The spoken parts on Way Back Home . . . chills.

damndamnDAMN this track is excellent

The sweetness of 'This Could Be Us' has really grown on me. It's got commercial single material potential I think in the same way as saccharin pop ballads like 'Hold Me', 'My Tender Heart' and 'Standing At The Altar'.

Brendan said:

Embrace said:

I haven't listened to Plectrum Electrum yet, but Art Offical Age I already enjoy it very much.

I am a long time fan (25+ years), that had low expectations, so it wasn't that hard for him to beat them. Nevertheless, I am impressed!

There is obviously a lot of time, effort and thought put in this record. Not just that, it seems Prince has found his way back home with it, in several ways.


Perhabs not yet the ultimate way he is looking for.

But it is a way back home as a return to form with high quality songwriting and a genuinly new, distinctively different Prince sound. A sound that seems to build on his work of the last 5 years, but that was still in progress and is moving towards perfection on this album. A collection of songs that prove Prince still has got it, to get there. Yes, perhabs his best in 10 or 20 years.

I was told told before I heard it, that it was yet another "R&B" effort that would likely be quickly forgotten. Since I am not a fan of most R&B style Prince songs since Emancipation, I expected even less bliss. But after listening to it, I would say that only a third are genuine "R&B" songs. The rest is Prince going in all sorts of 'contemporary pop' directions, from a sort of new Princely electro dance funk on Art Official Cage, The Gold Standard, U Know and the Funk&Roll remix, to heartfelt ballads such as The Break Down and This Could Be Us.

Breakfast can wait and What it feels like are in my opinion the weakest efforts of the entire album. I wouldn't make these a single, no hit for me. Still, these R&B type songs and their production are actually significantly better and more enjoyable than most other similar Prince tunes. They don't bother me like other songs do, like several have since Emancipation. No, they are actually very nice to hear. And I like the pitched up voice he uses too. Kind of reminding you of Camille.

Clouds is also an R&B song but the beat is great, similar to Madhouse 24. And that English speaking woman's voice, Andy Allo I believe, is perfect. Very nicely put into the album. Just Like "U Know". Prince actually rap/sings really good for a change again. No interruptive segues or overtly religious messages, but just a little bit of mystery sprinkled here and there. And especially when the album gets to its highest point on Way Back Home. Very nice.

The musical references to past sounds and glory is on more songs, little reminders of the past. Like the early 90's Love thy will be done style of Time and the Controversy/1999 style, funky guitar riffs he puts on Art Official Cage and the Gold Standard also. I love that. Makes me body move real good. Only Prince can play funk and R&B like that. And he really funks it up on on Art Offical Cage. I actually had to laugh when I first heard that opening. Yes, this is Prince taking all the 'artificial' musical styles of the 21st century and funking it up!

Perhabs superficial would be the better term even. Prince takes it towards levels much higher than what the music industry makes much of its bread and butter with. Fabulous, classic Prince, master of any musical style, even if it's a inferior style. Showing again what and who really rules in making music, the way it is supposed to be made. Teaching the babies how to approach any style of music and make it work together in funky harmony.

No, he is not inventing a new musical style on this album. But on Art Offical Age Prince has managed to invent a new Prince style on the current 'artifical' musical styles. Showing little limitations on where he may go, like with the beat on Way Back Home or the remix of Funk & Roll. You go Prince, don't limit yourself. Go wherever you can and then even further! Do it all, fuse it all and serve it up. You can do it all!

But the real icing on the cake this album presents, is of course Way Back Home or Affirmation I, II and III. Amazing how he seems to have found the exact contemporary pop sound to an otherwise classic Prince composition and give it that much emotion and musical craftmanship. Lyrically it seems very vulnerable, especially because the 3rd affirmation starts with "How are you feeling today, mr. Nelson?" O yes, we are "communicating telepathically. Which makes things go so much faster here."

Yeah, tell us how you really feel, Prince.

Beautiful song, great composition and production, outstanding strings, in accordance with the times, yet still distinctively Prince and simply timeless...

I say Prince and the producer he worked with on this project deserve an A+ for effort and a 4,5 out of 5 for quality. The only flaws I can think of are 'superficial' and purely individually formed. Like that I personally think he should go even further with 'exotic' musical styles and cut even more on the synthesizer. Don't limit the drums and percussion programs, but do use even more real instruments. And that I miss more guitar solos. But then I hear the solo on Clouds for example and I think: no matter how short it may be, that's a very good little guitar solo!

So yes, Prince, excellent! You are on the right track, back home. Keep on funking further and let go, while you embrace it all. Because there really is no "me or mine". You is actually all of it.

