Woke up to the album Monday morning and got to listen to it all before starting work. Liked it from 1st listen. Certainly flawed, but the happiest I've been about a Prince release since TRC (3121 could be included in that, but found that needed more time to grow). I enjoyed AOA and the direction he was taking, but it lacked up-tempo songs and focus. This is fast, in-your-face and dirty.

Breakdown:

1. Million $ Show: Samples aside (the sample sets are tiresome live, I don't need them on an album as well) this is an enjoyable opener, even if it does sound like Beyonce produced this. Judith Hill sounds great, it's just a shame it progresses away from its positive vibe in the way that it does i.e. 'hater' lyrics towards the end. Could have been fleshed out better. 6/10

2. Shut This Down: 90s style P opener, aggressive and nasty. Great to hear this kind of P again. Special mention to the bass; absolutely disgusting bass playing Kid, more of that please. 8/10

3. Ain't About to Stop: This and the following track are the 2 weakest on the album. Far too noisy and far too much use of layering and repetition. Breakdown is wicked and Rita sounds fine, just needed reeling in. 5/10

4. Like a Mack: Really enjoyed this track on 1st listen, but it hasn't grown on me since. Girls are fine, there are good hooks and horns to complement, it just sounds a bit throwaway. 6/10

5. This Could B Us: I've been playing the album from this point more often than not as this is where it gets real good. Prefer this version over the original. Has a much darker tone and the 2nd half is bombastic. Just a shame it's a rendition of a song we got last year. 7/10

6. Fallinlove2nite: Very catchy. Prefer this without Zoey. Great track to listen to whilst getting ready to go out would totally get me in the mood. Loving the synth line! 8/10

7. The Xs Face: Love it! Got an industrial vibe to it. Would dig an album in this style from P, would really interest me. Flows well into Hardrocklover. 9/10

8. Hardrocklover: Brilliant. Great guitars (lead/bass), vocals and screams. Progresses well too. 9/10

9. Mr. Nelson: I like this track, but it does feel like a segue/interlude in this short form. Perhaps we'll get the 12" extended remix on phase 2 7/10

10. 1000 Os & Xs: This song is sex! Wow, wow, wow. Relevant, sexy and needs to be released as a single and properly promoted! Best song from P in the 2000s (and ironically it's one he wrote in the 90s). 10/10

11. June: Dreamy/trippy ender to a fast album. Perfect comedown and further insight into Ps loneliness as he daydreams on his bday. 9/10

At 37mins, it doesn't outstay its welcome, whether it can be enjoyed by all is certainly debateable. It's polarizing, but for once I'm actually genuinely excited that I might be hearing a new sound from P, rather than covering the same ground.

babynoz said:

dadeepop said:

It's been driving me crazy for weeks, but I finally realized what song The X's Face reminded me of: Low Rider by War. (The vocal delivery more than the music.)

I may be way off on this, but I'm glad I finally scratched that itch!

[Edited 9/11/15 13:09pm]

You done lost your mind to mention WAR in the same breath as Xs face. Don't EVER commit such blasphemy again as long as you live.

Calm your tits. I wasn't comparing the songs, per se. But just listen to the opening distorted line in X'S FACE and the opening line in Low Rider. Same sound and vocal delivery.

dadeepop said:

babynoz said:

You done lost your mind to mention WAR in the same breath as Xs face. Don't EVER commit such blasphemy again as long as you live.

Calm your tits. I wasn't comparing the songs, per se. But just listen to the opening distorted line in X'S FACE and the opening line in Low Rider. Same sound and vocal delivery.

My tits shall remain inconsolable....WAR happens to be my absolute favorite band in the history of the universe!

Do NOT make me come over there......

babynoz said:

dadeepop said:

Calm your tits. I wasn't comparing the songs, per se. But just listen to the opening distorted line in X'S FACE and the opening line in Low Rider. Same sound and vocal delivery.

My tits shall remain inconsolable....WAR happens to be my absolute favorite band in the history of the universe!

Do NOT make me come over there......

Lol... my bad, m'lady.

[Offensive video snip - luv4u]

HitnRun is Prince for the younger generation and anyone young at heart.

The first track is a strange idea, but I guess he's announcing that he got a lot of help on this one, not even singing lead on the first track of "his" new album.

