Ok, here is my review :

Only the music:

1. Planet earth : a really great opener, prince at his best, piano, great guitarsolos, very good arrangement, the song key is g minor and changed to a minor. very creative song. A mix of jazz, funk and pop/rock : the old Prince.

2. guitar : Ok ppl, u know the song.

3. Somewhere Here On Earth : pianolines, very good arrangement, in th style of Parade or ATWIAD, the song key is g minor and changed to a minor. very creative song: the old Prince.

4. The One U Wanna C : u gonna hear the song and u must be in a good mood. ear catcher, acoustic and e-guitar changed ,with a style of pop rock and little funk. the Prince of the 1996-2000

5. Future Baby Mama : the first ballad on this album. prince uses his falsetto and makes this wonderful. The best is his voice on this track. A little mainstream song with good moments. Prince like in 1990- 2000!!

6.All The Midnights In The World: sweet song, not a really ballad, but it has his moments without big highlights and u could like it or not. Really i don´t remember . better than Sweet baby, but not better than God created woman. Prince like in 1996-1998

7.Mr. Good Night: Iam afraid, does Prince want , that the fans will throw their cd´s back on the stage ???? Sorry, don´t like the song and don´t like write about it. Prince like in 1961

8.Chelsea Rogers: Hands up people:-) !! Wow what a song!! I think u will like it: funky horns, great voices, very cool rythm and very very funky. Thank u prince for this song. Prince like in 1979- 2006

9. Lion Of Judah: Someone wrote it sounds like Wendy is on board and i think it´s right. A classic Prince tune.With great voices, guitarsolo and fantastic chords.like only Prince can put 2gether. U are ina different world during this song. U never know what will happen .A mix of pop and rock. Great. Prince like in 1988- 1994

10.Resolution: Wow, great rock orientated song. prince blows me away.The song without Prince is maybe boring, but he brings so much energy in it and it works from the first moment till the end.

All in all, i like the album. But of course no cd like SOTT or Lovesexy, but it works. And i think if u listen often to it u will like it more and more. It´s better than 3121, Musicology, Rave.

Sorry, i didn´t listen 2 much to the lyrics. I just want to heart the music.
And please, don´t be so respectless again other ppl on this board, which are very tired and writes reviews.

More respect.

Good night!!

More and more i get the idea, from reading these different reviews, that this will be my reaction on Planet Earth when i hear it myself in a few weeks.

Quote:
It´s better than 3121, Musicology, Rave.

I also 'read' in these reviews there seem to be a few real 'chunkers' on the album, but i think this new album will also deliver about 3 or 4 gems, and i choose for that anyday above nice, decent efforts without real highlights like Musicology and 3121.

Giovanni777 said:

i love habibi's sound

Giovanni777 said:

loved that detailed play by play!

mrsquirrel said:

bad review style....he didn't friggin review anything....nothing to say, + or -. wasted post almost, unless U wanna look "deep" into the review and say that he didn't review anything cuz there wasn't anything to review, but I hardly think that was the point.


he had more to say about the friggin food....what's the point.
[Edited 6/26/07 15:59pm]

timur said:

is this as in "if somebody else did this kind of song" or as in
"prince doesn't sing on this song (other lead vocalist?)"

another positive thought:

when it comes to the funk / dance / R&B department Prince hasnt exactly delivered anything really fresh, urgent or exciting, since the JB-musings on The symbol album or the more revolutionary sounds on the Camille tracks.

It makes me feel good to read he doesnt try to copy his own 'copycats' (like he did on his internetreleases, and tracks like Black Sweat and Love from 3121), but that he seems to have shifted his focus to the richness that pop- and rock can offer. At least it appears to me he is trying to be less calculated, less generic when it comes to the styles he uses, and his production.

