This album is sure drawing some great press.

Slice it any way you want it, people should be proud they are longtime fans.

[Edited 12/18/15 15:53pm]

Paste Magazine

Prince: HITnRUN Phase 2

Rating: 8.8

From the opening notes of Prince’s HITnRun Phase 2, it seems like a return to the days of the Purple One’s midcareer classics like “Cream,” “Most Beautiful Girl in the World” and even “Kiss.” “Baltimore” feels good—churning, sleek, a bouncing to a rubbery beat—and that vibe permeates his latest collaboration with the New Power Generation.

But even through the positive musical vibes, HnR2 shows Prince sowing seeds of social commentary. He sings in “Baltimore,” “Does anybody hear us pray for Michael Brown or Freddie Gray / Peace is more than the absence of war… We’re gonna see another bloody day / We’re tired of crying, and people dying / Let’s take all the guns away.” Like Stevie Wonder and Sly Stone, hard truths are best served in a way they’re actually heard.

The serious elements don’t overtake HnR2, though. It’s not steeped in decrying social injustice. Instead, the album is a call to the kind of funk that closes over your head like too much champagne. Undulating, fizzy, and almost light-headed, this is music to induce a euphoria that lifts skirts and spirits.

Songs like “Stare” hilariously harvest Prince’s past. It tumbles with horns, invoking references to “Sexy Dancer,” “KISS,” and more specifically, “playing onstage in our underwear.” Prince also returns to topics more carnal. If more romantic than raw, in a world of cheap and sleazy hook-ups, he reminds people putting a genuine connection into the collision adds satisfaction.

In fact, throughout the entirety of HnR2, Prince is seemingly on the prowl, seeking extended coital bliss. It shows in the cheerfully boho tale of “Rock & Roll Love Affair,” the tumbling bass note of “Black Muse” descending into Wurlitzer waves and horn curls, and the piano, chimes and finger pops of the slow jamming “Groovy Potential.” The propulsive “Screwdriver,” equal parts garage rock and lean funk, surges and sweeps the listener into its clutches. The hyper-tempo and the buzzy guitar turn circles, as Prince rushes through verses to get to the exhorting “I’m your driver, you’re my screw” chorus—a tumult of want, build, and release.

link: http://www.pastemagazine....ase-2.html

While the pace of “Screwdriver” is not so easily maintainable for Prince (an icon of a certain age), that flex adds ballast to even the slighter moments. “Xtralovable” sounds like his impression of Tom Jones fronting Earth Wind & Fire and the pleasant enough. Closer “Big City” offers a metaphor for his paramour’s ability to make everywhere the big city ultimately falls short.

Maybe that’s the point on HnR2: Sometimes what feels good plays to the place between the ears, but doesn’t require stopping the moment to parse the songs. Sometimes it’s as simple as drop the needle and surrender to wherever the music takes you.

so why the delay in cd release?

luvsexy4all said:

Unless being one of those few nutcases who would still say the last album sucks if Prince released Sign 'O' The Times tomorrow, one has to admit this last album stands out: no wonder most reviews are positive.

V10LETBLUES said:

luvsexy4all said:

so why the delay in cd release?

I don't know of anyone who has bought one those in at least 8 years. I hear people in Japan still buy them.

Me neither.

I think the only people still buying CD's are on the org.

databank said:

V10LETBLUES said:

luvsexy4all said: I don't know of anyone who has bought one those in at least 8 years. I hear people in Japan still buy them.

Me neither.

I think the only people still buying CD's are on the org.

erm, 41million cd buyers can't be wrong!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34323530

hw3004 said:

databank said:

Me neither.

I think the only people still buying CD's are on the org.

erm, 41million cd buyers can't be wrong!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34323530

Probably 41 people who bought a million each

No, seriously, really no one I know (and I know a shitload of people) still buy CD's, I guess most of those 41M sales are people older than 50 and a minority of harcore CD collectors.

In a few years CD sales will be comparable to vinyl sales: a niche market.

Ouch! Consequence of Sound gives it a C-

http://consequenceofsound...phase-two/

“Can I get a kiss?” Prince moans on “Stare”, near the middle of the second volume of the singer’s HITNRUN series. The famous guitar riff from 1986 single “Kiss” follows the lyric in a gesture one might suppose is meant to be glib, a joke we are all in on. Instead, it provides a disappointing look in the mirror, a transparent comb-over for an artist seemingly out of ideas, left only with the chance to do a version of himself.

