Edshugeo The GodMoor

Planet Earth - The title track is epic, breathtaking and, for the first few times I heard it, a little exhausting. The rest of the album is almost unnecessary. Prince could do a whole show on this one song and just about get away with it. Just about. Luckily, most of the tracks that follow are strong enough to avoid the type of disappointment that could result from trailing behind a show-stopper like this. Do I know what it's about? No, but who cares? Don't pollute. Do unto others, blah, blah. It's fucking epic, and thats all that matters.

Guitar - I dug this version when it emerged about a month and a half ago. The song keeps the momentum Planet Earth built up, by continuing the six stringed assault on our senses. I'm almost embarrassed I wrote that. I'm just trying to say it rocks, man. That's all. And it does.

Somewhere Here On Earth - 2nd favorite track here, though this is the better song. Slightly reminiscent of Heatwave's Always And Forever and old school slow jams in general ("No, my brotha. You got to buy your own.") This song's a thing of beauty, though not as good as Adore. Then again, what is? If Prince does a video for this, he needs to sport an Afro-Sheen wig. Don't let him too close to the fireplace, though.

The One U Wanna See - I don't dislike this Shania Twain sound-alike as much as I did initially, but I still don't really like it at all. Country fans like their performers to be a bit more fan-friendly, so I'm not sure where he's going with this. He's covered Shania once with You're Still The One. If I remember correctly, only a snippet of that song was released. He must be a huge fan, though.

Future Baby Mama - Another nice, groovy slow jam. More contemporary in feel than "Somewhere".

Mr. Goodnight - Prince in Playa mode. Fun. I thought it was corny at first, but it grew on me big time. Video with he and Morris Day competing for a woman's affections? Would be cool. Maybe Kat Williams if Morris don't wanna do it. Do they still make music videos?

All The Midnights In The World - The return of whimsical Prince. A Wendy & Lisa contribution? I don't have the CD, yet, so I dunno. I like this.

Chelsea Rodgers - A nice, funky, and energetic groove. Disco influenced, but not disco. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Lot of speculation about who she is. Real or fiction? New protege, or long hidden love child? ChelseaRodgers.com shows a model showing off his new perfume. Just to be irresponsible, I'll suggest that "Might as well dance" isn't just a throwaway line, and points to this girl (whatever her real name is) as last year's Lolita from 3121. All that's beside the point, of course. The only thing that matters is that this is yet another great song. Go on Chelsea.

Lion Of Judah - Ugh! What the fuck is this? This isn't good enough to be filler on a stellar album like this. Not diggin' it. Not diggin' it at all.

Resolution - Another track that sounds like it's got Wendy & Lisa's influence on it and makes me appreciate at least some of what their fans have been saying for years. A great track to end the record on. Start with a torrential rainstorm, end with sunshine and a rainbow.

Overall, Planet Earth, despite two bad songs out of ten, has turned out to be my favorite Prince Album in the last few years. If I delete One U Wanna See and Lion Of Judah (and I will), it might even be better than The Rainbow Children, but it's too early to tell.

The CD hits U.S. stores on Tuesday. I'll get it Wednesday or Thursday.

Labels: music, Prince