Gives it essentially a low B+ - think that's about right. It's the first one he's reviewed since Planet Earth, which oddly he rated higher.

https://medium.com/cuepoi...8384a87894

I say 'who is Christgau?'

Then Bart Van Hemelen, comes and rolls his eyes.

Points out how inferior I am and in the direction of http://www.robertchristgau.com/

Oh, I say, now I know.

Phew, that was close

ha, well done!

He's a cranky old coot of a critic, but has always been a huge Prince fan.

I'd rate it a B- maybe C

(IMO) This album is Disposable like almost everything the man has released in the last decade + .

There's no review from that link.

Anyone who thinks Planet Earth is better than AOA needs to get their hearing checked. Planet Earth is middling......Art Official Age is a modern day masterpiece.

Militant said:

Anyone who thinks Planet Earth is better than AOA needs to get their hearing checked. Planet Earth is middling......Art Official Age is a modern day masterpiece.

Exactly.

Ego101 said:

I'd rate it a B- maybe C

(IMO) This album is Disposable like almost everything the man has released in the last decade + .

If it's all so disposable why do u bother? And really what does your rating mean? If anything is disposable its your opinion. I guarantee people will be listening to the disposable prince well past our lifetimes.

Even when Christgau was relevant, he was known for too self aware, and political with his reviews. He stopped being relevant a long time ago though.

treehouse said:

Even when Christgau was relevant, he was known for too self aware, and political with his reviews. He stopped being relevant a long time ago though.

He's still massively influential when it comes to a certain set of other critics, whether you agree with him or not. Which I often don't, but he's spot-on here.

MendesCity said:

treehouse said:

Even when Christgau was relevant, he was known for too self aware, and political with his reviews. He stopped being relevant a long time ago though.

He's still massively influential when it comes to a certain set of other critics, whether you agree with him or not. Which I often don't, but he's spot-on here.

I'm not sure he holds much influence at all, aside from people just curious where the Christgau meter lands this time. Other critics respect his history, of course, but there's also a lot of resentment towards him. Plus we're talking about what a 72 year old man thinks of Prince.

Yeah, I don't know that I disagree with him here.

I love Christgau, but people have a romanticized view of music critics.

Being a cutting edge record reviewer aint't what it used to be, it's harder work than people think (if done right).

I wouldn't expect him to like AOA that much, too shimmery for him.

treehouse said:

Even when Christgau was relevant, he was known for too self aware, and political with his reviews. He stopped being relevant a long time ago though.

???? i fucking hate this logic. Are you 13? What does that even mean? "Relevant"...to what? The message board on prince.org? Try to think harder, and better words might come.

I think Planet Earth is better too. I really like that cd and am always surprised more people don't. There is some really good work on that cd. It suffers a little as it may be too diverse for some with all of the different musical styles but that cd has some top notch stuff imo. Always hated the cover though!!

Ego101 said:

that pointless fool is still alive?

fuck him

Militant said:

Anyone who thinks Planet Earth is better than AOA needs to get their hearing checked. Planet Earth is middling......Art Official Age is a modern day masterpiece.

Planet Earth contains superior musicianship, more interesting arrangements and has an overall vibe that's closer to several classic phases of Prince's music.

I don't need to get my hearing checked in order to hear those things and prefer the record due to what I hear on the record over Art Official Age.

novabrkr said:

Militant said:

Anyone who thinks Planet Earth is better than AOA needs to get their hearing checked. Planet Earth is middling......Art Official Age is a modern day masterpiece.

Planet Earth contains superior musicianship, more interesting arrangements and has an overall vibe that's closer to several classic phases of Prince's music.

I don't need to get my hearing checked in order to hear those things and prefer the record due to what I hear on the record over Art Official Age.

Planet Earth is well executed but too conventional and uninspired in spots.

