Well, I'm actually going to defend Prince with this one. So many people around here praised him to high hell last year for selling out to the current bullshit mainstream sound and now he's simply selling out even more. You can't get mad now because he's just giving you more of what you praised him for. That's right, keep on giving him a pass simply because he's Prince and maybe he'll be wearing sagging jeans on the next album. I didn't buy last year's bullshit and I'm not buying this year's either.

.

Don't jump on Prince when he simply gave you more of what you praised him for last year. See there....I can pe "positive" when I want to be.

Nikkie said:

The Guardian's 'First Listen' review is very positive, **** http://www.theguardian.co...b-gdnmusic

I'm sure Prince paid The Guardian and USAToday to say something nice, that's the only explanation since we at the Org are so objective when it comes to Prince and not at all creepily overpersonal.

[Edited 9/7/15 9:45am]

BELL6983 said:

And my alternate review, by my more cynical side: A bag of tricks by Josh, featuring Prince.

vainandy said:

Are we sure this is meant to be a real album and not just a sort of bonus disc for AOA or an extra long EP place holding until the next legit record? It sounds like a toe testing the TIDAL waters. Hence the Phase One subtitle.

AhPook said:

Are we sure this is meant to be a real album and not just a sort of bonus disc for AOA or an extra long EP place holding until the next legit record? It sounds like a toe testing the TIDAL waters. Hence the Phase One subtitle.

Honestly that's what I think... I think that's why it got a streaming release, and still no phsyical release date that's 100% for sure yet.

This is a remix album and like I said phase 1...

WetDream said:

Ouch. From NY Times review:

'Prince, who used to perform nearly every note on his albums, plays only lead, rhythm and bass guitars on “HitNRun.” Except for hired string and horn sections, and women who drop by to share some lead vocals, Mr. Welton does the rest, including keyboards and programmed beats. In some songs, Prince and Mr. Welton achieve a merger of Prince’s funk mastery and the surreal possibilities of the digital studio; other songs feel like sorely mismatched remixes trying too hard to be trendy.'

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/arts/music/review-on-hitnrun-phase-one-prince-plays-well-with-others.html?_r=0

[Edited 9/7/15 10:00am]

Giovanni777 said:

Ouch. From NY Times review:

'Prince, who used to perform nearly every note on his albums, plays only lead, rhythm and bass guitars on “HitNRun.” Except for hired string and horn sections, and women who drop by to share some lead vocals, Mr. Welton does the rest, including keyboards and programmed beats. In some songs, Prince and Mr. Welton achieve a merger of Prince’s funk mastery and the surreal possibilities of the digital studio; other songs feel like sorely mismatched remixes trying too hard to be trendy.'

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/arts/music/review-on-hitnrun-phase-one-prince-plays-well-with-others.html?_r=0

[Edited 9/7/15 10:00am]

Yikes. Prince on keyboards & percussion is one of my favorite things in life.

KingSausage said:

EFFDUBB said:

I really like the album. Very cohesive. Been playing it repeatedly and really really like it. It has a modern sound which is obviously not going over well with the old people who are stuck in the past. It's contemporary with good melodies and a great feel. It's upbeat and energetic. Great job Prince and Josh. Some of you old minded stuck in the past people need to stop comparing it to how much it sounds like his old shit. You're not even actually listening to the melodies grooves and sounds. You're just comparing it to how close it sounds to your favorite Prince era. It's 2015, for a modern 2015 album, this a good one. If this album was cut by a new young artist, they would be heralded as a genius. For those of u waiting for the revolution reunion, and the remastered purple rain, keep waiting. You're stuck in the past. Prince is an actual person and he is not devolving for you "mental relics". Get used to the fact that he's not interested in staying stuck in the past musically. For those that don't hate contemporary sounds with good grooves beats and melodies, Prince did the damn thang on this one. Very good album.

It's not about being stuck in the past. Well, unless you mean HITNRUN's cheesy beats and production, which are very much stuck in the past.

