Prince’s two new albums in a day reviewed (Official Audio)

Prince has broken his longest-ever recording drought by releasing two new albums Tuesday.

ART OFFICIAL AGE marks the Purple One’s 34th solo effort, while PLECTRUMELECTRUM serves as the debut LP from his new band, 3rdEyeGirl.

ART OFFICIAL AGE follows up 2010’s 20TEN, marking the longest gap between records in Prince’s discography. A press release described the 13-track album as a “contemporary concoction of soul, R&B and funk.” It also called the songs’ melodies “immediate and prominent as ever and Prince’s vocals are rich and solid, taking full advantage of his vocal range with decidedly, seductive lyrics.”

PLECTRUMELECTRUM boasts 12 tracks, which were recorded live and to analog tape. Much of the material was road-tested in front of audiences during the band’s tour of the UK earlier this year. A press release describes the album as “an electrifying funk-rock statement.”

Here are the albums’ track listings:

Art Official Age

“Art Official Cage”
“Clouds”
“Breakdown”
“The Gold Standard”
“U Know”
“Breakfast Can Wait”
“This Could Be Us”
“What It Feels Like”
“affirmation I & II”
“Way Back Home”
“FunkNRoll”
“Time ”
“affirmation III”

PlectrumElectrum

“Wow”
“PretzelBodyLogic”
“AintTurninRound”
“PlectrumElectrum”
“Whitecaps”
“FixUrLifeUp”
“BoyTrouble”
“StopThisTrain”
“AnotherLove”
“TicTacToe”
“Marz”
“FunkNRoll”

Agencies/Canadajournal