AOA is a more cohesive and inventive journey, though the chorus of Gold Standard almost ruins the mood midway (it's the 1+1+1=3 of this record). As it strays away from conventional structure and has layers of textures all over, it's the most interesting ear candy Prince has delivered in ages -- even the usually silly spoken segues sound right.

I disagree with the head post -- there are deeper, more introspective songs but also lighter ones, which I interpret as his character going through the kicks life has to offer.

novabrkr said:

Militant said:

Anyone who thinks Planet Earth is better than AOA needs to get their hearing checked. Planet Earth is middling......Art Official Age is a modern day masterpiece.

Planet Earth contains superior musicianship, more interesting arrangements and has an overall vibe that's closer to several classic phases of Prince's music.

I don't need to get my hearing checked in order to hear those things and prefer the record due to what I hear on the record over Art Official Age.

The reason Planet Earth is, in your words, "closer to several classic phases" is because it's a retread. There's nothing on that record that isn't simply Prince repeating himself, echoing himself, and the echoes fade much faster than the originals.....Hell, Planet Earth is such a re-tread that it even has Wendy and Lisa on it. Love those girls, but no interest in hearing the three of them trying to recapture what worked so brilliantly in 1985.

AOA is fresh, exciting, and new ground. It sounds like nothing he's ever done before, it tickles the ears and excites the consciousness in unique, fresh and wonderful ways. It's like the rollercoaster that is Prince suddently went round a completely different shaped bend rather than the same old loop-the-loop.

The only moments that stand the test of time on Planet Earth, really, are the ballads. "Somewhere Here on Earth" and "Future Baby Mama" prove that Prince can knock out a killer ballad even on autopilot.

Whereas Art Official Age has at least 5 songs that rank in the best material Prince has done this side of the milennium. I don't remember any better ballads than "Breakdown" this century and I don't remember any better balls to the wall mad purple electrofunk extravaganzas than "Gold Standard" this century,although "Love" comes close. And when it come to pure, emotional, introspective, brilliant songwriting, "Way Back Home" is a winner on all counts.

Yeah, but just allow me to prefer Planet Earth simply because it's closer to what type of music I generally like.

I'm aware of the potential distinction between "to be better than something else" and "to personally prefer something over the other", which is something professional critics have to take into account constantly, but since I personally don't rate any Prince album post-TRC higher than "3 - 3.5 stars" I am not able to say with conviction that "AOA is better" than any of the other albums from the era. I just know I prefer the style of music on an album like PE.

You may have a point.. sometimes people post what they are feeling quickly without considering others.. Yes IMO Prince's music isnt the reason i love him.. its that he's the 'ultimate live badass'.. the music stopped being compelling to me after 1992-93 ish.

tricky99 said:

Ego101 said:

I'd rate it a B- maybe C

(IMO) This album is Disposable like almost everything the man has released in the last decade + .

If it's all so disposable why do u bother? And really what does your rating mean? If anything is disposable its your opinion. I guarantee people will be listening to the disposable prince well past our lifetimes.

he's the Ultimate live Badass.. & he can get my money anytime i can get a ticket.

Philly76 said:

Ego101 said:

I'd rate it a B- maybe C

(IMO) This album is Disposable like almost everything the man has released in the last decade + .

Then why are u still here?

[Edited 10/18/14 17:00pm]

JoeTyler said:

that pointless fool is still alive?

fuck him

Damn, tried to view your posts from a sympathetic lens, since I don't think everyone has to LOVE AOA.

But the toxicity is through the roof. Take a break, friend, maybe a walk outside.

MendesCity said:

JoeTyler said:

that pointless fool is still alive?

fuck him

Damn, tried to view your posts from a sympathetic lens, since I don't think everyone has to LOVE AOA.

But the toxicity is through the roof. Take a break, friend, maybe a walk outside.

It's interesting though, isn't it? Seems like a VERY polarizing record - the ones who love it, really love it, and the ones who hate it, go over the top in expressing as much. We've had to warn several users who have taken it too far.

