revelation is so perfectly smooth and steamy. it kills me. what a track.

lustmealways said:

HNR Phase One: to me, sounded like he was chasing some outdated trends. It didn't feel like "Prince" to me at all. That's not to say that I don't like a few of the tracks, but overall it felts like a misstep.

HNR Phase Two: this one feels like "Prince" throughout. I listen to this one a lot.

There is a totally different vibe on the records where one seems more slick, computer programmed etc..where as the other (2) feels like a band jam party. But that could/should be an angle to collate what they want to release from the vaults if they do anything at some point. I agree HIT N RUN would be a good "heading" to file those things under. I know some even dismiss his 2014 and on work sometimes I think just like in other Prince eras because he was doing so much, there is gold to find in places

Phase 2 is a great collection of songs. Look At Me and Revelation the pick of the bunch, and dare I say masterpieces.

The only negative for me at the time was the fact we already had half the tracks.

.

Phase 1 is a funny one and has grown on me a bit. Can go from sublime to ridiculous in seconds.

Likes of Aint About 2 Stop and This Could B Us are songs of 2 halves. First halves you have the 'if you're not a Rita bot, you're a blood clot' and comical Ross Geller sound effects but 2nd halves have some cool guitar and bass.

Se7en said:

Ndorphinmachina said:

Se7en said:

HNR Phase One: to me, sounded like he was chasing some outdated trends. It didn't feel like "Prince" to me at all. That's not to say that I don't like a few of the tracks, but overall it felts like a misstep.

HNR Phase Two: this one feels like "Prince" throughout. I listen to this one a lot.

I think Phase 1 was exciting to me because it sounded contemporary (compared to most of his 00's output). It's a bit hit and miss in places but overall, I think it's a welcome addition to his catalogue. Despite what may have been claimed, I doubt Josh had free reign. He was installed as a producer so that Prince could attempt a more modern sound (which I don't think Prince could have achieved on his own at this point), and if it backfired then "it was Josh". I also wouldn't put it past Prince to have been compiling Phase 2 in tandem. Knowing it had stronger songs. Had things gone well with Phase 1, he couldn't very well let himself be outdone by Mr Welton. I think it was quite a bold move for a legacy artist. It didn't pay off in terms of commercial success, though I'm not sure anything he put out would have. But as an experiment or exercise in diversification of his catalogue I'm glad it happened.

All good points!

A similar (in theory) project was when Timbaland produced Chris Cornell's album "Scream". That one wasn't well-received either, although it does have some great material on it.