What's On Adrian's Stereo!

2007 : What Was On Adrian's Stereo?

A word of explanation at this stage. Firstly, hover your mouse over the pictures and text will appear informing you of the
album title and end of year position. Secondly, to compile this list 10 points were awarded for a montly position of 1, 9 for
an album reaching number 2 - and so forth. Thank you.

Radiohead	Lisa Knapp	The Fall	Von Sudenfed
LCD Soundsystem	Good, Bad & The Queen	Babyshambles	Joe Meek
Clinic	The Free Design	PJ Harvey	Black Francis
Jose Gonsalez	Paul McCartney	Icky Thump	Neil Young
Stuart Staples	Joe Meek	High Llamas	Clinic

2007 Listings

Lisa Knapp ran Radiohead all the way. Lisa is just some wee lass appearing at festivals this year
who happens to be wonderful. Good list this year. These albums are just scratching the surface!

December 2007

1 In Rainbows - Radiohead ( - )
It's made a strong late run for 'What's On' of the year.

2 Born To Be With You - Dion ( NE )
Phil Spector and Dion unite in gloriously overblown style.

3 Kites Are Fun - Free Design ( -1 )
Also been listening to their other albums.
This Stereolab inspiring band are where it's at!

4 Chrome Dreams II - Neil Young ( -1 )
Still for the ten minute plus 'Ordinary People' alone.

5 The Rotten Mile - Gallon Drunk ( NE )
Their best in years, yowsa! Noisy, messy and organy.
Just as you might reasonably expect.

6 Fish Out Of Water - Chris Squire ( NE )
Prog rock, pop and jazz and the best Yes solo record.

7 Shotters Nation - Babyshambles ( -4 )
I still can't get no sleep.

8 White Chalk - PJ Harvey ( -2 )
As chilled out yet still scary as you'd want it to be.

9 Wild And Undaunted - Lisa Knapp ( - )
She's just got such a voice and special atmosphere.

10 As I Am - Alicia Keys ( -3 )
Not as good as her previous LPs but still decent stuff.

November 2007

1 In Rainbows - Radiohead ( - )
The sign of a truly great album is that it lasts.
I haven't tired of this one iota.

2 Kites Are Fun - Free Design ( NE )
Brilliant sixites harmony group. Family members?
Where have I heard that before? Hmmmm.

3 Chrome Dreams II - Neil Young ( NE )
For the ten minute plus 'Ordinary People' alone.
Neil still can bang out the rockers.

4 Shotters Nation - Babyshambles ( - )
Growing on me actually, because the bloke in the flat
upstairs keeps playing it full volume.

5 Bigger And Deffer - LL Cool J ( NE )
An excellent rap set from an uncool J people just don't
talk about no more.

6 White Chalk - PJ Harvey ( -4 )
Would have loved to have heard this 'in session' on the
late, great John Peel. It's a latenight kind of set.

7 As I Am - Alicia Keys ( NE )
Not as good as her previous LPs but still quality stuff.

8 In Our Nature - Jose Gonzalez ( -5 )
Jose does these simple songs and makes them
sounds mysterious. Good on him!

9 Wild And Undaunted - Lisa Knapp ( -4 )
Album of the year? Very nearly, very nearly.
Trust me, this newly crowned folk princess will be back.

10 Bluefinger - Black Francis ( -4 )
THRESHOLD! THRESHOLD! THRESHOLD! THRESHOLD! THRESHOLD!

October 2007

1 In Rainbows - Radiohead ( NE )
Absolutely stunning. They deliver, simple as that.
The Beatles of their generation? Quite possibly, quite possibly.

2 White Chalk - PJ Harvey ( NE )
Spooked and mysterious, much like its creator.
Also like its creator, largely beautiful.

3 In Our Nature - Jose Gonzalez ( +3 )
Jose does these simple songs and makes them
sounds mysterious. This is an addictive listen.

