Review: Prince – Art Official Age

What exactly does one expect of music royalty when he drops his 33rd studio album? When that royalty is Prince Rogers Nelson, whose career has spanned thirty-eight years, anticipation exceeds expectation for the legend. In the four years since his last album, 20Ten, Prince has acquired an alternate band to The New Power Generation in the rock group known as 3rdEyeGirl. September 30, 2014 marks the release of their collaborative effort, Plectrumelectrum, with the simultaneous release of his solo album, Art Official Age, which also features the trio of female rockers. Prince may be crystallized in the minds of his audience as the king of nasty-funk, clad in purple, forever in man-pumps, hair perfectly feathered. Yet he is now at a place where he delivers his trademark funk, pop, soul and rock with a halo of dandelion afro and the same adrenaline of “Let’s Go Crazy”. Making no direct comparisons to the entire Prince catalogue, old-school fans will have something to love about Art Official Age with quintessential Prince meshing with today’s musical sensibilities.  At the same time, the album straddles the fence of contemporary popiness in a way that may be a turn-off for Prince purists.

The album moves through a few songs that have electronic dance appeal. The four-on-the-floor and rhythm guitar of opening track “Art Official Cage” balances out such elements. “Funknroll”, the only song to appear on both Art Official Age and Plectrumelectrum, and “U Know” are on the far end of the hyper-electronic, digital layering spectrum. The bulk of the songs, however, are analogous to Prince of your favorite era. Any of the following could be played on repeat during a given time of Prince’s career:  “Breakdown”, “This Could Be Us”, “What It Feels Like”, or “Time”. Not to mention “The Gold Standard” which makes you wonder what year it was actually written, if not recorded. “Breakfast Can Wait”, the album’s first single, is a great synthesis of old and new Prince, and the single’s artwork features comedian Dave Chappelle’s infamous caricature of the breakfast-loving Prince from Chappelle’s Show.

One aspect of the record, which may be hit or miss, is that its sci-fi element begins at the top of the album and is woven throughout. The concept begins in the song “Clouds” where a nurse-like character assures “Mr. Nelson”, who is heavily medicated, having been suspended in animation for forty-five years, that “we’re here to help you”. From there, a reprogramming of sorts takes place. A sonogram-heartbeat-in-the-womb ambience shapes the song “Way Back Home” and its corresponding three affirmations based on historical facts and telepathic communication. Certainly take or leave the affirmations, depending on where you are in your life! But, Art Official Age is worth adding to the Prince collection, which hopefully will continue to expand in the next few years.

 
Written by Mai Perkins

Originally from Los Angeles, Mai Perkins is currently living a decade long bona fide love affair with NYC and the music that keeps its spirit moving. Many of her adventures around the globe are documented on her blog: Mai On The Move! www.MaiOnTheMove.com

 
Author’s rating for Art Official Age

Pop Magazine’s official rating for Art Official Age

Rating key
MASTERPIECE a must-have
SUPERB for heavy rotation
EXCELLENT a great achievement
VERY GOOD a respectable result
GOOD worth checking out
FAIR an average outcome
WEAK not convincing stuff
BAD an underwhelming effort
VERY BAD quite a waste
FAIL a total failure