RYAN FAN CLUB MERCH
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Prince - Planet Earth
Prince comes at us with his new album, following up the (in my opinion) disappointing 3121 and excellent Musicology records. The third installment of the artist formerly known as the Artist Formerly Known As Prince's 'don't-call-it-a' comeback was given away free in the UK's Mail On Sunday tabloid paper prior to it's worldwide release. I live in Canada, so I had to pay $16.99 for it.
The Good: The great thing about Prince is that his music never really falls into any specific category. He seems to have done everything except for an Irish drinking song and a National Anthem for a new country. If anyone ever forgot that Prince knows how to rock, they'll be reminded with the song Guitar. Apparently borrowing a little from U2, the song puts the tongue in your cheek with a swift kick to the balls... but in the good way. The other stand-out track, Chelsea Rodgers, is also the album's sweet surprize. It's the funky Prince that makes you dance and buy cougars drinks to loosen them up a bit. Future Baby Mama is the slow-groove Prince for those cozy, rainy afternoons. And at the beginning of Lion of Judah you might catch yourself popping up and saying Purple Rain??? The album cover comes with a neat-o lenticular image of Prince with the Earth and his Symbol. It's shiny and gets people's attention.
The Bad: The problem with Prince having done just about everything is that sometimes you'll hear a new song and say to yourself, Didn't he do that already? I found myself counting the moments until the end of songs like Somewhere Here On Earth and All The Midnights In The World. There are a few political and social references on the album as well, and personally that ain't why I listen to his royal badness. As for the cover and liner notes, there is no tracklisting on the album, so if you just picked the album up out of the blue you'd have to let iTunes (or similar program) tell you what the song titles are. And my last complaint isn't so much about this album in general but about Prince music in general for the last few years. Does anyone else remember when Prince's voice had an attitude of Je ne sais quoi to it? These days he sounds cool and all, but (and I hate to use these words) back in the day his voice just oozed of a big, powerful "Unh!" and it was so awesome.
The Verdict: Out of ten songs there are two outstanding tracks and four other good tunes. It's worth picking up to listen to at least twice. You'll put Guitar on repeat. In a perfect world I'd replace the four songs I don't like with the only four songs I did like from 3121. Then I'd funk myself all the way to the other side of Planet Earth... and maybe I'd get a free CD while I'm there.
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