4 Shotters Nation - Babyshambles ( NE )
It has energy and focus, but not the best Pete
Doherty songs.

5 Wild And Undaunted - Lisa Knapp ( -3 )
Many gems are on this collection. I recommend
it to everyone.

6 Bluefinger - Black Francis ( -5 )
It's been a pretty good year for music, hasn't it?
What a great top six albums this month!

7 Lady's Bridge - Richard Hawley ( - )
There's a couple of crackers on here, but I still
need to listen more to make a final judgement.

8 Probably Art - Day One ( NE )
Unknown, quirky and catchy band produce
quality album. Dig in and delve.

9 In Search Of The 4th Chord - Status Quo ( -6 )
Ok, this is my guilty pleasure for the month.
So, shoot me!

10 Canon - Ani Difranco ( -6 )
Ok, i've heard most of this before.
For those of you that haven't, buy it!

September 2007

1 Bluefinger - Frank Black ( NE )
The best Frank Black album since year zero, nearly!

2 Wild And Undaunted - Lisa Knapp ( - )
This is a keeper and anybody even slightly interested in UK folk should own it.

3 In Search Of The 4th Chord - Status Quo ( NE )
Their best since the 70s? Possibly!

4 Canon - Ani Difranco ( NE )
A sprawling 2 disc set. The hard to please at the Ani board think my review is a bio!

5 Untitled - Korn ( NE )
Their best in many a moon.

6 In Our Nature - Jose Gonzalez ( NE )
A new entry in all sorts of ways. Need to listen more.

7 Lady's Bridge - Richard Hawley ( NE )
A couple of excellent songs are good for starters.

8 Graduation - Kayne West ( NE )
Better than 50 cent.

9 Tromatic Reflexxions - Von Sudenfed ( -6 )
Down, down, deeper and down.

10 Days Ahead - Teresa Edwards ( NE )
Don't know of her? Neither do I, but it's a good album.

August 2007

1 Roots And Echoes - The Coral ( NE )
Absolutely wonderful new Coral album. Check it out.

2 Wild And Undaunted - Lisa Knapp ( NE )
A new folkie nearly as good as Eliza Carthy and Bellowhead!

3 Tromatic Reflexxions - Von Sudenfed ( +2 )
Gets better and stranger. His Granny on bongos.

4 The Stooges - The Stooges ( NE )
GIRL I WANNA be your DOG

5 Memory Almost Full - Paul McCartney ( -4 )
Merserybeatin'.

6 Planet Earth - Prince ( -2 )
Still searching for the purple rain.

7 Deserter Songs - Mercury Rev ( NE )
A welcome reminder of times gone by.

8 Icky Thump - White Stripes ( -2 )
Sliding down the ages gently.

9 Surfing 1963 - The Ventures ( NE )
I'm into instrumental bands presently.

10 Funf - Clinic ( -3 )
Disappearing from the chart but not from our hearts.

July 2007

1 Memory Almost Full - Paul McCartney ( NE )
The best McCartney album since the last one!

2 Alchemist Of Pop - Joe Meek ( Non )
Still Meeking in outer-space at the bottom of the well

3 A Moveable Feast - The Sharp Things ( NE )
A new band, so support them buy buying their CD

4 Planet Earth - Prince ( NE )
Don't buy his CD. Oh wait, you can't!

5 Tromatic Reflexxions - Von Sudenfed ( Non )
The excellent Mark E Smith, with his Granny on bongos.

6 Icky Thump - White Stripes ( -3 )
Still picking this one up from time to time. They've yet to let us down.

7 Funf - Clinic ( -3 )
I like Clinic and wish them well

8 Blue Alert - Anjani Thomas ( NE )
Only for the Leonard Cohen lyrics

9 Family Tree - Nick Drake ( NE )
Eerie and lonely sounding songs from long ago

10 Lionheart - Kate Bush ( NE )
Well, we'll get to the newer albums shortly.

June 2007

1 Freakbeat - Joe Meek ( new entry )
I have an obession, it's true.

2 The Alchemist Of Pop - Joe Meek ( new entry )
I have an obession, it's true.

3 Icky Thump - White Stripes ( new entry)
Yet another good Stripes effort.

4 Funf - Clinic ( new entry )
Hear them now.

5 Tromatic Reflexxions – Von Sudenfed ( new entry )
MES!

6 Momento – Bebel Gilberto ( new entry )
The Billie Holiday of bossanova.

