Like many a Prince abit, at first listen, I didn't really care for HNR Phase 2 at all. It just seemed so tame, so boring. It reminded me of when Green Day followed their raw rock with the middle-of-the-road blahs. Compared to Phase 1 (which also took time to grow on me) it just seemed flat.

But now 2's hidden pleasures are seeping into me. A lot of the grooves are so deep you don't really connect at first.

Some highlights:

"Baltimore" a truly strong opener.

"Groovy Potential" it just grows.

"Black Muse;" I love the way it shifts.

etc.

etc.

I can say that now I'm digging this all the way through.

A worthy final disc.

And y'all?

It's best appreciated when you can absorb multiple instruments at once. You really need to feel what everything is doing, feel the space between the notes of each instrument, etc. If you just listen to the vocal melody you won't consider this album as a masterpiece, but there are so any hidden layers to it (plus some of the song themes paint a movie). The ending of "groovy potential" changes rhythm completely because it was supposed to lead into "...when she comes". That's done on purpose. That 30-second groove at the end is the part of the movie where they finally get down and dirty, and when she comes is when they're lying in bed relaxing afterwards... most of his albums flow like a movie both musically and lyrically, and HNR Phase Two is more subtle in the musical department because of how natural the instruments sound I think.

[Edited 6/22/16 21:45pm]

GoldStandard said:

It's best appreciated when you can absorb multiple instruments at once. You really need to feel what everything is doing, feel the space between the notes of each instrument, etc. If you just listen to the vocal melody you won't consider this album as a masterpiece, but there are so any hidden layers to it (plus some of the song themes paint a movie). The ending of "groovy potential" changes rhythm completely because it was supposed to lead into "...when she comes". That's done on purpose. That 30-second groove at the end is the part of the movie where they finally get down and dirty, and when she comes is when they're lying in bed relaxing afterwards... most of his albums flow like a movie both musically and lyrically, and HNR Phase Two is more subtle in the musical department because of how natural the instruments sound I think.

[Edited 6/22/16 21:45pm]

Correctumundo about the layers. I was just listening to it in my car and couldn't believe the little things that seem to come to life.

sro100 said:

A worthy final disc.

Thankfully this won't be his final

I think it was Aerogram that stated HNR2 is just a very well compiled set of songs. I'd agree. They run well together. I like it more than HNR1. "Big City" is just wonderful. I also like the added horns on "Rocknroll Loveaffair".

TrivialPursuit said:

I think it was Aerogram that stated HNR2 is just a very well compiled set of songs. I'd agree. They run well together. I like it more than HNR1. "Big City" is just wonderful. I also like the added horns on "Rocknroll Loveaffair".

Totally agree with you. Big City is wonderful.

Still can't quite bring myself to listen to it.

Picked it up this morning...flipped it over in my hands a few times...put it back down. It's been sat on my office table for three weeks or so...can't quite bring myself to put it in the stereo.

Indeed, HNR2 is definitely a grower with a solid, multilayered sound design and some little shining gems like Stare (da bass is da funk!), When She Comes (wow, I feel here some Parade's breeze), Xtraloveable (a dance in an electric boudoire) and the smooth caresses of Revelation.

But...

I'm for HNR1, that escorts us to fresh sonic places - not necessarily experimental - and gives back to the listener (at least me, as a listener) a sense of excitement, of air and FUN that I can hardly feel in the latest release.

And the truly mastepiece is here: 1000 x's & o's!

I own the Phase 2 cd,

But I can't listen, I find it sooo boring..

Phase 1 is good though. Great cd.

"Phase 2" is great. It's really grown on me too since it's release. It's a nice laid back, organic-old school style R&B record. I even dig "Screwdriver" (and I used to hate that song). "Revelation" and "Stare" are fantastic and "Black Muse" is the best song off the album.

Loved this album from the first time I heard it, I mean it really covers a lot of ground musically. The songs are super strong on top of that.

Black Muse combined with 1000 Light Years Away is an absoulte joyous combo.

[Edited 6/23/16 7:38am]

The whole thing is good. It is multilayered -- and it is thoughtful. And, as always, it is pure funk.

Baltimore (I'm partial to my hometown and the concert he gave here last year)

Xtraloveable

Groovy Potential

Big City (alright you Polaroids!)

But the masterpiece - the modern "As" - is Black Muse. Richly layered (vocally and instrumentally). Historically poignant. Spiritually uplifting. The only thing I might change is the ending which seems like a bit of a come down (running out of things to say, so I think I'll just close for now).

The transition from the Black Muse section to the 1000 Light Years away section is pure brilliance musically.

And that intro bass line. Just incisive.

It should be in the pantheon of Prince's hits.

Phase 2 is a great album. For me Groovy Potential and Revelation are the real gems from it.

I think it is his best album since 3121. I didn't care for Phase 1. I think the album would have been even stronger had several of the songs not been released in the last few years. Once "Stare" kicks in there's about 6 solid songs in a row.

For me, "When she Comes" is so soulful, it has a kinda Al Green feel to it. I love it!

suomynona said:

suomynona said:

sro100 said:

A worthy final disc.

Thankfully this won't be his final

It most certainly is.

suomynona said:

MIRvmn said:

It's an amazing album, I still think it's his best since TRC Revelation, Groovy Potential and Black Muse are my favorite songs from HnR2

I also agree that the last album to hit me all the way through was Rainbow Children. I loved Art Offical too ....I loved One Nite Alone, and most parts of many of the albums since. However, HITNRUN 2 is AMAZING TO ME. I just loved the arrangements and have made an observation. Like Sign O The Times, this was a collection of songs he did over the previous 4-5 years. He picked thbest of those years, or most cohesive and released together as one album. It is perfect.

It is amazing to me that he ended a 40 year career with such an amazing album w/o knowing it. It amazes me that his hair style was the same as the one he had in his first year of his career. It really is amazing, his story.

unfortunately I was dumb enough to not get hold of it via TIDAL pre Christmas - how are you supposed to give anybody a Christmas present if it isn't physical?

.

Anyway, it basically pisses over everything for the past decade that isn't Art Official Age.

.

My only regret is not telling Prince that when I was beamed up by aliens the sound I heard when I got to heaven was the opening Roland D50 chords to Know, therefore proving beyond doubt from a statistical sample of one that all alien abductions are simply guided hallucinations and Roswell is a complete fraud!

AlgeriaTouchshreek said:

unfortunately I was dumb enough to not get hold of it via TIDAL pre Christmas - how are you supposed to give anybody a Christmas present if it isn't physical?

.

Anyway, it basically pisses over everything for the past decade that isn't Art Official Age.

.

My only regret is not telling Prince that when I was beamed up by aliens the sound I heard when I got to heaven was the opening Roland D50 chords to Know, therefore proving beyond doubt from a statistical sample of one that all alien abductions are simply guided hallucinations and Roswell is a complete fraud!

Thankfully David Brent Life On The Road actually exists!! *snigger* seriously it's the best Prince album by a 56 year old man ever, the man's a genius

[Edited 6/24/16 18:23pm]