I think I'm coming down with something... Oh Jesus, it's that Prince fever... Someone, hand me my medicine, it's the bottle of Art Official Age on the counter...The wait is seriously killing me.

f**k me..this must be a good album if the org likes it

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i never thought prince had lost it completely like a few on here...i heard good things on all his recent albums...even 20ten had its moments...but the problem was he hadnt released a cohesive quality album since the gold experience for me...lotusflower got close..some great tracks on that...but this album sounds like a proper album..and its strong throughout...even breakfast can wait sounds good here...

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the gold standard...and way back home are as good as i have heard from prince since the early 90s...way back home as moments of genius imo...

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its a very good album..well done wee man..

First off, I'm not a negative poster. To be honest I rarely post at all.

But I must ask, are all the gushing positives not a bit to early? You know, you hear that song and after a couple of listens it sounds great, peaks, and then rapidly turns into a so-so.

I want to believe, and a comment someone put saying...'his most cohesive since TRC' feels me with much hope.

Make me believe...is it true, or wil it becomeanother so-so?!?!?

Nikeze said:

But I must ask, are all the gushing positives not a bit to early?
You know, you hear that song and after a couple of listens it sounds great, peaks, and then rapidly turns into a so-so.

I hear ya Though the opposite can be said, to me a few tracks are so-so. Maybe those will grow on me
But there are a few stand out tracks besides the ones we already know

Nikeze said:

MendesCity said:

So this is better than Rave? Cuz that's about the level I was getting from the released tracks Remember early listeners: we'll have a record of these comments Totally know how it feels to really, really want a new Prince album to be actually good

its a good album...the released tracks are not the highlights..but they do sound better in the album context..

I have listen AOA only one time, in earphone, and skipping the "old" tracks.

The album is exceeding my expectations. which were very low.

The thing that most impressed me is that - with this album - Prince leave post-musicology era, when prince had put the oars in the boat and produced albums by "prince who imitates prince". This album has got high and low song, but it is not an "copy&paste automatic prince standard album waiting for the live show". Prince seems alive here.

The only song that I was a bit disappointed, compared to what I've read here, it's Time, where the voice of the female singer is IMHO too much over the Prince voice.

And: a gem. "Way back home" is not a good or bad song. WBH is one of the best Prince song. Dot. Period. I was something like crying while I was listening WBH. Thank you. 12 years of low-standard songs was a good time, if at the end of the tunnel there is WBH. Crying, I was, or something similar.

And, here and there, there is smell of Revolution. Some keyboard jingle, some use of female chorus. Here and there. Who co-produced this album knows what likes us (me for sure).

fabriziovenerandi said:

I have listen AOA only one time, in earphone, and skipping the "old" tracks.

The album is exceeding my expectations. which were very low.

The thing that most impressed me is that - with this album - Prince leave post-musicology era, when prince had put the oars in the boat and produced albums by "prince who imitates prince". This album has got high and low song, but it is not an "copy&paste automatic prince standard album waiting for the live show". Prince seems alive here.

The only song that I was a bit disappointed, compared to what I've read here, it's Time, where the voice of the female singer is IMHO too much over the Prince voice.

And: a gem. "Way back home" is not a good or bad song. WBH is one of the best Prince song. Dot. Period. I was something like crying while I was listening WBH. Thank you. 12 years of low-standard songs was a good time, if at the end of the tunnel there is WBH. Crying, I was, or something similar.

And, here and there, there is smell of Revolution. Some keyboard jingle, some use of female chorus. Here and there. Who co-produced this album knows what likes us (me for sure).

way back home is stunning...but way too short

KingSausage said:

Art Official Cage: I'm not feeling it. As far as openers go, it's kind of like Eye No...but with a little too much My Name Is Prince mixed in. But it's not terrible. Clouds: I love it. Breakdown: the lasers are actually less annoying in the context of the album. Great ballad. But anyway, who cares because you're almost to... THE MOTHERFUCKING GOLD STANDARD: Yes. YES. This is classic Prince. Holy hell. He hasn't been this funky since Bush the Elder was puking on Japanese. U Know: I love it. Breakfast: I love it...except for the chipmunk voice. Ugh. This Could Be Us: wonderful ballad. Sounds like it could be from the Symbol album. Beautiful. What It Feels Like: Excellent song. Fantastic vibe. Where are my nice headphones? Get me some wine while you're up, okay? Affirmation I & II: segues Way Back Home: Holy fuck. This song is an instant classic. He's never sounded like this before. This is sophisticated. It's got layers. It's got atmosphere. FUNKNROLL: It's good but not great. Time: DAAAAAAAAMN. I never thought he could do a song this good again. Wow. It's hard to even describe. It's epic and badass. But it's not a Purple Rain or Gold style epic album closer. It's its own thing. A wonderful thing. Affirmation III: a nice instrumental refrain of Way Back Home. My favorite ending to a Prince album since the rushing water on Lovesexy. Prince, welcome back. NEVER LEAVE WB AGAIN.