7 Mirrored – Battles ( new entry )
Innovation in an age of conformity.

8 EP Collection – Joe Meek ( down 7 )
Superb package all round.

9 Hey Trouble – Concretes ( new entry )
Hey trouble.

10 Tanto Tempo – Bebel Gilberto ( new entry )
As above.

May 2007

1 EP Collection - Joe Meek ( new )
Twelve CDs from eight or nine of Joe Meek's finest acts.
All in replica sleeves and all are absolutely brilliant, especially
the Fabulous Flee-Rekkers who create Sax led instrumentals of
the like you just ain't heard before.

2 This Little Girl's Gone Rockin' - Glenda Collins ( new )
Apart from six or so tracks at the start that Joe Meek didn't produce,
a consistent run of excellence from Glenda Collins and Joe Meek.
Some of the finest sixties pop never to chart, please delve straight in.

3 Rufus Wainwright - Release The Stars ( new )
A great voice, of that there is no doubt. Funnily enough, it's taken
a few TV appearances from the man to get me to be convinced to take the
time to listen to him properly. Now I have, boy am I glad that I did.
Stunning stuff.

4 Person Pitch - Panda Bear ( new )
From the Animal Collective comes a solo album of some note. Everything
created with haunting, ghostly vocals and a couple of cheap samplers.

5 Bjork - Volta ( new )
A new Bjork album rarely fails to intrigue and it's exactly the same
this time around. 'Volta' contains a few collaborations with noted
hip-hop producer Timbaland and the results are fascinating and enjoyable.

6 Tori Amos - American Doll Posse ( new )
A new Tori album and normally i'd be more excited. Truth be told, i've
not been excited by a new Tori album since 'Scarlet's Walk'. Perhaps her
time has been and gone? Still, there are a handful of marvellous tracks on
the LP, as expected, but we expect more, don't we? It's a harsh world.

7 Songs For The Young At Heart – Stuart Staples/Various ( re-entry )
One of my albums of the year, absolutely. I love it when something utterly
different comes along. These beautifully set, minimalistic songs for the young
at heart deserve to be cherished by a wide audience.

8 Because Of The Times – Kings Of Leon ( new entry )
'OH NO!!'. In the absence of a new Pixies album, the best rock band apart from
The Pixies produce for us yet again. 'SUCH A CHARMER!!'

9 Rush - Snakes And Arrows ( new entry )
The me of ten years ago would have shot me now for liking a Rush album.
Now, I like several and this is better than average stuff, certainly.

10 Dinosaur Jr - Beyond ( new entry )
Nothing here as good as 'Freak Scene'. Not the fabled comeback many have said,
instead, it's rather 'ho-hum' kind of mid-nineties sounding stuff.

April 2007

1 Follow The Leader – Eric B And Rakim ( new entry )
The best rapper and the best rap album? Well, so far in my journey.

2 Straight Outta Compton – N.W.A. ( new entry )
Furious, aggressive and exhilarating all round.

3 Because Of The Times – Kings Of Leon ( new entry )
Another stupendous album from the kings that can do no wrong.

4 Songs For The Young At Heart – Stuart Staples ( up 3 )
Charming album of the year award goes to this small gem.

5 Sound Of Silver – LCD Soundsystem ( up 5 )
Watch the tapes!! Uh!

6 Rhyme Pays – Ice-T ( down 1 )
Ice-T in good album shock? Don't be.

7 It Takes A Nation Of Millions – Public Enemy ( new entry )
Believe the hype for now.

8 The Weirdness – The Stooges ( new entry )
The first stooges album i've heard. Possibly not a good start!

9 Radio – LL Cool J ( new entry )
LL Cool J. Now I understand.

10 King Of Rock – Run DMC ( New Entry )
His Macdonalds fits in a mouth the size of a garange. Size extra large!

March2007

1 Reformation Post TLC – The Fall ( non mover )
The mighty fall effortlessly sail to the top with another snarlingly good top-notch effort-uh!

2 Can Cladders – High Llamas ( up 8 )
Haven’t listened a lot yet, because whisper it, it’s not yet released!

3 H To He – Van Der Graaf Generator ( new entry )
A wonder to behold is Van Der Graaf Generator in full flight and this is that.

4 Burlesque – Bellowhead ( new entry )
The saviours of British folk music.

5 Neon Bible – Arcade Fire ( new entry )
It's no 'Funeral'. It's only just out, but it's good!

6 Visitations – Clinic ( down 1 )
A clangingly good modern alternative rock album without an ounce of commerciality.

7 Songs For The Young At Heart – Stuart Staples ( new entry )
Designed like a children’s story book. I mean, how good is that?

8 Rising For The Moon – Fairport Convention ( new entry )
Listening and re-listening. Are there hidden depths or is it just rubbish?

9 Viva Last Blues – Palace Brothers ( new entry )
He’s got a new partner. Top tune, my son.

10 Sound Of Silver – LCD Soundsystem ( down 4 )
Haven’t listened a lot yet, because whisper it, it’s not yet released!

February 2007

1 Reformation Post TLC – The Fall ( up 3 )
Stupendous, of course,

2 The Good, The Bad And The Queen – S/T ( down 1 )
Haunting and fairly original, actually. Props to Damon, especially if you don't want to.

3 A Weekend In The City – Bloc Party ( up 6 )
Far better than a dodgy torrent file first suggested.

4 Visitations – Clinic ( up 1 )
Growing into being one of their best albums

5 Narcissit Road – The Hours ( new entry )
Well, everybody likes angular guitar indie rock, don't they?

6 Sound Of Silver – LCD Soundsystem ( down 3 )
A good sophomore set, because it's exactly as good as the debut.

7 King Of Rock – Run DMC ( new entry )
F**k you!

8 White Light – Gene Clark ( new entry )
Songwriting masterclass gets here after 3 listens.

9 Grinderman – Grinderman ( down 2 )
The listening has been down, I still don't understand.

10 Can Cladders – High Llamas ( down 2 )
Well, it's The High Llamas.

January 2007

1 The Good, The Bad And The Queen – S/T ( new entry )
Of the half-dozen 2007 releases I’ve either got or I’ve been able to listen to, this
is by far and away the best I’ve heard so far. It’s emotional, original and has a real depth.

2 Sound Of Silver – LCD Soundsystem ( new entry )
Ok, so it’s the same album as their first as far as I’m concerned, but that’s Not a
bad thing when it’s very nearly equally as good. WATCH THE TAPES!!

3 Cobblestone Runway – Ron Sexsmith ( new entry )
Sutpendous. Hopefully everybody has at least 1 Ron Sexsmith album by the end of
the year. Make it so, as Captain Jean Luc Picard would say. Hardly ‘live long and
prosper’ as far as catch-phrases go, was it?

4 Reformation Post TLC – The Fall ( up 1 )
Bah! Not as good as the previous couple of line-ups. MES does try his best though.

5 Visitations – Clinic ( new entry )
Exactly the same as any other Clinic album in terms of how it sounds. But hey,

6 Sabotage – Black Sabbath ( down 4 )
The last decent album they made with Ozzy at the vocal helm. I review it, I’ve listened to it.

7 Grinderman – Grinderman ( down 3 )
After the masterful double-album that was Mr Cave’s previous album, this has come as a huge
disappointment akin to a slap in the face.

8 Can Cladders – High Llamas ( re entry )
Exactly the same as all their other albums, but this one is very dull indeed and lacks a single
new angle or memorable song to hum whilst in the shower.

9 A Weekend In The City – Bloc Party ( new entry )
As comic-book man might say on The Simpsons, ‘worst sophomore album EVER’

10 Those The Brokes – Magic Numbers ( re-entry )
Almost the worst sophomore album ever. Apart from Bloc Party’s, naturally.

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Ratings At A Glance | Readers Comments | Updates/New | Top 100 indeed. Layers of slow melodies to build the song upon. A seemingly studied, professional Prince vocal rarely stretching itself, yet proving Prince is a fine singer, all the same. The closing title tune returns us to funk, James Brown and Stevie Wonder. You're probably just glad the album has ended by now though. A word of advice, don't listen to the discs individually, they vary too much in quality. Don't listen from start to finish, you'll grow old. Just place all the tracks on random play and listen until you get bored. Disc three gets '7' by the way and so does the album. As good as 'Lovesexy' then? Well yeah, more good songs here but more bad ones too. It all evens out in the end.

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Readers Comments

Lee Foster Thebeestonpoet@aol.com
cos of the sheer length of it .it is overwhelming an tracks get less attention as we know in music sometimes less is more .. but i do firmly believe that if these 3 discs were edited an EMACIPATIONS standout tracks were put together on one disc . this could infact have been one of his very best albums . if not the best .. theres alot of magic on here .

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic 6 ( 1999 )
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic / Undisputed / The Greatest Romance Ever Sold / Segue / Hot Wit U / Tangerine / So Far, So Pleased / The Sun, the Moon, and Stars / Everyday Is a Winding Road / Segue (2) / ManOwar / Baby Knows / Eye Love U, but Eye Don't Trust U Anymore / Silly Game / Strange but True / Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do / Welcome to the Dawn (Commercial) / Prettyman

You may if you are lucky have a copy of this album with a sticker on the front proclaiming 'guests: Chuck D, Sheryl Crow, Eve, Ani DiFranco, No Doubt, Maceo Parker'. Some strange and bizarre combination there, Prince me old fellow! Prince hooked up with record label mogul Clive Davis at Atlantic Records but failed to resurrect his career commercially. Indeed, in my homeland of England the album failed to even breach the top 40. 'The Greatest Romance Ever Sold' was the lead single and is fairly weak for a Prince single he was resting all his commercial hopes on. It was played live at the time on a UK television show and I remember just shrugging my shoulders and wondering how the hell Prince had lost all of his talent. In truth, he still had an appetite for making music and his band were still very talented indeed. 'The Greatest Romance Ever Sold' was pitching for the soul / r'n'b scene but falled flat on it's face due to a near total lack of hook or melody. The lead title track had previously been considered but rejected for several other Prince albums and dates as far back as 1988. It has a decent winding guitar line, but seems to come across rather desperately, an attempt at funk whilst just trying far too hard. You shouldn't need to try this hard. 'Baby Knows' which features Sheryl Crow of all people is actually one of the better tracks here, a guitar/rock tune that doesn't sound lumpen, doesn't sound like it is trying too hard and one that features a fine, prowling Prince lead vocal. Chuck D enriches 'Undisputed' no end by providing easily the finest rapping ever heard on a Prince LP. Ani Difranco provides delicate acoustic guitar to the mournful 'Eye Love U', one of the most affecting tracks on the LP.

'Everyday Is A Winding Road' is on this album, a Prince cover of a Sheryl Crow tune. When Prince has to rely on Sheryl Crow to provide tunes for him, you know he's down on both his luck and his creativity. So, what else is here? Not a lot, to be honest. For a much vaunted 'comeback' set, this album can only ever have been a disappointment for those expecting another '1999' or 'Purple Rain'. God, Prince even had that publicity with the millenium and all, and couldn't even turn a once in a thousand years event to his advantage!