Riverpoet31 said:

that, plus the fact that everyone has been blabbing about what a great
guitar player prince is (since the superbowl performance) so it would
make sense for him to make a poprock type of album with not too many
deep funk grooves.

having said that, i always thought prince excelled in laying down the
deep purple concorde funk jams and then throw some wild ass wicked
guitar over it. that's what he does best.

but anyway, i'm looking forward more and more to this album. i love
how words like

parade
folk
joni mitchell
atwiad
gold

are mentioned. fcuz you have to take all of that quite hesitantly as
people also call "te amo corazon" a 'parade outtake' (wtf?)

Am I the only one that still digs 3121?

Moonbeam said:

u've just reminded me to play it now, so no - we still digging it!
i've just told my edits to piss off.
[Edited 6/26/07 17:22pm]

You're being harsh on the initial reviewer. If that was me, I would have gotten shitfaced on the free cocktails and you wouldn't have gotten one coherent word out of me.

Moonbeam said:

Hell naw !!!!
3121 kick asses .People will be talking about 3121 like it is a classic in 2010.

"F" the reviews. You'll know we have to listen to it individually. Hell, my reviews don't mean much to me. Half of Prince's albums don't really grab me until I learn the words and feel the music. Prime examples were RAVE, NEW POWER SOUL, BATMAN, and THE VAULT. So I could give a crap what people say. It doesn't affect me either way. Like Prince say "If you can describe it, it ain't funky"

2020 said:

"Mr. Good Night" is even worst...But I dig most of the rest of the album...There are some joints on there that you will be playing for a while...

sounds like its going to be another one i own yet have no passion to play !

prettymansson said:

Dont be so sure homie...

murph said:

With only one funky (... and I'm not even sure about that, since most fanboys don't know shit about funk) cut, it's bound to end up gathering dust on the shelf.

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Yeah...Given your tag Funkenstein (LOL,) I can see where u are coming from...But I think you will dig several of the cuts simply because the old man sounds like the music is coming naturally...It doesnt sound like he's trying too hard...To me that was the most enlightening part of the album...And trust me, I love my Prince funk...
[Edited 6/26/07 21:38pm]

Moonbeam said:

I definitely dig 3121.....except for 3 songs...but I think 3121 has some great stuff and it is definitely a very good album, I play it all the time.

murph said:

Aight, mate

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Moonbeam said:

no ure not alone!!! i love 3121!

Giovanni777 said:

tHANK-u

I don't know if this has been posted yet somewher in the site. If not, perhaps it could help...

(By McGee - Housequake, as reported by losspig - princefams)

1. Planet Earth: It's like Empty Room meets other 1994 powerballads like Strays of the World, but much much better (yes, I do think it's a much stronger track than Empty Room, which I also like a lot). After a couple of close listenings I have come to the conclusion that this is the strongest track on the album. Great melody, great arrangement, fantastic vocal layering, killer guitar work (!!!), and from what I can tell well produced (damn you, crappy sound system!).

2. Guitar: Yes, it is the same version you all have already. I still feel it's a grower, which is weird, cause it's such a simple-ass song actually.

3. Somewhere Here On Earth: Yeah. Close contender for best song. Smooth, minimalistic (??! I think so? Damn you, crappy sound system!), bass-heavy (!?!! Damn you, ...) ballad with nice muted trumpet à la Atlanta Bliss on Power Fantastic. That song comes to mind immediately, by the way. Great song, almost everyone in my group agreed on this.

4. You know what, I think it already kinda gets downhill from here. This very next song, "The 1 U Wanna C", will devide the fans into those who think this is a very cheesy pop-rock song, not "So Far, So Pleased"-cheesy, but way cheesier and those who think this is a "great fun guitar driven pop tune". I, for one, don't get how he can put out a hook like this - it sounds like something power-punk-pop-playing 17-year-olds could've come up with...well, of course it's Prince and he makes the song something better, but...I don't know. I'd say it is very cheesy, but being in the right mood, I guess I could file this one under "guilty pleasures"...not sure about this one. It's got some funky bass work.

5. Future Baby Mama: This one didn't leave much of an impression, I am sorry, please see other reviews for detailed analysis. I remember being excited hearing the Linn Drum for the first time on this album. Falsetto-sung ballad, again an attempt at an interesting melody, I am not sure how successful. Overall my first verdict would be "weak track" because I can hardly remember that one, even after 4 listens. It might be a grower though.

