music

Prince
Prince - LOtUSFLOW3R

By Imran Mirza

The Artist currently known as Prince continues his middle-finger salute to major record companies by delivering his latest 3-album offering via an exclusive distribution deal with US superstore, Target.  Unfortunately, this deal has currently limited LotusFlow3r's release strictly to American audiences (although as was going to be obvious, overseas Prince-hungry fans have sought its release via independent online retailers, like the ones found on Amazon and EBay).

It does seem like the obvious way of Prince distributing his releases would be to go the route he did in the 90s, by selling the CDs direct from his NPG site, but as that doesn't exist anymore, it really is incredible to see Prince continue to pioneer distribution methods, considering there must be a number of record companies that would saw their left arms off in a bid to sign the Purple Majesty, particularly due to the fact that even through the album's unique independent distribution, it still made the number 2 spot in its first week of release, having narrowly been pipped to #1 by Keith Urban.

Planet Earth famously saw release in 2007 through sales of Prince's 21 night residency at the O2; Indigo Nights followed the year after, supplied with 21 Nights - a book commemorating 2007's historic concerts; and now to present day: the 3-album opus, LotusFlow3r.

Far from being a 3-disk 'album', this package actually consists of 3 separate albums - MPLSoUND, LOtUSFLOW3R and Elixer, with the latter marking the debut album from new Prince protege, Bria Valente.   

As much as Bria Valente would understandably like to be considered an artist in her own right - and deserves 100% to be - there's always going to be a stigma surrounding young female artists, especially when the words 'Prince's protege' preceeds their name.  And there's been a long list, with not usually successful results.

Hopefully, Valente's future will take a different path though - she certainly brings everything to the table she's supposed to, and along with Prince's production, helps make the 10-track Elixer a very enjoyable listen - the combination produces a sultry R&B record - not too daring in its approach - but satisfying enough to buy into Valente as a budding solo artist. 

   

MPL
 Prince's Purple music is always Gold in our eyes, and the 3 CDs here certainly stand tall amongst 2009's most exciting releases.  The only question left is whether Prince will look to release LotusFlow3r outside the US, and what hoopla may come with its promotion - worldwide fans, with myself at the front of the queue, will hope maybe touring will be the way to spread the word (fingers crossed!!).
 

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