Not really news, but about news. As no one else seems to have mentioned it yet. i got my copy of NEWS on Saturday 12th in the post. as anyone else got their's yet. What are your thoughts on it.

Not really 4 tracks of 14 mins each, more four tracks of bits of tracks without lyrics. More jam sessions put on Cd. Actually more BGM (back ground music). Any new directions found?

I love it. I was at logged in to listening party with paisley Park people.
You R right. There are several "ideas" in each track, by design. This adds to excitement
of NEWS. in my opinion.
Can you imaging 14 minutes of the same thing looping? I like the way the songs have songs within them.

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I think it's funny that really none of the tracks are actually 14 minutes long...they're all between like 12 1/2 and 13 with varying amounts of silence at the end.

Received N.E.W.S. today in Belgium

Received my 2 copies today (7/15) in San Francisco. I was clearly in the second batch of discs that were mailed (my billing date was 7/2), and I selected the snail-mail (cheap) option. Yes, today is a good day.

As for the more important question, I am enjoying the music. North has an element of Enigma. East has terrific drummin and near heavy metal guitar riffs. West is my current favorite with its sweet melody and jazzy digressions. South has the funk and heavy doses of Eric Leeds.

This CD will baffle the pop music critics who still have a one dimensional view of Prince as someone who starred in Purple Rain and once changed his name. I want to hear from serious music critics who will hopefully celebrate the diversity of styles that this musician can capably explore and master.