God bless you.

Very, very nicely done. Helps me resolve some things. Thanks!

Oh man, Brendan! I know you from way back in this place! So happy to help you resolve some things. My deepest respect go to you sir!

JoeTyler said:

AOA is one of the few Prince albums that I don't want/need to listen to ever again (the whole album in a row, I mean, since there is one good song-Way Back Home-and a couple of tolerable ones, but just not enough to sit through from the first song to the last one...quite the contrary

the other albums are:

Emancipation

Kamasutra

The Truth

New Power Soul

ONA

NEWS

Xpectation

C-Note

Chocolate Invasion-Slaughterhourse

Planet Earth

Indigo Nights

MPLSound

Art Official Age

[Edited 10/2/14 13:14pm]

I'm not gonna waste time arguing with the idea that the album's no good--clearly you think it's terrible. But I do wonder what the word "few" means in your world. I count 14 albums here, which certainly sounds like more than a few.

I have been listening non - stop for 3 days now and have come to more positive conclusions.

The bass work is superb.

Prince is singing sublime and so are AA's contributions.

The songs are very good.

herb4 said:

therapyisback said:

Hi Joe Tyler, I think I'd like to hear your musical creations, I mean, what would you like to hear Prince make? Maybe your critique is useful, perhaps you've got a throbbing banging one up your sleeve that needs to burst out that the world would really love.

I just want him to release GOOD/EXCITING music again (well, at least since Lotus/20Tten, that is-more than good albums); the 3rd Eye Girl albums decent/enjoyable/interesting, but AOA is just crap, you need to finally face it, you need to accept it, deal with it...

pd: since you're asking, I don't create in the field of music, but I think that's totally irrelevant considering that this is a forum dedicated to the discussion of PRINCE'S music (nobody else's)

you fams NEED to LEARN how to properly bring down a naysayer; pathetic attempts so far...

JoeTyler said:

livewire said:

JoeTyler said:

Gold Standard is an okish jam, nowhere as good as Chelsea Rodgers, for example

djThunderfunk said:

JoeTyler said:

babynoz said:

Good 'cuz I got it the first hundred times you wrote it.

AOA is one of Prince's worst albums ever, it must be said several times...

it is a very good and solid album, it must be said several times.

face it, accept it, deal with it.

and you still have no clue about music.

face it, accept it, deal with it.


and now, since, as we all have understood by now, you obviously don't like the album, after more than week of baiting and trolling everyone disagreeing with you with your pretentious arrogant uninformed garbage posts, after more than week in which you most likely posted more in this very thread than anyone else (!!! LOL !!! obsessed??!) after a week now here is a suggestion: you don't like it, so get off the thread! and then hush, off you go and better listen to your outstanding collection of Rhianna "music" instead of AOA

Completely forgot that AOA had been released (believe it or not) until this morning. Was a nice surprise, especially to find it on Spotify. Here's my run down

---

Art Official Cage After being completely thrown by the first minute or so of disco cheese, this song settles down to become quite a nice track, with some decent guitar work towards the end and a good beat. Not the best opener, but it's grown on me. 6/10

-

Clouds Love this song. Just a decent straight up funk track. It reminds me a little bit of the 90's track Love Sign. 8/10
-

Breakdown Excellent ballad with some personal heartfelt lyrics, that harks back to classic late 80's Prince, It feels like it could be a vault track I even love the lasers. 8/10.

-

The Gold Standard So funky, that you almost forget how bad the lyrics are. (lyrics aside) one of the best straight up funk tracks Prince has done in years. 8/10.

-

U Know First listen, this track comes across as a little repetitive, but it's the hypnotic quality and excellent production pulls you in with a couple more listens. One I "got" it, I loved it. 8/10
-

Breakfast Can Wait First misstep on the album. Not a bad track, but it feels musically and production wise like a track from Musicology (shudder). Pleasant but nothing special, and it feels out of place on this album. 6/10
-

This Could Be Us Decent ballad but uninspiring, which is guilded by some interesting production. I could take or leave this track, but I do like it when it's playing. 7/10
-
What it feels like Another decent but uninspiring track. Nice mid tempo beat and bass, but slightly repetitive. Fits the album well though. 7/10
-

Way Back Home After the last three uninspiring tracks, Way Back Home is a decent return to form. Atmospheric, with great production and a driving beat. It's just a shame it ends so soon. 8/10
-

FunkNRoll Wasn't that impressed when I first heard this track, but it seems to work much better on the album. A nice minimalist funk track, with a brilliant change of tempo towards the end. 7/10
-