In fairness, it may be impossible to become famous in America without becoming somewhat self-conscious. This reflexive quality is, after all, the very basis of fame: you, artist, seeing yourself through the eyes of millions. Iconic artists eventually descend into the echo chamber of self-consciousness, making art that seems to say, “This is something I would say” or “This is something I would sing.” The result is something affected, a bizarre dumb show of the artist performing some earlier version of their identity.

The weirdo quality of Prince, backed by his prodigious output, attempted to navigate the problem. At times, it appeared, he wasn’t particularly aware of his listeners at all. Turning himself into a symbol received much press, but even a cursory read of the rebranding revealed an artist trying to deny his very existence. How could he see himself if he wasn’t there to see?

But HITNRUN Phase Two is all too aware of itself. On Prince’s fourth album in the last two years, his once limitless capacity for musical ideas appears here as flight from some invisible enemy, the midlife crisis that prompts someone to wheeze, “Actually, I’ve never felt better” when they look like shit. “Don’t you wanna take a bath with me?” he sings on “XTRALOVEABLE”, against a backdrop of dystopic synths and packaged horns. Its sensuality is as unappealing as the arrangement. The punky “Screwdriver” should have been left for the Lenny Kravitz B-side collection where it might belong, and the chorus (“I’m your driver and you’re my screw”) sounds, somehow, more lecherous than inviting. Likewise, the slow-driving “When She Comes” roots itself in a graphic double entendre amidst the appearance of a frankly unbelievable accordion. This is Prince doing Prince, a cut-rate version of his once iconic fecundity.

The most compelling moment on the record arrives first — and even that isn’t particularly compelling. Prince, the former symbol (on a few levels, in fact), treads into political discourse with “Baltimore”, a protest song of sorts. HITNRUN Phase 2 arrived on Jay Z’s Tidal service in the same week that a Baltimore judge declared a mistrial in the case against William Porter, one of the six police officers charged with killing Freddie Gray. But even these inauspicious circumstances offer no special depth to lyrics like, “Does anybody hear us pray for Michael Brown and Freddie Gray?/ Peace is more than the absence of war” and “We’re tired of crying, people dying/ Let’s take all their guns away.”

In a year where Kendrick went HAM with a line like, “You hate me don’t you?/ You hate my people, your plan is to terminate my culture/ You’re fuckin’ evil,” and Killer Mike screamed, “It’s us against a motherfucking machine,” performing in St. Louis on the night Darren Wilson wasn’t charged in Michael Brown’s killing, it’s hard for the campy, four-on-the-floor beat of Prince’s “Baltimore” to register on the political Richter scale. If anything, the glossy, nearly musical theater schmaltz of “Baltimore” feels a bit dishonest, a plea from Pollyanna in a time of war.

Rock and roll, like sex and political activism, can be something of a young man’s game. This calculation is surely a cold, and maybe unfair, reality. Aging in the spotlight is especially fraught. While Prince is raging against the dying of the light, there exists no graceful innovation on HITNRUN Phase Two. Instead, Prince presents only an aped version of his one-time vitality.

Essential Tracks: “ROCKNROLL LOVEAFFAIR”, “LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT YOU”

[Edited 12/22/15 9:18am]

A review that does not cite "black muse" is not a review.

sonicfreak said:

Ouch! Consequence of Sound gives it a C-

http://consequenceofsound...phase-two/

“Can I get a kiss?” Prince moans on “Stare”, near the middle of the second volume of the singer’s HITNRUN series. The famous guitar riff from 1986 single “Kiss” follows the lyric in a gesture one might suppose is meant to be glib, a joke we are all in on. Instead, it provides a disappointing look in the mirror, a transparent comb-over for an artist seemingly out of ideas, left only with the chance to do a version of himself.

In fairness, it may be impossible to become famous in America without becoming somewhat self-conscious. This reflexive quality is, after all, the very basis of fame: you, artist, seeing yourself through the eyes of millions. Iconic artists eventually descend into the echo chamber of self-consciousness, making art that seems to say, “This is something I would say” or “This is something I would sing.” The result is something affected, a bizarre dumb show of the artist performing some earlier version of their identity.

