FunkyBrotha said:

Probably one of the most interesting aspects of his decision making process post 2000 was the release of 20ten in Europe with no official American release whilst at the same time holding back on releasing W2A, an album laser focused on America itself. Personally I think 20ten is the stronger album with universal messages of love and compassion and since Prince is an international artist perhaps he felt that American political commentary would be isolating vast swathes of his followers. 20ten has some stunning tracks, future soul song, la vaux and beginning endlessly are far better than anything on this most recent release so I'm finding it hard to accept the views expressed frequently that it was a poor album. I believe Prince knew exactly what he was doing and Im convinced that he wasnt entirely satisfied with W2A to an extent. With a bit more fat in some of the songs it could have been a stellar album

Well you've had 11 years to digest one and a few days to digest the other.

Why do so many people insist on making declarative statements the second an album is released?

Maybe wait a while and see how Welcome 2 America sits with you after, I don't know, a month? 6 months? A year? Before you decide.

Rimshottbob said:

FunkyBrotha said:

Probably one of the most interesting aspects of his decision making process post 2000 was the release of 20ten in Europe with no official American release whilst at the same time holding back on releasing W2A, an album laser focused on America itself. Personally I think 20ten is the stronger album with universal messages of love and compassion and since Prince is an international artist perhaps he felt that American political commentary would be isolating vast swathes of his followers. 20ten has some stunning tracks, future soul song, la vaux and beginning endlessly are far better than anything on this most recent release so I'm finding it hard to accept the views expressed frequently that it was a poor album. I believe Prince knew exactly what he was doing and Im convinced that he wasnt entirely satisfied with W2A to an extent. With a bit more fat in some of the songs it could have been a stellar album

I agree with you. I think Prince made W2A with the intention of coming back to it at a later date. For example, When She Comes on Hit and Run 2 is much better after he let it marinate for a bit. W2A is a good album, but I think Prince put it together to get his ideas recorded with the intention of coming back to it as I stated above.

20Ten in my opinion is a great album which was put together really well and was developed at least over a years time. Prince knew what was release worthy at the time and he made the right decision by releasing 20Ten over W2A.

Prince was always ahead of his time from 1 to 3 years throughout his legendary career and sometimes even 8 to 10 years i.e. ICNTTPOYM, Tick,Tick,Bang, New Power Generation aka Bold Generation, Data Bank, Chocolate, G-Spot and the many others songs written years prior to their release.

If Prince were alive today, some of these songs would have made it out on some album as the inital ideas were strong; they just needed a little more time in the oven.

[Edited 7/31/21 10:41am]

So far, I would say 20Ten is my preference but I really need more time to know. For me, 20Ten was so fun and accessible in a way that most of his later albums weren't. I know some people thought he was being lazy, but to me it just seemed he wanted to make a fun album rather than an ambitious one. I think W2A is probably more ambitious, but it is not as easy to take in on an initial listen.

Rimshottbob said:

Future Soul Song sounded amazing live in concert. Gave me goose bumps.

I dont think Prince chose one over the other. I believe his reasons for not releasing W2A had zero to do with 20Ten. I tend to agree with the "Not hurting Obama" Theory. Good to see 20Ten better appreciated on the Org...some of the usual suspects were brutal to the album upon its release. It contains 2-3 CLASSICS and a couple other stellar songs...still need to absorb W2A, but LOVING the Rin Tin Tin jam.

I think W2A is more cohesive and has a great live band feel, but I think 20Ten songs were more catchy (or maybe W2A needs to grow on me)

jdcxc said:

I dont think Prince chose one over the other. I believe his reasons for not releasing W2A had zero to do with 20Ten. I tend to agree with the "Not hurting Obama" Theory. Good to see 20Ten better appreciated on the Org...some of the usual suspects were brutal to the album upon its release. It contains 2-3 CLASSICS and a couple other stellar songs...still need to absorb W2A, but LOVING the Rin Tin Tin jam.

Yes, Rin Tin Tin is an early favorite that reminds me of some those uniquely Prince classics that no one else would ever come up with. For me, W2A is already grower. Time will tell how large .

playtime92 said:

20Ten is a bottom tier album for me. I quite like Future Soul Song (not as much as some people but i like it) but that's basically it. Like MPLSsound it just seems to be mining things he's done before but in weaker, less interesting ways. Welcome 2 America isn't a masterpiece but the only aggressively bad song on it is Hot Summer. Check the Record is mediocre and Stand Up and B Strong is corny but both are more listenable than most of 20Ten. I agree with people who say they wish the production was weirder, but the songs in the main are better written and it hangs together well. A 3.5 album, where 20Ten is barely a 2 for me.

Act of God and Sticky Like Glue are pure GENIUS. "Sticky" has the type of inventive concise groove that only Prince (or James Brown) cud do. Its so damn rythmically clever.

W2A is such a completely sonically different album that it is remarkable that they were created around the same time. This process really foreshadowed wat he wud do the rest of his life...parallel projects that mined different elements (3rd Eye, NPGQ, Mono, Big Band, Solo), all operating at the same time.

jdcxc said:

GustavoRibas said:

Close call for sure!

I've never given 20ten a chance. When it comes out on CD I will rediscover it. I like that throwback sound. It hearkens back to my favorite Prince era

I really love 20ten and still just discovering W2A so I cannot compare them fairly yet. Some songs on W2A have a slight Steely Dan feel to them which is nice but nothing really stands out yet for me on the album at least not like 20ten did at first listen. Hot Summer sounds like a mix between 96 Tears (a 60s song), Shake (from Graffiti Bridge) and Guitar lol.

Nothing on W2A is better than just 10 seconds of Future Soul Song. Game over.

I rarely listen to 20ten but do really like Future Soul Song and Laydown.

I've listened to Welcome 2 America 3 times now and it's grown on me slightly. To my ears the arrangements on some of the songs sound like they'd fit perfectly in musical theatre.

I'm more than happy and grateful for any new music and I'll always support new releases but although I prefer it to 20Ten, at the moment I don't think Welcome 2 America will be on regular rotation either.

I'll give it a chance and a little more time to grow on me more.

SantanaMaitreya said:

purplethunder3121 said:

Future Soul Song sounded amazing live in concert. Gave me goose bumps.

I wish I had been there. 20Ten does contain some amazing gems. I also really like Sea of Everything (the soulful harmonies towards the end are incredible).

jdcxc said:

CherryMoon57 said:

emesem said:

Nothing on W2A is better than just 10 seconds of Future Soul Song. Game over.

You should have heard him sing it live.