A lot of music critics are hailing Van Hunt boast the heir to Prince's throne. That may be a lofty title, but I definitely agree that he's the man right now as far as the "new" acts are concerned. He's a solid singer/songwriter/multi-intrumentalist who's music blurs genres. Most importantly, he's proven to be consistent.

So what are your thoughts and if he isn't the "heir apparent," than who is?

xpertluva said:

A lot of music critics are hailing Van Hunt boast the heir to Prince's throne. That may be a lofty title, but I definitely agree that he's the man right now as far as the "new" acts are concerned. He's a solid singer/songwriter/multi-intrumentalist who's music blurs genres. Most importantly, he's proven to be consistent.

So what are your thoughts and if he isn't the "heir apparent," than who is?

As much as I love and support Van, he isn't that "new," and he isn't that dude.

In fact, if that dude exists, he isn't even a dude. Her name is Me'Shell Ndegeocello.

But at the end of the day, Van is the first Van, and Me'Shell is the first Me'Shell, and that's good enough for me.

his 26 fans are really into him, but having listened to all of his albums, I can't really say that I see that in him.

errant said:

his 26 fans are really into him

That's all kinds of cold.

xpertluva said:

A lot of music critics are hailing Van Hunt boast the heir to Prince's throne. That may be a lofty title, but I definitely agree that he's the man right now as far as the "new" acts are concerned. He's a solid singer/songwriter/multi-intrumentalist who's music blurs genres. Most importantly, he's proven to be consistent.

So what are your thoughts and if he isn't the "heir apparent," than who is?

Hey man,

I thought the first record was full of potential hit songs that still had some bite or character to them... there were so many great songs on the record! Still love it!

Unfortunately, he went left reallly quickly and stopped writing songs that were accessible by a maintstream pop music listener like myself.

I haven't gone back since On The Jungle Floor.

Anyhow, here's hoping he gets back to what made him so good - writing great pop songs.

On the Jungle Floor is one of my favorite albums of the decade. As for him being the "heir apparent". Prince had commercial success that Van hasn't come close to.

I just think he should be known as somebody who's criminally slept on and not "The Next Prince". There's been a ton of them come down the pike, and it hasn't really worked out for anyone. Just go ask D'Angelo.

I love Popular but Van Hunt ain't Prince Jr. Nor should he be categorized that way; he has his own sound. There is no replacement for Prince.

I hear what ya'll are saying. I was hesitant to use the label "heir apparent" because he'll never fill Prince's shoes, and nor should he be expected to. But that or some kind of comparison to Prince seems to come up in almost every review I read about his music.

So I guess the better question would simply be, is he the man right now? I like what he's doing. I agree with AlexdeParis, On the Jungle Floor and Popular are both terrific. And there's definitely room for Me'Shell too.

namepeace said:

errant said:

his 26 fans are really into him

That's all kinds of cold.

It might be cold and of course it is an exaggeration but he is in no way comparable to Prince in terms of commercial success. Van is heavily hyped by his fans but the reality is that his music reaches a fairly small audience.

xpertluva said:

I hear what ya'll are saying. I was hesitant to use the label "heir apparent" because he'll never fill Prince's shoes, and nor should he be expected to. But that or some kind of comparison to Prince seems to come up in almost every review I read about his music.

So I guess the better question would simply be, is he the man right now? I like what he's doing. I agree with AlexdeParis, On the Jungle Floor and Popular are both terrific. And there's definitely room for Me'Shell too.

I really loved - not enjoyed - loved the following songs from Van Hunt:

Dust, Seconds of Please, Hello/Goodbye, Anything, Highlights, Precious, Her December, Hold My Hand,

Does the new record have pop songs like the above?

I found On the Jungle Floor a major departure from the debut record - it was too far left for me. Outside of Character, I wasn't floored by the music. Would this assessment be correct?

Thanks everyone,

J

rialb said:

namepeace said:

That's all kinds of cold.

It might be cold and of course it is an exaggeration but he is in no way comparable to Prince in terms of commercial success. Van is heavily hyped by his fans but the reality is that his music reaches a fairly small audience.

I was joking, actually, because of what you just said. He can't reach the commercial heights Prince did. If Prince started out in the hip-hop era, he may not have done so himself.

