HitNRun: Phase One
by Prince
  • Record Label: NPG
  • Release Date: Sep 7, 2015
Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Sep 10, 2015
    100
    HITnRUN is an invigorating, eclectic modern pop record that takes a now-familiar (but still no less impressive) formula--equal parts hedonistic arena rock, chugging funk, and art-mutated pop--and tacks on a handful of new sounds and twists that give is a satisfying, visceral edge.
  2. musicOMH.com
    Sep 14, 2015
    70
    Although he may never touch the glory days of his heyday again, there are enough glimpses of his genius gathered here to satisfy.
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    Sep 14, 2015
    70
    HITNRUN Phase One isn’t one of Prince’s best albums. But neither is it his worst. He hasn’t lost it. He’s just resting it.
  5. Consequence
    Sep 11, 2015
    67
    While some of that experimentation and ornamentation is thrilling, some is unneeded. Phase One works better when excess is lopped off.
  6. AllMusic
    Sep 30, 2015
    60
    Underneath its aggressive opening and occasional woozy electronics, it is anchored by two or three songs (the exuberant "Fallinlove2nite," the recycled "This Could B Us," maybe the Graffiti Bridge throwback "Million $ Show") that wind up revealing how the rest of the record feels like little more than nimble calisthenics.
  7. Rolling Stone
    Sep 18, 2015
    60
    If only he'd really relax and let it flow a little more.
  8. The Observer (UK)
    Sep 14, 2015
    60
    A largely mediocre first six tracks. Just as the jury threaten to return an “off with his head” verdict on producer Joshua Welton, Prince redeems himself with three absolute belters.
  9. New York Daily News (Jim Faber)
    Sep 8, 2015
    60
    True to its goal, there's lots of fun to be had here, even if the music does lack depth and innovation.
  10. The New York Times
    Sep 8, 2015
    60
    The successes tend to be love songs.... But those songs arrive late in the album; first come oddities and overreaches.
  11. The Wire
    Feb 18, 2016
    50
    Phase One impresses more on first listen [than Phase Two].... But it wears thin quickly. [Feb 2016, p.54]
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  12. Pitchfork
    Sep 10, 2015
    45
    A casual, slightly-weirder-than-usual release with one very good R&B song (that's reportedly been kicking around in his vault for a while), stranded in the album's penultimate slot.
  13. Pretty Much Amazing
    Sep 11, 2015
    42
    It finds Prince embracing EDM and his band 3rd Eye Girl lays down some sturdy, derivative grooves that ought to signal bathroom breaks and beer runs at shows to come.
  14. The A.V. Club
    Sep 8, 2015
    42
    [Co-producer and engineer Joshua] Welton tinkers too much with too many EDM toys, and often the result is a cacophonous collision of EDM’s lamest trends. When this album does succeed—which it does on its back half—it’s because Prince and Welton have achieved a balance between dance and funk in which each genre brings out the best in the other.
  15. Mojo
    Oct 27, 2015
    40
    Mashup of overused modern dancefloor styles and rote bragging, with odd moment of classic purple peculiarity. [Dec 2015, p.94]
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  16. Q Magazine
    Oct 6, 2015
    40
    Even when HitNRun improves, it implies creative drought. [Nov 2015, p.102]
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  17. PopMatters
    Sep 9, 2015
    20
    It’s best three tracks--“FALLINLOVETONITE”, “HARDROCKLOVER”, and “1000 X’S & O’S”--are, in the context of Prince’s amazing catalog, average at best. The rest are mediocre to bad to horrifying.

User Reviews

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User Score
4.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 40 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 40
  3. Negative: 20 out of 40
  1. CrystalBall
    Sep 10, 2015
    2
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  2. poplife75
    Oct 6, 2015
    3
    After the good suprise that was Art Official Age, this is a real let-down. Only 3 good songs and one of them is 20 years old...Hyped as veryAfter the good suprise that was Art Official Age, this is a real let-down. Only 3 good songs and one of them is 20 years old...Hyped as very experimental, this album just relies on basic EDM sounds that mundane artists like David Guetta use all the time...what happenned to the genius that was Prince?… Full Review »
  3. Viktor85
    Aug 1, 2021
    8
    Initially, I wasn't very impressed. But I recently started listening to it again and I must say I have started to quite enjoy it. Songs likeInitially, I wasn't very impressed. But I recently started listening to it again and I must say I have started to quite enjoy it. Songs like MILLION $ SHOW and AIN'T ABOUT 2 STOP are bangers! The only song I still don't really care about is FALLINLOVE2NITE even if I appreciate Prince trying different genres. This album is Prince experimenting and having fun. If you only like 80s sounds and want to listen to vintage Prince exclusively then this will not be for you. But if you want to listen to Prince at his most "modern" you will not be disappointed (unless you compare every song to When Doves Cry). Listen with an open mind and enjoy!… Full Review »
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