The weirdo quality of Prince, backed by his prodigious output, attempted to navigate the problem. At times, it appeared, he wasn’t particularly aware of his listeners at all. Turning himself into a symbol received much press, but even a cursory read of the rebranding revealed an artist trying to deny his very existence. How could he see himself if he wasn’t there to see?

But HITNRUN Phase Two is all too aware of itself. On Prince’s fourth album in the last two years, his once limitless capacity for musical ideas appears here as flight from some invisible enemy, the midlife crisis that prompts someone to wheeze, “Actually, I’ve never felt better” when they look like shit. “Don’t you wanna take a bath with me?” he sings on “XTRALOVEABLE”, against a backdrop of dystopic synths and packaged horns. Its sensuality is as unappealing as the arrangement. The punky “Screwdriver” should have been left for the Lenny Kravitz B-side collection where it might belong, and the chorus (“I’m your driver and you’re my screw”) sounds, somehow, more lecherous than inviting. Likewise, the slow-driving “When She Comes” roots itself in a graphic double entendre amidst the appearance of a frankly unbelievable accordion. This is Prince doing Prince, a cut-rate version of his once iconic fecundity.

The most compelling moment on the record arrives first — and even that isn’t particularly compelling. Prince, the former symbol (on a few levels, in fact), treads into political discourse with “Baltimore”, a protest song of sorts. HITNRUN Phase 2 arrived on Jay Z’s Tidal service in the same week that a Baltimore judge declared a mistrial in the case against William Porter, one of the six police officers charged with killing Freddie Gray. But even these inauspicious circumstances offer no special depth to lyrics like, “Does anybody hear us pray for Michael Brown and Freddie Gray?/ Peace is more than the absence of war” and “We’re tired of crying, people dying/ Let’s take all their guns away.”

In a year where Kendrick went HAM with a line like, “You hate me don’t you?/ You hate my people, your plan is to terminate my culture/ You’re fuckin’ evil,” and Killer Mike screamed, “It’s us against a motherfucking machine,” performing in St. Louis on the night Darren Wilson wasn’t charged in Michael Brown’s killing, it’s hard for the campy, four-on-the-floor beat of Prince’s “Baltimore” to register on the political Richter scale. If anything, the glossy, nearly musical theater schmaltz of “Baltimore” feels a bit dishonest, a plea from Pollyanna in a time of war.

Rock and roll, like sex and political activism, can be something of a young man’s game. This calculation is surely a cold, and maybe unfair, reality. Aging in the spotlight is especially fraught. While Prince is raging against the dying of the light, there exists no graceful innovation on HITNRUN Phase Two. Instead, Prince presents only an aped version of his one-time vitality.

Essential Tracks: “ROCKNROLL LOVEAFFAIR”, “LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT YOU”

[Edited 12/22/15 9:18am]

Completely agree with the review.

HitnRun Phase 2 is not a BAD album at all... But it's not a GOOD one. It's actually quite boring...

I'm very interested to see the age demographic of people listenting to this album, because quite honestly this would be a very enjoyable album for the mid 30s to 40s range... Theres a lot of energy missing in this album.

Love the lyrical concept of Black Muse, but it drags out as a song... Love Look At Me, Look At U, beautiful song as well as revelation.

But there's more energy in the first opening seconds of The Gold Standard then there is with this whole entire album...

I think most of the fans like the more organic sound, because the ppl who said AOA and Phase 1 is cringeworthy enjoy Phase 2 as an album, as a whole... I enjoy some songs on Phase 2, but what made me enjoy a Prince album in the past was excitement, the danger, the experimentation, the lust, the funk, the rock... This album lacks energy, just like Planet Earth. The "bad" Prince albums imo are not necessarily because they are "bad" in terms of musical and artistic composition... But because they are "boring."

V10LETBLUES said:

^ I don't think it's a about age, but immaturity. Can you listen to classical music? Jazz? It's about a narrow scope preference which is also part of immaturity. Like to prefer to eat only pizza and candy because everything else is boring.

Well I just finished playing Vivaldi on my record player, and have an extensive record collection of over 1,5000 records including my personal favorites such as John Coltraine, Ellington and Fats Waller... But then again that music is probably immature for someone in their 20's...

... But yes, I stand behind my opinion that while Phase 2 is more of an organic sound and I enjoy many of the songs and lyrical content... It starts to get a little boring for an album as a whole.