Time This track, production wise, sounds like some of Prince's superior mid tempo 90's output, along the lines of Love Thy Will Be Done or Pink Cashmere. Love the synths and the bass on this track. Beautiful and hypnotic. 8/10
-

Affirmation III A perfect follow on to Time and an excellent closing track to the album. As with Time, this track is atmospheric and hypnotic. 7/10

-

My overall thoughts are that this album is not a 'classic' but a decent enough album. I'll probably get stick for this, but I really don't think Prince is capable of writing a decent hook anymore, and his lyrics these days feel amateurish. But, I think that this album is better than Prince's previous few attempts as he's trying something fresh sounding, with a bit of experimentation. I don't think this album will be that well regarded in a few months though, as there's nothing that's outstanding or memorable. Just my opinion.

Dancelot said:

JoeTyler said:

AOA is one of Prince's worst albums ever, it must be said several times...

it is a very good and solid album, it must be said several times.

face it, accept it, deal with it.

and you still have no clue about music.

face it, accept it, deal with it.


and now, since, as we all have understood by now, you obviously don't like the album, after more than week of baiting and trolling everyone disagreeing with you with your pretentious arrogant uninformed garbage posts, after more than week in which you most likely posted more in this very thread than anyone else (!!! LOL !!! obsessed??!) after a week now here is a suggestion: you don't like it, so get off the thread! and then hush, off you go and better listen to your outstanding collection of Rhianna "music" instead of AOA

no, no, noooo my little clueless doggy, no, I'll STAY HERE WHILE I listen to Plectrum, Lotus and 20Ten, maybe also 3121

you can go hear again that irrelevant piece of crap called AOA...

[Edited 10/3/14 3:52am]

JoeTyler said:

no, no, noooo my little clueless doggy, no, I'll STAY HERE WHILE I listen to Plectrum, Lotus and 20Ten, maybe also 3121

you can go hear again that irrelevant piece of crap called AOA...

and if there is one orger being an expert on irrelevant pieces of crap then you have proven to be it

Dancelot said:

JoeTyler said:

no, no, noooo my little clueless doggy, no, I'll STAY HERE WHILE I listen to Plectrum, Lotus and 20Ten, maybe also 3121

you can go hear again that irrelevant piece of crap called AOA...

and if there is one orger being an expert on irrelevant pieces of crap then you have proven to be it

ah ah, so that' the joke, right? I was one of the those who fully supported his 2004-10 work, but now that I think he has released a turd, suddenly I'm the troll, the hater, the pseudo-fan, etc

this forum is hilarious (not)

Why do some people get so pissy if others express their right to an opinion, if it's different from their own?

I like this new album, but I don't pick on people who think it's crap. It's their opinion and they have a right to express it. This is a discussion thread, it doesn't state anywhere that you're not allowed to comment if you don't like it.

JoeTyler said:

Dancelot said:

and if there is one orger being an expert on irrelevant pieces of crap then you have proven to be it

ah ah, so that' the joke, right? I was one of the those who fully supported his 2004-10 work, but now that I think he has released a turd, suddenly I'm the troll, the hater, the pseudo-fan, etc

this forum is hilarious (not)

look, it would all be all fine if you - like almost everbody else - just noted, that you like or do NOT like this (or any other) record and give reasons for your opinion. but you always boast your opinion as fact and everyone else should accept it and get over it. your pathetic "A is better than B and someone had to say it!" threads are the same pretentious fuckups.
that shitty arrogant attitude makes for a troll, nothing else. that is not rocket science

Dancelot said:

JoeTyler said:

ah ah, so that' the joke, right? I was one of the those who fully supported his 2004-10 work, but now that I think he has released a turd, suddenly I'm the troll, the hater, the pseudo-fan, etc

this forum is hilarious (not)

look, it would all be all fine if you - like almost everbody else - just noted, that you like or do NOT like this (or any other) record and give reasons for your opinion. but you always boast your opinion as fact and everyone else should accept it and get over it. your pathetic "A is better than B and someone had to say it!" threads are the same pretentious fuckups.
that shitty arrogant attitude makes for a troll, nothing else. that is not rocket science

yeah? and then how do you call the "AOA is P best album since TGE" or "since Lovesexy" posts? aren't those "arrogant facts"?

you fams are contradictory..and quite disrespectful, since, unlike me, you're always ready to use insults...

[Edited 10/3/14 4:41am]

Whiskas31 said:

Why do some people get so pissy if others express their right to an opinion, if it's different from their own?

