skywalker said:

Don't get me wrong, I dig the new albums. However, I really liked albums like Musicology, 3121, MPLSound, and Lotusflower. - Example: people around here slagged off on songs like Chocolate Box, but somehow see the humor in Art Official Cage? What is up with that? - The conspiracist in me says that teaming with WB "magically" warm$ up critics and the press. - What do you all think? Am I just deaf, or are the new releases of a higher quality than albums of the last decade? [Edited 9/30/14 9:16am]

UM YES

lwr001 said:

I'd say so. The only album to me that's arguably as good or better than AOA in the last decade is Lotusflow3r.

I think there are a lot of over-zealous fans hyping AOA up to be way better than it actually is. I actually preferred 20Ten. There's nothing on AOA as soulful and beautiful as Future Soul Song. I would probably rank AOA as one of his weaker efforts of the last decade, down there with 3121 and Musicology, neither of which I particuarly cared for.

As you can see below, I rank the new records pretty lowly amongst his post-00's work:

1. Lotusflow3r

2. Planet Earth

3. One Nite Alone piano and vocal

4. MPLSound

5. The Rainbow Children

6. 20Ten

7. Plectrum Electrum

8. Art Official Age

9. Musicology

10. 3121

[Edited 9/30/14 9:37am]

'AOA' is infinitely better than anything Prince has done in the last 19 years.

skywalker said:

Don't get me wrong, I dig the new albums. However, I really liked albums like Musicology, 3121, MPLSound, and Lotusflower. - Example: people around here slagged off on songs like Chocolate Box, but somehow see the humor in Art Official Cage? What is up with that? - The conspiracist in me says that teaming with WB "magically" warm$ up critics and the press. - What do you all think? Am I just deaf, or are the new releases of a higher quality than albums of the last decade? [Edited 9/30/14 9:16am]

I actually still enjoy listening to songs from Musicology, so I think you're absolutely right. However, the theory is not conspiratorial; it's just the nature of the music busine$$. As I said yesterday when the raving professional review$ started coming in; the WB machine are doing their job.

For me I think Plectrumelectrum is the best thing Prince has released in the last 10 years. Sure, he has released some great albums but this album has a certain feel to it that I really like. The melodies are great and the musicianship, production and lyrics are all fantastic.

MajesticOne89 said:

I'd say so. The only album to me that's arguably as good or better than AOA in the last decade is Lotusflow3r.

I would agree with this - though 3121 comes close (for me).

Yes! My vote. Every album since TGE for me, I actually skipped tracks after 1-2 minutes in if I wasn't feeling it. This is the first that i've played (and on repeat) the whole thing, no skips.

Maybe its just that after not having an album for 4 years, i'm feeling like a teen again, listening, looking at the album cover, reading the notes. But I'm digging all the tunes.

skywalker said:

Don't get me wrong, I dig the new albums. However, I really liked albums like Musicology, 3121, MPLSound, and Lotusflower. - Example: people around here slagged off on songs like Chocolate Box, but somehow see the humor in Art Official Cage? What is up with that? - The conspiracist in me says that teaming with WB "magically" warm$ up critics and the press. - What do you all think? Am I just deaf, or are the new releases of a higher quality than albums of the last decade? [Edited 9/30/14 9:16am]

Maybe or maybe not. Like u I am a prince lover meaning I find merit in 99% of what he does. The element of genuis is always inherent in what he produces. He can't help that because its in his DNA.

***

U are aware that no two fans/critics feel the same way about his output. They will swear this or that song is genuis while another fan/critic says it one of his weaker songs. Prince is bigger than his fans/critics. Some can't except that and feel the need to downgrade him to make themselves feel superior or at least on his level somehow.

***

There is magic in all of his projects.

skywalker said:

Don't get me wrong, I dig the new albums. However, I really liked albums like Musicology, 3121, MPLSound, and Lotusflower. - Example: people around here slagged off on songs like Chocolate Box, but somehow see the humor in Art Official Cage? What is up with that? - The conspiracist in me says that teaming with WB "magically" warm$ up critics and the press. - What do you all think? Am I just deaf, or are the new releases of a higher quality than albums of the last decade? [Edited 9/30/14 9:16am]

AOA sounds like another good Prince album to me, but if we are to compare songs...

.

Chocolate box & AOC, I prefer AOC. I don't care for CB, never have. I do like the bulk of MPLSound though. There are elements of CB I like, but as a whole I feel AOC delivers a better song.

.

Life O'the Party & The Gold Standard, there's just no comparison, TGS kills LOTP. Again, I love the bulk of Musicology too.

.

PE to me is more of a failed attempt to make a good solid rock album. It has good moments, but not great ones & having Hannah take lead vox is a major mistake imo. Unfortunately the bad outweighs the good for me, but I'm still giving the album some spins.

.

I don't agree however that AOA is his best album in 10 years, but I do like it a lot.

[Edited 9/30/14 9:59am]

01. Lotusflower

02. Art Official Age

03. 3121

the rest is all on a level and i truly can't make a ranking

between mplsound, planet earth, musicology and pleccy.