6. Mr. Goodnight: Uhmmmm....Prince raps. Not his best attempt. I think we have a Linn Drum here....? It's a laid back R'n'B tune with lots of Prince rapping and some high pitched synth which reminded some of us of Warren G's "G Funk" back in when, 94? Could've also been an "1-800 NEW-FUNK" outtake. Or something he wrote for Nona Gaye and now stumbled across again. "18 And Over" also came to mind. But "18 And Over" is better. Lots of female background singing. Not impressed!

7. All The Midnights In The World: Well, it's not the worst song Prince ever put out, I have heard this comment coming from people who attended the listening party in France, and it's not true I think. There's still Jughead. This track is kind of a melodic uptempo rocker again, would fit well into the TGE/C&D period. Into the stack of crappier songs from that period, that is. Sorry, didn't like this one either.

8. Chelsea Rodgers: Wow! When the drums and the bass opened up the song (was it just the drums and the bass? Sorry, it is very late and I'm wasted) I was sorta afraid this would drift into some supercheesy vocal-house workout. I am glad it didn't. The Linn Drum can be heard on here as well I think (damn you, crappy sound system!). Very funky disco-ish (but not in a bad way) track, and Prince actually manages to not go overboard with this. He even manages not so sound like Jamiroquai, whom I hate. Tight production as far as I can tell, which is very nice. Killer bass line! I want to hear this one live so badly! Only letdown is that the female singer (I'm pretty sure it's Shelby), who Prince shares all the vocals with, is kind of overpowering - I have wondered a couple of times if Prince is actually audible during this song. Might be due to the ULTRACRAPPY SOUNDSYSTEM! SONY, WHAT THE FUCK?!?! Great song, the highlight of the second half of the album.

9. Lion Of Judah: Not the roots reggae track I was hoping for. Same guitar sound as Purple Rain. In fact, it's kind of "Purple Rain meets Dolphin". There we have it again, mid 80s meets mid 90s, almagamating in an uptempo melodic gospel rock tune. This, with a dose of TRC/ONA thrown in, is pretty much what the overall sound of "Planet Earth" was like to my ears. This track is exemplary for that sound, but sadly it's still a pretty weak song IMO. On the other hand, I can't get the chorus out of my head right now, but in the past that has also been the case with songs like....well, I won't even go into that. Yes, it is catchy in a way, but that doesn't make it good. You know what it is? It's JW rock. I can picture some middle-aged lady playing this song on an acoustic guitar in a JW Kingdom Hall. Not good. Not good. Some people felt otherwise, though.

10. Resolution: See 9., minus the "Purple Rain meets Dolphin" comparison. Uptempo melodic gospel rock...I guess this applies here as well. Didn't leave much of an impression. I'm starting to regret I didn't take any notes at all, but it does say something about a song if I can't remember much after 4 listens, doesn't it. Then again, it might be a grower. Have I used those phrases before? Yes I have. Didn't like this one either, to be honest.
[Edited 6/28/07 2:52am]

And this, by PapiJ.

this is PapJ's thoughts.

Today is the day! I was finally able to have a listen of Planet Earth in a nice listening room in the premises of Sony BMG in Poland.

The playback was from a promotional disc in a cardboard sleeve with no artwork. I listened to it on a very effective Denon soundsystem so I had a chance to hear it quite well.

Mind you, this is not going to be a review but merely some first impressions, the most notable of them being the fact that this album will be very difficult to review. I think the disc is really strange, even by Prince's standards.

Here go the songs and descriptions:

1.Planet Earth – begins with haunting piano chords and Prince's voice solely. It does reminisce Empty Room, especially the live version, as it is piano and guitar driven and shares the same atmosphere of angst. The cut is rather complex and has got a tremendous melody. From the very beginning Prince treats you with a very emotive vocal delivery embracing the piano chords. Then a strong guitar and heavy drums come in at a mid tempo and immediately Led Zeppelin’s opuses come to mind. There is also a nice break with jazzy drums, piano, scatting vocals and screaming guitars. Then it turns back to the minimalist intro part to again develop into a real rocker with a fantastically placed guitar solo at the end. It ends with some strange sounds, some sort of loop of a starting rocket if I remember correctly. It is a very strong cut and my personal favourite right now.

