Man, what a shame. P's first releases in several years and by all indications they're going to be

unlistenable.

AOA - 8 (so far)

I'm getting a "Sign O' the Times" feel from the AOA tracks. Most hopeful for this record.

PE - 5 (so far)

There have been quite a few guitar/rock tracks since Lotus but PBL is the only one that I enjoy. Fixurlifeup was fun in concert but the record is just flat (for me). Seems like there is a melody/lyric lift in this song from someone else's record. Screwdriver is lyrically ham-fisted and the vocal affectation grosses me out. But PBL? - I like the lyrics, they're clever and fun. It's not hard to imagine W&L doing this shouty chorus back in the day, either.

Seems like the new material is full of growers. Can't imagine these albums being huge commercial successes, so I'm hoping (for the girls and P) they'll be critic lauded and long-term fan favorites.

My fingers are crossed, but all it would take is a few syrupy, kidzbop 'New Power Soul Prince' tracks and BAM it's a Paisley Park remnants garage sale all over again. I think I'm rooting for Warners' (editing) as much as I am for Prince.

Romeoblu said:

Plectrumelectrum Pretzelbodylogic 9 Fixurelifeup 8 WhiteCaps 7 FunknRoll 9 Art Official Age Clouds 9 The Breakdown 9 U know 9 Breakfast Can wait 8 What it feels like 8

Not that I agree with you,

but wow.... it looks good to see someone being that positive.

Only ones I've heard the whole way through

The Breakdown: 7

U Know: 7

Breakfast Can Wait: 6

Whitecaps: 4

Fixurlifeup: 6

I'm pretty excited about these two releases, and for one reason or the other (maybe I'm being autistic about this) his return to WB seems to have something to do with it.

Apart from that:

Fixurlifeup: ok, not too crazy about it 4/10

Pretzelbodylogic, Whitecaps: ok, but not spectular: 6/10

Breakdown: very decent: 8/10

U Know, Clouds: U Know is not my favourite song, but I have to go back to 1996 when he was that playful in the studio, I loooooove Clouds: 9/10.

Bring 'em on!

I realy like everything EXCEPT 'Breakfast Can Wait'... a total throwaway track, like 'Mr. Goodnight' from Planet Earth.

I forgot to mention PlectrumElectrum the song, won't rate it because I haven't heard the whole thing but what I heard is outstanding, in fact I would go so far as to say it's worth buying the album based off this track alone, for me anyway. It sounds like it's pretty much a jam from Donna Grantis' Elektra from her band's album Suites, which is fine by me.

Not feeling much of the new stuff.

Clouds is a horrible first single, very awkward and disjointed with a weak hook. His much-maligned NPGMC material from the early 00's was stronger than this dirge. I am also disappointed to see Breakfast Can Wait on the album - another limp, insipid number. U Know is a bit more interesting, although sounds a little desperate. So far, the only decent song I've heard from AOA is The Breakdown. I think it's shaping up to be a pretty lacklustre effort, which is disappointing considering it's his first proper album in four years. Hopefully some of the album tracks will redeem it.

Plectrum Electrum sounds a bit more promising. Pretzelbodylogic is fun, if a little throwaway, Fixurlifeup is okay and I really dig Funk N Roll.

[Edited 9/18/14 0:00am]

Seems like a lot of u don't like Fixurlifeup.

That track is great when turn up real loud in the studio.

Graycap23 said:

Seems like a lot of u don't like Fixurlifeup.

That track is great when turn up real loud in the studio.

I've always liked it too. Sounds great on these ears studio or not

Funknroll (AoA version) really just a remix. he should of kept for the max-single.