Planet Earth Bayonne NJ

Planet Earth

Prince

NPG/Columbia, 2007

REVIEW BY: Michael R. Smith

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 09/09/2007

[READ THIS FIRST.]

That’s all we have left from the 80s, ladies and gentlemen. They’re really the only active musical acts from that decade still worth writing about, at least until Metallica drops their long-awaited next studio album.

For his part, Prince has found his way back from semi-obscurity, thanks in part to his recent induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a Superbowl appearance. His last album, 3121, even topped the charts, which all but sealed the deal. It was his first to reach that peak since 1991’s Diamonds And Pearls.

Thankfully, his newest offering, Planet Earth, is just as good. His New Power Generation band is back and sounding better than ever, though the backing vocalists tend to be somewhat distracting at times. Don’t expect a track listing or lyric booklet either, because there ain’t one. There’s a great shot of Prince on the inner sleeve, however, which almost makes up for it. More importantly, there really aren’t any bum tracks to be found on Planet Earth, though the slower tunes come mighty close.

As for the great title of “Future Love Mama,” I was the most disappointed by its end result.  It’s the kind of ballad Prince can do in his sleep, one that we’ve heard far too many times from him before. The title track isn’t quite the epic it is clearly intended to be and the jazz number “Somewhere On Earth” is a yawn inducer, but the other cuts more than save the day. For what it’s worth, there’s even a rap-infused song called “Mr. Goodnight” to satisfy today’s hip-hop generation.