I support him because he's got a unique voice all his own.

paisleypark4 said:

NO Van Hunt is just Van Hunt..thats it. Wish people would stop trying to "replace" people.

jayARDAHB said:

jayARDAHB said:

xpertluva said:

I hear what ya'll are saying. I was hesitant to use the label "heir apparent" because he'll never fill Prince's shoes, and nor should he be expected to. But that or some kind of comparison to Prince seems to come up in almost every review I read about his music.

So I guess the better question would simply be, is he the man right now? I like what he's doing. I agree with AlexdeParis, On the Jungle Floor and Popular are both terrific. And there's definitely room for Me'Shell too.

I really loved - not enjoyed - loved the following songs from Van Hunt:

Dust, Seconds of Please, Hello/Goodbye, Anything, Highlights, Precious, Her December, Hold My Hand,

Does the new record have pop songs like the above?

I found On the Jungle Floor a major departure from the debut record - it was too far left for me. Outside of Character, I wasn't floored by the music. Would this assessment be correct?

Thanks everyone,

J

Out of curiosity, what do you think of Down Here in Hell (my fav from the 1st record)?

I haven't gotten familiar enough with the new record to really comment on it yet. From Popular (although it wasn't released officially, it's not too hard to find), I think the title track, Turn My TV On, The Lowest 1 of My Desires, Feelings and Blood from a Heart of Stone are at least comparable to the songs you listed. I don't feel they veer too far into left field. They have a clear groove and accessible lyrics imo.

[Edited 12/27/11 12:52pm]

xpertluva said:

xpertluva said:

jayARDAHB said:

I really loved - not enjoyed - loved the following songs from Van Hunt:

Dust, Seconds of Please, Hello/Goodbye, Anything, Highlights, Precious, Her December, Hold My Hand,

Does the new record have pop songs like the above?

I found On the Jungle Floor a major departure from the debut record - it was too far left for me. Outside of Character, I wasn't floored by the music. Would this assessment be correct?

Thanks everyone,

J

Out of curiosity, what do you think of Down Here in Hell (my fav from the 1st record)?

I haven't gotten familiar enough with the new record to really comment on it yet. From Popular (although it wasn't released officially, it's not too hard to find), I think the title track, Turn My TV On, The Lowest 1 of My Desires, Feelings and Blood from a Heart of Stone are at least comparable to the songs you listed. I don't feel they veer too far into left field. They have a clear groove and accessible lyrics imo.

[Edited 12/27/11 12:52pm]

Great tune!!! Thanks for reminding me! Love that guitar intro, the synth flutes, and that funky rubbery bass!! Thanks for the reminder!!

I'll get back on the Van Hunt bandwagon and check Popular out!

I was hoping Van Hunt was going to take me on a musical ride like Prince did for so many years - unfortunately, I fell off after listening to On The Jungle Floor... hope it wasn't a mistake.

Anyone else that you love?

jayARDAHB said:

xpertluva said:

Out of curiosity, what do you think of Down Here in Hell (my fav from the 1st record)?

I haven't gotten familiar enough with the new record to really comment on it yet. From Popular (although it wasn't released officially, it's not too hard to find), I think the title track, Turn My TV On, The Lowest 1 of My Desires, Feelings and Blood from a Heart of Stone are at least comparable to the songs you listed. I don't feel they veer too far into left field. They have a clear groove and accessible lyrics imo.

[Edited 12/27/11 12:52pm]

Great tune!!! Thanks for reminding me! Love that guitar intro, the synth flutes, and that funky rubbery bass!! Thanks for the reminder!!

I'll get back on the Van Hunt bandwagon and check Popular out!

I was hoping Van Hunt was going to take me on a musical ride like Prince did for so many years - unfortunately, I fell off after listening to On The Jungle Floor... hope it wasn't a mistake.

Anyone else that you love?

If I'm not mistaken, most if not all of the tracks from Popular are on Youtube. So time is the only investment for you to check it out. Again, AlexdeParis might be right though. I'd expect you to dig songs like "Hot Stage Lights" and "If I Take You Home" from OTJF also. So who knows? If you do take a listen, make sure to let us know what you think.

The ironic thing, in my opinion, is that Hunt, if he wanted, could

easily ascend to the very same pop-life heavens that Prince did.

I hold this because I think Hunt is a better musician and songwriter

than Prince who is capable of crafting awesome pop tunes: Dust,

At The End of A Slow Dance, Being A Girl, Character, etc. enabling him

to be a superstar, so to speak. But Hunt is more interested in the

craft than in being a star.

