4.5 star review of Prince's CD in The Australian Music Review section dated 19-20 March. If anyone has a subscription perhaps they could post it. This is my transcription from the print copy:

Originally available only in digital formats, Hit N Run Phase Two was pressed and given away to attendees of the Australian leg of Prince's Piano and Microphone tour. The title says much about the tour and the way it was announced and performed in a matter of weeks. It was a great way to bring attention to a new album, but somewhere in the midst of the hullabaloo the music got overlooked.

More than anything Hit N Run Phase Two (Phase One was released last year) sounds like a man with something to prove. He certainly hasn't appeared to be trying so hard to impress since Purple Rain. If there were any questions about the 57-year-old's abilities to match his heyday they are answered time and again. This is the album fans have been waiting for since at least 2004's Musicology and maybe much longer.

When he's one best form, as he is on almost everything here, it seems so effortless. Each song is crammed with ideas. It's a dizzying experience where pop hooks vie for attention with funky bass, horn lines, massed backing vocals and lashings of the Purple One's guitar. None get in the other's way. The credits don't make it clear who is playing what and how much the New Power Generation contributed but whether there are 10 players or they are performed by a one-man band the results are stunning.

He revisits a couple of his most famous licks in RocknRoll Loveaffair and Stare. The latter also contains a nod to some questionable gear of yesteryear when he recalls "when we used to go on stage in our underwear". He may be dressing more conservatively these days but When She Comes and Screwdriver shows he maintains his direct approach to writing about sex.

It's not all so playful. The arresting Baltimore is Prince's response to the deaths of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray and the Black Lives Matter movement. The chant "if there ain't no justice, there ain't no peace" states his feelings clearly. He has created a classic 1970s soul sound, including a sizzling string section, that harks back to the time of the civil rights movement. Like the album, Baltimore speaks of the timelessness of the man's music. Who knew he had another stone classic in him. Polly Coufos

yuck, Phase 2... bad album..

thedance said:

thedance said:

laurarichardson said:

thedance said:

yuck, Phase 2... bad album..

-// That is your opinion this cd has received excellent reviews. Stop hating on real RnB. He one of the best to ever do it

I have to say that "yuck, bad album" seems to be a more and more bizarre response to this album the more I listen to it... sure, not everything on there is stellar, but the more I listen, the more I like it. I really enjoyed Phase One as well, but this certainly has more substance, and I love themore organic nature of it and the musicianship... and it's true, while I wasn't a fan of Baltimore when I first heard it, I now think it's excellent. It really does have that 'genuine' soul sound, like Sly & The Family Stone etc... the string arrangement is great, the chants...

Anyway, while of course everyone has their own opinion.... I'm amazed that someone who likes Prince's music would dislike this that much......

laurarichardson said:

thedance said:

yuck, Phase 2... bad album..

-// That is your opinion this cd has received excellent reviews. blah blah....

of course its my opinion...

I speak my honest opinion and I dislike that crappy album..

please respect different opinions - if we all felt the same about everything, it would be a little boring don't you think..

anyway I am entitled to have an opinion, just like you have yours.....

.

[Edited 3/22/16 3:45am]

thedance said:

laurarichardson said:

thedance said: -// That is your opinion this cd has received excellent reviews. blah blah....

of course its my opinion...

I speak my honest opinion and I dislike that crappy album..

please respect different opinions - if we all felt the same about everything, it would be a little boring don't you think..

anyway I am entitled to have an opinion, just like you have yours.....

You're entitled to your opinion, but posting it at every opportunity is overkill. What's more is that you state your opinion as though its an observable fact, which it isn't - the general consensus around here is that HnR2 is pretty damn good.

HnR2 is a CLASSIC Prince album to me. I like it better than anything he's released since the 80s. I've played it non-stop since release and my love only grows. My one wish is that he would have made it a standalone project -- with its own title and unique artwork -- rather than a continuation of Phase One. I know this: After the heights of this album, I CANNOT WAIT to hear what comes next.

black muse and revelation r just as good as anything ever released

NorthC said:

thedance said:

yuck, Phase 2... bad album..

Yeah, I know. You told us that 100 or 200 times already.

Yep NorthC

[Edited 3/22/16 7:36am]

okay okay boys.. but do guys really like Baltimore, RnRla, etc......?

and the rest of that c-r-a-p...... those songs makes Purple & Gold into something good..

thedance said:

okay okay boys.. but do guys really like Baltimore, RnRla, etc......?

and the rest of that c-r-a-p...... those songs makes Purple & Gold into something good..

i actually agree with u... i don't think hit n run phase 2 is a "classic" Prince album... we all know what "classic" Prince albums are, and imo phase 2 is deff not a classic.

i feel phase 2 is overrated once again because it comes after a series of subpar releases... aoa, plectrum, phase 1, are nothing special... so to most of the fans they feel phase 2 is the most consistant release... could be... but i feel phase 2 is very flat, and becomes dull... the horns that are supposed to elevate energy and vibrance in the album, actually does the exact opposite... reminds me of renato, good musicianship, but makes everything more dull... that's the paradox of it all...