We're all used to Prince dropping great songs on bad albums throughout the past 10-15 years, but the reason AOA stands out is that there are so many great songs. While PE might not be everyone's cup of tea, to me I like it just as much as Lotus.

Past ten year ranking:

1) AOA

2) Lotus

3) PE

4) 20Ten

5) 3121

6) Musicology

7) Planet Earth

8) MPLSound

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

75) Chocolate Invasion/ Slaughterhouse

100) Indigo Nights

I personally think it is his best since Sign (just expressing my personal enjoyment level). I loved the Gold Experience , and I really loved Lotus. - both have a couple songs that are in my all time fav Prince playlist, but there are three or four songs on that album I always skip.

AOA is solid and the highs are extremely high. No real cheese, no preachy induced cringes, and beautiful easter eggs throughout.

Time will tell

3121 is my favorite album of the 21st century, but AOA is now a close second, it's a phenomenal album.

interesting thread

AOA is one of his top5 most insipid albums (and currently, Prince's most overrated album ever)

not horrible, just,... insipid, bland, forgettable, safe, slow (mostly)...

Plectrumblabla sounds like a throwaway, but that's exactly why it's enjoyable: it's Prince having fun with a band, while accepting he cannot write new hit singles or memorable songs anymore, BUT not giving a damn about what people really think about it, the results are fresh and revelatory: Prince still can provide some enjoyment...

[Edited 9/30/14 11:32am]

skywalker said:

The conspiracist in me says that teaming with WB "magically" warm$ up critics and the press.

at this point I'm even willing to accept that Warner's overrating campaing $$$$$$$ of AOA (but, oh the irony!, NOT OF THE 3RD EYE GIRL album) has finally reached the org

some of the posts I've read here are just too intense to be just a coincidence

look at that OperatingThetan guy, for example; he just said: "AOA' is infinitely better than anything Prince has done in the last 19 years."

19 years...19 YEARS! exactly after the last two Prince Warner albums (TGE-C&D) were released...95-96...

read between the lines people, Warners has clearly infiltrated the ORG !

[Edited 9/30/14 11:41am]

JoeTyler said:

Yes

I know OperatingThetan from the London shows. He's not a shill. Can we just respect each other's opinions, please? You all know I'm not a shill, and I think Thetan has a point.

I also feel AOA is a strong contender for the best album of the last 19 years. I do personally prefer TGE and 3121, but there's not much in it, really.

JoeTyler said:

skywalker said:

The conspiracist in me says that teaming with WB "magically" warm$ up critics and the press.

at this point I'm even willing to accept that Warner's overrating campaing $$$$$$$ of AOA (but, oh the irony!, NOT OF THE 3RD EYE GIRL album) has finally reached the org

some of the posts I've read here are just too intense to be just a coincidence

look at that OperatingThetan guy, for example; he just said: "AOA' is infinitely better than anything Prince has done in the last 19 years."

19 years...19 YEARS! exactly after the last two Prince Warner albums (TGE-C&D) were released...95-96...

read between the lines people, Warners has clearly infiltrated the ORG !

[Edited 9/30/14 11:41am]

I have nothing to do with WB and yes, AOA is the best since TGE.

I really lost faith in Prince, heard his albums for a few times and than never again, some songs i liked but a lot i actually found terrible....and i was a hardcore fan.

But AOA (not PE) really does something to me, it has a totalle different feel. The production is different, no cheap sounding drums like 20ten, his voice is very strong (not like the terrible Guitar for example), strong songs...i'm happy

i was wrong, he still has it.

Militant said:

3121 is my favorite album of the 21st century, but AOA is now a close second, it's a phenomenal album.

WOW really? Out of any artist?

This is what the org is all about the naysayers and fams Love it

dandan said:

Militant said:

3121 is my favorite album of the 21st century, but AOA is now a close second, it's a phenomenal album.

WOW really? Out of any artist?

That's not what I meant but now that I think about it.......... yes.

Genesia said:

MajesticOne89 said:

I'd say so. The only album to me that's arguably as good or better than AOA in the last decade is Lotusflow3r.

I would agree with this - though 3121 comes close (for me).

Genesia............u picked up the new material?

Militant said:

dandan said:

WOW really? Out of any artist?

That's not what I meant but now that I think about it.......... yes.

It's definitely one of Prince's better 00s albums but, out of any artist? Nah Hell, I think there have been multiple albums this year alone better than 3121. The 1975's debut album for example.

dandan said:

Militant said:

That's not what I meant but now that I think about it.......... yes.

It's definitely one of Prince's better 00s albums but, out of any artist? Nah Hell, I think there have been multiple albums this year alone better than 3121. The 1975's debut album for example.

That came out last year. And was my favorite album of 2013. Actually seen them in concert twice already! Both in Birmingham, last October and then again this February.


"Girls", "Sex", "The City", "Chocolate" and "Settle Down" are my favorites. Brilliant album. But I still like 3121 a little bit more.