But Hunt is Hunt - a comparison between the two is mostly lazy

musical scholarship anyways. They are two different moons that

orbit the same planet.

I

duccichucka said:

The ironic thing, in my opinion, is that Hunt, if he wanted, could

easily ascend to the very same pop-life heavens that Prince did.

I hold this because I think Hunt is a better musician and songwriter

than Prince who is capable of crafting awesome pop tunes: Dust,

At The End of A Slow Dance, Being A Girl, Character, etc. enabling him

to be a superstar, so to speak. But Hunt is more interested in the

craft than in being a star.

But Hunt is Hunt - a comparison between the two is mostly lazy

musical scholarship anyways. They are two different moons that

orbit the same planet.

I

I have to respectfully disagree with you. I think that like most artists Van would be thrilled to have his music reach as large of an audience as possible. If he is capable of writing massive hit singles why wouldn't he do so? He would not necessarily need to compromise his artistic integrity to do so.

I like Van but if you are suggesting that he could be more popular but chooses not to be I very much disagree with you.

rialb said:

duccichucka said:

The ironic thing, in my opinion, is that Hunt, if he wanted, could

easily ascend to the very same pop-life heavens that Prince did.

I hold this because I think Hunt is a better musician and songwriter

than Prince who is capable of crafting awesome pop tunes: Dust,

At The End of A Slow Dance, Being A Girl, Character, etc. enabling him

to be a superstar, so to speak. But Hunt is more interested in the

craft than in being a star.

But Hunt is Hunt - a comparison between the two is mostly lazy

musical scholarship anyways. They are two different moons that

orbit the same planet.

I

I have to respectfully disagree with you. I think that like most artists Van would be thrilled to have his music reach as large of an audience as possible. If he is capable of writing massive hit singles why wouldn't he do so? He would not necessarily need to compromise his artistic integrity to do so.

I like Van but if you are suggesting that he could be more popular but chooses not to be I very much disagree with you.

You can be genuinely thrilled as a musician who has no plans to reach a large

audience when your music does manage to do so.

But I've read some interviews where Hunt seems to have decided to focus on

the craft as opposed to stretching out for super stardom. Besides, take a listen

to his last two albums: they are not hook-y, hook driven or remotely accessible.

I'm not going to do the homework here but again; I've read some articles he's

done and he does not seem to set out to write music so that he's popular: I'm

not just making this shit up.

And finally, one can possess the talents to be a massive star and eschew popular

stardom; it's not incumbent upon Hunt, who I do assert has the songwriting chops

to be a pop star a la Prince, to become a pop star a la Prince.

I'm happy that Van Hunt sounds like Van Hunt and didn't waste his muse chasing

Prince or trying to ape him.

Van Hunt is a talented artist.
That is all.

BlaqueKnight said:

Van Hunt is a talented artist.
That is all.

LOL - I mean, yeah, you can pretty much sum up all of your favorite

musicians that way: Prince is just a talented artist. Any

superlative we give him is subjective so therefore, disputable.

But somehow, I think you are trying to slight him and that is fine;

I'm an interlocutor, not his momma.

BlaqueKnight said:

Van Hunt is a talented artist.
That is all.

Prince and Van are two different people, no two are the same in any area, my issue with Van is there is still alot of gaps in recording time for me to have that "Prince" type output, if output is what we are talking, if we are talking the stardom thing, well that was 30 years ago, things like that dont happen now, there could never be an artist allowed to take 4 albums before he sells, and then take over totally and then allowed to take a left turn and alienate that "base" which Prince did over and over, not going to happen in these days.

paisleypark4 said:

NO Van Hunt is just Van Hunt..thats it. Wish people would stop trying to "replace" people.

....and there it is

duccichucka said:

BlaqueKnight said:

Van Hunt is a talented artist.
That is all.

LOL - I mean, yeah, you can pretty much sum up all of your favorite

musicians that way: Prince is just a talented artist. Any

superlative we give him is subjective so therefore, disputable.

But somehow, I think you are trying to slight him and that is fine;

I'm an interlocutor, not his momma.

Perhaps you are overthinking.

I dig some of dude's work. No slight here; it is what it is.

lastdecember said:

BlaqueKnight said:

Van Hunt is a talented artist.
That is all.