I like this new album, but I don't pick on people who think it's crap. It's their opinion and they have a right to express it. This is a discussion thread, it doesn't state anywhere that you're not allowed to comment if you don't like it.

It's one thing to express an opinion, discuss your opinion, debate with others with differing opinions and generally have a civil, even heated, discussion. It is another thing to constantly repeat, adnausium, your point over and over and over and over and over and over and over again....

Imagine trying to have an actual face-to-face conversation with someone that went like this:

YOU: I think the album is great because it sounds new.

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again.
YOU: But are there no songs you like on it?

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again. You wouldnt listen to it either if you knew what I knew.

YOU: You really think it is that crap? You cant even find anything remotely good to say about it?

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage.

YOU: Well, Im really liking Way Back Home. Something new and fresh!

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage. You wouldnt listen to it if you knew what I knew.

YOU: Ok I get it, you dont like it. Shall we move on?

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again.

YOU: I know, you said that already, lets just talk about something else.

THEM: I dont want to talk about anything else. I want to talk about how the album is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again.

YOU: Fine, Im off to talk to someone else. See ya later. (you walk away and talk to someone else)

THEM: (walks over and butts into your conversation) Have you heard the new album? It is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again.

YOU: Can you please leave me alone. I know what you think, I am now talking to someone else, thank you.

THEM: No, I will stay here because you need to accept it is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again. You wouldnt listen to it either if you knew what I knew....

And so on and so forth...

Now that would piss you off wouldnt it?

Rebeljuice said:

Whiskas31 said:

Why do some people get so pissy if others express their right to an opinion, if it's different from their own?

I like this new album, but I don't pick on people who think it's crap. It's their opinion and they have a right to express it. This is a discussion thread, it doesn't state anywhere that you're not allowed to comment if you don't like it.

It's one thing to express an opinion, discuss your opinion, debate with others with differing opinions and generally have a civil, even heated, discussion. It is another thing to constantly repeat, adnausium, your point over and over and over and over and over and over and over again....

Imagine trying to have an actual face-to-face conversation with someone that went like this:

YOU: I think the album is great because it sounds new.

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again.
YOU: But are there no songs you like on it?

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again. You wouldnt listen to it either if you knew what I knew.

YOU: You really think it is that crap? You cant even find anything remotely good to say about it?

THEM:

(STOP)

sorry, but your "example" ENDS here, many naysayers (myself included) have acknowledged that some songs are, at least, good, like Way Back Home and Gold Standard; it's the production (bland) and the general average quality of the songs which brings the album down to the "feces level" of the sewer...

First listen through today and I have to say I found it pretty good!

Not too many cringey bits. All very pleasing!! Lets's see if it grows or not...

Better than Plectrumelectrum!!

JoeTyler said:

Dancelot said:

look, it would all be all fine if you - like almost everbody else - just noted, that you like or do NOT like this (or any other) record and give reasons for your opinion. but you always boast your opinion as fact and everyone else should accept it and get over it. your pathetic "A is better than B and someone had to say it!" threads are the same pretentious fuckups.
that shitty arrogant attitude makes for a troll, nothing else. that is not rocket science

yeah? and then how do you call the "AOA is P best album since TGE" or "since Lovesexy" posts? aren't those "arrogant facts"?

you fams are contradictory..and quite disrespectful, since, unlike me, you're always ready to use insults...

[Edited 10/3/14 4:41am]

There are no contradictions and there is no disrespect. You need to go and look those words up and then use them correctly or not at all.

You are becoming very irritating. You are blatently trying to derail any thread you get involved in. Everyone is now aware of your opinions. You are not having a coversation or a debate with anyone and no one is engaging with you. The only responses you are getting are ones of animosity towards you.

Take a step back and ask yourself if this is what you set out to do or have you gone too far? You have not made friends or built up an army of like-minded people to follow you on your quest. So maybe it is now time to quit this particular path and engage the org in a more friendly way. Maybe go outside and get some fresh air. Perhaps meet up with some friends and relearn the art of conversation and debate so that you can come back refreshed and revitalised. Maybe then you can have a discussion with people of differing views as opposed to wasting space on their computer screen, which is all you are achieving currently.

Rebeljuice said:

JoeTyler said:

yeah? and then how do you call the "AOA is P best album since TGE" or "since Lovesexy" posts? aren't those "arrogant facts"?

you fams are contradictory..and quite disrespectful, since, unlike me, you're always ready to use insults...

[Edited 10/3/14 4:41am]

There are no contradictions and there is no disrespect. You need to go and look those words up and then use them correctly or not at all.

