My initial impressions are that it's very strong, and that a lot of the songs that don't seem special at first (What It Feels Like, Time, This Could Be Us) get better on repeated listenings. I love how it's a completely unexpected turn and that he's trying new things with this record, while giving you bits of old school Prince so that you remember it's a Prince record after all.

1. ART OFFICIAL CAGE - Somewhat of an anomaly on this record. Sort of disco meets 90's house that turns into dubstep by the end. I like that it's adventurous and weird. The faux-operatic background vocals harken back to Get Loose from Crystal Ball. Also, I think that may be Josh doing the rap about upskirting the Statue Of Liberty. The way it starts reminds me of RuPaul's cover of "It's Raining Men." (7)


2. CLOUDS - This track is dope. The End. (10)


3. THE BREAKDOWN - I didn't like it as a single, but I like it in the context of the album. I also love the strings. I'm hearing the distortion some are talking about it, and I also hear it in the vocal tracks on The Gold Standard. (7)


4. THE GOLD STANDARD - Early favorite. Total throwback to classic Prince/The Time, but tasteful and natural. I love the Tear The Roof Of The Sucka by way of Bob George intro, the synth bass that takes you back to Cool by the Time, the chickengrease guitar, the synths before the first verse that take you back to Vicki Waiting, the banter at the end. So much to love about this track. An upper echelon groove, no doubt. (10)


5. U KNOW - This one is a grower and way better in headphones. There's a shuffling percussion sound that's super funky but you can't really hear it as well without headphones. (7)


6. BREAKFAST CAN WAIT - I've liked this since it came out last year, and I think it's a great fit on this record. (10)


7. THIS COULD BE US - I'm starting to really love this one. Future classic? The keys at the beginning remind me of the transition into Housequake from the SOTT film. It seems like he's dusting off some old synths on this record which is cool. "Sex with me ain't enought/That's why we got 2 do it metaphysically." I hope he's not referring to the pre-marital variety! <Clutches pearls> The way it ends is totally unpredictable, which is a classic Prince move. (10)


8. WHAT IT FEELS LIKE - Kind of a Golden Parachute vibe, but infinitey more interesting, and also sexy as hell. Maybe the sexiest track on the record? Wasn't expecting to care about this one. (10)


9. AFFIRMATION I & II - I like these odd little touches on a Prince record, but can also see people not being into them. Here, they work to perpetuate a concept, but not an overbearing one like on TRC. You could ignore this aspect of the record and still enjoy it.


10. WAY BACK HOME - This is exactly the kind of thing I want to hear from Prince at this point in his life. Finally, some lyrics that are revealing, and honest, and that make you feel something. "Power 2 the ones who can raise a child like me." God, I just want to quote the whole thing. So many good lines. Unlike any other Prince song for sure. (10)


11. FUNKNROLL - I love this one and I don't care if people think it's silly. Camille can pull it off. Also, after the first performance of this song leaked, I made the suggestion to put the breakdown at the beginning of the song. So, you're welcome. (10)


12. TIME - Another one that didn't seem like much at first and then grew to be a favorite. I was expecting something different considering the length of it and its placement on the album, but once I got over that and gave it a chance, I found there is lots to enjoy about it. I love that goes on forever like they have all the time in the world. Probably intentional. And I love that it's deceptively funky up until the bass solo, where it gets outright funky. "I'm sick and tired of playing hard 2 get with an animal half my age," as Andy laughs. HOT. (10)


13. AFFIRMATION III - Wonderful. The strings are divine, and I love Lianne's dialogue. It provides just enough meaning to the album without being too heavy-handed. (10)

My initial impressions are that it's very strong, and that a lot of the songs that don't seem special at first (What It Feels Like, Time, This Could Be Us) get better on repeated listenings. I love how it's a completely unexpected turn and that he's trying new things with this record, while giving you bits of old school Prince so that you remember it's a Prince record after all.

1. ART OFFICIAL CAGE - Somewhat of an anomaly on this record. Sort of disco meets 90's house that turns into dubstep by the end. I like that it's adventurous and weird. The faux-operatic background vocals harken back to Get Loose from Crystal Ball. Also, I think that may be Josh doing the rap about upskirting the Statue Of Liberty. The way it starts reminds me of RuPaul's cover of "It's Raining Men." (7)


2. CLOUDS - This track is dope. The End. (10)


3. THE BREAKDOWN - I didn't like it as a single, but I like it in the context of the album. I also love the strings. I'm hearing the distortion some are talking about it, and I also hear it in the vocal tracks on The Gold Standard. (7)


4. THE GOLD STANDARD - Early favorite. Total throwback to classic Prince/The Time, but tasteful and natural. I love the Tear The Roof Of The Sucka by way of Bob George intro, the synth bass that takes you back to Cool by the Time, the chickengrease guitar, the synths before the first verse that take you back to Vicki Waiting, the banter at the end. So much to love about this track. An upper echelon groove, no doubt. (10)


5. U KNOW - This one is a grower and way better in headphones. There's a shuffling percussion sound that's super funky but you can't really hear it as well without headphones. (7)