[Edited 12/22/15 15:55pm]

[Edited 12/22/15 16:03pm]

feeluupp said:

V10LETBLUES said:

feeluupp said:

Well I just finished playing Vivaldi on my vinyl, and have an extensive record collection including my personal favorites such as John Coltraine, Ellington and Fats Waller... But then again that music is probably immature for someone in their 20's...

... But yes, I stand behind my opinion that while Phase 2 is more of an organic sound, it starts to get a little boring for a PRINCE album.

[Edited 12/22/15 15:55pm]

Are you bored?

only by ur posts forcing ur opinion on every thread saying that AOA is cringeworthy... othar than that, not bored, just relaxing, listening to Groovy Potential as we speak.

feeluupp said:

V10LETBLUES said:

feeluupp said:

only by ur posts forcing ur opinion on every thread saying that AOA is cringeworthy... othar than that, not bored, just relaxing, listening to Groovy Potential as we speak.

I'm glad you brought up AOA. The stale pizza and candy album for immature tastes. Good call. Breakfast Can Wait, yikes!!

Can I get it for u on vinyl as a holiday gift??

... only so u can use it as a placemat for food.

[Edited 12/22/15 16:09pm]

V10LETBLUES said:

Lol thanks you. I tease you. Hope you don't take any of this too seriously.

i don't... i really like ur posts, 2 b honest as well with aero and databank... i think u three have really well detailed and fair opinions when it comes to prince and his music... not extreme always praising everything he does and not extreme always critizing everything he does

feeluupp said:

Music Review: Prince and his two-phase revolution

22 DEC 2015 13:16 LLOYD GEDYE

Prince has made a career of confusing audiences for more than 30 years. Now, a year after his successful twin-album comeback, with Art Official Age and Plectrumelectrum, he is at it again.

In September, Prince released a new album, HITnRUN Phase One, a further collaboration with twentysomething producer and songwriter Joshua Welton, who had worked on Art Official Age.

HITnRUN Phase One was almost universally panned. It was a throwaway Prince record; some critics went so far as to call it the worst he’d ever made.

In retrospect, it wasn’t so bad. For starters the sexy 1000 X’S & 0’S is a West Coast G-funk groove with a sensual performance from Prince.Then there’s the Beyoncé-esque pomp of Million $ Show (featuring Judith Hill), the raspy tech-hop swagger of Shut This Down and the footwork-inspired funk of Like a Mack (featuring Curly Fryz), which were all fruity and delicious pop performances.

Still, the majority of the Purple One’s fans remained disappointed.

Then, last weekend Prince released his second album for the year. Titled HITnRUN Phase Two, it looked as though it was conceived as a companion piece to the September album. On Jay-Z’s Tidal music retailer, where both albums were released, HITnRUN Phase Two’s 12 songs are given track numbers 12 to 23.

But the two albums do not feel or sound like companions.

HITnRUN Phase One was centered on Welton’s production aesthetic, but Phase Two harks back to a jazz-inflected, horn-heavy funk sound that many fans will associate with Prince albums of the 1990s, particularly 1992’s Love Symbol Album, 1994’s Come and 1998’s New Power Soul.

Once again Prince has sidestepped the critics and confused his fans. But they won’t be left reeling for long. HITnRUN Phase Two is a far superior album to its predecessor, and its golden funk is a reminder of why we love Prince so much, and why we can never write him off.

The uplifting protest song Baltimore, first released in May this year, starts things off, followed by Prince doing his best late-period Bob Dylan impersonation on Rock n Roll Love Affair from 2012.

Other previously released singles include the jumped-up funk of Xtraloveable (2011) and the guitar romp Screwdriver (2013).

But the more recent recordings included on Phase Two, such as the slow-groove love song that is Revelation and the gorgeous summer jam that is Look at Me, Look at U fit snugly between these singles and songs pulled from the vault.

Once again, with HITnRUN Phase Two Prince has

curated a fascinating collection of songs that give us another peek behind his magic purple curtain.

Read more from Lloyd Gedye or follow him on Twitter

V10LETBLUES said:

^ Now THAT is a classic canned pseudo-review from writer who clearly doesn't know or care what they churn out.

It was def. vanilla....Until this line:

"Once again Prince has sidestepped the critics and confused his fans. But they won’t be left reeling for long. HITnRUN Phase Two is a far superior album to its predecessor, and its golden funk is a reminder of why we love Prince so much, and why we can never write him off."

And that ^^^^^ basically captures Prince's entire career....

murph said: