Welcome 2 America
by Prince
  • Record Label: Legacy
  • Release Date: Jul 30, 2021
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
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  1. The A.V. Club
    Jul 26, 2021
    91
    This record is evidence that Prince’s one-of-a-kind genius never really dimmed, even if he sometimes lost sight of how to focus it, 0r—perhaps more importantly to the quick-take internet area that Prince detested so much—how to package it.
  2. The Wire
    Sep 1, 2021
    80
    Though it’s no concept album, eight of the 12 tracks address either social issues or spiritual solutions. There’s the odd Prince bit of obscure esoterica but mostly it’s direct and effective. ... Welcome 2 America is vital enough to render such matters moot. it’s the sound of Prince truly not giving a damn and that should be edge enough for anybody. [Sep 2021, p.70]
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  3. The New York Times
    Jul 29, 2021
    80
    “Welcome 2 America” balances hard insights with visceral joys.
  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    Jul 29, 2021
    80
    ‘Welcome 2 America’ is an album that speaks to today’s problems and demands to be heard.
  6. Exclaim
    Jul 27, 2021
    80
    Welcome 2 America is an incredible listen and an album that proves that even when Prince had reached his lowest point, he was still capable of creating magic. It's a tight, concise body of work that is a few missteps short of perfection but is still far and away his best release since 1987's Sign o' the Times.
  7. Mojo
    Jul 26, 2021
    80
    This is Sign 'O' The Times territory. ... When Prince wanders from the funk path the results are more mixed. ... Yet there's strength in Welcome 2 America's commitment to the idea of the Classic Prince Album. [Sep 2021, p.93]
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  8. The Guardian
    Jul 26, 2021
    80
    It gradually reveals itself to be of completely different quality to anything he deigned to release at the time: a collection of largely brilliant, socially aware songs.
  9. The Telegraph (UK)
    Jul 26, 2021
    80
    It’s fervid, feverish and never less than ferociously funky. And far from unnerving the listener with a haunting voice from beyond the grave, Welcome 2 America serves as a call to arms for Prince fans. For all its lyrical and sonic contortions, the ultimate message is simple: even as twilight descended, his genius endured.
  10. musicOMH.com
    Aug 5, 2021
    70
    Although none of the tracks on Welcome 2 America stand up to Prince at his mid-late ’80s best, there are some songs which come close.
  11. PopMatters
    Aug 2, 2021
    70
    There are better versions of most of the songs on Welcome 2 America in his catalog already, but if you’re salivating for new Prince music and are open to whatever his vault has to offer, you could do much worse than this.
  12. Rolling Stone
    Jul 30, 2021
    70
    Judging from the lyrics to “Welcome 2 America,” Prince wasn’t interested in the pop life anymore anyway. What he did care about will remain a mystery, but puzzle pieces like Welcome 2 America will always be welcome.
  13. Uncut
    Jul 26, 2021
    70
    A rather good LP of socially conscious R&B. [Sep 2021, p.46]
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  14. Pitchfork
    Aug 4, 2021
    62
    It was and is a spotty album from a time when Prince was making a lot of those.
  15. The Observer (UK)
    Aug 2, 2021
    60
    Most likely, the Minneapolitan knew this work was pleasant but unexceptional. ... This album sounds like it could’ve been made by anyone in the 1980s, back when only Prince made albums that sounded like the 2080s.
  16. AllMusic
    Aug 2, 2021
    60
    It's not a buried gem or a return to form but a snapshot of an excellent musician having a pretty good run in the studio.
  17. The Independent (UK)
    Jul 29, 2021
    60
    For three tracks of low-slung ambient funk (the title track), lounge jazz (“Running Game [Son of a Slave Master]”) and tired orchestral soul (“Born 2 Die”), every low expectation of the funk-pop legend’s late-career cast-offs is lived down to. ... Then he rediscovers his imaginative peak-era verve and Welcome 2 America becomes an unexpected blast.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. ashowka
    Aug 10, 2021
    7
    You can't review this album like a normal Prince release. He chose to shelve it - why? we'll never truly know? maybe its not finished butYou can't review this album like a normal Prince release. He chose to shelve it - why? we'll never truly know? maybe its not finished but whatever the reason is - he didn't want it out there. I prefer it to 20ten from the same year so am surprised it sat in the shelf in many ways. I see this release as bonus prince we all desperately want and choose to feel happy about it in every sense because we might have never heard it and am just grateful. objectively Prince has got a concoction of some great songs namely - W2A, Born 2 Die, same page different book, rin tin tin and a couple of others that are good but not amazing like check the record (this sounds like more of a hit and run song though) .. a solid album in that sense, the theme and lyrics give this extra points so just be happy we get to have this in our lives .. I am - and be happy prince tried to do something different and Curtis esc.
    ok - this album has some **** on it like hot summer which is also out of place . but that's ok we love prince for all his facets - remember don't judge the bad songs because prince didn't want you to hear them, none of the skips are that offensive and would have probably sounded great live.    … Full Review »
  2. jpowell28
    Aug 2, 2021
    7
    This is a good not great Prince album. I think he knew it or he would have released it. Although his work in the 2000s and 2010s was uneven,This is a good not great Prince album. I think he knew it or he would have released it. Although his work in the 2000s and 2010s was uneven, there were a lot of gems, even if he wasn't the best at self-promotion during that time. Albums such as Musicology, 3121, Lotusflow3r and Hit'n'Run 2 are all better albums, although this one does tower above TwentyTen and Hit 'n'Run 1 and is better and more funkier than Art Official Age. The best thing about it is is really does sound like it was recorded today - it is incredibly timely. The title song is a knockout, as is 1000 Light Years from Here. Despite inconsistency, every album he's ever done contains classic tunes.… Full Review »
  3. Jorgegalindo
    Aug 1, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Prince always surprises us, this time with a full album, one of his best works of the last decade, political, sensual, fun, it is a rainbow of emotions and melodies with prevalence of soul, funk and at times with a melodious pop… Full Review »
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