Prince and Van are two different people, no two are the same in any area, my issue with Van is there is still alot of gaps in recording time for me to have that "Prince" type output, if output is what we are talking, if we are talking the stardom thing, well that was 30 years ago, things like that dont happen now, there could never be an artist allowed to take 4 albums before he sells, and then take over totally and then allowed to take a left turn and alienate that "base" which Prince did over and over, not going to happen in these days.

LD, why is Hunt's productivity, as compared to Prince's, cause for an

"issue"? The reason why I ask is sometimes, Prince's productivity, if

you ask me, was also a hindrance: it would take 2 or 3 albums to see

any artistic growth because he was releasing an album once a year.

That Prince output should've been reigned in whereby instead of him releasing

mediocre work, he could have edited himself to release great work.

Mozart wrote super fast; Beethoven took his time. Both composers left

behind enduring music. But at the end of the day, I fully expect Hunt to

release the greatest R&B/pop album of all time, besting What's Goin' On

and Parade.

duccichucka said:

rialb said:

I have to respectfully disagree with you. I think that like most artists Van would be thrilled to have his music reach as large of an audience as possible. If he is capable of writing massive hit singles why wouldn't he do so? He would not necessarily need to compromise his artistic integrity to do so.

I like Van but if you are suggesting that he could be more popular but chooses not to be I very much disagree with you.

You can be genuinely thrilled as a musician who has no plans to reach a large

audience when your music does manage to do so.

But I've read some interviews where Hunt seems to have decided to focus on

the craft as opposed to stretching out for super stardom. Besides, take a listen

to his last two albums: they are not hook-y, hook driven or remotely accessible.

I'm not going to do the homework here but again; I've read some articles he's

done and he does not seem to set out to write music so that he's popular: I'm

not just making this shit up.

And finally, one can possess the talents to be a massive star and eschew popular

stardom; it's not incumbent upon Hunt, who I do assert has the songwriting chops

to be a pop star a la Prince, to become a pop star a la Prince.

I'm happy that Van Hunt sounds like Van Hunt and didn't waste his muse chasing

Prince or trying to ape him.

Van's songwriting ability is most impressive. Poetic, caustic, incisive, grounded, and any number of adjectives apply.

I can't say I've enjoyed everything. But the less appealing the music may be, the more impressed I've been. His actual music, arrangements, etc. are matching the challenging nature of his lyricism. What Were You Hoping For? is an achievement of both word and sound.

I am glad that he is allowing his craft to direct him. But I think that was forced on him a bit. He debuted in an industry with a dying business model. His sound for many reasons didn't "fit" what audiences and companies thought they wanted. Even his more accessible work was lost in the shuffle. Even some legendary artists may not have made it big if they'd faced what he did.

We who worried whether Prince would regain his creative edge should have never done so. We should have been content with the work he provided for us already. Likewise, those who wondered whether someone would be the "next Prince" should have -- and should now -- appreciate the distinctiveness of voices like Van Hunt's. They can fill whatever void Prince has left in the world of sounds, with new and interesting ones of their own.

duccichucka said:

The ironic thing, in my opinion, is that Hunt, if he wanted, could

easily ascend to the very same pop-life heavens that Prince did.

I hold this because I think Hunt is a better musician and songwriter

than Prince who is capable of crafting awesome pop tunes: Dust,

At The End of A Slow Dance, Being A Girl, Character, etc. enabling him

to be a superstar, so to speak. But Hunt is more interested in the

craft than in being a star.

But Hunt is Hunt - a comparison between the two is mostly lazy

musical scholarship anyways. They are two different moons that

orbit the same planet.

I

For reasons explained above, I disagree that Van could have achieved the success Prince did in a prior generation.

Van had more disadvantages than Prince, not the least of which was that certain acts before Prince provided a more recent frame of reference for the mass audiences.

Prince began his career relatively close on the heels of the acts to which he was compared -- Sly, Stevie, Jimi, et cetera. Those acts had broad commercial and artistic success. Prince was ripe for the time: his music had echoes of those stars, and he blended the funk, r&b, new wave, disco, and rock sounds that had been popular in his day (late 70's-early 80's) and distilled them into a hot product.

Van did not have that luxury, and I think it hurt him. He debuted when mass audiences were looking for the next Nirvana, Tupac, Biggie, etc. He wasn't "ripe" for his time, in terms of achieving mass success. I think he could do so but he'd sound decidedly different.

I will say this though -- if they had switched places, this site may have been called "Van.org"