Haven't listened to this one as much as AOA but in the limited time I have so far Stop This Train has emerged as my favorite at this time.

After giving it a few more spins I've come round on this album. The first couple of times I listened the album didn't do much for me but now it presents itself as quite a charismatic and energetic record. I love the indie girl group feel. Of course, the lyrics aren't rocket science but that's okay - it's not that kind of record anyway. I can now look past Hanna's voice too, except for maybe one song. Changing my earlier rating from 2.5/5 to 3.5/5.

WOW - Wanted to hate this but slowly grown on me

PRETZELBODYLOGIC - Lyrics leave a lil' to be desired but overall good track

AINTTURNINROUND - Not a fan of the vocals, but like 'WOW', growing on me. The music is too good.

PLECTRUMELECTRUM - Prefer the live version but one of my top 3 on the album.

WHITECAPS - Skippable for me, maybe I need to give a few more listens.

[Edited 10/2/14 14:52pm]

Just throwing ideas in the air but anyone else see a similarity with this project and the abandoned "The Rebels" project from the early-80s?

antpooh said:

WOW - Wanted to hate this but slowly grown on me

PRETZELBODYLOGIC - Lyrics leave a lil' to be desired but overall good track

AINTTURNINROUND - Not a fan of the vocals, but like 'WOW', growing on me. The music is too good.

PLECTRUMELECTRUM - Prefer the live version but one of my top 3 on the album.

WHITECAPS - Skippable for me, maybe I need to give a few more listens.

FIXURLIFEUP - love , love , love this song. BOYTROUBLE - Criticized way too much. For what it is, a great jam and better than TC or TOny M ever did. STOPTHISTRAIN - Hannah's drumming is inversely great to her vocals. Music is a beast though. ANOTHERLOVE - Best "song" on the album, lyrics are so great and accentuate the music perfectly. TICTACTOE - Another skippable track. MARZ - Nice short jam that reminds me of Ronnie Talk to Russia, PArty Up and Sister. FUNKNROLL - The best track on the album and easily his best song since 'Call My Name'. Can not put into words how much I LOVE THIS SONG Overall a great album from with a absolute killer jam. I dare say, if Funknroll were on ATWIAD or Lovesexy those albums woulf been double platinum and remembered way more fondly by the mass.

[Edited 10/2/14 14:52pm]

Do you not consider Anotherlove to be a real song?

Very 50/50... almost exactly; one good, one bad, one good, one bad, etc

Some dire, cringey tracks that I just have to skip... but some real great tracks too. Found myself air guitaring to Anotherlove on the first listen... so can't be bad!!

Both albums have been worth the wait I think. It's been a while since any new Prince album has really interested me at all (sad but true)

Wow - Nice opener. Chorus is pretty good. A little slow for a start to the opener.

Pretzel - Always thought this song was just okay. Never liked the acapella opening. You can bob your head to this afterwhile though.

Aint Turning Around. I can get through Hanna's vocals to get through the music, because actually in spite of the vocals it is a rocker, especially the ending. That last half is worth it alone. Love the George Clinton distortion at the end. This is something i wish I could have got on Art Official Age, but it's here so ..."What you are now listening to is an ultrasound of Donna's brain.." YAAAASS

Plectrum Electrum - Jam. This rocks.

Whitecaps - Not bad. Kinda reminds me of Wendy & Lisa

Fix Your Life Up - Always liked this song, very nice live too.

Boy Trouble - I like this song. May take a couple more listens to really get into it. it fits for them, because they are young.

Stop This Train - Um, not sure how I like this one. It sounds like an outtake from 1993. I think thats Josh on background vocals. I don't know I would have left this song off the album. Does not fit. Going to say that I could do without it. Their vocals dont match.

Another Love - Yaaaas, this is a jam. love the chorus. Getting a chill just thinking of this song.

Tic Tac Toe - This is good too. Like the lyrics and chorus. Need to listen to it more, so I remember. It was beautiful.