But I actually think it's much better for Prince to get such polarizing reactions, rather than everything saying "the album is OK."

MendesCity said:

JoeTyler said:

that pointless fool is still alive?

fuck him

Damn, tried to view your posts from a sympathetic lens, since I don't think everyone has to LOVE AOA.

But the toxicity is through the roof. Take a break, friend, maybe a walk outside.

and I think some of you guys need,,,I don't know, maybe a REBIRTH (and not the spiritual one)

I WAS TALKIN' ABOUT ROBERT CHRISTGAU (an ssshole who has written the most insulting/baseless/random things about many legendary albums/artists), I WAS NOT TALKIN' ABOUT PRINCE OR AOA

Christgau likes AOA? wonderful, but that doesn't change my opinion of him (Christgau)

jesus...

[Edited 10/19/14 4:22am]

I like how Militant is turning to the dark side. This is the real story here. Calling people 'deaf' like a 'hater' would and all, just for liking plectrum. I really think Another Love is the best cover prince has ever recorded. A case of u might be the second best, but the live 83 version is still much better than the piano album version. Another love is miles above drivel like his horrible Crimson and Clover cover or any of the Emancipation covers. Stop this train is another great prince song. Too bad Hannah is so high in the mix, it would have been better if she was more the harmony and prince was the lead. Even so, great song. The rest of plectrum really sucks tho. AOA is not that great at all. I feel happy it has a handful of great songs on it, but most of it is very very bad. Planet Earth only has a couple of decent piano songs on it. The rnb ballads and other tunes are just awful on Planet Earth. I love the album cover tho. The hologram was a nice touch. prince needs better album covers for sure. the AOA cover is just unlookatable. The third sunglass lense is just about the dumbest thing prince has ever signed off on. Anyway .. Militant turned heel. woo hoo!

[Edited 10/19/14 7:21am]

JoeTyler said:

MendesCity said:

Damn, tried to view your posts from a sympathetic lens, since I don't think everyone has to LOVE AOA.

But the toxicity is through the roof. Take a break, friend, maybe a walk outside.

and I think some of you guys need,,,I don't know, maybe a REBIRTH (and not the spiritual one)

I WAS TALKIN' ABOUT ROBERT CHRISTGAU (an ssshole who has written the most insulting/baseless/random things about many legendary albums/artists), I WAS NOT TALKIN' ABOUT PRINCE OR AOA

Christgau likes AOA? wonderful, but that doesn't change my opinion of him (Christgau)

jesus...

[Edited 10/19/14 4:22am]

I get that you're talking about Xgau here - pretty clear. But I'm saying that the tone seems to mirror your AOA posts, which mostly seem to boil down to "Sucks." As Militant says, polarization can be healthy (and even entertaining), but you gotta give us something to work with.

MendesCity said:

JoeTyler said:

and I think some of you guys need,,,I don't know, maybe a REBIRTH (and not the spiritual one)

I WAS TALKIN' ABOUT ROBERT CHRISTGAU (an ssshole who has written the most insulting/baseless/random things about many legendary albums/artists), I WAS NOT TALKIN' ABOUT PRINCE OR AOA

Christgau likes AOA? wonderful, but that doesn't change my opinion of him (Christgau)

jesus...

[Edited 10/19/14 4:22am]

I get that you're talking about Xgau here - pretty clear. But I'm saying that the tone seems to mirror your AOA posts, which mostly seem to boil down to "Sucks." As Militant says, polarization can be healthy (and even entertaining), but you gotta give us something to work with.

or perhaps I have the freedom to express what I think of certain individuals, especially one who has made a career out of short/pointless reviews and pure biased vitriol towards certain artists/genres

and, jesus, I see some of you folks keep talking about my posts in the AOA thread, 10 days after my actual APOLOGY

[Edited 10/19/14 8:17am]

I like Planet Earth. It's an okay album and I'm grateful to hear the songs rather than not hear them. But it pales in comparison to AOA.