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Readers Comments

Lee Foster Thebeestonpoet@aol.com
yeah this is by no means one of his best albums even though it has one or two of his best songs on it 'I Love You, But I Don't Trust You Anymore' is produced like SOMETIMES IT SNOWS IN APRIL .an has a fine vocal an lyric . an i actually like The Greatest Romance . i think alot of these songs are where he was at emotionally at the time .splitting up from the love of his life Mayte . The Greatest Romance is the whole splitting up an then ending up back together situation which is the album in a tee . has pain .anger. love. self pity an freedom on these tracks. but at the end theres the final farewell WHEREVER U GO,WHATEVER U DO is putting the rubbish aside an been able to let go in a civil way an still carring .. so Maytie got this album an Emancipation . call me sadistic but i prefur this one lol ..its an album which anyone who has been inlove an broke up will get . it also has prince(PRETTYMAN) back on the pull on a few tracks haha .. all in all i like this one .even though! it aint one of his best . it still strikes me as an important an essential album which he had to make . to get it out of his system .even though alot of these tracks are pretty bland an dont strike u straight away an UNDISPUTED is just awful. id give it 7 an half outta 10 an i still spin it every now an then . even if i do tend to use the skip buttom a few times .lee

Musicology 8½ ( 2004 )
Musicology / Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance / A Million Days / Life O' the Party / Call My Name / Cinnamon Girl / What Do U Want Me 2 Do? / The Marrying Kind / If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life / On the Couch / Dear Mr. Man / Reflection

His first proper album release in five years at the time. Did he need the break? Well, he didn't even take a break, he released live albums, best of's, an album length instrumental EP of Prince directed jazz music. He recorded and released 'The Rainbow Children' project. I shan't be reviewing any of these projects here, mostly because I don't have them. Partly because I have no interest in having them but really because I want to stick to the mans main canon of released work. 'Musicology' peaked at number 3 spending 17 weeks in the US album charts, which isn't bad. It's gone multi-platinum, so whilst Prince may not be seen to be at his 80s heights, he still sells plenty of records. 'Musicology' even gathered plenty of good reviews upon release, many calling it a true comeback. To me, this record sounds focused, it sounds tight. It doesn't reinvent Prince or present any new sides of himself. At forty eight minutes long, he seems to have realised however that less can sometimes be more and this is a consistent, listenable LP. Comeback? Perhaps not, for Prince fans he never really went away in the first place.

The opening title track is a fine slice of impressive funk music that makes me appreciate it more every time I listen to it. It's just over four minutes long, yet could be ten minutes long and I wouldn't mind too much. Following the stuttering funk that doesn't flow of 'Illusion, Coma...', the commercial melodies of 'A Million Days' is welcome relief. Prince proves he can still pen a tune. 'Life O The Party' sounds like 'Outkast' or Kelis or any number of today's hip-hop acts. Prince's influence can still be felt and 'Life O The Party' is a welcome reminder of where such sounds came from. Such a track and several others here nod also to Prince's influences, James Brown for instance. 'Call My Name' arrives and is a fine example of a Prince ballad. 'Cinnamon Girl' isn't the Neil Young song but is an uptempo slice of 80s sounding Prince pop for the nostalgics among you all. So, 1st half of the album down, i've somewhat amateurishly mentioned every single cut, but then, why not? Every track with the possible exception of 'Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance' can be said to be a good thing and even that would only fall into the 'average' category and not below it. The 2nd half, surprisingly, manages to continue the quality of the 1st half. This is one fine Prince LP and yes, call it a comeback if you want to, although it isn't one. He's just dropped some of the sillyness that sometimes mars Prince album projects, some of the self indulgence. He doesn't seem to be trying too hard to impress, he's just recording and releasing decent tunes. That's why we all liked him in the first place!

'If I was The Man In Ur Life' is classic Prince but it's not a tune that's likely to make you go 'wow', rather just nod your head along in appreciation. So, 'Dear Mr Man' is quality soul/funk and the closing 'Reflection' a sweet soul tune of some distinction and quality. Well done that man called Prince. We always liked you, really.