Marz - Giving me some Controvery / Dirty Mind. I can dig it! I wish it

Funk N Roll - better here

Considering the wait we all were expecting something better to be honest... I know I was

I love Wow and Another Love

Pretzel, Plectrum and Whitecaps are ok but nothing more than that

I have to say ...some of Hannahs singing makes me cringe at times and some of the songs are so much weaker that stuff they've put out in the past year which is kind of weird that it made the big WB album. I'm kind of little surprised that Warner Bros let this album be released as it is and think that if prince was given the correct feedback he could have made this album much better. I'm trying to compare it to something like the Gold Experience or 3121 and I way prefer both of those so overall a big disapointment... AOA is great though

Sorry P... I still love you

[Edited 10/3/14 9:25am]

dpwives said:

Considering the wait we all were expecting something better to be honest... I know I was

I love Wow and Another Love

Pretzel, Plectrum and Whitecaps are ok but nothing more than that

I have to say ...some of Hannahs singing makes me cringe at times and some of the songs are so much weaker that stuff they've put out in the past year which is kind of weird that it made the big WB album. I'm kind of little surprised that Warner Bros let this album be released as it is and think that if prince was given the correct feedback he could have made this album much better. I'm trying to compare it to something like the Gold Experience or 3121 and I way prefer both of those so overall a big disapointment... AOA is great though

Sorry P... I still love you

[Edited 10/3/14 9:25am]

I love Another Love. Awesome vocals!!

dpwives said:

Having heard the album quite a few times now, I can say I quite like a hefty chunk of it. It's fails only a few times for me, but I really love the general sound of it and most of the songs. I'm especially loving the sound of the drums. Also it really smokes on a loud system or quality headphones.

1. WOW - Instant classic. Fantastic guitar jam. Like Prince meets Pearl Jam minus the angsty lyrics. Love when it breaks down and he starts talkin' his shit, "U wanna go somewhere?" Love the sound of Prince and the girls stacked vocals on the, "Like a bee to some honey..." part. 10/10
2. PRETZELBODYLOGIC - Hate the a capella intro. I have iTunes start it right after that part ends and it works quite nicely. I didn't like it when it first came out. The intro and "now we both 2 sleepy 2 get the gun" line really made be cringe. Cutting out the intro and getting over the bad line, I think this is quite a beast of song. By the time he gets to, "Limo on the tarmac ready 2 ride," I'm fully committed. 8/10
3. AINTTURNINROUND - Hannah sounds like Alanis a little bit on this one. I actually quite like it. "Maybe the hand that u're looking 4 is at the end of ur arms." I love that line. This is going to kill live if Hannah can pull off playing drums and singing lead simultaneously. Donna shredding at the end?! "What U R listening 2 now is an ultrasound of Donna's brain..." HAH! 8/10
4. PLECTRUMELECTRUM - Another great one! I love the middle section when it quiets down and the guitar line changes. Hot! 10/10
5. WHITECAPS - Time to slow it down. I really like this one, and the somber mood of it. The melody gets stuck in my head after I hear it, which is good. Hannah's vocals are more than capable. 8/10
6. FIXURLIFEUP - This song definitely belongs on the record but I'm not sure if it was the best choice to introduce them as a group. Maybe they didn't have WOW done yet? Solid album track. I love the fill when the drums first kick in. Definitely an air-drums moment for me. 7/10
7. BOYTROUBLE - This is where the flow of the album derails for me a bit. I like the song, and think Lizzo the rapper is quite talented. The song doesn't fit the sound of the record for me, though. I do love the funky bass on it. 7/10
8. STOPTHISTRAIN - This song doesn't belong on this album all. I think it's a decent pop song, memorable and quite catchy, but the sound is all wrong for this record. Also, vocally, Hannah fails a bit for me on this one. The quivery, auto-tuneish vocal effect is also kind of annoying and doesn't really help the weak delivery. 4/10
9. ANOTHERLOVE - Classic. The first time I heard it, I was kind of disappointed because I was so used to the original version, and this one is such a departure from that. But after giving it a few spins...WOW! Great track. This one and WOW are the ones my non-Prince fan friends really loved. 10/10
10. TICTACTOE - I love the dreamy late 60's/early 70's vibe of the melody. Another one that will not leave my head once I've listened to it. I think it's a classic, actually, despite the GODAWFUL LINE ABOUT BLIND PEOPLE. I think the awfulness of that line actually contributes to it being a classic because it's just SO bad it becomes good. I just feel bad that these poor blind people don't know where the zero's and the x's go. And to have the dolphins laughing at them like that is pretty degrading. 10/10
11. MARZ - This one is perfect slice of purple punk. It could totally be a throwaway but the lyrics actually have something interesting to say. And the breakdown before the last verse is fucking awesome. And the fact it's all over in under 2 minutes is stroke of genius. 10/10
12. FUNKNROLL - I'm calling this one a classic. I love both versions, and can't really decide which one is better. I think it does the Camille legacy some justice, and I'd definitely rather play this than Rock Hard In A Funky Place. The cackle at the end takes me back to the video version of Partyman. 10/10

Still think the absense of LIVE OUT LOUD is inexplicable. Fits in perfectly and would have been the 2nd or 3rd best song on the album.

Schlomo, I can't do quotes in my replies because my computer is stupid, but I love your review. And I agree with about 95% of it. I agree that "Stopthistrain" doesn't fit - feels like a track he would give to Sheila or Jill - but I love the song so much! My favorite parts of songs are the favorite parts you called out, and your comments on "Tictactoe" had me rollin'. Thank you!!

jillybean said:

Schlomo, I can't do quotes in my replies because my computer is stupid, but I love your review. And I agree with about 95% of it. I agree that "Stopthistrain" doesn't fit - feels like a track he would give to Sheila or Jill - but I love the song so much! My favorite parts of songs are the favorite parts you called out, and your comments on "Tictactoe" had me rollin'. Thank you!!

Well, thank YOU!

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Having heard the album quite a few times now, I can say I quite like a hefty chunk of it. It's fails only a few times for me, but I really love the general sound of it and most of the songs. I'm especially loving the sound of the drums. Also it really smokes on a loud system or quality headphones.

1. WOW - Instant classic. Fantastic guitar jam. Like Prince meets Pearl Jam minus the angsty lyrics. Love when it breaks down and he starts talkin' his shit, "U wanna go somewhere?" Love the sound of Prince and the girls stacked vocals on the, "Like a bee to some honey..." part. 10/10
2. PRETZELBODYLOGIC - Hate the a capella intro. I have iTunes start it right after that part ends and it works quite nicely. I didn't like it when it first came out. The intro and "now we both 2 sleepy 2 get the gun" line really made be cringe. Cutting out the intro and getting over the bad line, I think this is quite a beast of song. By the time he gets to, "Limo on the tarmac ready 2 ride," I'm fully committed. 8/10
3. AINTTURNINROUND - Hannah sounds like Alanis a little bit on this one. I actually quite like it. "Maybe the hand that u're looking 4 is at the end of ur arms." I love that line. This is going to kill live if Hannah can pull off playing drums and singing lead simultaneously. Donna shredding at the end?! "What U R listening 2 now is an ultrasound of Donna's brain..." HAH! 8/10
4. PLECTRUMELECTRUM - Another great one! I love the middle section when it quiets down and the guitar line changes. Hot! 10/10
5. WHITECAPS - Time to slow it down. I really like this one, and the somber mood of it. The melody gets stuck in my head after I hear it, which is good. Hannah's vocals are more than capable. 8/10
6. FIXURLIFEUP - This song definitely belongs on the record but I'm not sure if it was the best choice to introduce them as a group. Maybe they didn't have WOW done yet? Solid album track. I love the fill when the drums first kick in. Definitely an air-drums moment for me. 7/10
7. BOYTROUBLE - This is where the flow of the album derails for me a bit. I like the song, and think Lizzo the rapper is quite talented. The song doesn't fit the sound of the record for me, though. I do love the funky bass on it. 7/10
8. STOPTHISTRAIN - This song doesn't belong on this album all. I think it's a decent pop song, memorable and quite catchy, but the sound is all wrong for this record. Also, vocally, Hannah fails a bit for me on this one. The quivery, auto-tuneish vocal effect is also kind of annoying and doesn't really help the weak delivery. 4/10
9. ANOTHERLOVE - Classic. The first time I heard it, I was kind of disappointed because I was so used to the original version, and this one is such a departure from that. But after giving it a few spins...WOW! Great track. This one and WOW are the ones my non-Prince fan friends really loved. 10/10
10. TICTACTOE - I love the dreamy late 60's/early 70's vibe of the melody. Another one that will not leave my head once I've listened to it. I think it's a classic, actually, despite the GODAWFUL LINE ABOUT BLIND PEOPLE. I think the awfulness of that line actually contributes to it being a classic because it's just SO bad it becomes good. I just feel bad that these poor blind people don't know where the zero's and the x's go. And to have the dolphins laughing at them like that is pretty degrading. 10/10
11. MARZ - This one is perfect slice of purple punk. It could totally be a throwaway but the lyrics actually have something interesting to say. And the breakdown before the last verse is fucking awesome. And the fact it's all over in under 2 minutes is stroke of genius. 10/10
12. FUNKNROLL - I'm calling this one a classic. I love both versions, and can't really decide which one is better. I think it does the Camille legacy some justice, and I'd definitely rather play this than Rock Hard In A Funky Place. The cackle at the end takes me back to the video version of Partyman. 10/10