2.Guitar – same as the single version.

3.Somewhere Here On Earth – a slow jazzy ballad with loads of piano, trumpet and some flute. I think the beat comes from a drum machine but the rest of the music is very organic. It begins with an extended trumpet solo a la Atlanta Bliss (or Miles Davis). It is sung in a falsetto and I have to admit that Prince simply kills it vocally on this one, it is that good! There is plenty of space left for soloing on the aforementioned instruments and some vocal acrobatics which would make Billie Holiday happy… After several verses and choruses interspersed with soloing the tempo increases a bit to make it sound in the vein of the waltzy A Place in Heaven. It is less focused on melody and more on instrumentation. Frankly, one of his finest ballads without sounding schmaltzy a single bit.

4.The One U Wanna See – an uptempo pop rock number with a country undercurrent. The beat is quite similar to Guitar but it features some nice slap bass. It is indeed very lively and sounds a bit like Play in the Sunshine. I think Wendy and Lisa might be on this cut as it has this late revolution feel of The Dream Factory material with a The Beatles tinge. This is a very catchy and happy song. Nice guitar work at the end and handclaps. Great melody.

5.Future Baby Mama – already out there so I won’t go into details here.

6.Mr. Goodnight – I cosign Murph’s comment that this one might have been left of for the sake of cohesiveness, it does not seem to go well with the rest of the disc. Prince raps in a laid back manner, the beat is forgettable but the melody and chorus are not that bad. There is some nice bass here. The chorus is sung by some female voices. I think Shelby J. might be doing the backing vocals on this one. It is catchy, yet unoriginal and somewhat dull.

7. All the Midnights in the World – I could not agree less with the critics of the song. To me this is a classic pop rock Prince cut, sounding a bit like The Holy River or A Million Days. It is far from being cheesy. The arrangement is very simple with some nice piano chords and powerful drums.

8. Chelsea Rodgers – a real club banger. Boogie Wonderland on crack. Disco-funk feel of the 1970s. Sung predominantly by Shelby J. with Prince cutting in here and there. Lots of chants, such as “C’mon Chelsea, C’mon go ahead now!”. A bit like Superfreak by Rick James. It is a bit repetitive but extremely effective as a funk workout. From what I could make of the lyrics it is about the Chelsea girl, who used to be a model but now wants to save her soul. Nice solos on sax, trombone, trumpet, a Billie Jean like beat breakdown, good vocal harmonies and great guitar work. You will be singing the chorus for weeks (or years) to come.

9. Lion of Judah – another uptempo rock number with the opening guitar strokes similar to Purple Rain’s intro. It is nice, although it made me think of Cinnamon Girl for a while. It has this oldschool rock feel but manages to smuggle some Bowie-like elements in some parts. Dirty guitar solo at the end plus a break down with a guitar and kick drum a bit reminiscent of The Cross.

10. Resolution – yes, it is called Resolution, the tracklist labaled on the disc sleeve clearly stated that plus the word appears in the lyrics. This yet another pop rocker has some sweet acoustic guitar, nice bass and heavy drums. It features a reggae infused part near the end and a break similar to some parts of Into the Light. “How many people really want a resolution?” Prince asks. Ends with some quirky synth sounds.

It will be very difficult to review this album. Majority of the cuts (Planet Earth, Somewhere Here On Earth, The One U Wanna See, All the Midnights in the World, Chelsea Rodgers, Lion of Judah and Resolution) to me sounded really inspired. Prince is in a great mood and the joy of making music really oozes from this album. It is a bold statement after the very commercial sounding 3121 and a refreshing experience. But to judge it fairly one will have to give it some more spins. Soon.