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I'm pretty much with you here. And too funny...I thought the exact same thing about the Breakdown lasers! I was like, "Damn, NOW those lasers make sense!" Prince you clever bastard.

My expectations were low,but this is a solid album,with some of the best vocals he delivered in the last years.

It seems to me like a sort of concept album,not lyrically but in the general mood.

I would have left out Breakfast and the Breakdown that sounds a little bit out of context.

Overall a pleasant surprise.

Highlights:

The Gold Standard (are we in 86 again???)

Way Back Home

This Could be us

Time

One thing is for sure we are lucky that Prince continue to look forward and releasing albums.

dadeepop said:

blackbob said:

way back home is stunning...but way too short

second after second I was praying, please prince, do not ruin it, another second, do not ruin it, please do not place a rap inside, do not put some girl talking about her love problem, please, another good second, and second by second is touch the 3:05.

so no, it is not short, it is enough to be perfect

The Gold Standard actually sounds like a fucking Prince song!!!!!

CLASSIC PRINCE!

ART OFFICIAL AGE - THE MOVIE

This is me this morning

I never wanted a typical life

Scripted role, trophy wife

All I ever wanted? To be left alone

See my best mate up at night coz in my dreams I roam

Just trying to find my way back home

Am I hearing them right? If so,I like it, a lot.

[Edited 9/25/14 7:02am]

It's about now when I wish I hadn't heard half of it, so much, already.

It really is excellent, but I think I may have lost the plot, if it was all fresh to me. Quite hard to bring myself to listen to it as it was intended, without gaps as I'm so keen to listen to the new ones. Need more will power. I'm sure it'll be cool on a long car journey, when I can just stick em on rotation for a few hours.

Least fave? AOC - I think. Maybe 'This is what it feels like'

Way back home, Gold Standard and Time are bloody brilliant.

Rebeljuice said:

jasontate said:

It's about now when I wish I hadn't heard half of it, so much, already.

It really is excellent, but I think I may have lost the plot, if it was all fresh to me. Quite hard to bring myself to listen to it as it was intended, without gaps as I'm so keen to listen to the new ones. Need more will power. I'm sure it'll be cool on a long car journey, when I can just stick em on rotation for a few hours.

Least fave? AOC - I think. Maybe 'This is what it feels like'

Way back home, Gold Standard and Time are bloody brilliant.

Exactly the same three stand out for me too. Way Back Home, The Gold Standard and Time.

jasontate said:

It's about now when I wish I hadn't heard half of it, so much, already.

It really is excellent, but I think I may have lost the plot, if it was all fresh to me. Quite hard to bring myself to listen to it as it was intended, without gaps as I'm so keen to listen to the new ones. Need more will power. I'm sure it'll be cool on a long car journey, when I can just stick em on rotation for a few hours.

Least fave? AOC - I think. Maybe 'This is what it feels like'

Way back home, Gold Standard and Time are bloody brilliant.

I am so glad I waited and didn't play the pre-release tracks more than once or twice.

Don't often post here but....

Early doors, but this may be the best Prince album, and the most "Prince" album, since "The Gold Experience". May even be better. Far exceeded my expectations. The hype about it being a "cohesive statement" is actually true - the tracks here hang together way better than most of his output for quite some time.

Only on first listen but there are more layers - of sound, meaning and production.

Breakfast Can Wait I've never loved and Breakdown IMHO was overrated but competent. They're probably the two weakest tracks.

Clouds and U Know I already liked, but they work even better in the context of the album as a whole.

I quite like the (admittedly silly) opening track. I can see the "Eye No" reference, but it's nowhere near as rich IMHO.

Gold Standard is pure Prince in the bets possible way. I get the orgers referencing the Black ALbum, only it's "warmer"

This Could Be Us is actually a great Prince slow jam.

What It Feels Like is much better than the snippet suggests. A strong track, will need to listen to it more though

Way Back Home is astoundingly good, but my only gripe is it could be longer.

FunkNRoll. I quite like this version but prefer the PE version.

The "affirmations" are not nearly as annoynig as you might expect. affoirmation III, if you clipped it onto Way Back Home, would be an awesome Prince maxi-single of the kind I loved from the late 80s.

Time is, again, much stronger than the preview clip suggests. The most "Revolution-y" track here IMHO. Could almost be a Dream Factory outtake.

Like I said, this is the most "Prince" album I've heard in ages. The added edge comes from a sense of innovation and just delight in the music. Love it. I'm an old timer, I've liked a lot of his stuff over the last couple of decades but this - on first listen - has really cheerd me up.

Enjoy. If you don't like it that's your prerogative. It made me happy.