yes i think groovy potential, revelation, and look at me, look at u, are good songs... but not strong enough overall to make the album a "classic"

to b honest, as much as i dislike the first half of phase 1, 2 b honest, phase 1 contains much more energy, and diversity as a prince album, and imo i feel hardrocklover, 1000 x's & o's and june contain more energy than anything on phase 2.

just imo ofc.

but i am not a fan of phase 2, it's deff not an album i play often...

phase one is pee, so phase two is>>>>>>>!!!

thedance said:

Rimshottbob said:

feeluupp said:

jayspud said:

feeluupp said:

i actually agree with u... i don't think hit n run phase 2 is a "classic" Prince album... we all know what "classic" Prince albums are, and imo phase 2 is deff not a classic.

i feel phase 2 is overrated once again because it comes after a series of subpar releases... aoa, plectrum, phase 1, are nothing special... so to most of the fans they feel phase 2 is the most consistant release... could be... but i feel phase 2 is very flat, and becomes dull... the horns that are supposed to elevate energy and vibrance in the album, actually does the exact opposite... reminds me of renato, good musicianship, but makes everything more dull... that's the paradox of it all...

yes i think groovy potential, revelation, and look at me, look at u, are good songs... but not strong enough overall to make the album a "classic"

to b honest, as much as i dislike the first half of phase 1, 2 b honest, phase 1 contains much more energy, and diversity as a prince album, and imo i feel hardrocklover, 1000 x's & o's and june contain more energy than anything on phase 2.

just imo ofc.

but i am not a fan of phase 2, it's deff not an album i play often...

Whilst I like both albums for different reasons, I would very much agree with you that Phase One has a very high energy level, the first four songs are very high-tempo. Hardrocklover is a great track.

i feel like phase 2 is "elevator" music, 2 b honest... it's just kind of a dull album, even all the beats on each song feel like it's for midage people with low testosterone

... and 2 b honest with u... i feel most of the fans that are indeed middle aged, praise this album because it doesn't sound "experimental"... there's nothing sophisticated about this album in terms of a musical sense.

the line that's drawn between a "horrible" album and a "great" album, is being experimental... because many Prince albums that either have a "hot" or "cold" effect with the fans, many saying it's great, many saying it's not, ex: The Rainbow Children... they all have one thing in common... it's something NEW.

Phase 2 there is nothing new, it's almost a PLANET EARTH 2, where an album that's as boring as PHASE 2 can do no wrong, and is a sigh of relief when u compare it to albums like PLECTRUM and PHASE 1.

Reviews are a bunch of baloney. Especially concert reviews. I hear some of them are written in advance by an artist's PR team. I don't know if this is true of Prince, but it is suspicious how his most obviously flawed concerts and cd's are never reviewed as such.

feeluupp said:

... and 2 b honest with u... i feel most of the fans that are indeed middle aged, praise this album because it doesn't sound "experimental"... there's nothing sophisticated about this album in terms of a musical sense.

the line that's drawn between a "horrible" album and a "great" album, is being experimental... because many Prince albums that either have a "hot" or "cold" effect with the fans, many saying it's great, many saying it's not, ex: The Rainbow Children... they all have one thing in common... it's something NEW.

Phase 2 there is nothing new, it's almost a PLANET EARTH 2, where an album that's as boring as PHASE 2 can do no wrong, and is a sigh of relief when u compare it to albums like PLECTRUM and PHASE 1.

I think you're right that 'Experimental' (I know Prince doesn't like that term!) albums often stand out and whilst they divide such as TRC and HITnRun Phase One, they do create a lot of debate and interest. I think the very fact Prince sees these albums as Phases almot encourages him to do something strikingly different from the last with ech Phase.

jayspud said:

feeluupp said:

... and 2 b honest with u... i feel most of the fans that are indeed middle aged, praise this album because it doesn't sound "experimental"... there's nothing sophisticated about this album in terms of a musical sense.

the line that's drawn between a "horrible" album and a "great" album, is being experimental... because many Prince albums that either have a "hot" or "cold" effect with the fans, many saying it's great, many saying it's not, ex: The Rainbow Children... they all have one thing in common... it's something NEW.

Phase 2 there is nothing new, it's almost a PLANET EARTH 2, where an album that's as boring as PHASE 2 can do no wrong, and is a sigh of relief when u compare it to albums like PLECTRUM and PHASE 1.

I think you're right that 'Experimental' (I know Prince doesn't like that term!) albums often stand out and whilst they divide such as TRC and HITnRun Phase One, they do create a lot of debate and interest. I think the very fact Prince sees these albums as Phases almot encourages him to do something strikingly different from the last with ech Phase.

i agree with u...

i think each phase is a different sound... however... i feel phase 2 is played too "safe" also i feel there is no musical depth to phase 2, nothing new, nothing special, when an album is neither "great" or "horrible" it will soon be forgotton... because it's just boring... perfect example, planet earth... 9 years later... does anyone care or even remember the music from that album as a milestone in prince's catalouge??