I agree with most of this. Great review!

thisisreece said:

emesem said:

Still think the absense of LIVE OUT LOUD is inexplicable. Fits in perfectly and would have been the 2nd or 3rd best song on the album.

Would I be wrong for deleting Stop This Train and put Live out loud on here instead? lol

Omg..listening to Boy Trouble...reminds me of Amalia - Bonafide a little bit. Just a lil bit. Even though she was influenced by Prince in her sound as well

Got WOW on repeat on one of those online radio station things! Can't stop rocking to this song since I first heard the song.

Prince shows his inventive side on two new albums

Prince shows his inventive side on two new albums being released simultaneously. (New York Times)

Every few years, some new artist is venerated as the “new” Prince – Bruno Mars being the latest example – and every few years, that artist proves incapable of living up to such hype. Even Michael Jackson, for all of his success, pales in comparison to Prince, who is an extreme talent as an instrumentalist, producer, arranger, sonic provocateur and songwriter. In terms of sheer musical ability and command of the groove, Prince really has few, if any, living peers.

And yet, the guy can’t seem to catch a break, as odd as this might sound. Because of his startling uber-success in the ’80s, nearly everything he has released in the time since is met with a critical sniff and a rolling of the eyes. “Not as good as he once was,” is the mantra, which basically translates as “I want him to be that guy in ‘Purple Rain’ again.”

But not wanting to be that guy in “Purple Rain” again has been a prime motivator for Prince over the decades, as he released albums with fewer and fewer concessions to the mainstream, some of which were brilliant, and all of which were at the very least interesting. For the past decade or so, he has been a bit of an ephemeral presence – popping up to slay us on a televised awards show, or showing up for brief spurts of touring and then fading back into the mythical playground that is his Paisley Park compound in Minneapolis. It was beginning to look like the guy would never release a full album again, preferring instead to parcel his wares out gradually.

But now, as if arriving from nowhere for no particularly tangible reason, we have not one, but two new fully actualized Prince albums. And no, this double-release is not the folly of some rich, cloistered and egomaniacal pop personage badly in need of an editor – think Axl Rose and Guns ‘n’ Roses “Use Your Illusion” I & II – but is rather a representation of twin sides of the man’s estimable gift. “Plectrum Electrum” represents the diminutive inferno’s peerless funk and rock credentials, and is a guitar-heavy affair performed entirely by Prince and the all-female power trio 3rdeyegirl. “Art Official Age” is a bona fide Prince solo album, by contrast, and as such, fulfills its brief by being stylistically all over the place, its conceptual continuity provided solely by the fact that it’s all Prince and it’s all good.

