hasn't sounded this energetic in YEARS!Josh has had a profound effect on him...

1. Million $ Show - The sample intro is absolutely unnecessary in this song. A simple intro (like in Cause & Effect) would have worked better. Just extend the crowd noise and opening chords just a bit more and it would have been fine. Judith is fantastic as ever but my main issue with this song would be Prince's "hater" section. I don't mind the occasional flexing of the ego but I feel like it lyrically doesn't fit with the rest of the song. 7/10

2. Shut This Down - My initial thought upon this song was "Have I heard this at a high school dance before?" I mean this song is catchy as hell but it's got this high school color guard Casio thing going on. After the 'Art Official Age' album this is...not something I would have expected. At least Tony M. isn't here, right? That vocal sample throughout the song is probably the most annoying aspect of this song. Great bass playing in the end wasted on a filler track... 5/10

3. Ain't About To Stop - Middle Eastern vibes amongst a borderline Industrial Hiphop beat. I'm liking the modern production on this track. I don't mind Rita Ora's vocals because they seem to add a real punch to the song however this "If you're not a Ritabot(?), you're a blood clot" part completely boggles my mind. I wish the guitar solo was a tad longer...I feel it fizzles out before the climax. 8/10

4. Like A Mack -Curly Fryz? Uh. Ok then. The ONLY thing that comes to mind while I listen to this is that it sounds like it belongs in a roller rink-if those still exist anywhere. Another catchy yet filler sounding track. I'm conflicted with this because I HATED it at first listen but it's infectious on multiple listens. Definitely a song to play when you're drunk as hell. Why couldn't we have gotten more of the horns on this album like on here? I would probably completely disown this song without them. 7/10

5. This Could B Us - Why?? WHY??? Watered down dubstep...ugh. I enjoy the original version and already have a rediculously intense hatred for dubstep. I like Electronic music but have yet to find a single dubstep track I've liked. What a waste of a guitar solo. 3/10

6. FallInLove2Nite - It took me about 15 listens before I adjusted to the lack of Zooey. It's a fun little track and nothing to take serious but the lack of a female presence seem to do this song in a bit. 7/10

7. X's Face - I'm convinced P is shooting up heroin while Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails blast in the background during his days off. I love the contrast between his high register and the deep dirty electronics in this. Slightly rediculous but in this case it's a good thing-to me. It may have benefited from a little variation after the whole banana bit. 9/10

8. HardRockLover - Now we can breathe a little bit. I think this could have fit somewhere on 'Art Official Age' more than it does here but I'm not going to complain. The lyrics could use a bit more work but instrumentally I find this song flawless. 9/10

9. Mr. Nelson - Oh good lord. When I was originally listening to this album on title I was actually kind of optimistic about this remix when it started....then that optimistic was beaten to death and put into a vegitative state by the time the song hits the first instance of "We don't need no clouds, no" Really guys? You had a nice chance for a remix of the WHOLE SONG but instead changes into this really montonous Diet-Juno Reactor/Santana hybrid. Again what a waste of a guitar solo. 2/10

10. 1000 X's & 0's - La-la-la-la-love this track. Blatantly obvious it's not a recent idea even though it's been remade. There's a passion in this song that's been sorely missed in recent years. The synths in this are absolutely lush. 9/10

11. June - I feel really bad for the pasta. I've noticed a lot of people making Bowie reference in regard to this track and I can definitely hear that. THIS is the right kind of experimental for P. I would love more tracks in this vein. 9/10

I suppose it's a good thing I waited until I let the album completely sink in before really considering writing a review. My initial reaction was somewhere between total disbelief and confusion...which was odd considering I never have a reaction like that with a Prince album.If there is one thing this album does well it's flow/transition. It feels like an actual ALBUM like AOA did but it's just much more flawed.

Final score: 7.5

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Insanecabbage said:

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.

Since I agree with most of what you wrote, why start from scratch? I do differ on a couple of points.

I rate Ain't About to Stop higher since it is hard and funky, Fallinlove2nite lower since I don't like that style of music (although I don't mind as much in the context of this album) and also Mr. Nelson woud be lower since it is not really a proper song and a retread. 1000 Os & Xs is his catchiest song since Come On, and I feel very certain it could be a major hit if it were pushed. Great track.

Overall, I dig this album and would rather listen to it than say AOA because it really does not drag anywhere. Is this his best? No way, but I do think it falls into the mid-tier of his works and would rank among albums like Chaos & Disorder, Come, NPS (happen to like more than most), 20Ten, etc. Not as good as his classics of course, but I like it better than efforts like Planet Earth, Rave, Musicology, MPL Sound, For You, Prince, Diamond & Pearls.