V10LETBLUES said:

I can't imagine this getting positive reviews from mainstream media other than if Edna Gundersuson is still with USA Today. Having said that, it is really an awful album. An uninspired regurgitated cliche fest. It sounds like those quickly put together jingles on local TV for the mattress store or used car dealer just not as catchy. Certainly not up to par for a legend like Prince. if ever there was a clarion call for Prince needing a good producer, this is it. Id love to see the sales numbers to see how many people actually paid to hear this. There is no way this thing will recover the cost to put to market. [Edited 9/25/14 6:56am]

very harsh..even for this place...the album has already had positive reviews...and the reviews here are almost all positive..and its a hard crowd at the org..you are in the minority...i am loving the album..

It just occurred to me that Prince uses incredible restraint when needed on some of these songs (Way Back Home, Time) -- giving them a more stark, powerful, atmospheric sound. And on others he goes all the eff out (The Gold Standard, FunkNRoll). Brilliant...just brilliant.

[Edited 9/25/14 7:20am]

JellyJam said:

Don't often post here but....

Early doors, but this may be the best Prince album, and the most "Prince" album, since "The Gold Experience". May even be better. Far exceeded my expectations. The hype about it being a "cohesive statement" is actually true - the tracks here hang together way better than most of his output for quite some time.

Only on first listen but there are more layers - of sound, meaning and production.

Breakfast Can Wait I've never loved and Breakdown IMHO was overrated but competent. They're probably the two weakest tracks.

Clouds and U Know I already liked, but they work even better in the context of the album as a whole.

I quite like the (admittedly silly) opening track. I can see the "Eye No" reference, but it's nowhere near as rich IMHO.

Gold Standard is pure Prince in the bets possible way. I get the orgers referencing the Black ALbum, only it's "warmer"

This Could Be Us is actually a great Prince slow jam.

What It Feels Like is much better than the snippet suggests. A strong track, will need to listen to it more though

Way Back Home is astoundingly good, but my only gripe is it could be longer.

FunkNRoll. I quite like this version but prefer the PE version.

The "affirmations" are not nearly as annoynig as you might expect. affoirmation III, if you clipped it onto Way Back Home, would be an awesome Prince maxi-single of the kind I loved from the late 80s.

Time is, again, much stronger than the preview clip suggests. The most "Revolution-y" track here IMHO. Could almost be a Dream Factory outtake.

Like I said, this is the most "Prince" album I've heard in ages. The added edge comes from a sense of innovation and just delight in the music. Love it. I'm an old timer, I've liked a lot of his stuff over the last couple of decades but this - on first listen - has really cheerd me up.

Enjoy. If you don't like it that's your prerogative. It made me happy.

Great summary. Very cool album.

TheEnglishGent said:

jasontate said:

It's about now when I wish I hadn't heard half of it, so much, already.

It really is excellent, but I think I may have lost the plot, if it was all fresh to me. Quite hard to bring myself to listen to it as it was intended, without gaps as I'm so keen to listen to the new ones. Need more will power. I'm sure it'll be cool on a long car journey, when I can just stick em on rotation for a few hours.

Least fave? AOC - I think. Maybe 'This is what it feels like'

Way back home, Gold Standard and Time are bloody brilliant.

I am so glad I waited and didn't play the pre-release tracks more than once or twice.

My self control was rubbish. I've listened to them waaaay too often. It'll all come together over the next few days though. I love the feel to this album : )

thedance said:

thedance said:

Are u also hearing Bass-Ida (I guess its her), speaking DANISH at the beginning..?

"Mine damer og herrer, konger og dronninger og alt det midt imellem, velkommen til timen, I skal til at gøre noget der vil forandre jeres liv for evigt - åben det her bur".

as a dane that's a HUGE surprise.... to hear that.


"Ladies and gentlemen, kings and queens and everything in between, welcome to this hour, you are about to do something that will change your life forever - open this cage."

A small correction to the translation:

"Ladies and gentlemen, kings and queens and everything in between, welcome to the class, you are about to do something that will change your life forever - open this cage."

the class: (in danish velkommen til "timen"),

- like you are being in school - going to learn something..

Thanks for translating! I figured it was Ida but wasn't totally sure.

dandan said:

jasontate said:

It's about now when I wish I hadn't heard half of it, so much, already.

It really is excellent, but I think I may have lost the plot, if it was all fresh to me. Quite hard to bring myself to listen to it as it was intended, without gaps as I'm so keen to listen to the new ones. Need more will power. I'm sure it'll be cool on a long car journey, when I can just stick em on rotation for a few hours.

Least fave? AOC - I think. Maybe 'This is what it feels like'

Way back home, Gold Standard and Time are bloody brilliant.

Exactly the same three stand out for me too. Way Back Home, The Gold Standard and Time.

Only had 1 quick listen but I'd agree about those 3 and maybe add This Could Be Us - top notch. Loving it, as others have said its his best for a long time. Gold Standard - superb Black Album throwback.

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AOC - is hilarious, he's fucking with us

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Many thanks to EnglishGent for the cough sweets