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3121 8 ( 2006 )
3132 / Lolita / Te Amo Corazon / Black Sweat / Incense And Candles / Love / Satisfied / Fury / The Word / Beautiful, Love & Blessed / The Dance / Get On The Boat

That journal of excellence the N.M.E. closed their review of '3121' by saying It doesn't really sound like Prince at all. Well, it does though. It sounds exactly like Prince only with a somewhat improved effort in the studio console room, getting a good, modern sound. 'Musicology' returned Prince to selling records, over two million of them, thanks to bundling the album in the price for his concert tickets. Well, Prince is always looking to bypass the record labels if he can. Good reviews also helped sales. '3121' has acheived even better reviews than 'Musicology' and sees Prince make his own modern 'RnB' album. He's allowed to, you know? Some of the tracks are just plain exicitng and it's been a lifetime since Prince was exicitng in any modern sense of the word. Yes, this is new. Were the NME correct? Partly, i'll give them that, but that's a throwaway dismissal of the kind I used in my 'Sign Of The Times' review, one designed to attract attention. It's a standard record reviewers trick when you're feeling either lazy or want to make a particular point and for no one to miss it. The Prince catalogue is vast enough that the hyping of 'Sign Of The Times' as the mans finest work has done nothing but damage his overall repuatation. How many would-be Prince fans bought that album never to buy another Prince effort? Ah, back to the production here. 'Love' sounds somewhat like Michaeal Jackson should sound like these days were he ever to acheive a miracle and become relevant again. It's a funky hip-hop workout, heavy on the production yet it really does swing. 'Fury' is delicious old-school Prince with sterling guitar work. Good stuff indeed.

After opening with a grind, 'Lolita' returns Prince to familiar funk/soul territory, man this song has a great groove. It's a really great party track, nothing heavy you understand? Then we need a ballad of course and we get one. 'Te Amo Corazon', not one of his finest ballads but this is a sweet sounding tune that fits the album well. 'Black Sweat' completes a strong opening sequence to the album, all funk and grind and very James Brown, pleasingly so. 'Beautiful, Love And Blessed' you'll be unsurprised to know is a ballad, but we link Prince ballads when they're done well. This opens with female lead vocals, Prince joining in during the 1st chorus. It's again, nothing groundbreaking, it's just Prince but 'just' Prince when he ensures his songs are well produced and arranged is still pretty good. The closing 'Get On The Boat' is an exiciting musical track with trumpets galore, tight funk bass lines and more besides. It's one of his better album closing tracks actually and leaves a good taste in the mouth, so to speak. Prince is on a roll and '3121' is a fine album.

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Readers Comments

Lee Foster Thebeestonpoet@aol.com
what can say?. this album got me an most prince fans SATIFIED. one of his most satisfying albums too date . if not the most . only thing that woulda made it better is if SONG OF THE HEART replaced Incense And Candles an maybe a reworking of Vavavoom replaced THE DANCE .. largely an uptempo/funky album which is fun to spin .. an 3132 / Lolita / Te Amo Corazon / Black Sweat / Love / Satisfied / Fury / The Word & Get On The Boat are without a doubt capable of standing up with any of his finest songs ..love the crazy title track as the opener an can just imagine the shock of the musical sound an production of the song that people would feel .if this was there first introduction to prince

Planet Earth 8 ( 2007 )
Planet Earth / Guitar / Somewhere Here On Earth / The One U Wanna C / Future Baby Mama / Mr. Goodnight / All The Midnights In The World / Chelsea Rodgers / Lion Of Judah / Resolution

Well, Prince giving his new album away free with the Daily Mail appears to have acheived what he wanted it to acheive. He's gained publicity that money can't buy, but giving away your music for free apparently can. He's acheived radio-play for the catchy 'Guitar' single, although only nominally a single as Prince now doesn't have a UK record deal. It'll be interesting to see if he even gets another UK record deal. A lot will depend on the knock on effect for back-catalogue sales and whether that is enough to restore some of the damage in the reputation between Prince and the UK music industry. Not that Prince is too bothered about that right about now. UK reviews of 'Planet Earth' have been generally positive, although when focusing on the fact the music has been free, using that to denigrate the albums overall status. Non-Prince fans are now selling the 'free' album on E-Bay for upwards of £5 plus postage and packaging. The newspaper itself was only £1.40 and of course, I bought myself a copy first thing on the Sunday morning it came out. Listened to the album three times straight as is my reviewing habits and have subsequently listened a few more times and now i'm ready. I'm ready to say that Prince is on something of a creative roll, perhaps not equal to his eighties best, but certainly the best run he's had since then. Perhaps having used up the majority of his backlog of songs and being forced to rely on his muse has had a positive effect?

