PRINCE Planet Earth (Columbia)
Like the two albums preceding it, Planet Earth is more concerned with refining and slightly updating Prince’s sound rather than tackling modern rock/r&b. Perhaps, deep down, there is still some of that forward thinking artist left in him; the one that challenged old boundaries and created new ones. But these days he seems less intent on breaking new ground and more focused on giving us the best Prince album he can. Nothing wrong with that, especially when you can come up with this strong an album, this late in your career. What makes it even more remarkable is how Planet Earth touches upon many of Prince’s trademark stylistic turns without coming across as a museum piece. In fact, some have labelled the album, a sort of “Cliff Notes” to his sound/career. Well, here’s ours:
Released 3 weeks after his 50th birthday, 23 years after Purple Rain made him a superstar, and following 2006’s 3121, the diminutive one’s 26th studio album, Planet Earth, is a 10-track, no-filler platter and third in a series of comeback albums. It rocks. Period.
Highlights:
“Guitar”, “Mr. Goodnight”, “Lion of Judah”
Released 3 weeks after his 50th birthday, 23 years after Purple Rain made him a superstar, and following 2006’s 3121, the diminutive one’s 26th studio album, Planet Earth, is a 10-track, no-filler platter and third in a series of comeback albums. It rocks. Period.
Highlights:
“Guitar”, “Mr. Goodnight”, “Lion of Judah”
