KingSausage said:

So it's like a 7/10 for you, right?

Rimshottbob said:

Aerogram said:

I'm afraid to ask : what do you think of Art Official Age?

I actually like Art Official Age.

It's patchy and some of it doesn't quite work maybe... but it's far stronger than 3121, Planet Earth, Musicology (though half that record is good), 20Ten and MPLSound.

Much as I like some of the sounds on Plectrum Electrum, however, there's a sinking feeling every time I listen to it... the songs are possibly the poorest of his career, the recording is idiotically distorted and the playing at times ham-fisted... it's kind of fun, especially when you configure it with just the better material, but overall a failure for me.

I do enjoy Lotusflow3r for the most part... I guess I'd say that since the turn of the millennium, and basically since his return to being 'Prince', his best records for me are:

The Rainbow Children

N.E.W.S.

Art Official Age

Lotusflow3r

One Nite Alone...

Probably in that order... certainly that's the order of enjoyment for me.

After that the post-millennium albums descend as follows for me:

Xpectation

One Nite Alone... Live

Musicology

Plectrum Electrum

Altogether, those four above ain't bad. Then:

20Ten

3121

MPLSound

Planet Earth

Ugh, those last four are a depressing string of albums. Our man as a faint shadow of his former self.

I pretty much agree with this, I think AOA is better than all those albums and I'd go as far to say personally I think its his best since the Gold era. Of course it has a couple of low points but I like the concept and I think Way Back Home, Gold Standard and Time are top notch.

.

But as you say Plectrum is terrible, which is a shame as it had the potential to be so much better.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

had BIG plans 4 this concept album. It was a brilliant concept! Starting with the beautifully done Te Amo video that was taken from the defunct 3121 movie.

But Mani had other things in mind & put a halt to the whole project, with her surprise divorce filing that left devastated. But he rebounded perfectly! Particually with his surprise,Xclusive, BET Awards 3121 afterparty,that a select few was invited in(including me) . Not to mention the HIGHLY successful, MEGA,3121 Vegas residency that was a whose who in attendance including the late MJ. The album sold close to a million copies with no hit single.

Tamar voices blended so perfectly together on the 3121 album, that U would swear she was a mistress/lover of his.

Tell us more, expert Prince insider!

dodger said:

PurpleKnight said:

Love it.

As a more casual Prince fan back then, I didn't buy it straight away. Picked it up along with Musicology at reduced prices.

'Love' was the first track to jump out at me, and still gets frequent plays. Wasn't until much later that I got into the rest of the selection. Someone mentioned the accoustic version of 'Love' earlier: thanks for that, I have it on 'Wow' but hadn't got around to listening properley until today.

A great album. To me, 3121 is Diamonds & Pearls, minus the Gameboyz.

PurpleKnight said:

Tell us more, expert Prince insider!

Don't encourage it.

NouveauDance said:

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I really enjoyed it at the time but dont listen to it these days. I guess it didnt have the staying power that I thought it had at the time. But its certainly better than Musicology and Lotus and tons better than PE, PE, MPLS and 20ten. But AOA kicks its arse and TRC probably has a say in that arse kicking too, especially the version I recently downloaded that had the Bob George voice surgically removed.

Rebeljuice said:

... AOA kicks its arse and TRC probably has a say in that arse kicking too,

--- I agree.


TRC..... especially the version I recently downloaded that had the Bob George voice surgically removed.

--- Wow.. I am surprised that is possible... cool...

thedance said:

Rebeljuice said:

... AOA kicks its arse and TRC probably has a say in that arse kicking too,

--- I agree.


TRC..... especially the version I recently downloaded that had the Bob George voice surgically removed.

--- Wow.. I am surprised that is possible... cool...

I was too. But by and large it was done very well. Obviously a bit of clever re-editing was required as the voice runs over a lot of the songs. You can pick it up in places, but mainly because I know the album so well. A newbie would never know the difference or hear anything untoward.

Rebeljuice said:

I'm inclined to agree. I was all over this shit when it came out. Played it like everyday for months, then I just stopped. Still thinks it rocks. Gotta pull it out again soon .