Nice approach

The AoE/ HnR1 and Plectrum Electrum had some songs that could be switched for better effect and feel related. As if HnR was several EPs thrown together.

The HnR has a good total consistent album vibe and holds up although I miss "the bite" I need in Prince sound. Its too easy on the ears for me but I still have a soft spot for it.

Landonfunkmonkey said:

I really liked both of these albums.

I believe I'm in the minority when I say I like Phase 1. Most people here on the Org hated it. Partly because they didn't care for Josh's style. I actually like Josh's style and thought it freshened Prince's sound, so I didn't mind. People also faulted it because they saw it as a remix album, rather than a new composition. I understand that complaint, but it didn't bother me.

Phase 2 got a much better reception here on the Org. Most people like the organic sound and electic style. There were some people who faulted it for being a compilation album, with songs taken from abandoned projects, rather than being an album that was conceived as whole. That criticism never made sense to me. You could say the same exact thing about Sign O' The Times. It doesn't make it a lesser album.

lurker316 said:

I really liked both of these albums.

I believe I'm in the minority when I say I like Phase 1. Most people here on the Org hated it. Partly because they didn't care for Josh's style. I actually like Josh's style and thought it freshened Prince's sound, so I didn't mind. People also faulted it because they saw it as a remix album, rather than a new composition. I understand that complaint, but it didn't bother me.

Phase 2 got a much better reception here on the Org. Most people like the organic sound and electic style. There were some people who faulted it for being a compilation album, with songs taken from abandoned projects, rather than being an album that was conceived as whole. That criticism never made sense to me. You could say the same exact thing about Sign O' The Times. It doesn't make it a lesser album.

'Sign "O" The Times' IS a compilation.

'Graffiti Bridge', 'Planet Earth' & 'Hit N Run, Phase 2', are also such.

lurker316 said:

I really liked both of these albums.

I believe I'm in the minority when I say I like Phase 1. Most people here on the Org hated it. Partly because they didn't care for Josh's style. I actually like Josh's style and thought it freshened Prince's sound, so I didn't mind. People also faulted it because they saw it as a remix album, rather than a new composition. I understand that complaint, but it didn't bother me.

Phase 2 got a much better reception here on the Org. Most people like the organic sound and electic style. There were some people who faulted it for being a compilation album, with songs taken from abandoned projects, rather than being an album that was conceived as whole. That criticism never made sense to me. You could say the same exact thing about Sign O' The Times. It doesn't make it a lesser album.

I also liked both Phases. Phase 1 really grew on me. I like Phase 2 better BUT I listen to Phase 1 more. Don't ask me to explain that

Interesting approach. It´s interesting how they are completely different. Phase 1 is ultra modern, electronic, and Phase Two is more retro.

.

Phase Two is such an underrated album. Yes, we fans call every album underrated, but I really love this one. Some great songs AND production. I love to listen to it with earphones, paying attention to everything. And I dont do it with every Prince album.

i wonder how many other tracks were ready for phase III besides the ones he released the months before his death

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

The two would make a very good single album It is cliche to say but true I doubt he would go further into the vault at that time Maybe later, but who knows really [Edited 2/24/24 6:51am]

No, it is just a cliché.

They are two different styles of albums and deliberately so.

GustavoRibas said:

Interesting approach. It´s interesting how they are completely different. Phase 1 is ultra modern, electronic, and Phase Two is more retro.

.

Phase Two is such an underrated album. Yes, we fans call every album underrated, but I really love this one. Some great songs AND production. I love to listen to it with earphones, paying attention to everything. And I dont do it with every Prince album.

Phase 1 is underrated, but I have trouble playing it. Not because I don't like it, but because I like it so much I get sad that this is an indication of where he may have gone in the future if he had not died.

I have no complaints against Phase 2, but its retro sound does not leave missing what could have followed.

RODSERLING said:

There was no Phase 3 lol

?

Maybe I'm wrong, but Free Urself and If Eye Could Get Ur Attention were singles with '80 vibes, and Prince social shared artwork of "lovesexy" Prince with the same style of Phase 1 and 2. I think Prince was following several project hypotheses, including Black Is The New Black, Freeurself and another phase of the hitnrun. Do you have more reliable source about this?

themanfromneptune said:

RODSERLING said:

themanfromneptune said:

?

Maybe I'm wrong, but Free Urself and If Eye Could Get Ur Attention were singles with '80 vibes, and Prince social shared artwork of "lovesexy" Prince with the same style of Phase 1 and 2. I think Prince was following several project hypotheses, including Black Is The New Black, Freeurself and another phase of the hitnrun. Do you have more reliable source about this?