You are becoming very irritating. You are blatently trying to derail any thread you get involved in. Everyone is now aware of your opinions. You are not having a coversation or a debate with anyone and no one is engaging with you. The only responses you are getting are ones of animosity towards you.

Take a step back and ask yourself if this is what you set out to do or have you gone too far? You have not made friends or built up an army of like-minded people to follow you on your quest. So maybe it is now time to quit this particular path and engage the org in a more friendly way. Maybe go outside and get some fresh air. Perhaps meet up with some friends and relearn the art of conversation and debate so that you can come back refreshed and revitalised. Maybe then you can have a discussion with people of differing views as opposed to wasting space on their computer screen, which is all you are achieving currently.

you're in denial, you're trying too hard, you're wasting way too much time with me, you're not using facts, you need to get a grip, you need to back off and ignore me

[Edited 10/3/14 4:59am]

Rebeljuice said:

Whiskas31 said:

Why do some people get so pissy if others express their right to an opinion, if it's different from their own?

I like this new album, but I don't pick on people who think it's crap. It's their opinion and they have a right to express it. This is a discussion thread, it doesn't state anywhere that you're not allowed to comment if you don't like it.

It's one thing to express an opinion, discuss your opinion, debate with others with differing opinions and generally have a civil, even heated, discussion. It is another thing to constantly repeat, adnausium, your point over and over and over and over and over and over and over again....

Imagine trying to have an actual face-to-face conversation with someone that went like this:

YOU: I think the album is great because it sounds new.

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again.
YOU: But are there no songs you like on it?

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again. You wouldnt listen to it either if you knew what I knew.

YOU: You really think it is that crap? You cant even find anything remotely good to say about it?

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage.

YOU: Well, Im really liking Way Back Home. Something new and fresh!

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage. You wouldnt listen to it if you knew what I knew.

YOU: Ok I get it, you dont like it. Shall we move on?

THEM: It is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again.

YOU: I know, you said that already, lets just talk about something else.

THEM: I dont want to talk about anything else. I want to talk about how the album is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again.

YOU: Fine, Im off to talk to someone else. See ya later. (you walk away and talk to someone else)

THEM: (walks over and butts into your conversation) Have you heard the new album? It is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again.

YOU: Can you please leave me alone. I know what you think, I am now talking to someone else, thank you.

THEM: No, I will stay here because you need to accept it is crap and utter garbage, I wont listen to it again. You wouldnt listen to it either if you knew what I knew....

And so on and so forth...

Now that would piss you off wouldnt it?

I wasn't necessarily singling out your discussion in my comment, there are plenty of other examples. but as you asked... It wouldn't piss me off because no one is in the right or wrong here. You're arguing that his opinion is wrong, he's argung that yours is wrong. If the person continually states that he or she thinks the album is shit without elaborating, why bother to continue the discussion? It seems that you were just adamant in trying to prove him otherwise, when you should have just let it go (in my opinion). Don't mean to offend and I'm not picking sides. Perhaps both of you should just step away from the argument, before you kill eachother.

Edit: Just read back, and it seems the guy is a bit of a wind up. Why not just go and listen to the new album again, and forget about it all?

[Edited 10/3/14 5:02am]

JoeTyler said:

you fams are contradictory..and quite disrespectful, since, unlike me, you're always ready to use insults...

fam? LOL LOL what is a fam? enlighten me? okay, I've been following him since Controvesy through all ups and downs, and yes, even enjoyed quite a selection from his recent outpout from the last 10 to 20 years, though the albums were obviously never as consistent as in his prime. I own all his physical albums, but never went for his download or online nonsense at any point in time, I don't collect memorabila and all kinda stuff and I don't travel around the world to see him, but I do go to concerts when he is in my area (rarely happens, 5 or 6 times since 1987) and that's about it... though I do not really know what a "fam" is, I'm rather sure that I am not in that pattern, but whateva floats your boat

yeah? and then how do you call the "AOA is P best album since TGE" or "since Lovesexy" posts? aren't those "arrogant facts"?

so maybe you have a comprehension problem with everyday language.. in practically all of those cases you can add "in my opinion" to "the best since..." in your mind. that is usually the menaing, not more. not less. after such a phrase and an probable counter opinion by someone else, it's usually over, end of debate.

but who of those others kept on INSISTING over various threads, that it is indeed is "the best" not only for him/her personally, but that others should "face it, accept it, deal with it"? who's so obsessed to even add it to his freaking signature?!?! LOL who insisted "it can't be repeated often enough" and so on and so on...?

if you can't see the difference so be it.
and now I'll let you have the last word, cause you live for it

[Edited 10/3/14 5:26am]