I sent a complaint to Tidal about Phase Two not being available separately...can't imagine whose stupid idea that was.

I won't buy it otherwise.

babynoz said:

I sent a complaint to Tidal about Phase Two not being available separately...can't imagine whose stupid idea that was.

I can hazard a guess.

herb4 said:

babynoz said:

I sent a complaint to Tidal about Phase Two not being available separately...can't imagine whose stupid idea that was.

I can hazard a guess.

Yeah, me too....

babynoz said:

herb4 said:

I can hazard a guess.

Yeah, me too....

I asked on twitter when I'd be able to buy a physical copy and they said it (the album, not a physical version) was available on tidal with the hashtag #supporttheartist

I replied, "Yeah...no. Not buying Phase 1."

[Edited 12/14/15 15:02pm]

babynoz said:

lezama said:

babynoz said:

Yeah, me too....

Im just glad its not all one long inseparable track with no way to separate them.

If he EVER does that again, I swear 'fo GAWD we gonna...

lwr001 said:

BobGeorge909 said:

Liv sent a tweet saying that not only the NPGHORNZ are featured, but jihn Blackwell Jr. and Michael Bland as well.

and another tweet saying the Weltons were locked out the studio during the making as well

Hilarious! Not an actual tweet of course, but probably kind of accurate.

Genesia said:

I asked on twitter when I'd be able to buy a physical copy and they said it (the album, not a physical version) was available on tidal with the hashtag #supporttheartist

I replied, "Yeah...no. Not buying Phase 1."

[Edited 12/14/15 15:02pm]

The more I listen to it the more impressed I am. I was OK with but not so impressed by AOA and Plec, then Back In Time and Phase One had left me cold after a few listens but this one I think I won't get tired of it anytime soon. The complexity and richness of it is amazing. The songwriting is solid as ever (I guess this'll please y'all Springsteen, McCartney and Dylan fans). Seriously, it's lively, sexy, the sound is pristine, the songs' melodies and lyrics are extremely narrative, the arrangements are gorgeous! From the first few reviews I think this'll end in near-universal critical acclaim and it'd be well deserved. I hadn't been so excited by a new Prince album since the Lotusflow3R/Mplsound/Elixer trilogy six years and a half ago!

I still prefer the hornless, minimalist electrofunk 2011 take of Xtraloveable, though

And as a single album on iTunes, no bundle with Ph 1. Really don't understand why Tidal makes you buy that one again.

USA Today: 3 1/2 out of 4

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/12/14/review-princes-new-phase-warm-and-vital/77301834/

The past two Decembers have brought surprise albums from pop and R&B superstars: Beyoncé in 2013, D'Angelo last year. Now it's Prince's turn to drop a little holiday cheer on his fans.

HitNRun Phase Two (three and a half out of four stars) -- the follow-up to Phase One, released in September -- is, in fact, a pretty buoyant affair. Unveiled on TidalSaturday, the new album kicks off with Baltimore, the wistful but effervescent plea for peace Prince introduced last spring. We then move to turf that the one-named musical force long ago made his own -- a place for more intimate thoughts and feelings, soft and warm, but with predictably naughty edges.

Where the first HitNRun certainly didn't flinch at sex, it approached the subject with more of a sense of danger, with electronically enhanced arrangements that could feel chilly and ominous. Phase Two, which includes a few tracks Prince has already performed in concert, is a warmer companion, more robust and reassuring, layered with springy guitars and funky horns. The feel is hearty and muscular, mischievous at times but also disarmingly tender.

Prince's 'HitNRun Phase Two' was produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince & the New Power Generation. (Photo: NPG Records)

The witty, uplifting RockNRoll Love Affair tells the story of pair of dreamers, "two people in love with nothing but the road ahead," while the more swaggering Starewinkingly references, for a moment, the title and breathless guitar riff from one of Prince's monster '80s hits, Kiss. "I'd rather let the music talk while you and me walk into the past," Prince sings.

A sense of romantic nostalgia lingers throughout the album, perhaps appropriate for a still-determined lover man of a certain age. The lovely, pining When She Comes finds him yearning for a goddess, reaching to his piquant falsetto to convey his rapture. The spare, dreamy Revelation is driven by a sinuous saxophone line, though a fiery guitar solo suggests earthier ways of expressing affection.

Rocking out on the thrashing Screwdriver and grooving through the ecstatic XtraLoveable, he gets more blunt; but his bravado is playful, even self-effacing. And as always, the object of his affection emerges as the true power figure. On Phase Two's jubilant final track, Prince sings, "I'm in the big city when I'm in your arms."

