PlectrumElectrum
by Prince
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 33
  3. Negative: 11 out of 33
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. MellowLikeYello
    Oct 2, 2014
    6
    Though the band is tight and rocks, the songs are not up to the standard the band sets. Its ironic, but its true -- they are certainly capable of better and you can hear it here. The songs mostly groove along in a sort of bland way, and then there are highlights that happen and just recede into the background again. Unfortunately, the tracks where one of the band members take lead justThough the band is tight and rocks, the songs are not up to the standard the band sets. Its ironic, but its true -- they are certainly capable of better and you can hear it here. The songs mostly groove along in a sort of bland way, and then there are highlights that happen and just recede into the background again. Unfortunately, the tracks where one of the band members take lead just don't work, but the ones with Prince at the mic make up for that. I do love their sound, but the songs needed more than this group can deliver. Highlights are 'Wow', 'Fixurlifeup', 'Stopthistrain', 'Anotherlove' and 'Funknroll'. The rest are fine background songs, but that's about it. I bet they kick ass in concert, though!… Expand
  2. Revenant87
    Oct 3, 2014
    6
    Definitely the weaker of the two new Prince albums. When its good ("AnotherLove" "Wow" "Fixurlifeup") its very, very good- good enough for me to give it a considerably higher score than I would have otherwise. Unfortunately outside of those 3 songs this is mostly a very throwaway album. "Stop this train" and "pretzelbodylogic" are decent enough, there are several tracks that have no realDefinitely the weaker of the two new Prince albums. When its good ("AnotherLove" "Wow" "Fixurlifeup") its very, very good- good enough for me to give it a considerably higher score than I would have otherwise. Unfortunately outside of those 3 songs this is mostly a very throwaway album. "Stop this train" and "pretzelbodylogic" are decent enough, there are several tracks that have no real Prince element to them, such as the consecutive trio of "ainturninround" the instrumental title track and "Whitecaps" ...not intolerable songs by any means but it feels like the star of the show is missing and you're instead listening to a generic girl rock group. Then theres the absolute lowlights of the album "Boytrouble" probably takes the cake, again lacking an obvious Prince presence and containing some truly painful rapping. "Marz" has potential but feels underproduced and half finished (it clocks in at under 2 mins) while album closer "funknroll" is essentially a rubbish version of the song of the same name on Princes new solo release.

    All in all, if "Wow", "FixUrLifeUp" and "AnotherLove" had been plucked from this album and put on Art Official Age instead, PlectrumElectrumt would have literally no reason to exist.    … Expand
  3. gbblovesbrc
    Oct 18, 2014
    10
    Saw many of these compositions live when Prince & 3rdeyegirl visited Portland, OR in 2013. Longtime Prince fan have always dreamed of him putting out a unfiltered rock album......here it is and its lovely. The ladies of 3rdeyegirl are much more present in these songs than the ladies in the Revolution were back in the day. Straight up rockers "Another Love", "Ain't Turning Around",Saw many of these compositions live when Prince & 3rdeyegirl visited Portland, OR in 2013. Longtime Prince fan have always dreamed of him putting out a unfiltered rock album......here it is and its lovely. The ladies of 3rdeyegirl are much more present in these songs than the ladies in the Revolution were back in the day. Straight up rockers "Another Love", "Ain't Turning Around", "Fixurlifeup", "Marz", and the incredible "Plectrumelectrum" carry this album. The latter song absolutely lit up the crowd at the Prince concert in Portland last year.....I mean the room was electric! "Whitecaps" is a timeless ballad and "Boytrouble" is a funky and very nice rap and "tictactoe" is song that could have been on "ArtOfficialAge." Excellent work, I'm so glad he did this one...its one for the ages! Once people get past their little snarky "Prince" issues and really listen to this album and "ArtOfficialAge" they will come around. Superb work!… Expand
  4. Mintymona
    Apr 28, 2020
    7
    I feel as though the beats the band lay out with the musical legend are good enough to qualify as a good album, although it may not have the most meaning set in some songs in the list.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 20
  3. Negative: 2 out of 20
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Dec 16, 2014
    60
    This is a more conventional album. [Dec 2014, p.104]
  2. Mojo
    Nov 7, 2014
    60
    PlectrumElectrum, the band set, although rockier and fuller, is just as random [as Art Official Age]. [Nov 2014, p.90]
  3. Rolling Stone
    Oct 15, 2014
    40
    Prince does his Hendrix thing over turgid live-band grind, and songs like ''Whitecaps'' and ''Aintturninround,'' where 3rdEyeGirl step out front, have a New Age-y alt-rock feel, like No Doubt in a Funkadelic phase.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »