NorthC said:

The booklet on my version does have thevphoto, but it's missing the lyrics to 2Y2D and the last three songs, which is a shame, because Black Muse seems the most interesting lyric-wise. And I want to thank those who dug up the background info about it being two songs squeezed into one. [Edited 12/31/16 7:29am]

Very weird. Wonder what is up with that. Mistake? Cost saving?

That album will always be very special for me as I recived it at the end of his "Piano and a Microhone" performance at the Sydney Opera House in February 2015.

Still grieving, but his music always gives me "a kick in the pants" to wake up to myself about making the most of life.

KevinB

Noodled24 said:

I liked Phase 1 better!

luvgirl said:

Noodled24 said:

I really like Phase 2.

I get that some of the songs had been released as digital singles. Though IIRC the versions on the album were different to the previously released mixes.

He doesn't use his falsetto much on this album. Not to say he doesn't at all, but most songs are in his lower register - even a couple of ballads/slow songs.

Coming off the back of Phase One, I really don't think it could have been described as predictable. It sounds nothing like the album that came before it.

RnRLAffair, Look At Me, Stare, ExtraLovable, When She Comes, Screwdriver, Revelation - All classic Prince IMO. Black Muse would be in there too if not for the entire second half of the song existing for no real reason.

Funny you should say that about the second half of Black Muse because it's the reason why the song stands out to me in such a profound way. It's brilliant in my opinion.

Exactly my opinion. The 2nd part of the song takes it from being a good song and makes it a great one!

[Edited 1/1/17 7:21am]

I like this album. At this point in his career, Prince didn't need to innovate again - he had already spent the first decade doing that. I was just happy to get a solid collection of pretty good songs, and though it isn't exactly the ideal 'farewell' album, there's something nice about listening to Prince continue to be happy, motivated and doing what he loved.

smoothcriminal12 said:

I like this album. At this point in his career, Prince didn't need to innovate again - he had already spent the first decade doing that. I was just happy to get a solid collection of pretty good songs, and though it isn't exactly the ideal 'farewell' album, there's something nice about listening to Prince continue to be happy, motivated and doing what he loved.

I would add that I do think Prince was extending himself on Black Muse and Revelation, adding two great songs that are unlike any of his others.

NorthC said:

With so many songs I already heard, I wasn't in a hurry to buy this one, but I could find it for a nice price, so here we go... If I had to sum up this album in one word, it would be: predictable. And I don't only mean this in a negative way: it has this 70s Stevie/Sly vibe to it and it sounds fantastic. But there's nothing on it that he didn't do before. This is Prince playing it ultra-safe. Screwdriver provides some much needed rock & roll, otherwise the album would have put me to sleep. But the best song on this album is a slow song: Revelation stands head and shoulders above the rest. So it's nice to have, but nothing outstanding. And I have a question: I know there's two different versions of this album: the original that was sold by Fetus and a later version. I don't know which one I've got! How can you tell the difference?

It has Groovy Potential

nuff' said

A top 10 P album for me. I loved when it was released, i bought it on fetus. And still love it.

luvgirl said:

Noodled24 said:

I really like Phase 2.

I get that some of the songs had been released as digital singles. Though IIRC the versions on the album were different to the previously released mixes.

He doesn't use his falsetto much on this album. Not to say he doesn't at all, but most songs are in his lower register - even a couple of ballads/slow songs.

Coming off the back of Phase One, I really don't think it could have been described as predictable. It sounds nothing like the album that came before it.

RnRLAffair, Look At Me, Stare, ExtraLovable, When She Comes, Screwdriver, Revelation - All classic Prince IMO. Black Muse would be in there too if not for the entire second half of the song existing for no real reason.

Funny you should say that about the second half of Black Muse because it's the reason why the song stands out to me in such a profound way. It's brilliant in my opinion. Baltimore too, is something very special...

Each to their own.

I love the song, It reminds me of "Train" - a bouncy little pop song. I don't care much for the 2nd half, because it doesn't go anywhere. I wouldn't say it was bad, I just wish it had been tracked separately.