Surely, a little more of that kind of love would do the world at large some good.

linus4000 said:

USA Today: 3 1/2 out of 4

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/12/14/review-princes-new-phase-warm-and-vital/77301834/

The past two Decembers have brought surprise albums from pop and R&B superstars: Beyoncé in 2013, D'Angelo last year. Now it's Prince's turn to drop a little holiday cheer on his fans.

HitNRun Phase Two (three and a half out of four stars) -- the follow-up to Phase One, released in September -- is, in fact, a pretty buoyant affair. Unveiled on TidalSaturday, the new album kicks off with Baltimore, the wistful but effervescent plea for peace Prince introduced last spring. We then move to turf that the one-named musical force long ago made his own -- a place for more intimate thoughts and feelings, soft and warm, but with predictably naughty edges.

Where the first HitNRun certainly didn't flinch at sex, it approached the subject with more of a sense of danger, with electronically enhanced arrangements that could feel chilly and ominous. Phase Two, which includes a few tracks Prince has already performed in concert, is a warmer companion, more robust and reassuring, layered with springy guitars and funky horns. The feel is hearty and muscular, mischievous at times but also disarmingly tender.

Prince's 'HitNRun Phase Two' was produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince & the New Power Generation. (Photo: NPG Records)

The witty, uplifting RockNRoll Love Affair tells the story of pair of dreamers, "two people in love with nothing but the road ahead," while the more swaggering Starewinkingly references, for a moment, the title and breathless guitar riff from one of Prince's monster '80s hits, Kiss. "I'd rather let the music talk while you and me walk into the past," Prince sings.

A sense of romantic nostalgia lingers throughout the album, perhaps appropriate for a still-determined lover man of a certain age. The lovely, pining When She Comes finds him yearning for a goddess, reaching to his piquant falsetto to convey his rapture. The spare, dreamy Revelation is driven by a sinuous saxophone line, though a fiery guitar solo suggests earthier ways of expressing affection.

Rocking out on the thrashing Screwdriver and grooving through the ecstatic XtraLoveable, he gets more blunt; but his bravado is playful, even self-effacing. And as always, the object of his affection emerges as the true power figure. On Phase Two's jubilant final track, Prince sings, "I'm in the big city when I'm in your arms."

Surely, a little more of that kind of love would do the world at large some good.

What a juvenile music review.

no physical copy? my old computer died last week, i lost a lot of downloads because i failed to back them up... i like my discs

[Edited 12/15/15 2:46am]

XxAxX said:

no physical copy? my old computer died last week, i lost a lot of downloads because i failed to back them up... i like my discs

[Edited 12/15/15 2:46am]

He answered this question on Twitter and said yes there will be a physical release.

Phase 2 is now available for download on iTune.

dodger said:

what a pleasant surprise after the cowbell boy detour into shit modern music production that was phase one...phase two is way way better....i love rocknroll loveaffair...look at me..look at u...extralovable (those horns) ..groovy potential...black muse..revelation and big city....been a long time since i love 7 tracks on a prince album..the rest are ok and only screwdriver annoys me and shouldnt be on here imo...

i would say this album has the strongest finish to a prince album since the gold experience in 95...overall i like it as much as art official age which i thought was a very good prince album...joins lotusflower and the rainbow children as his best this century for me...very happy long time fan here..

KingSausage said:

This album is fantastic. I need a physical copy! I've listened to the whole album straight through multiple times. I really enjoy it. I know some people will think it's crap, and that's fine. But I really dig it.

vast majority seem to really like it...and music critics are digging it to...so i think this is a success for prince...the cd sales will be hit hard by the tidal release but i dont think he is that bothered..

KingSausage said:

controversy99 said:

lwr001 said:

and another tweet saying the Weltons were locked out the studio during the making as well

Hilarious! Not an actual tweet of course, but probably kind of accurate.

funny as shit,,they havebnt tweeted support for this at all.. Hannah tweeted about rejection equaling redirection

Currently at #70 Top Albums iTunes chart.

lwr001 said:

controversy99 said:

Hilarious! Not an actual tweet of course, but probably kind of accurate.

funny as shit,,they havebnt tweeted support for this at all.. Hannah tweeted about rejection equaling redirection

Really? I couldn't find that - wonder if she took it down?

Josh hasn't tweeted anything since 10/21.

feeluupp said:

tatocorcu said:

feeluupp said:

Currently at #70 Top Albums iTunes chart.

Shame, it deserves to do better.

These days his new music is just for his hardcore fan base... I don't see his music reaching the general mainstream audience anymore.

His last heyday as a COMMERCIAL seller was with Musicology and 3121, both albums had strong sales numbers. Musicology going 2x Platinum in the U.S. and 3121 going GOLD with over 700,000 copies sold in the U.S. alone.

For now we just have to appreciate we are getting new albums and 4 new albums since 2014.

Anyone know if this will be issued on vinyl by chance?