Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Prince is planning to release three new albums in 2009 without the
assistance of a record label, according to an interview with the
Los Angeles Times. A "major retailer" is in talks with the artist
to release the music physically, while a new Prince Web site will
sell it in digital form.
The two new Prince albums are the tentatively titled "MPLSOUND" and
"Lotus Flower." He was also heavily involved in an album titled
"Elixir" from his protege, Bria Valente. "We got sick of waiting
for Sade to make a new album," he said of that project.
As for "MPLSOUND," recorded at Prince's Paisley Park compound in
Minneapolis, the Times describes at "electro-flavored" and full of
"trippy, experimental pop songs." Q-Tip guests on one track.
"Lotus Flower" is more guitar-driven, an approach Prince says he
came to after touring as the guitarist in singer Tamar Davis' band
in 2006. Tracks include "Dreamer," a cover of Tommy James and the
Shondells' "Crimson & Clover," "Colonized Mind" and "Wall of
Berlin."
Prince's last studio album, "Planet Earth," was first released as a
free covermount with the U.K. newspaper the Mail on Sunday in July
2007. It was subsequently issued worldwide by Columbia Records.
