Just got back from a Sunday trip to Target for some toilet paper, a tube of Colgate, and the new Prince album, which went on sale today exclusively at the big-box retailer. Here’s a quick report (on Prince, that is; the other two are performing more or less as expected).
First, the good news. On the surface, at least, this is a fantastic deal. Three CDs — Prince’s new Lotusflow3r and Mplsound albums, plus another disc he wrote and produced for new protege Bria Valente — for $11.98. That’s well over two hours of music for the price of most single-disc albums. Also, there’s…well, that’s pretty much the only good news. Because after dragging myself through the whole thing, this is Prince’s most disappointing set in years. Only a handful of the Prince-sung tracks make much of an impression (if you must, check out "4Ever," which builds to a nice climax, and "U’re Gonna C Me," a decent-enough falsetto ballad), while the rest sound dreary and tossed off (the lowpoint: a half-hearted cover of "Crimson and Clover" that mixes in a bit of "Wild Thing" for no discernible reason). It’s tempting to say Prince just didn’t have the material to fill out two full albums, but a single disc of highlights would still represent a baffling comedown from his often-excellent previous three albums. And by the time he got around to poor Valente’s disc, Prince had obviously completely run out of tunes. Her Elixer is a total waste, a 45-minute slog through sleepy, tuneless, listlessly sung lite-R&B tracks that wouldn’t have made the cut on a third-rate Vanity record. As a massive Prince fan for 25 years now (Purple Rain is still probably my favorite album) it pains me to say this, but Lotusflow3r just isn’t isn’t worth your cash — even at a mere $3.99 a disc.
Has anyone else heard this new set? Weigh in below — or if you’re as disappointed as I am, reminisce about your favorite Prince album of years past.
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Comments (1-15) of 133 Add your comment
Thanks for the review, Rob. I’m a Prince fan from way back as well, and am waiting until after Lent to purchase this album. I was intrigued by some of the songs on his website, but it sounds like I’ll be disappointed again if I purhase this. Ah well – I would still play a premium to see him live, though.
I bought all Prince albums from the first to “Diamonds and Pearls”. I have heard some of the others and some, not at all. I am HUGE fan of “Sign of the Times” – “Wild Thing”, the title cut, “If I Were Your Girlfriend”, just a phlethora of great tunes. SOTT is way underrated.
As a reported HUGE Prince fan… uh, it’s Hot Thing AKA “HOTT THANG”… not Wild Thing.. but thanks for Playin’ in the Sunshine, now shut up already… DAMN
I bought the last one Planet Earth (I think it was the last one) and not buying this. too much Prince. He’s very self-indulgent to think that someone wants to hear two hours of his songs. He said at one time he had thousands of songs and he wanted to release them all before he died; well I guess he’s found a mechanism for doing that. Planet Earth is excellent. And I pity him, because he’s trying to break barriers and prove something like this can be done. Let’s see if it sells in Soundscan, but my thinking is — while 11.98 is a bargain and might be emulated by others — you would have to be a total PRINCE GROUPIE to want 3 disks and 2 hours of his songs.
Saying Prince is self indulgent is pretty unfair to say, if you are a true Prince fan, you listen to all the music, whether they are hits are something you like on a more personal level. In essence dont pity him, he doesnt make music to gain cash and hope each one is a hit, some of best songs are ones you’ve never heard.
I don’t know what you’re talking about… these albums, well at least Lotusflow3r and MPLSOUND, are fantastic. I can’t stop playing Lotusflow3r… it’s got every style of music you could want. The Crimson and Clover cover is banging… listen to that guitar. And what about Boom!, Colonized Mind, Wall of Berlin, Dreamer… those instrumentals Enter the Lotus, 77 Beverly Park, and Back to the Lotus? Again, again, fantastic work here. This album is brilliant.
MPLSOUND is a definite head banger – Dance 4 Me, Valentina, Old School Company… plus some silky sweet ballads. How could you not love it?
