He is one of the most flamboyant, controversial, influential, and popular artists of the 1980s, Prince is also one of the least predictable and most mysterious. At a time when comparable megastars such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Janet Jackson were delivering an album every three years or so, Prince remained prolific to an almost self-destructive degree — and was given to wayward, self-indulgent career moves (even declaring in the 1990s a name change to an unpronounceable symbol) that could alienate even his most ardent supporters. Yet his taut, keyboard-dominated Minneapolis Sound — a hybrid of rock, pop, and funk, with blatantly sexual lyrics — not only influenced his fellow Minneapolis artists the Time and Janet Jackson's producers (and ex-Time members) Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, but also impacted much of 1980s dance-pop music. And Michael, Madonna, and Janet were comparable to Prince only in terms of star power. None could match the formidable breadth of his talents, which included not just singing and dancing but also composing, producing, and playing instruments (not to mention directing videos and, however ineffectively, movies). In fact, Prince played nearly all the instruments on his first five albums, and has produced himself since signing with Warner Bros. at age 21.
I recently watched an interview by Travis Smiley, who has a late night show on PBS, in America, with PRINCE. After having listened to his LOtUSFLOW3R album for quite some time now - and liking it more and more for time it – I wanted some information about the album. Be chance I saw this interview, dated April 27, 2009, and it speak in its latter part a lot about the album.
PRINCE on Travis Smiley, late night on PBS – full interview
3 albums in 1 – LOtUSFLOW3R is his latest project. Three albums in 2009 and none of them will involve a record label. In Prince’s own words, “The music is nasty, but it's not dirty'.
MPLSoUND
LOtUSFLOW3R
Elixer
After a cantankerous relationship with various large record companies, Prince is now in final negotiations with "a major retailer" to distribute the albums, at least in the US. He will also take orders at a new, "highly interactive website", according to the LA Times.
The first of three albums is MPLSOUND, an "electro-flavoured" solo disc recorded at Prince's Paisley Park Studios. Using Pro Tools and "new ways of recording", the Purple One created a raft of experimental pop songs, including a rap by Q-Tip and a track called Funky Congregation, where Prince calls on people to, er, funkily congregate.
Lotus Flower, the second album planned for this year, is a tribute to the electric guitar. Songs like Dreamer are filled with guitar solos, bringing them a long way from MPLSOUND's squelchy pop.
On the third album, Elixir, Prince joins his new "protege", Bria Valente. "We got sick of waiting for Sade to make a new album," Prince explained. Elixir is a record of sexy, chill-out songs, with Valente's vocals, Prince on guitar and beats by Morris Hayes.
"This music is nasty, but it's not dirty," Prince emphasised. "There's no profanity. It isn't promoting promiscuity. [Valente is] singing about her lover, who could be her partner for life."
I was a massive PRINCE fan before this album and now I have to admit I am an even bigger fan! Get a hold of this album and listen for yourself. I can only recommend LOtUSFLOW3R to anyone.
