There have been several notes/comments about last night...but I will add what I can remember.

I got there shortly after 10p...the parking lot was mostly full already. Initially we were all in the smaller "L4OA" room with a DJ playing music to...you guessed it...Nemo on the two screens. No food last night, just bottled water.

Out front they were selling concert T-shirts and a very nice photo book from the last concert tour for $20 (I don't recall how much the T-shirts were).

After about 30 minutes, they opened up the larger sound stage area and more DJ music was being played in there. I would estimate that there were 200 people or so. It felt like there was a good vibe...the stage was set-up...my hopes were there for a performance.

After another 15-30 minutes, there was a mass exodus to the lobby. Apparently the 3 girls had each selected 5 men to be able to go into Studio B to listen to the album. Hanna said "don't worry, everyone will get a chance to listen to the music." Then one staffer kicked us all out of the lobby and said "this will be a while - go back in and chill and have a good time."

I didn't see how it happened, but about 30-40 minutes later there was another large group huddled in the lobby and they let 15 women go back and listen. From that point on, it seemed like they just tood 15 men, then women, then men...so many people just stayed in the lobby trying to work their way up to the front to get in.

I was one of the last groups let in. I will say it was a cool experience to listen to new music in Sudio B on great equipment. The ladies were fantastic...fun...energetic...very welcoming....etc. Pretty cool to have them in there with us. I will admit that I was disappointed in that our group only got to hear 4 songs I think...and none of them were complete...only about 1/2 of each. So we had a very short listening session. I have a feeling they started realizing that this was taking a long time to just have 15 people at a time, etc...do the math....we were gunna need some pancakes!

I don't konw the names of the songs they played (sorry). The first one was an instrumental tha they said Donna wrote. Another one was talking about tic-tac-toe...frankly, that was not my favorite of the ones they played. I agree with the other comments about it being guitar heavy. I enjoyed the music...but to be honest...I felt like a lot of it sounded very similar. There did not seem to be a diversity of new ideas, but again, we only heard four 1/2 songs. Hanna's vocals are not bad...of course we would all prefer to hear Prince, but Hanna was not bad...but not anything special either...I don't know? I think those that are criticizing are doing so from the perspective that this is a Prince site...so we want to hear Prince.

I guess - it could have been super cool....I know nobody asked me...but it would have been really cool to play the whole album to everyone in the soundstage...again, I felt the energy was good...and perhaps they could have then jammed on 3-6 of the songs that seemed to get the bigger reaction from the crowd when hearing the album version? I'm not sure what was gained from the 15 person at a time method.

There wasn't a lot of Q/A during my session. They asked us "would you buy it?"....of course we would...kind of a silly question for this group of people. They asked "would you pay to hear it live?"...again - wrong group to ask that question. Someone asked "when will it be released?" And the response was "I'm not just saying this...but it's the real answer....soon" (or something to that effect).

I agree with many others that it's a little odd that this project has been around for a year or so and it does feel like they may not be settled on the track list...and there is no release date yet...does feel ripe for getting shelved. I hope not...I would buy it if it ever does come out.

When I came out of my session...there were probably 2-3 groups left to go in...not many people left in the soundstage...so I left about 1:40a assuming they would not perform for the last 40 people there.

All things being said - I still think it's awesome that Prince lets us in like that...to listen to music...new music...good music....in a great environment. Yes, we all want to hear him jam...and hopefully he will do that again soon...but nonetheless - thank you, Prince. He doesn't have to do any of this and I am grateful for the opportunity to experience it.

fbueller said:

Prince was in the building, but communicated to fans via speakerphone. For some reason Finding Nemo was again being shown. Why not put Graffiti Bridge on in the background, for a change, that might be fun. Perhaps it's time for another pajama party at Paisley.

They want people to hang around.

Thanks for the reports guys, however I have a few questions on things I'm really curious about:

- What is the 2nd part of Wow like? is there a guitar solo to end the song? if so, does it sound like Prince on guitar?

- Can anyone describe better what type of songs Whitecaps and TicTacToe are? are they still rock songs? guitar solos (in which case, does it sound like Donna or Prince?)

- What does Marz sound like?

- Was FunkNRoll played at all? If so, was it a new version?

From the questions above, you can really say I'm interested to know if Prince is on guitar on these songs, instead of Donna. If the album turns out to be with Donna on all guitar solos (like in FixUrLifeUp and PretzelBodyLogic) and Hannah on vocals on a few numbers, I might really lose interest in it...

[Edited 7/14/14 1:06am]

fbueller said:

^ Typical Prince operation. Why make people wait to be selected 15 at a time? Figure 30 minutes per group, people in later groups got "short changed" because, gee the process is taking longer than expected. Also, why is this thread still in the Concert forum?

Yeah, I don't understand why they didn't just play it in the soundstage when they realised there were so many people.

