I have to say HitnRun Phase 2 is a solid album. I had fallen off the new stuff since Musicology and beyond. It was just not too much that got my attention and it was kind of ok but not great. As Prince said on "Don't Play Me" his new music competes with the old. And as I am older and spoiled even a new Prince song has a hard time measuring up.

I bought most of the albums or at least gave them a listen. But as I said not too intrested.

But Phase two is a solid album. I do skip 2 songs. One is just a little too crass and imature (Screwdriver) the other I just can not listen to at all.

I did notice that he referes to older Prince songs several (at least 4) times. He also has some name drops. The last one seems to be Stevie Wonder (in terms of track order).

anyway: if you have not give it a try...

I love Phase Two and listen to it often. It's got an old school organic soul vibe. There are a few curveball songs, but I certainly don't skip any. I usually listen to both Phase One and Two together because they offset one another well. That bassline on "Stare" is so good, and the horns on "Xtraloveable" are aces. And I love "Revelation" and "Big City."

brassneck said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

I have to say HitnRun Phase 2 is a solid album. I had fallen off the new stuff since Musicology and beyond. It was just not too much that got my attention and it was kind of ok but not great. As Prince said on "Don't Play Me" his new music competes with the old. And as I am older and spoiled even a new Prince song has a hard time measuring up.

I bought most of the albums or at least gave them a listen. But as I said not too intrested.

But Phase two is a solid album. I do skip 2 songs. One is just a little too crass and imature (Screwdriver) the other I just can not listen to at all.

I did notice that he referes to older Prince songs several (at least 4) times. He also has some name drops. The last one seems to be Stevie Wonder (in terms of track order).

anyway: if you have not give it a try...

I just love this album. When it came out, I said right away that this was his best in many years and I am a fan of many recent albums. I thought AOA was fantastic. Phase 2 was just amazing and it shares something wtih SOTT....both SOTT and Phase 2 were a collection of songs he'd recorded over the previous x years.

JoeyCococo said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

I have to say HitnRun Phase 2 is a solid album. I had fallen off the new stuff since Musicology and beyond. It was just not too much that got my attention and it was kind of ok but not great. As Prince said on "Don't Play Me" his new music competes with the old. And as I am older and spoiled even a new Prince song has a hard time measuring up.

I bought most of the albums or at least gave them a listen. But as I said not too intrested.

But Phase two is a solid album. I do skip 2 songs. One is just a little too crass and imature (Screwdriver) the other I just can not listen to at all.

I did notice that he referes to older Prince songs several (at least 4) times. He also has some name drops. The last one seems to be Stevie Wonder (in terms of track order).

anyway: if you have not give it a try...

I just love this album. When it came out, I said right away that this was his best in many years and I am a fan of many recent albums. I thought AOA was fantastic. Phase 2 was just amazing and it shares something wtih SOTT....both SOTT and Phase 2 were a collection of songs he'd recorded over the previous x years.

I want to also add that although I loved all of Prince's albums, some did not wow me like Phase 2, Rainblow, Lotus, AOA did. However, upon listening to some again, I am even more impressed by his output. Musicology had some amazing music, as did 3121 and Planet Earth. He set such a high bar that songs like 'Te Amo Corozon' or Resolution', or Chelsea Rodgers or Reflection or Dr Mr Man or Somewhere Here On Earth were sort of glossed over by us. Now that I know there will be no new creations, I listen this and marvel at what an inciedible talent he was. Listen to the 'on the couch' and you can see how much effort he put into everything...that is a quiet track that went unnoticed by me who is such a huge supporter. He has left so much for us to explore and re-explore to appreicate.

rainbowchild said:

brassneck said:

I love Phase Two and listen to it often. It's got an old school organic soul vibe. There are a few curveball songs, but I certainly don't skip any. I usually listen to both Phase One and Two together because they offset one another well. That bassline on "Stare" is so good, and the horns on "Xtraloveable" are aces. And I love "Revelation" and "Big City."

I listen to AOA, Phase One and Two as a triple album.

this idea i love. wish he toured playing these songs.

tab32792 said:

It's still a fantastic album. Even just seeing the words "HITnRUN Phase Two" on the screen makes me feel happy.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I’m not that keen on phase 1 but phase 2 for me is great album. I listen to it regularly, it sounds more Prince to me than the previous phase. I like the idea suggested upthread of listening to AOA, Phase 1 and 2 all together as I think those records belong to an era of their own. Baltimore is good, I love that P did a protest song about what is going on but wish it was a little more gritty. Maybe P didn’t want to stir up anything so he just put out a chilled out vibe instead. Revelation is amazing, I love the extended version. Black Muse and Groovy Potential are cool too. There is nothing on this record that I skip so many good songs but a few where I prefer a different version.

JoeyCococo said:

JoeyCococo said:

I just love this album. When it came out, I said right away that this was his best in many years and I am a fan of many recent albums. I thought AOA was fantastic. Phase 2 was just amazing and it shares something wtih SOTT....both SOTT and Phase 2 were a collection of songs he'd recorded over the previous x years.

I want to also add that although I loved all of Prince's albums, some did not wow me like Phase 2, Rainblow, Lotus, AOA did. However, upon listening to some again, I am even more impressed by his output. Musicology had some amazing music, as did 3121 and Planet Earth. He set such a high bar that songs like 'Te Amo Corozon' or Resolution', or Chelsea Rodgers or Reflection or Dr Mr Man or Somewhere Here On Earth were sort of glossed over by us. Now that I know there will be no new creations, I listen this and marvel at what an inciedible talent he was. Listen to the 'on the couch' and you can see how much effort he put into everything...that is a quiet track that went unnoticed by me who is such a huge supporter. He has left so much for us to explore and re-explore to appreicate.

I agree with you about Phase2, RC, Lotus and AOA, I love these albums too. Prince gave us so much great, beautiful and sometimes simply meh music that I found it difficult at times to keep up with him and really listen and allow it to digest. I’m going to take my time and listen to some of his music that I didn't like on first listen again to see if my opinion has changed over time.

I bought HnR2 with trepidation, fearing that it would reflect some type of decline. Boy, was I wrong. Despite the songs being created at different times, the album really makes a distinct musical statement with such cool horn arrangements and songs. I sure wish he would have had an opportunity to include more of these songs in concert, as the ones I have heard in live recordings are dynamite. I also think out of all his later albums that this one would have likely drawn a lot of people who hadn't bought his 2000s+ material because it is very accessible and good. Unfortunately, it just didn't get the promotion it deserved.

I fkn hate myself for not buying HITnRUN Phase Two from TIDAL. Just waited for the CD. So that's at least four months of frothing enthusiasm that could have averted this crisis.

AlgeriaTouchshreek said:

EmmaMcG said:

AlgeriaTouchshreek said:

I fkn hate myself for not buying HITnRUN Phase Two from TIDAL. Just waited for the CD. So that's at least four months of frothing enthusiasm that could have averted this crisis.

I just downloaded it illegally and then bought the CD when it was released. Problem sorted

he did look like a character from Peanuts when he released those balloons though. x