Genesia said:

databank said:

That's interesting. My main problem with AOA is that I always found it structurally weak despite the conceptual angle (or desire to have one). I'd like to hear you explain in more details why you feel it achieved its purpose

Let me gather my thoughts on it. I'll have a little more time later this week and will tackle it then.

Cool, thx

luvgirl said:

This was a well thought out album by Prince. He wanted to make a statement and I think he said what he wanted to say. On first listen, Baltimore seemed mundane until I realized that I was actually listening to a masterpiece. Along with John Lennon's 'Imagine', Its's one of the most enjoyable social conscious songs I ever encountered. Black Muse is also a favorite. [Edited 10/10/16 17:02pm]

I wouldn't call it a masterpiece but I have enjoyed a similar experience with this song. It is very joyful, beautifully orchestrated and totally Prince.

funkaholic1972 said:

luvgirl said:

This was a well thought out album by Prince. He wanted to make a statement and I think he said what he wanted to say. On first listen, Baltimore seemed mundane until I realized that I was actually listening to a masterpiece. Along with John Lennon's 'Imagine', Its's one of the most enjoyable social conscious songs I ever encountered. Black Muse is also a favorite. [Edited 10/10/16 17:02pm]

I wouldn't call it a masterpiece but I have enjoyed a similar experience with this song. It is very joyful, beautifully orchestrated and totally Prince.

I had gotten the single in anticipation of the physical mainstream release of the thing and had pretty high hopes based on that single. I love it - it was so good. It doesn't seem to have gone over too well with a lot of people here and I really don't get it. I'm also quite pro-2nd amendment and I could care less if Prince wanted to write that sort of stuff into his music - it's his opinion and I'd listen to it even if I disagreed with it so - as we all should.

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Was a great album. I was not let down - in fact it was better than I had anticipated. I've loved all his work and was tremendously happy to add it to my discography. Under some sad funk around that time though.

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I just love art and feel so emotional when I think about how much it's made my life worth living. I think of that often when I listen to this album - Groovy Potential in particular. I hope we get to find out what he was working on near the end - he just sounded so goddamned vital - more than he had in a long time. What a champion he was. I love this album.

I have always loved this album, from it's surprise release last December to now. As soon as it came out, Jayspud started reviewing it and then I joined in with my own reviews.

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The only bad thing about it was its release. Prince made it very hard to get as we all remember, most of us in the now got Tidal versions and boots like me within hours, but many casual and new fans he probably wanted had to wait until February and March (Unless they went to electric fetus in Minneapolis) and of course there was fan distribution of the album (Digital Garden). I was in another city at the time and met up with a Prince buddy who told me, by the time I got home, another friend sent me a boot (We are ethical boot users - we only send them on the premise the recipient must buy an official album or download when it comes available )

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There is so much tolove on the album with no filler or rubbish, at least 5 songs on Phase 1 were fillers - Million$show, Like a Mack, Shut this down, Thic could be us remix and Mr Nelson. There is none on Phase 2, no instrumentals, 2 minute songettes or skits, just pure funk. Baltimore is a bit cheesy, but the message is great.

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Best track to me is Revelation, a great song that keeps you guessing and of course the funk bass appeal and lyrics of the leerers charter -Stare. Stare to me is the natural successor to Kiss and Black Sweat, that song gets so little love and I do not know why. Black Muse, When she comes and Screwdriver are also hot.

funkaholic1972 said:

Genesia said:

Sure - if you value quantity over quality.

Art Official Age was the most solidly concepted, completely thought through, cohesive album Prince had done in years. It would have been a very high note to go out on.

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You'd rather have not even had the music contained on the two 'HitnRun' albums at all?

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That makes no sense to me. What difference does it make - considering it wasn't like he was a Warren Zevon, George Harrison, or David Bowie who were working on one final statement to release in the face of impending death...

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I'd have rather had his last album be whatever he might've released in 2046 (or whatever decades-later date that comes to mind). Otherwise, I'm grateful for whatever he chose to release.

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His legacy wouldn't be any stronger had the 'HitnRun' album not been issued. Plus 'Plectrum' would've been his simultaneous 'last album' so it makes even less difference...

This album was a huge surprise back in Nov. It was FANTASTIC....and such a huge diff from Phase 1. Like his most artistically celebrated album Sign of The Times, this was an accumulation of material he'd recorded over the last years. He put it together and dropped it by surprise...amazing!

It is so sad but fitting that this was his last album..he left us having released his best album in years....and I'm a big fan of AOA!

Does anyone know where to pick up a vinyl copy at a reasonable price? Last I looked on Amazon the prices were very high. I'm not sure what kind of vinyl release the album was given. Thanks