TheEnglishGent said:

fbueller said:

^ Typical Prince operation. Why make people wait to be selected 15 at a time? Figure 30 minutes per group, people in later groups got "short changed" because, gee the process is taking longer than expected. Also, why is this thread still in the Concert forum?

Yeah, I don't understand why they didn't just play it in the soundstage when they realised there were so many people.

more chances for bootlegging?

MIRvmn said:

fnksoul said:

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They are still listed on Kobalt too, if they wasnt with them I think they would have been issued something to take their images off the site by now. Maybe they were waiting for the PR remaster or New Prince record to drop and then release Plectrum Electrum through Kobal off the back of the publicity form them?

That's possible that they wait until after PR remasters and solo album, but wouldn't it then make sense if he played the new solo album at the listening parties and some songs from it at the concerts? Ay the moment he isn't promoting his new prince album at all. To me it seems like he wants PE out first and I don't think wb are happy about that [Edited 7/13/14 15:53pm]

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It seems he isnt happy with Warner Brothers though, which would explain why he isnt playing any of the new tracks from that Solo album, and could be why he didnt Perform The Breakdown to suport the release at all so the problems could have pretty much started right away with them.

motherfunka said:

Unfortunately, but not unexpected, this isn't going to be the next "great" Prince album. Hannah does not have a good singing voice, listen to Live Out Loud as reference. If he thought these songs were great, he would have been playing them live on tour in the UK to build up some excitement for the release. I think these people raving about last night are just caught up in the fact that they were able to go into the studio at Paisley Park.

I'm pretty sure Warner Brothers has nothing to do with this album, as it wasn't mentioned when the deal was announced. It's kind of funny how Prince was complaining in an interview recently how long it takes for an album to be released and that the songs are old by the time it comes out, but it seems like he's the one holding this up. You can't convince me that an artist like Liv Warfield can release a CD and Prince can't!

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I dont think Liv's album was put out on CD was it? It went onto MP3 sites like iTunes etc... which anyone can do quite easily. I dont think she got a deal with a distributor to let them put a phisical copy out into shops etc... They have done phisical copies for sale at shows but I guess these were funded independantly... Which Prince would't do because he'd rather someone else take the financial risk.

[Edited 7/14/14 2:53am]

fnksoul said:

MIRvmn said:

fnksoul said: That's possible that they wait until after PR remasters and solo album, but wouldn't it then make sense if he played the new solo album at the listening parties and some songs from it at the concerts? Ay the moment he isn't promoting his new prince album at all. To me it seems like he wants PE out first and I don't think wb are happy about that [Edited 7/13/14 15:53pm]

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It seems he isnt happy with Warner Brothers though, which would explain why he isnt playing any of the new tracks from that Solo album, and could be why he didnt Perform The Breakdown to suport the release at all so the problems could have pretty much started right away with them.

He did 4 a select person....

who actually give a flying fuck about this?...i was interested for a while BUT couldn't care less. If it came with a live 3EG CD &/or video THEN i'd be giddy. Listening to the songs that most of us have heard so far it's all average at best aside from WOW [IMHO]

Why does he generate a drama out of so many releases, i love the dude...but my God he can be a real cock at times. Really feel for the 3EG girls who might be smiling through gritted teeth..imagine Hannah finally stopping smiling & telling p to 'go fuck yourself'!!

Marco81 said:

Thanks for the reports guys, however I have a few questions on things I'm really curious about:

- What is the 2nd part of Wow like? is there a guitar solo to end the song? if so, does it sound like Prince on guitar?

- Can anyone describe better what type of songs Whitecaps and TicTacToe are? are they still rock songs? guitar solos (in which case, does it sound like Donna or Prince?)

- What does Marz sound like?

- Was FunkNRoll played at all? If so, was it a new version?

From the questions above, you can really say I'm interested to know if Prince is on guitar on these songs, instead of Donna. If the album turns out to be with Donna on all guitar solos (like in FixUrLifeUp and PretzelBodyLogic) and Hannah on vocals on a few numbers, I might really lose interest in it...

[Edited 7/14/14 1:06am]

I can't answer a lot of your questions...I did not hear the 2nd part of anything

They did not announce the names of the songs when they were played - I realize some of you are better educated on some of these songs than I - sorry, I just don't konw the names.

FunkNRoll was not played during my session.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

fnksoul said:

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It seems he isnt happy with Warner Brothers though, which would explain why he isnt playing any of the new tracks from that Solo album, and could be why he didnt Perform The Breakdown to suport the release at all so the problems could have pretty much started right away with them.

He did 4 a select person....

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I meant at his live shows

Marco81 said:

TheEnglishGent said:

Yeah, I don't understand why they didn't just play it in the soundstage when they realised there were so many people.

more chances for bootlegging?