In general, a lot of people are coming down too hard on it and in general way too negative. I think he has done far more embarrassing and egregious material than most of what's on here. I'll take Josh over Tony M or Kirky J, among others, any day. OK, enough for now.

KingSausage said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

hasn't sounded this energetic in YEARS!Josh has had a profound effect on him...

I think he sounded more energetic on AOA and Plectrumelectrum.

Josh & 3EG have rejuvenated & put a FIRE inside of him....

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I think the song sequencing and clever transitions really make this album gel. It gives it an organic feel that most albums don't achieve.

And Like A Mack...at first I actually disliked this song. Now I'm almost addicted to it. I'd never heard of Curly Fryz before, but their rapping fits perfectly into the flow of the song.

KCOOLMUZIQ, I made this for you. I can't take that low-rez graphic you keep posting.

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/5Dlm0PZ.png[/img:$uid]

dadeepop said:

KingSausage said:

dadeepop said:

KCOOLMUZIQ, I made this for you. I can't take that low-rez graphic you keep posting.

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/5Dlm0PZ.png[/img:$uid]

Wait. I mean

Don't encourage him/her! (dammit, and there I go)

dadeepop said:

KCOOLMUZIQ, I made this for you. I can't take that low-rez graphic you keep posting.

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/5Dlm0PZ.png[/img:$uid]

Wow! Thank U!

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

dadeepop said:

KCOOLMUZIQ, I made this for you. I can't take that low-rez graphic you keep posting.

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/5Dlm0PZ.png[/img:$uid]

Wow! Thank U!

Ur Welcome!

HARDROCKLOVER is absolute Prince genius. I completely underestimated this song at first.

dadeepop said:

2020 said:

dadeepop said:

HARDROCKLOVER is absolute Prince genius. I completely underestimated this song at first.

It sure is and I really wish he would have held this one back so we could have heard it for the first time along with the entire album... Oh and nice one on the graphic...the org thanks you. Nice to see some genuine kindess up in here once in a while [Edited 9/12/15 20:33pm]

I agree -- this is one of those times when I wish P had held back and saved it for the album release. That song is unbelievable.

Thanks on the graphic I felt that thumbs-up needed some mack treatment. lol

anyone else notice about halfway through filt the synth rips off an original 7 track, I think party girl? Listen for it. Also the album screams for extended versions, especially shut this down, x's face and 1000 Os & Xs. What potential with those!

A few days ago i made the comment that HNR was "not half bad". Well after listening to it a few more times, i still feel that way.

HNR pretty much keeps me interested throughout the whole album. And i haven't been able to say that about a Prince album in a while.

IMO, Prince's voice sounds good and the music sounds pretty decent. As far as the lyrics? I don't have much of a problem with them(don't quite understand June's lyrics though). I guess i can somewhat understand the criticism about Prince being a little too old to be using words like(or singing about) Thot and Mack. The thing about that is its not like Prince is coming off like some kind of clown when he sings that stuff. IMO, he does do it with at least a little bit of class. Like he does with most everything else(music related).

IMHO, HNR might not be perfect, but its not all doom and gloom like some people make it out to be. As it stands now, i give HNR 3 1/2 stars(outta 5).

Looking forward to the next installment.

[Edited 9/12/15 21:17pm]

That's it: I'm nominating Joshua "Whooosh!" Welton for president.

#Josh2016

KingSausage said:

Don't have the CD yet. Wondering if this albums sonic quality suffers like AOA,(loudness+distortion).

Read nothing bad so far.

dadeepop said:

dadeepop said:

dodger said:

Will the kids love it? My ten year old loves Prince and has had a few listens through now. His verdict...

It's really good. Tracks 1-4 and Mr Nelson are his favourites.

TheEnglishGent said:

dodger said:

dadeepop said:

That's it: I'm nominating Joshua "Whooosh!" Welton for president.

#Josh2016

He'd rather be the Pope

TheEnglishGent said:

Will the kids love it? My ten year old loves Prince and has had a few listens through now. His verdict...

It's really good. Tracks 1-4 and Mr Nelson are his favourites.

I'll do a test with my niece. She loved AOA.

TheEnglishGent said:

dodger said:

dadeepop said:

That's it: I'm nominating Joshua "Whooosh!" Welton for president.

#Josh2016

He'd rather be the Pope

Haha! Well played.

KingSausage said:

dadeepop said:

Ur Welcome!

This just happened.