Welcome 2 America (2021)
1. Welcome 2 America
2. Running Game (Son of a Slave Master)
3. Born 2 Die
4. 1000 Light Years From Here
5. Hot Summer
6. Stand Up and B Strong
7. Check the Record
8. Same Page, Different Book
9. When She Comes
10.1010 (Rin Tin Tin)
11.Yes
12.One Day We Will All B Free
 
Despite the glossy cover, the heavy promotion, and catchy title, we must remember that this is an album
that Prince probably never intended to release. In fact, you probably shouldn't even call this a "proper" album. Odds are, it was a heavy
sampling of tunes that were recorded around a particular time that Prince simply decided didn't make the cut. We must also remember,
though, that this is Prince. An no artist ever simply recorded so much great material that he was probabl forced to pick and choose what and
what would not see an official release. So, yes, this is "unreleased" stuff, but it's better than most.
Most of the songs here are rather low key. A lot more slow, rhythmic soul grooving as opposed to upbeat party-like dancy music. Some songs
have a bit more energy than others, and we do get to hear Prince shred his classic guitar a few times, but for the most part, this is a record to
listen to while doing a project around the house as opposed to having a late night party with gobs of flashing lights and mood altering chemicals.
The time period for these songs were sometime around the early 2010s, which probably explains such reasons.
The only song that I feel is a bit of a letdown is the opening title track. It's more of a poetic soliloquy with Prince talking typical fruity
nonsense about "America". The album as a whole does tend to sound a bit thin after awhile, but you could argue that even though what is here
is bascially "filler", it is better "filler" than what just about any other artist can offer.
Go back to the main page