Planet Earth by Prince
Planet Earth is the thirty-second studio album by American musician Prince, first released July 15, 2007 in the UK as a free covermount with The Mail on Sunday national newspaper. This was followed by the album's worldwide distribution. It features contributions from his newest protegée Bria Valente and former New Power Generation members Marva King, Sonny T, and Michael Bland, as well as Sheila E. and former Revolution members Wendy & Lisa. The album debuted at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 96,000 in its first week. Upon its release, Planet Earth received generally positive reviews from most music critics, based on an aggregate score of 65/100 from Metacritic.
Twenty-three years after <i>Purple Rain</i> catapulted Prince to superstardom, the purple one continues to engage his listening audience on his own terms. Prince has recorded such an overwhelming amount of music over the years that it has been near impossible for the casual fan, never mind his record company, to keep up. But with <i>Planet Earth</i>, it’s as if Prince decided to offer up a <i>Cliff’s Notes</i> version of his career, circa 2007. The ten tracks he chose for the final album exhibit an intense precision and highlight all the elements — expert funk, aggressive guitar, cheeky, playful vocals — that made him a star in the first place. “Guitar” is an aptly titled rocker. The title track critiques modern times. “Somewhere Here on Earth” hints at jazz and smooth R&B. “Mr. Goodnight” nods towards hip-hop. “Chelsea Rodgers” goes for funk. “Lion of Judah” commands hard rock. “All the Midnights in the World” sits down at the piano. That might sound like a variety show, but with Prince writing, playing and producing, the final effect is a smooth, consistent blend where the author’s voice is never put to question.
