm guessing there will need to be a thread to capture peoples reviews of the new album, rather than scatter the comments across various threads concerning the release details. Mods, feel free to place where approriate.

Here's my quick two pence....

20ten Album Review - Purple Yoda is enjoying himself. but will the fans?

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.

Some could say its a backwards step, and it would be hard to argue, but I tend to think it more the work of someone who has grown to like his own age and curcumstance. This is no groundbreaker, but it sticks together and seems less like a hotch potch than some efforts this decade.

Compassion - Linn fest fast paced opener in the vein of "Never be another like me" or "Can stop this feeling I got". A Great cherpy melody with a lush overlays, and a nice understated horn. A Catchy pop opener.

Beginning Endlessly - At the moment, my favourite on the album. A mid tempo track that stomps out a beautiful groove. The song has a keyboard line as a chorus, in the vein of "Right back here in your arms". Some wonderful guitar licks in here too.

Future Soul Song - A rare thing, a prince falsetto style ballad without the falsetto. In fact, his voice has never sounded deeper. If you like "Call my name" and "future baby mama" then you are going to love this. A nice track which I can see becoming the wrong choice for a single.

Sticky like glue - A layed back funk groove with some excellent vocal layers. This is a summer breeze rather than a stomp but it catchy and enjoyable. Won't be remembered in a few years, but enjoy it while its here.

Act of God - Bankers are in Prince's sights. A mid tempo pop groove with a political stance. Not a bad track, but its the poor cousin to "Dear Mr Man" and "Money don't matter 2 night".

Lavaux - Out and out retro MPLS groove that could be lifted straight from a protege album. Probably the most forgetable track on the album.

Walking in the sand - A falsetto ballad, plesently under produced. Simple by effective. This is more a folk pop ballad with a tinge of RnB. Particlarly nice instrumentation, including flute and real drums.

Sea Of Everything - Another slow number, much more in the vein of the past few years. falsetto delivering a basic RnB ballad. There will be lovers and haters. This will be some peoples favourite.

Everybody Loves Me - A great pop tune with distorted vocals. Prince hasn't sounded this happy since Delirious. This is a real grower. Linn, layers and querk.

Laydown (hidden track) - A funk groove not to dissimilar to tracks like "Old Skool Company". Some great funk guitar going on here. And Purple Yoda? classic.

Overall, this album is going to vanish like Planet Earth. There is nothing wrong with it, but again it doesn't sent your pants on fire. Prince is still on cruise control. Whilst enjoyable, fans are going to be screaming for a new album in three months time.

I say, lets enjoy it this summer, with 20ten in the player!

.

[Edited 7/8/10 18:20pm]

Alamine said:

Your review sucks.

violetblues said:

Alamine said:

Your review sucks.

Alamine said:

Your review sucks.

And I bet you like all things that suck.

NouveauDance said:

Laydown - No. Just no. This is the most modern sounding track on the album. As if Black Eyed Peas had produced 'GCS2000'. I want to press 'next', but it's the last track

On first listen - I like it. For once, it doesn't sound like he's trying too hard. Nothing feels forced - which is a good thing after stuff like Feel Better and Chocolate Box (not to be confused with Disco Jellyfish).

Compassion - Same sort of flavor as No More Candy 4 U, but without the "fuck all y'all" attitude. It's a odd combo of hippy happy lyrics and driving, punky, Linn-ish melody. Not necessarily a bad thing.

Beginning Endlessly - Basic trying to bag a babe lyrics, backed by dirty-sounding keys. Catchy.

Future Soul Song - Nice, mellow groove. Dreaming about flying...singing a song of the soul. Female voices on the backing tracks. Gets his religion in there..."In the absence of fear and control...is the sound of the surrendering soul." Not in an overbearing way, though. Nice.

Sticky Like Glue - I have no idea why we're together, but we're sticky like glue. Fizzy...the bubbles tickle my nose.

Act of God - Music, okay. Lyrics, bleh. My least favorite on the disc.

Lavaux - Y'know...somebody referenced The Pointer Sisters "Automatic" - and I hate to say it, but I do hear that. I ain't hatin', because it goes somewhere better from there. Has the most Minneapolis sounding keys I've heard in a long time.

Walk In Sand - Light, breathy falsetto. Nothing too serious here. He's just walkin' on the beach - and it sounds exactly like that. Like you could see two people running in slow mo with their hair flying, falling down laughing in the sand.

Sea of Everything - What can I say? It's a baby-makin' track. Has a Future Baby Mama vibe - both melodically and lyrically. "Will you wander the wilderness searching for a king? Will you settle for a Prince...and a sea of everything?"

Everybody Loves Me - Wow - I want to like it, but I definitely don't, at this point. He didn't try on this one, at all. A throwaway. Maybe it'll grow on me. I hope it does.

Laydown - Oh, man - vainandy is gonna hate this one. I like it, though - think it's kinda catchy. Ends way too abruptly.

I think SquirrelMeat is right - this thing's gonna sink like Planet Earth. But it's nice to have something light and new to blast for the summer.

First listen... Prince is one weird dude! No one else is going to make an album like this. In some ways I like the MPLSound album better, but in other ways I love this album a lot more... especially in it's quirkiness. Some of these tracks have to be from the same recording session as MPLSound.

I love all of the up tempo tracks, but don't really care about the slow songs. I'm sure late 70's Prince fans and 70's soul ballad admirers will love the slow songs, though.

It's a fun record, full of absolutely crazy sounds and lyrics that I need more time to digest. Highlights for me are all of the brilliant tracks... Everybody Loves Me (quirky, funny, and banging), Lay it Down(modern yet so funky), Compassion(funkier), Beginning Endlessly(funkiest), Act of God(funky AND timely), and Lavaux(beautiful song about freedom). Great tracks!

Listening to this album makes you realize that Prince is going to be all right... making great music until the end of time.

[Edited 7/8/10 19:32pm]

[Edited 7/8/10 19:35pm]

Walk in Sand sound like a remake of "The Sun, the Moon and Stars" in some ways. I didn't enjoy that song either.

And all the division begins....

It's funny and kinda cool to see so many, so divided, so quickly on certain songs. It's love/hate already. Lol.

I think that's a good thing and proves you like what you and you don't what you don't. No matter what others opinions are. As it should be.

Bfunkthe1 said:

And all the division begins....

It's funny and kinda cool to see so many, so divided, so quickly on certain songs. It's love/hate already. Lol.

I think that's a good thing and proves you like what you and you don't what you don't. No matter what others opinions are. As it should be.

That's what makes the ORG the ORG, we don't kiss ass unless it's granted. In this degree, it's not granted hahaha

I long for the days of albums that didn't sound so clean and sterile and perfect.

NoVideo said:

I long for the days of albums that didn't sound so clean and sterile and perfect.

Yeah...it's been a long time since anything he put out had that, "I gotta get this out and I don't give a rusty what the production sounds like" quality to it.

This album ends quite abruptly. I do think there was something in "Laydown" left to be desired but it seemed like he was finding a track to finish. It could've been more than what it was.

I'm in my third listen and, well I don't know, I'm starting to not feel "Compassion" as much as I did first listen.

Laydown actually is interesting...

Has anyone gotten their t-shirts yet?

2the9s said:

Has anyone gotten their t-shirts yet?