'Planet Earth' is a fairly straightforward Prince album on the face of it, quite in contrast to the means of it appearing ( or not, as the case may be ) in UK stores. It has a few typical Prince ballads, it has plenty of catchy and impressive guitar parts aka something like the '1999' or 'Purple Rain' LPs. Wendy and Lisa even appear on a song or two for the nostalgics amongst you all. If you haven't heard a Prince LP for fifteen years, 'Planet Earth' may well come as a pleasant surprise, although the nature of the LP probably won't be enough to actively astonish you or make you feel like it's 1987 all over again. I'll discuss 'Guitar' first of all. Apparently cribbing the guitar part from U2's 'I Will Follow', although only really the first part thereof, this is one of the most determinedly commercial songs Prince has released in some time. The other 'potential single' could be 'The One U Wanna C', which although so eighties sounding it almost hurts, is also undeniably catchy, featuring Wendy and Lisa as it does. The title track is rather bombastic yet makes its point all the same and the entire album flows by without you having to get up and skip any of the songs, always a good sign. Prince is in fine voice throughout the ballads, he's kept himself in fine fettle it must be said. Another decent album then? Well, yeah. You wouldn't put money against Prince reclaiming his superstar status unless you were a psychic. I don't have that strong a feeling that he can't reclaim his crown. Anyway, he's certainly giving it a damn good try, at least.

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Readers Comments

Lee Foster Thebeestonpoet@aol.com
I think a hell of alot of people bourght The Mail On Sunday for the 1st time .. what can i say as a big prince fan .this is a beautiful album which makes me smile from start to finish .an he definetley been trying real hard for the last few years to get big again an i really hope u manages to have a big hit single with guitar or the one u wanna c . on a few of these tracks its like he caught the vibe of the superbowl performance an put it on record . only duff track for me is FUTURE BABY MOMMA . where i was thinking 'nice' but aint u done 101 tracks pretty similar? Mr GoodNight is kinda fun an has a kinda Morris Day humour to it . RESOLUTION is a nice closer an even though its still got the nieve belief of music changing the world. it made me think 'bless him' this guys been doing his thing for years an always done his best COME ON EVERYBODY .ALL OVER THE WORLD . lets hope he manages to get everybody all over the world to listen .. love it!

Stephen stephendfall@yahoo.co.uk
It probably is his best since Lovesexy. Nice and short (44 minutes) with admirable variety and focus. The songs are more memorable than on most of his 1990s efforts and All The Midnights In The World could be his most lovely song since Raspberry Beret.

Todd Waters waterz133@hotmail.com
The first screening of the record was a bit of a dissapointment. I was very impressed with the first track Planet Earth very imaginative and other-worldy. On Guitar, Prince returns to his mastery of writing some killer jams. Somewhere Here On Earth is a very nice jazzy sultry number that I would have liked to had a complete album of similar tunes./ The One U Wanna C, does remind you of the pop music of the 80's. It's missing something, maybe some dirty guitar here and there. / Future Baby Mama is good but begins leading the record down a path of filler material/ Mr. Goodnight is a rap tune. My first thought was that Prince should stay away from rap altogether. It didn't sound natural coming from him. I can listen to the tune now, and it's good but seems like he's imitating instead of creating music. / All The Midnights In The World. This one sounds like he is singing to a bunch of children at day camp. Sorry, but I think of this every time I hear it. It's soft and swe! et. / Chelsea Rodgers, Sorry didn't like this one. A noisy funk jam that's not very catchy. Also I thought the female vocals were over the top and distracting / Lion Of Judah. Another slow song. Seemed kind of weak. Like it's missing something / Resolution was another slow song that seemed weak. And not memorable. After I hear this record I immediatley put on 1999, Purple Rain or Around the World in a Day. Planet Earth makes me thirsty but just doesn't satisfy.

this page last updated 28/11/07