HITnRUN 2 is WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY better than Planet Earth, which I agree is pretty much dead in the water, musically.... Prince sounds far more inspired here, like he's actually enjoying himself... Considering this album is really a clearing house for a bunch of tracks from the last few years that didn't have a home, it's amazing how cohesive it is, bar a couple of mis-steps...

And it's certainly not anaemic funk, these grooves sound fresh and alive to me, the arrangements are tight, no it's not that 'experimental' but it's not by the numbers either, not much by the numbers about GRoovy Potential, Xtralovable, Black Muse....and no it's not just 'middle-aged' people liking it because it's safe, that has nothing to do with it, this is just a very good album...

It's like loving Marvin Gaye's What's Going On and then complaining because Let's Get It On 'isn't very experimental'... no, it's just another great record... I'm not suggesting HITnRun 2 is on par with those classics, but I feel it'll certainly hold up better in future years than Planet Earth et al....

I think Phase 2 is his best album for a long time. But far as I remember Prince fans have always been divided on his albums and people prefer different things. Not that I want to compare this album to older classics, but even when Around the World in a Day and Parade came out I remember some fans expressing a great disliking while others loved them.

Rimshottbob said:

HITnRUN 2 is WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY better than Planet Earth, which I agree is pretty much dead in the water, musically.... Prince sounds far more inspired here, like he's actually enjoying himself... Considering this album is really a clearing house for a bunch of tracks from the last few years that didn't have a home, it's amazing how cohesive it is, bar a couple of mis-steps...

And it's certainly not anaemic funk, these grooves sound fresh and alive to me, the arrangements are tight, no it's not that 'experimental' but it's not by the numbers either, not much by the numbers about GRoovy Potential, Xtralovable, Black Muse....and no it's not just 'middle-aged' people liking it because it's safe, that has nothing to do with it, this is just a very good album...

It's like loving Marvin Gaye's What's Going On and then complaining because Let's Get It On 'isn't very experimental'... no, it's just another great record... I'm not suggesting HITnRun 2 is on par with those classics, but I feel it'll certainly hold up better in future years than Planet Earth et al....

HitnRun 2 might be better than Planet Earth, but after listening to the album, it leaves you with an incomplete feeling... It lacks energy... The horns on most of the songs sounds like elevator music. Whenever a PRINCE album lacks energy... It is no longer considered a PRINCE album, in my view.

Musical sophistication is no excuse, because there is nothing "new" or "unique" about Phase 2. It's like we heard it all before... It's just bland. It's not a bad album at all, there are some good songs on the album, but the rest just sounds like there's nothing invented or even re-invented... Phase 2 is totally boring.

It's only cohesive because it comes after albums that aren't as strong... I mean 20Ten, AOA, Plectrum, Phase 1, all of those albums as a whole are nothing "great" so I understand why many phase are saying this is Prince's "best album in a while..."

Is it "middle aged"... Well we can ask that to the younger generation and see what songs if any really move them... For me playing Phase 2 in the car even when I'm sitting in traffic, puts me to sleep. I rather play the more experimental and less cohesive Phase 1, at least it has more of a rebelious feel, especially with the songs like Hardrocklover... Phase 2 is good, it's not bad, not great, but it does nothing for me as a Prince album.

A Prince album imo should contain musical sophistication, mixed with rebelion and experimental sounds that push the listener into contemplation... For the better, or even for the worse...

PHASE 2 simply is... Been there, done that, imo.

MIRvmn said:

thanks2joniandu said:

^ I disagree. Baltimore and the rest sucks:

Rimshottbob said:

HITnRUN 2 is WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY better than Planet Earth....

Planet Earth have 1 excellent song: Future Baby Mama

Phase 2 have two excellent/ good: Groovy Potential & Revelation..

However both are really bad and imo very uninspired "dead" albums...

I agree with all FeelUupp said above about Phase 2, he's better to explain than I am in foreign language..

"Phase 2 lacks energy", you are soooo right, thanks I am not alone..

Better luck with an album.. next time, to: Prince..

thedance said:

^ I disagree. Baltimore and the rest sucks:

Rimshottbob said:

HITnRUN 2 is WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY better than Planet Earth....

Planet Earth have 1 excellent song: Future Baby Mama

Phase 2 have two excellent/ good: Groovy Potential & Revelation..

However both are really bad and imo very uninspired "dead" albums...

I agree with all FeelUupp said above about Phase 2, he's better to explain than I am in foreign language..

"Phase 2 lacks energy", you are soooo right, thanks I am not alone..

Better luck with an album.. next time, to: Prince..

I always knew I was alone in liking 'The One U Wanna C'