Then Shut This Down starts and it's one hugely programmed song after another. all presented unceremoniously like a remix collection.

[Edited 9/11/15 19:59pm]

RodeoSchro said:

XxAxX said:

oh dear. probably not the effect the artist was going for.

Hey, I respect the artistic process. Everyone misses now and then. I remember telling my brother after Springsteen released "Nebraska" that The Boss had lost it. Of course I was wrong. And I hope this foray into pre-packaged "beats" and "rap" is only temporary. I have full faith and confidence that Prince will once again write and perform music like the genius that he is.

But if I see the name "Josh Welton" anywhere, and I mean ANYWHERE, on the product then there is no way I'm going to buy it.

.

it's all good. you feel what you feel and that's what experiencing art is all about. i've noticed different people are having really different reactions to the album. myself, i love it. it's fresh.

.

i confess, i don't find the 'over-production' gimmicky, i think of it as baroque in a modern way. ornamental touches all over the place like classical yet dance floor style.

.

so far i enjoy the overall product the 3EG/prince project has given us. i noticed in another thread somewhere that prince said he works wiith josh because he likes josh. it's good thinking they're having fun somewhere, and i think the album reflects a fun spirit in general. just my 2c

.

[Edited 9/11/15 19:55pm]

The best HnR review ever

starkitty said:

oh yes and for sure june favors moments in love.

right..

June is off da chain, jus like Moments In Love..

Neither outweighs the other..

starkitty said:

thedance said:

Ok really, she said that ?

- then it's time for you to give her a little education...

Ain't About To Stop is good for dancing... (I guess, so... maybe you should show her? Most kids love to dance with their mom, right?),


all I no is... I loooove this funky track a lot..

she's my untainted litmus test. and she's right.

sad..

that was the real test...

I think Phase One was meant to rhyme with HITNRUN, you know RUN+ONE..

I doubt if it will be a Phase Two, if so, the title will be different, something that rhymes with Two.

We all know Prince is good at throwing loops...lol

I have to admit I am LOVING this album. Here is my song rating breakdown

1. Million $ Show: 8/10

2. Shut This Down: 9/10

3. Ain't About to Stop: 10/10

4. Like a Mack: 10/10

5. This Could B Us: 6/10

6. Fallinlove2nite: 8/10

7. The Xs Face :10/10

8. Hardrocklover: 9/10

9. Mr Nelson: 9/10

10. 1000 Os & Xs: 8/10

11. June : 8/10

This is actually the first album since Chaos and Disorder that I have liked EVERY single song on a Prince album. The Rainbow Children and Lotusflower were very close but there was always 1 or 2 on those that I didn't care for. This album came out of nowwhere and just rocked my world!! Thank you Prince!! I hate to see so many people on here not digging it but it really doesn't surprise me. This album is more current than probably alot of Prince fans would like as it is a younger album but I think its GREAT!! I hope he has some more of this in his bag for the future

[Edited 9/11/15 22:37pm]

djThunderfunk said:

KingSausage said:

purplethunder3121 said: It exists! As much as I'm not in love with this album, I want that CD now. I support Prince.

Is that a jewel box case it's in? GOOD!!!

So is this legit? how come you have got it?

dadeepop said:

Just watched "The Gene Krupa Story"...

Dude showed no mercy on them drums...

http://www.suffieldtimes.com/entertainment/album-review-prince-works-hard-on-hitnrun-phase-one-he-hits-and-misses/113670/

Weirdest review i've read. Do you reckon it's been google-translated from another language? "Ain't about 2 cease"? ha ha ha.

dodger said:

dadeepop said:

When you look up "perfect mid-tempo R&B song" in the dictionary, you'll find 1000 X'S & 0'S.

And I love Prince's subtle background lines:
"Page one" before verse 1
"Turn the page" at verse 2

He so clever.

Totally with you 1000 X's & O's. I have to hit repeat on this. Love his vocals especially near the end. As you say this and Hardrocklover are top level Prince

You're right about his vocals near the end. 1000 X'S & O'S is quintessential Prince. If Josh produced this track as well, he's got even more respect from me.

8.3333/10

Let's go loopy!