As far as Elixer, I’ve got no interest in that album, but Everytime is a nice track.
Lotusflower A-
MPLSOUND B+
Elxer (haven’t listened to it)
Who wouldn’t want 3 disks and 2 hours of music from a genius? You don’t have to listen to it all at once. Prince is just too good, way too good for most people.
Yeah, I dunno. I was just talking to a friend of mine who happens to be a fellow Prince fanatic, and I was saying that it’s my fault for not coming to terms with the fact that the man will never make the blue album or Sign ‘O’ The Times again. I really dug 3121, of his more recent releases, but yeah…this one is just whatever. I think I like MPLSound the best, ’cause it’s got some old school Minneapolis flavor–but Lotus Flow3r is kind of wack, and the Valente disc is TOTALLY wack.
I’ll always buy the new Prince, simply ’cause I can’t help myself…but I know there’s often a good chance of being severely disappointed.
Give it another listen. Lifelong Prince fans here. And the “music” is pretty good – heavier guitar than expected. Sure the lyrics are little weak (for Prince standards) but the set as a whole feels livelier than the last.
Give it another listen. Lifelong Prince fans here. And the “music” is pretty good – heavier guitar than expected. Sure the lyrics are little weak (for Prince standards) but the set as a whole feels livelier than the last.
Hmm a Prince fan for 25 years and Purple Rain is your favorite record? That makes me skeptical because every generic “Prince fan” says Purple Rain is their favorite.
The new Prince album(s) are great. Check them out.
I totally disagree!I am a bigg Prince fan and just picked up my copy of this wonderful 3 disc set.I thought the music was just amazing and I do have to say the Purple Man himself has returned back to the sound.Keep on rockin and if your a deep Prince fan you will enhoy the new(old)sound of Prince.
Agree with this review. I am a die-hard (pretty much life-long) Prince fan. Everything the man made from For You to Diamonds and Pearls was fantastic. Then, all of sudden – he just lost it. Musically the man is a genius, and to see him live is well worth the price of the ticket, but I find myself literally hoping that the “next one” is the one where he recaptures his magic. I have been waiting for that to happen since the “Love Symbol” album – and am still waiting. There is one track on these 3 CD’s that I loved from the first listen and that’s “Better With Time”. MPLSound is easily the best of the three discs. It’s nice to hear that signature Prince snare from the 80’s again. Preferred the version of “U’re Gonna C Me” from the One Night Alone CD.
Ask yourselves this: If this were a new CD from an artist you had never heard of – how would you rate it then?
We give Prince the benefit of the doubt because he has earned it. But be honest…these CD’s aren’t that good
Somehow I know you’re lying, you have NEVER been a “massive Prince fan”. You certainly don’t sound like one, at all. Lie all you want, I don’t believe you.
Hopefully the ear transplant technology is perfected soon, because you are in SERIOUS need Rob!
There are so many funky grooves, blistering guitar solos and amazing harmonies here – Fans of real musicianship and true creativity need to pick this up.
Feel Better, Feel Good… Colonized Mind… Dance 4 Me… Chocolate Box…
Seriously, this CD is a no-brainer!
I think that Lotus Flow3r is awesome! Some of THE best guitar playing Prince has ever laid down. A great Prince ‘rock’ album dripping in a sea of Hendrix and classic rock sounds. MPLsound is the sound of Prince visiting the ‘ole school’ sounds of Dirty Mind, Sly Stone and the Funkadelic. I love this set. Prince has been on a creative roll since Musicology.
Sigh. I just don’t get it. I was a HUGE fan of Prince in the 80’s and early 90’s…and then came the boring and self-indulgent ‘Emancipation’. Since then, it’s been a lot of mid-tempo jazz fusion ‘jams’ and little in the way of his legendary songcraft. And now after a few recent bright spots (“Black Sweat”, “Cinammon Girl”, “PFUnk”), we’ve got more of his ‘jams’.
Thanks for the warning, Rob. I think I’ll pass on.