For sure. Had Prince Lived today, we would be welcoming Hit N Run Phase 15. That was such a pair of albums that were so successfully received by the critics and the charts, that Prince scheduled a sequel immediately.

.

(translation)

- Do you have more reliable source about this?

- No, but I learned the basic elements of sarcasm in primary school

- I see

lustmealways said:

themanfromneptune said:

RODSERLING said:

lustmealways said:

Phase II is a genuinely great collection of songs. [Edited 2/26/24 10:05am]

First 4 songs are terrible. That's the lamest intro ever for a Prince album. Some good songs here and there, but still filled with clunkers such as Revelation or When She Comes.

I really love those songs, and the album as a whole.

Isn't it fun how we're all different?

[Edited 2/27/24 0:37am]

RODSERLING said:

themanfromneptune said:

.

(translation)

- Do you have more reliable source about this?

- No, but I learned the basic elements of sarcasm in primary school

- I see

Do you have some reliable source that Phase 3 was scheduled ? No. I see.

.

I never told it was scheduled. Quote: "I think Prince was following several project hypotheses, including Black Is The New Black, Freeurself and another phase of the hitnrun".

[Edited 2/27/24 2:56am]

themanfromneptune said:

RODSERLING said:

themanfromneptune said:

.

I never told it was scheduled. Quote: "I think Prince was following several project hypotheses, including Black Is The New Black, Freeurself and another phase of the hitnrun".

[Edited 2/27/24 2:56am]

Ok, so you think. Then, there s the real world outside.

.

The "real world outside" is that Prince died, cretinetto.

Yay! Isn't it cool when a thread ends up with 2 people having a pissing contest?

For me, Look at Me, Look at You was Prince's last great song. I've probably given it more airplay than anything else in the last 10 years. It just feels very organic and 'Rainbow Children' esque. I adore it.

Wasn't keen on HNR1 - even though it does have some great songs on there, it's just a bit of a mixed bag. Whereas HNR2 is much more even in quality for me. As last albums go, I think it does his legacy justice & really highlights who he had become as an artist in the 2000s.

When I first heard HNR 2, I despised the song 'Screwdriver'. I thought it was derivative and cheesy. But over time it grew on me. In fact, it might be my favorite song on the album now. It's either that or 'Big City'.

RODSERLING said:

lurker316 said:

1. Million $ Show - It's a nice enough hype song, which he used at concerts, but it doesn't belong on an album.
2. Shut This Down - The best thing about this song is the bass.
3. Ain't About 2 Stop - Terrible.
4. Like a Mack - Terrible.
5. This Could B Us - Inferior to the original.
6. Fallinlove2nite - Nice song, but overall a bit "meh".
7. X's Face - Fantastic lyrics that unfortunately decend into monkey noises.
8. Hardrocklover - Great song that would have been greater with a longer guitar solo.
9. Mr. Nelson - Unnecessary.
10. 1000 X's & O's - Not as good as the original, but still pretty great. Unfortunately the composition is too repetitive and would have been better with some embelishments towards the end of the song.
11. June - One of the few highlights on the album. It's strangely melancholic.

HnR 1, overall, is a mishmash of mostly uninspired songs, some of which could have been fleshed out and even better.

1. Baltimore - Cheesy, but sincere enough. I don't go out of my way to listen to this.
2. Rocknroll Loveaffair - I've always really enjoyed the song, but I don't think it benifits from the horn overdubs.
3. 2 Y. 2 D. - Decent enough.
4. Look at Me, Look at U - Probably the last glimps of Prince's genius. The lyrics and composition are perfect.
5. Stare - Nice funk work out with some ammusing self-references.
6. Xtraloveable - This might be a sin, but I've always prefered this version to the 1982 and 2011 iterations.
7. Groovy Potential - Magical composition, but the lyrics are half-assed.
8. When She Comes - A very nice Prince ballad. Equally as good as the original W2A version.
9. Screwdriver - The extended mix is better, but either way, this song has no place on this album. Boyfriend or Ain't Gonna Miss U would have been much better. Ridiculous inclusion.
10. Black Muse - Another wonderful, inspired song. The interpolation with 1000 Light Years is amazing.
11. Revelation - Another last glimps at Prince's genius. Great lyrics, perfect vocal performance and the composition is interesting, while not in the way.
12. Big City - Cheesy, but I like it.

HnR2 is a pretty great album. For me, the listening experience is only ruined by Screwdriver.