Yeah...this is either a retranslate or one of those new-fangled journobots with artificial stupidity

funkyfine said:

http://www.suffieldtimes.com/entertainment/album-review-prince-works-hard-on-hitnrun-phase-one-he-hits-and-misses/113670/

Weirdest review i've read. Do you reckon it's been google-translated from another language? "Ain't about 2 cease"? ha ha ha.

I thought I'd never play the opening track twice but I did and it improved.

Apart from it (and it does a good job of introducing the album overall), this was a lot of fun to listen to as well as providing a constant stream of sonic surprises. I'm really liking the 'ambient underbelly' on it which reminds me of a lot of nineties electronic stuff but not Prince.

My only feeling is that Prince's 'vocal harmony-stacking', which is always over done, especially when it's to echo a line that the main vocal just delivered, is, here, totally superfluous. Someone get him away from the remote control on the ADAT

Seconded!
This review just about says everything I would want to say about the album.

Prince has a had a few nervy attempts to get back in the game but he's been foot-faulting by not wearing his high heels.
Here, he's walkin' that walk.

Aerogram said:

The best HnR review ever

KingSausage said:

1000 X's and O's reminds me of a Michael Jackson song. The rhythm, the vibe, the vocal delivery. MJ could have knocked that one out of the park.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

For my revised sequencing I have Like a Mack followed by 1000 XOs and it fits perfectly!

Oh Josh such an amatuer!

Bring on phase 2.

TOP TIP:
I was inspired to put it, AOA and 3121 in a shuffle and it really works.

I think these three albums sit nicely together and relate to the Emancipation set as a certain Prince 'mode'

I just now finished my first listen. I had not even listened to the preview snippets on the Tidal website, much less signing up for Tidal. So this whole listening experience was fresh for me, and I like to consider my initial gut reactions. I know that some songs can grow on you with time (or annoy you in time), but given the way this has been trashed here on the message boards, I was listening to see if anything stood out to me. And honestly, a few things did. Here are a few quick thoughts/reactions:

1. I'm wondering if the sum is better than the parts. As a quick/short album of practically half the length of a single disc of "Emancipation," the most striking thing to me was the flow of the tracks and the journey it took me on. There are some songs on here that I don't care for much at all individually that fit the ride of the whole album and the sequencing. So that might be my favorite part of all of this. Prince has been vocal in the past about prioritizing the album over the single (before comically contradicting himself by sporatically releasing singles from no album). This one seems to fit in with that premise, that desire to be an "album artist" in a culture that is over it.

2. I think AOA did a better job of making Prince sound contemporary while still maintaining a strong Prince flavor. This one felt more like a fight to me between Prince and Joshua. I wish I knew more about Joshua to know what his "sound" is, but I guess I know as much as anyone because there's not much of a previous career here to speak of. And since I know what Prince sounds like, it's not hard to tell where the give and take is happening. Consequently, you get songs like "Like a Mack," which are basically terrible but then there'll be one element that got shoved in there (such as that song's horn solo near the end) that make you go - wait a minute! And then the song is no longer complete garbage. I suppose this induces a great deal of frustration. Like a lot of you, I liked the songs more when Joshua's production was less of a focal point (if that's even possible on such a heavily-produced album).

3. I'm not one of those folks on the org who complains about absolutely everything. I seriously wonder why some of you torture yourselves when you already own everything you're ever going to love by Prince and might be happier listening to that instead of complaining about everything that happened after about "The Gold Experience." I'm also a long-time fan with the good sense to understand that none of these recent albums are completely measuring up. So I guess I'm looking for a few little gems in each Prince release. I'm happy with the much-too-fast output because although the albums suffer, I'm finding a few things I like on each one, and I still feel the thrill of picking up each new release and listening for that first time to discover which songs are going to jump out for me and be added to the eternal playlist.

Just based on ONE listen, I'm really digging: SHUT THIS DOWN, HARDROCKLOVER and 1000 X's & O's.

My "next level tracks" are: X's FACE and JUNE

MILLION $ SHOW and MR. NELSON work in context as transitions. I like them in that context.

The rest of the songs have an aspect or a moment I like, but I'm not digging the songs as a whole (AIN'T ABOUT 2 STOP, THIS COULD BE US, FALLINLOVE2NITE).

And the goose egg for me is LIKE A MACK. Every album seems to have a monumental clunker, and this is it for me. Just feels lazy.

Guess I'll listen again and see if my snapshot reactions evolve while I wait for Phase 2!