I don't get the personal insults towards those who don't like the album. Why not just stick your praise or criticism of the album? In my opinion the album is not that well done no matter the era or the artist. You may have a different opinion and that's fine. However, just because some (well, a lot of people) don't share your opinion about this collection of music doesn't mean they are outdated or stuck in the past. Hell, I don't even listen to this kind of music no matter who the musician is. If he's looking to imitate a modern sound, why not go with a sound like Tame Impala, Joywave, MGMT, Twenty-one Pilots, etc.? There is more than one sound in the modern era and the sound he chose to roll with is garbage, whether it's Prince or anyone else.

dadeepop said:

Giovanni777 said:

Ouch. From NY Times review:

'Prince, who used to perform nearly every note on his albums, plays only lead, rhythm and bass guitars on “HitNRun.” Except for hired string and horn sections, and women who drop by to share some lead vocals, Mr. Welton does the rest, including keyboards and programmed beats. In some songs, Prince and Mr. Welton achieve a merger of Prince’s funk mastery and the surreal possibilities of the digital studio; other songs feel like sorely mismatched remixes trying too hard to be trendy.'

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/arts/music/review-on-hitnrun-phase-one-prince-plays-well-with-others.html?_r=0

[Edited 9/7/15 10:00am]

Yikes. Prince on keyboards & percussion is one of my favorite things in life.

.

I know, right? This seems like, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em". I still have yet to hear the album though, so I'll wait.

iZsaZsa said:

mrjj71 said:

derrick31 said:

You know Bobby Womack did this the right way when he let Jamie X do his production on "The Bracest Man in the Universe" cd. If Prince wants to experiment, why choose a rookie producer like Josh ? Why not go with someone like Rick Rubin, Nike Godrich, Jamie X, Ferrel, etc.? [Edited 9/6/15 22:53pm]

Jamie Lidell would be a great fit

.

Agreed. Jamie Lidell is straight dope, and his style and sonic treatments are truly fresh, experimental, and yet funky as all get out.

BELL6983 said:

I totally disagree with the negative feed back on this album. Best one in years! Its new, its fresh, and its different. "I love it!" all 11 songs are great. Definitely radio ready. Good job Mr. Nelson

Not one of these songs will be played on the radio and NO ONE under the ageof 30 will ever listen to or buy the album. Oh Hannah, where are all the hits you said would be on the album? These people that work for him live in their own naive little Prince World. It's sad.

Giovanni777 said:

Ouch. From NY Times review:

'Prince, who used to perform nearly every note on his albums, plays only lead, rhythm and bass guitars on “HitNRun.” Except for hired string and horn sections, and women who drop by to share some lead vocals, Mr. Welton does the rest, including keyboards and programmed beats. In some songs, Prince and Mr. Welton achieve a merger of Prince’s funk mastery and the surreal possibilities of the digital studio; other songs feel like sorely mismatched remixes trying too hard to be trendy.'

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/arts/music/review-on-hitnrun-phase-one-prince-plays-well-with-others.html?_r=0

[Edited 9/7/15 10:00am]

Let me know when Prince puts an album out and not Joshua Welton.

my review is pretty much, imagine Prince decided to do a remix ep of Undisputed. That.

A few spins through, still processing, early thoughts: 50% really good, 50% meh, 0% bad...

AOA was better, but I'm not hatin'. Josh's stuff is better than the guys that remixed R&RLA or Dance 4 Me on the maxi-singles, so, this phase has it's merits.

I'm up to hardrocklover on my first listen....outside of a very noticeable loudness issue between million dollar show and the second track ----

i'm loving it.


it's not experimental (but it is for prince) its not complicated music, but it doesnt have to be....

it IS very young, and very much whats on the radio today.

ITS DEF A HITNRUN....so imo so far the concept is tight in that is what comes through...


edited to add this is way way more listenable than rebel heart was....

josh is average, but in todays context...average is what it IS. so in that respect it will get airplay.