6. BREAKFAST CAN WAIT - I've liked this since it came out last year, and I think it's a great fit on this record. (10)


7. THIS COULD BE US - I'm starting to really love this one. Future classic? The keys at the beginning remind me of the transition into Housequake from the SOTT film. It seems like he's dusting off some old synths on this record which is cool. "Sex with me ain't enought/That's why we got 2 do it metaphysically." I hope he's not referring to the pre-marital variety! <Clutches pearls> The way it ends is totally unpredictable, which is a classic Prince move. (10)


8. WHAT IT FEELS LIKE - Kind of a Golden Parachute vibe, but infinitey more interesting, and also sexy as hell. Maybe the sexiest track on the record? Wasn't expecting to care about this one. (10)


9. AFFIRMATION I & II - I like these odd little touches on a Prince record, but can also see people not being into them. Here, they work to perpetuate a concept, but not an overbearing one like on TRC. You could ignore this aspect of the record and still enjoy it.


10. WAY BACK HOME - This is exactly the kind of thing I want to hear from Prince at this point in his life. Finally, some lyrics that are revealing, and honest, and that make you feel something. "Power 2 the ones who can raise a child like me." God, I just want to quote the whole thing. So many good lines. Unlike any other Prince song for sure. (10)


11. FUNKNROLL - I love this one and I don't care if people think it's silly. Camille can pull it off. Also, after the first performance of this song leaked, I made the suggestion to put the breakdown at the beginning of the song. So, you're welcome. (10)


12. TIME - Another one that didn't seem like much at first and then grew to be a favorite. I was expecting something different considering the length of it and its placement on the album, but once I got over that and gave it a chance, I found there is lots to enjoy about it. I love that goes on forever like they have all the time in the world. Probably intentional. And I love that it's deceptively funky up until the bass solo, where it gets outright funky. "I'm sick and tired of playing hard 2 get with an animal half my age," as Andy laughs. HOT. (10)


13. AFFIRMATION III - Wonderful. The strings are divine, and I love Lianne's dialogue. It provides just enough meaning to the album without being too heavy-handed. (10)

eelco said:

divo02 said:

The real question is what does Bart think? Is it possible that he actually likes some songs on the album? I won't go so far as to actually say he likes the whole album! Where you at Bart?

I think Bart has finally realised that his trolling isn't up to the standard it used to be for the last fifteen years and is now doing some evaluation on whether he really should say something positive about Way Back Home

To save you both the agony of anticipation, he'll say it's slightly less embarrassing than the last one and call PLEL a steaming pile of horse manure, declaring Way Back Home "the least nauseating excuse for a song on AOA". Then he'll quote half his cool nephew's record collection and say Prince has not heard anything current in years.

Romeoblu said:

I've still not heard the album. Would you say it's better than Rave and 3121. I think they're awesome albums.

If you like Rave and 3121, this will be right up your street.

BobGeorge909 said:

Any person or object whatsoever That requires your attention Is something that has veered from its path And preordained destiny of total enlightenment I never wanted a typical life scripted role, huh...trophy wife All I ever wanted, to b left alone See my beds made up at night Cuz in my dreams I roam Just trying to find, trying to find My way back, back home So many reasons why There's so many reasons why I don't belong here But now that I am I Without fear I am Gonna conquer with no fear Until I find my way back home Until I find my way back home Find my way back home Most people in this world are born dead But I was born alive I was born with this dream With a dream outside my head That I could find my way back home My my way way back home Is this the way? Power to the ones, power to the ones who could raise a child like me The path was set But if u look the truth will set us free I've heard about those happy endings But it's still a mystery Lemme tell u about me I'm happiest when I can see My way back home Can u see my way back home Can u see my way back home

Nice. Thanks!

BobGeorge909 said:

dadeepop said:

Nice. Thanks!

No problem. I did it for me mostly... Lol. My brain dont work right. I need to have the lyrics spelled out for me to get a full hankering of them as I listen to the song. Otherwise too many of them go over my head. So when i really wanna and am able...I type em out. If I don't see them around...I put em up in an appropriate forum. Any mustakes please help a brovah out with corrections. I need a bit of help on time. It's also difficult to do on a celly....WOW. [Edited 9/27/14 6:22am]

You're doing this on a celly?

BobGeorge909 said:

Any person or object whatsoever That requires your attention Is something that has veered from its path And preordained destiny of total enlightenment I never wanted a typical life scripted role, huh...trophy wife All I ever wanted, to b left alone See my beds made up at night Cuz in my dreams I roam Just trying to find, trying to find My way back, back home So many reasons why There's so many reasons why I don't belong here But now that I am I Without fear I am Gonna conquer with no fear Until I find my way back home Until I find my way back home Find my way back home Most people in this world are born dead But I was born alive I was born with this dream With a dream outside my head That I could find my way back home My my way way back home Is this the way? Power to the ones, power to the ones who could raise a child like me The path was set But if u look the truth will set us free I've heard about those happy endings But it's still a mystery Lemme tell u about me I'm happiest when I can see My way back home Can u see my way back home Can u see my way back home

My fav track by Prince in YEARS.