“When life’s a stage/in this brand new age/how do we engage?” ponders the Princely one during “Art Official Cage,” thereby framing the thematic material addressed throughout the “Art Official Age” album, namely the diminishment of genuine human interaction in an era enslaved to technology, and the attendant reduction in our abilities to discern the wheat amongst the chaff. And even if this opening gambit is funky as all get out, it’s not a throw-back to ’80s Prince, preferring instead to turn contemporary EDM on its head, and to marry the “out there” aspects of Radiohead to a far less European groove.

Throughout the balance of “Art Official Age,” it’s easy to trace Prince’s influence on pretty much every pop/R&B star who has come down the turnpike in the post-“Purple Rain” world. You can hear what Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars are going for when Prince grabs ahold of a ballad like “This Could be Us” or “Breakdown,” but the differences are many, the most prominent being that these tracks are incredibly well-written, and no team of songwriters needed to convene in aid of their composition, as Prince himself is a songwriting army of one.

On the other side of the coin, we have “Plectrum Electrum,” an album that acknowledges the simple and often transcendent pleasures inherent to killer funk grooves and Hendrix-like guitar solos. The album is simply overflowing with both, and yet “Plectrum” sounds like the work of a full-fledged band, one whose front man and songwriter happens to be seemingly incapable of writing songs devoid of memorable hooks. There are no dogs here, no in-studio jams disguised as songs, no throwaways. Drummer Hannah Ford Welton , when she isn’t making for a most convincing Cindy Blackman Santana doppelganger in the drumming department, also handles lead vocals, and rather effectively during the sultry “Stopthistrain.” The tireless and exuberant funk takes a break in acknowledgement of some superb balladry here, most notably during the sensual sway of “Tictactoe,” a song that, during a different age, would’ve been a massive radio smash.

Already, these albums have come under fire from members of the media who, it seems, refuse to forgive Prince for growing older, preferring he stay in the late ’80s forever, dropping pop-funk gems like “Let’s Go Crazy” and “1999” into a world that would have no context for receiving them. Let them gnash their teeth. Meanwhile, Prince is making music that applies to the present day, just as “Purple Rain” made sense in its own milieu. And he remains a startlingly inventive artist.

Local review of new Prince albums!

This album starts off great and dips in the middle then ends well...

Hmm...wonder why...oh yeah...the middle is where he showcases the ladies more

The instrumental should be put on the end of the CD like the filler that it is

Please tell me again how Screwdriver is inferior to half of these tracks

FAVE: Another Love

BLAH: Ainturninaround

I give this album 3 out of 5 stars

theums said:

This album starts off great and dips in the middle then ends well...

Hmm...wonder why...oh yeah...the middle is where he showcases the ladies more

The instrumental should be put on the end of the CD like the filler that it is

Please tell me again how Screwdriver is inferior to half of these tracks

FAVE: Another Love

BLAH: Ainturninaround

I give this album 3 out of 5 stars

I think you are being generous. And yes, why leave off Screwdriver? Or Let's Go Crazy (reloaded)? This is one of the weaker albums he has ever put out. He is letting these women with very limited creative talent drag him down. Their vocals are terrible. Any local bar band has better singers. Putting out a rock album was a good idea the the results are at times cringeworthy. I can see why he waited to put it out. By itself he would have got slammed in the press but alongside another (better) album not so much. He should have just put out one decent album instead of one clunker and one ok album. But that's Prince.

Not a great album, but a lot better than the snooze-fest that is AOA. I think it could have gone harder. It's been too long since we've had a classic rock track like Bambi.

Personally, I love this album, it's something a little different from Prince and was worth the wait and I've been playing it a lot.

I just can't get TICTACTOE out of my head, I know it's been slated by most people, but I just love the melody and harmonies! So goergeous!

I'm also convinced the lyrics are about Mayte... 'who knows where the zeros and the 'eXes' go...' Mayte's on Hollywood Exes, her birthday is November and she is/was a ballerina... hmmm.

One of the better reviews of the two albums:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-prince-review-20140929-column.html