[Edited 9/7/15 10:27am]

All I can say is my how the mighty have fallen. First those last two mediocre to weak albums and then this? What on Earth does Prince see in Joshua Welton? Prince has more production talent in his pinkie than this guy has in his entire body. He is a lightweight. It just sounds like a bunch of half baked ideas and re-treads. Easily the worst thing that he has ever put out. Others on here got it right - it just sounds like a mixtape but not a very good one. Musicology, Planet Earth, 3121, LotusFlow3r, MPLSoUND & 20Ten all sound like Purple Rain compared to this mess. And I wasn't crazy about any of those recent albums either. Even New Power Soul is better than this junk. Prince has just run out of gas creatively. This just seals the deal. It sounds like a desperate attempt to sound like current music but it fails miserably. Luckily I found this for free on a download site because I would have felt ripped off if I had bought it. I have no interest in any of those streaming sites, especially one with JayZ involved. Prince, get away fron these people, 3rdEyeGirl & Joshua Welton, they have dragged you down to mediocrity.

[Edited 9/7/15 10:35am]

I've been listening to abum on rotation since last nighta t midnight. WOW! I am loving this new album! It is electric, essentric, sonic and completely wild. This is a great follow up to Art Official Age.

My only wish is that he would have included "STARE" on this album. Maybe it will be on the physical release? Fingers crossed.

V10LETBLUES said:

I went in with an open mind and kinda optimistic based on Hardrocklover and Stare, sadly for me the album went right for the cornball of his last couple of releases. It must be a deep groove in the carpet he has carved for himself to be stuck in it so long

It's funny I wasn't feeling this album either... I made a joke about this album isn't for the middle aged fans... Well it isn't for the young generation either... Too overbearing with sound effects.

I still have a strong feeling this is leading up to something bigger than Phase 1 and Phase 2 and just consider this a remix album rather than an ALBUM ALBUM, which is why I think he is streaming it instead.

I will say this... I absolutely LOVE 1000 X's and O's.

vainandy said:

Well, I'm actually going to defend Prince with this one. So many people around here praised him to high hell last year for selling out to the current bullshit mainstream sound and now he's simply selling out even more. You can't get mad now because he's just giving you more of what you praised him for. That's right, keep on giving him a pass simply because he's Prince and maybe he'll be wearing sagging jeans on the next album. I didn't buy last year's bullshit and I'm not buying this year's either.

.

Don't jump on Prince when he simply gave you more of what you praised him for last year. See there....I can pe "positive" when I want to be.

I think this is Prince's most commercial and approachable album since Diamonds & Pearls - even more than AOA or 3121, I think it's looking outward to as wide a listener base as possible and I think it will appeal to casual fans and newbies the most.

It does very little for me though, I don't think it's as good as AOA but I think it's better than other recentish efforts like MPLSound, 20Ten. As I'm listening to it, I don't mind it - but I'm not getting what I want from Prince from recent albums like this - I think I've outgrown his style of R&B/funk/synthpop, I just want more, much more, than 4 minute synthpop songs from some with Prince's talent and ability.

NouveauDance said:

I think this is Prince's most commercial and approachable album since Diamonds & Pearls - even more than AOA or 3121, I think it's looking outward to as wide a listener base as possible and I think it will appeal to casual fans and newbies the most.

It does very little for me though, I don't think it's as good as AOA but I think it's better than other recentish efforts like MPLSound, 20Ten. As I'm listening to it, I don't mind it - but I'm not getting what I want from Prince from recent albums like this - I think I've outgrown his style of R&B/funk/synthpop, I just want more, much more, than 4 minute synthpop songs from some with Prince's talent and ability.

Commercial in a sense he wants to be more modern yes... Commerciall as in mainstream release, no... I feel this is just a remix album just for streaming nothing more. I don't even think it will be pushed for a phsyical release... The FNAC site is the only one to claim a phsyical release and changed their dates 3 times...