Actually releasing the album would limit that...

fnksoul said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

He did 4 a select person....

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I meant at his live shows

Oh Ok!

Romeoblu said:

I've really liked Evertyhing from this album so far and have been looking forward to it. It is now becoming tiresome. They have an album listening party and don't play the whole album, wtf is that all about. it sounds as if it's not yet Been decided what will be on it. No Tictactoe or funk roll? No release date or even any indication? This seemed like a pointless excercise.

You have to remember this is like the fifth or sixth listening party since like late 2012 or early 2013 for an album that shows no signs of actually being released.

stillwaiting said:

Romeoblu said:

I've really liked Evertyhing from this album so far and have been looking forward to it. It is now becoming tiresome. They have an album listening party and don't play the whole album, wtf is that all about. it sounds as if it's not yet Been decided what will be on it. No Tictactoe or funk roll? No release date or even any indication? This seemed like a pointless excercise.

You have to remember this is like the fifth or sixth listening party since like late 2012 or early 2013 for an album that shows no signs of actually being released.

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Maybe he is planning something different? With the talk of USB he could look at selling a USB drive that includes a "Free" copy of Plectrum electrum? Cutting out the need for Distribution etc.... Orders through 3rd Eye Girl on-line store etc... Not sure how feasible it would be but its certainly an idea they could float if they just want to get it out themselves.

laurarichardson said:

EddieC said:

Probably--most people did.

And I'm not sure anyone's listened to it as often as you.

----The CD stayed on the chart for over a year but do not let the facts stop you.

I honestly love Lotus Flow3r, I think it's one of Prince's best 10 albums period, personally(Just the Lotus Flow3r Disc, not MPLSound) but why was it on the chart for over a year?

Was it because Prince did countless amounts of heavy promotion? No...for two weeks, and then Prince ignored the album like it didn't exist, other than playing Dreamer and another song or two at many of his hits shows.

Was it on the chart over a year because it was this smash hit that people kept buying it over and over again? No. It was not a smash hit. If you were not a Prince junkie, you did not know about it. Unless you were Bart Van Halen, and simply hated it because it was released after 1989, which automatically means Van Halen doesn't even have to listen to it to hate it.

So why was it on the charts for over a year???

Because once Target figured out that they had 200,000 or more copies of an album that wasn't moving anything 2 months after release, they had to discount it. First it was 4.99, then 99 cents! And if that wasn't shocking enough, many locations put it down to 49 cents. So of course it will be on the charts...

[Edited 7/14/14 8:51am]

Queens Of The Stone Age released their latest album on USB (other formats as well) through Kobalt Music Group:

http://www.your-usb.com/

stillwaiting said:

laurarichardson said:

EddieC said: ----The CD stayed on the chart for over a year but do not let the facts stop you.

I honestly love Lotus Flow3r, I think it's one of Prince's best 10 albums period, personally(Just the Lotus Flow3r Disc, not MPLSound) but why was it on the chart for over a year?

Was it because Prince did countless amounts of heavy promotion? No...for two weeks, and then Prince ignored the album like it didn't exist, other than playing Dreamer and another song or two at many of his hits shows.

Was it on the chart over a year because it was this smash hit that people kept buying it over and over again? No. It was not a smash hit. If you were not a Prince junkie, you did not know about it. Unless you were Bart Van Halen, and simply hated it because it was released after 1989, which automatically means Van Halen doesn't even have to listen to it to hate it.

So why was it on the charts for over a year???

Because once Target figured out that they had 200,000 or more copies of an album that wasn't moving anything 2 months after release, they had to discount it. First it was 4.99, then 99 cents! And if that wasn't shocking enough, many locations put it down to 49 cents. So of course it will be on the charts...

[Edited 7/14/14 8:51am]

You work at Traget HQ to say why they priced the way they priced or are you assuming. Like you got the email saying what they were doing

lwr001 said:

stillwaiting said:

I honestly love Lotus Flow3r, I think it's one of Prince's best 10 albums period, personally(Just the Lotus Flow3r Disc, not MPLSound) but why was it on the chart for over a year?

Was it because Prince did countless amounts of heavy promotion? No...for two weeks, and then Prince ignored the album like it didn't exist, other than playing Dreamer and another song or two at many of his hits shows.

Was it on the chart over a year because it was this smash hit that people kept buying it over and over again? No. It was not a smash hit. If you were not a Prince junkie, you did not know about it. Unless you were Bart Van Halen, and simply hated it because it was released after 1989, which automatically means Van Halen doesn't even have to listen to it to hate it.

So why was it on the charts for over a year???

Because once Target figured out that they had 200,000 or more copies of an album that wasn't moving anything 2 months after release, they had to discount it. First it was 4.99, then 99 cents! And if that wasn't shocking enough, many locations put it down to 49 cents. So of course it will be on the charts...

