Musically and lyrically Prince is stretching himself further than he has in 13 years. The second half of the album after Breakfast Can Wait is a tour de force.... I have been bored with Prince's records since 3121. I've been able to find a few stand-out tracks. Diamonds in the rough if you will. Something that i loved on each record.

However, this album actually feels like a new musical direction. Working with a new producer seems to have allowed Prince to do some new things. But what I am struck with is the mellow almost melancholy vibe of this record.

It's reminiscent of some of the Sam Smith stuff that's on the radio. Very soulful, sad, and modern at the same time.

This Could Be Us

What it Feels Like

Way Back Home

Time

Affirmation III are the best Prince tracks I've heard in ages.

The only misstep for me on this record is FUNKNROLL. It's not a bad song, it just feels out of place on side 2 of this record. I think it could have been included as a secret track at the end of the CD or been a exlcuded completely. It almost completely destroys the vibe where it is currently sequenced.

Beyond that, wow. I had honestly really low expectations for this record as the songs downloaded to my Itunes account. I liked Breakdown, but i've worn that one out and same with Breakfast can Wait.

However this record is thematically and musically the most "album" and cohesive set we've had from Prince in 12-13 years.

Thoughts?

mwm1166 said:

Musically and lyrically Prince is stretching himself further than he has in 13 years. The second half of the album after Breakfast Can Wait is a tour de force.... I have been bored with Prince's records since 3121. I've been able to find a few stand-out tracks. Diamonds in the rough if you will. Something that i loved on each record.

However, this album actually feels like a new musical direction. Working with a new producer seems to have allowed Prince to do some new things. But what I am struck with is the mellow almost melancholy vibe of this record.

It's reminiscent of some of the Sam Smith stuff that's on the radio. Very soulful, sad, and modern at the same time.

This Could Be Us

What it Feels Like

Way Back Home

Time

Affirmation III are the best Prince tracks I've heard in ages.

The only misstep for me on this record is FUNKNROLL. It's not a bad song, it just feels out of place on side 2 of this record. I think it could have been included as a secret track at the end of the CD or been a exlcuded completely. It almost completely destroys the vibe where it is currently sequenced.

Beyond that, wow. I had honestly really low expectations for this record as the songs downloaded to my Itunes account. I liked Breakdown, but i've worn that one out and same with Breakfast can Wait.

However this record is thematically and musically the most "album" and cohesive set we've had from Prince in 12-13 years.

Thoughts?

i dont do much comparission to other albums. but if it helps u put things in perspective, thats fine. i really like TRC. i hav also like a lot in between. i hav heard this one maybe once and i really like it.

I'm not really comparing the albums so much. I'm more comparing the way an entire album made me feel. The last time I was excited for the duration was probably TRC. 3121 I was excited for most of it. The rest have just felt more mixed bag to me. Like collections of singles almost.

mwm1166 said:

mwm1166 said:

Musically and lyrically Prince is stretching himself further than he has in 13 years. The second half of the album after Breakfast Can Wait is a tour de force.... I have been bored with Prince's records since 3121. I've been able to find a few stand-out tracks. Diamonds in the rough if you will. Something that i loved on each record.

However, this album actually feels like a new musical direction. Working with a new producer seems to have allowed Prince to do some new things. But what I am struck with is the mellow almost melancholy vibe of this record.

It's reminiscent of some of the Sam Smith stuff that's on the radio. Very soulful, sad, and modern at the same time.

This Could Be Us

What it Feels Like

Way Back Home

Time

Affirmation III are the best Prince tracks I've heard in ages.

The only misstep for me on this record is FUNKNROLL. It's not a bad song, it just feels out of place on side 2 of this record. I think it could have been included as a secret track at the end of the CD or been a exlcuded completely. It almost completely destroys the vibe where it is currently sequenced.

Beyond that, wow. I had honestly really low expectations for this record as the songs downloaded to my Itunes account. I liked Breakdown, but i've worn that one out and same with Breakfast can Wait.

However this record is thematically and musically the most "album" and cohesive set we've had from Prince in 12-13 years.

Thoughts?

I TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!!

I like the fact that both are actual concept albums but after two days of listening on repeat and trying my best to like them, I just can't. To me these albums are complete garbage. I really wanted to like them and tried very hard but the more I listen the more I don't like them. Very sad for me. I hope others like them but they are not for me.

Art Official Age...

I agree it's the best Prince-album in a very very long time.

Maybe even the best since The Gold Experience,


I really like it..

trax said:

KingSausage said:

I think AOA is his strongest album since TGE, possibly even the Symbol album.

I was thinking this too, but go back and listen to TGE again like I did last night. TGE is better than AOA, but I do love them both!

Umm One Night Alone wa shis best album since The Rainbow Children, then Musicology was, then 3121 and then Lotusflow3r .

.

The pile of steaming dog turd that is TRC is not even worthy to be mentioned in the same sentence as any other Prince album, let alone the most cohesive album he has given us since the Gold Experience.

.

3121 and Lotusflow3r came close, but AOA is his best since the Gold Experience. It's still not quite 1980s quality yet though.

KingSausage said:

Adorecream said:

.

The pile of steaming dog turd that is TRC is not even worthy to be mentioned in the same sentence as any other Prince album, let alone the most cohesive album he has given us since the Gold Experience.

.

I think TRC is probably the most cohesive album he's ever done if cohesiveness is to be used as a measure. Awesome album,

For me AOA is easily the best since Lotusflow3r but that isn't saying a great deal. I enjoyed 20Ten but AOA blows it away. As to if it is better than Lotus or not it's way too early for me to say, Lotus has stood the test of time so far and I still listen to it regularly. Will I be listening to AOA as often in 5 years time? If it ends up surpassing Lotus then I'd have to go back to TRC for the next best since, then it would be back to Gold, then Lovesexy and SOTT.

AOA is definitely very, very good. Only one track that I have to skip at the moment. I'm not sure if some of the slower ones will become tiresome or become more enjoyed.

I won't get too carried away with my best since proclamations just yet. At some point it will probably be easier to say that it's up there with a particular album than say it's better than. Looking at my best since history above I see, AOA, Lotus, TRC, Gold, Lovesexy, SOTT. As to whether one is better than any other in that list it's purely subjective. They are all so beautifully different and that is why I love Prince so much.

My brutal alter-ego is telling me that the period without WB never existed. So yes, best since TGE.

I do like some of the other stuff very much, but I'm so glad he and WB came back with a strong product, prior to even more goodies (PR 30th...)

myloveis4ever said:

pureTsexy said:I was pleasantly shocked! This album has a strong start, and the most unusual outros I've ever heard from Prince. Only 1 or 2 tracks, I'd skip over, unless they grow on me. It's a solid album! Very clean, crisp, fresh, funky...and just let me tell you... When he hits you with The Affirmations and Way Back Home, prepare to be blown away, because this is prince in his rarest form. I still can't get the voices from those segments out of my head. Prince delivered, and delivered bigger than I think we expected! Very pleased! His best work since The Gold Experience! the most unusual outros? are u kidding me?