[Edited 7/14/14 8:51am]

You work at Traget HQ to say why they priced the way they priced or are you assuming. Like you got the email saying what they were doing

Regardless of why they did it, the fact is that stores were selling it at less than anything else they had in the store. So yeah, they still kept a few copies moving.

Did it deserve better? Yes.

My original comment was a joke toward Giovanni--who is probably the biggest fan of this album out there, not an attack on the album.

bfunk said:

Queens Of The Stone Age released their latest album on USB (other formats as well) through Kobalt Music Group:

http://www.your-usb.com/

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I think it will still come through Kobalt this release probably waiting on Warner brothers to release something though then ride on the back of that

EddieC said:

lwr001 said:

You work at Traget HQ to say why they priced the way they priced or are you assuming. Like you got the email saying what they were doing

Regardless of why they did it, the fact is that stores were selling it at less than anything else they had in the store. So yeah, they still kept a few copies moving.

Did it deserve better? Yes.

My original comment was a joke toward Giovanni--who is probably the biggest fan of this album out there, not an attack on the album.

Once store recoup there cost they can sell for whatever and still make profit..you act liek it was a dollar 3 weeks after its release; it wasnt

Marco81 said:

Thanks for the reports guys, however I have a few questions on things I'm really curious about:

- What is the 2nd part of Wow like? is there a guitar solo to end the song? if so, does it sound like Prince on guitar?

- Can anyone describe better what type of songs Whitecaps and TicTacToe are? are they still rock songs? guitar solos (in which case, does it sound like Donna or Prince?)

- What does Marz sound like?

- Was FunkNRoll played at all? If so, was it a new version?

From the questions above, you can really say I'm interested to know if Prince is on guitar on these songs, instead of Donna. If the album turns out to be with Donna on all guitar solos (like in FixUrLifeUp and PretzelBodyLogic) and Hannah on vocals on a few numbers, I might really lose interest in it...

[Edited 7/14/14 1:06am]

Donna said her solos were mixed in with Prince to the point that they cannot tell who is which anymore on Whitecaps. No mention of TicTactoes.

Marz was not played.

Funk n roll was not played nor do they know if it's on Plectrum Electrum or not. They said "dunno, maybe on Prince album"

lwr001 said:

EddieC said:

Regardless of why they did it, the fact is that stores were selling it at less than anything else they had in the store. So yeah, they still kept a few copies moving.

Did it deserve better? Yes.

My original comment was a joke toward Giovanni--who is probably the biggest fan of this album out there, not an attack on the album.

Once store recoup there cost they can sell for whatever and still make profit..you act liek it was a dollar 3 weeks after its release; it wasnt

No, it wasn't cut 3 weeks out. But it was cut drastically well before the "year it was on the charts" was up (I'm pretty sure it was under $10 dollars at my local store within about 3 months, and under $5 within six. I was stunned). Once that had happened, it's chart position was BS. Just like several other people's chart positions that were derived from very, very deep discounts. The packages initial position (which was pretty high if I remember) was legitimate, and fairly impressive considering it was available from only one retailer and had already been compromised by the fact that much of its potential audience had just spent $75 dollars on almost exactly the same package from the website. Quite a few were probably like me--had gotten a membership, downloaded the thing, and then (knowing what they were getting) felt just fine about spending another $25 dollars on it again to have it physically. I know I didn't spend that money just for "Crimson and Clover"--which I could easily have gotten within a week from other free sources.

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In other words (in case you still don't get it) I'm not badmouthing the album. But, like most of what Prince has done in the last 20 years, most people did "miss" it. This sidetrack came from someone comparing PE to The Gold Experience--most of the people who were paying close attention back then have stopped paying that close since (and already "most people" were unaware of Gold)--and even more (even in places like Prince.org) have stopped paying close attention to later releases, giving a cursory listen once or twice. The ones who've given Lotusflow3r serious repeated listenings is a small minority, even among fans. And those of us who've listened to Elixer enough times to know that it's actually pretty good are even fewer.

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But if you want to think it was a hit, fine. If you want to think that most people are familiar with it, fine. If you want to think it's good--I agree with you.

Does Studio B look just like it does in the pic on the 3rdeyegirl twitter page? I'm guessing that pic is raher old??

funkyhead said:

who actually give a flying fuck about this?...i was interested for a while BUT couldn't care less. If it came with a live 3EG CD &/or video THEN i'd be giddy. Listening to the songs that most of us have heard so far it's all average at best aside from WOW [IMHO]

Why does he generate a drama out of so many releases, i love the dude...but my God he can be a real cock at times. Really feel for the 3EG girls who might be smiling through gritted teeth..imagine Hannah finally stopping smiling & telling p to 'go fuck yourself'!!