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Welcome 2 America Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

  • Summary: The latest posthumous Prince release is an album recorded in 2010 with the New Power Generation features 11 originals and a cover of Soul Asylum's "Stand Up and B Strong."
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. 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. 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.
  3. Jul 29, 2021
    80
    “Welcome 2 America” balances hard insights with visceral joys.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Aug 4, 2021
    62
    It was and is a spotty album from a time when Prince was making a lot of those.
  7. 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.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Aug 1, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand 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 Expand
  2. Jul 31, 2021
    10
    As an avid fan of Prince for over 30 years, and through all eras snd styles of his music, I was apprehensive of what to expect from thisAs an avid fan of Prince for over 30 years, and through all eras snd styles of his music, I was apprehensive of what to expect from this album. I am glad to say, I needn’t have worried, as it is a cracking record with a mix of really meaningful and memorable songs. Every one on the album get more addictive with each listen.
    Still miss his amazing concerts but ‘new’ music from the genius, is some consolation 10/10!
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  3. Jul 30, 2021
    9
    Who else can bury a completed album in a literal vault, under a pile of other completed albums, and do so knowing that even more music wasWho else can bury a completed album in a literal vault, under a pile of other completed albums, and do so knowing that even more music was available to pull from his talents at a moments notice. Prince. That’s the only answer. “Welcome 2 America” is staggering in how prophetic (or astute) he was in 2010 to the things that we all would be dealing with in 2021. The messages are there. But the music… oh my, the music. Come for the learnings, stay for the pure joy of instrumentation and vocals unmatched. Real music by real musicians,”indeed. Welcome 2 brilliance. Expand
  4. Jul 30, 2021
    8
    Four great tracks on this album, 1000 Lights Years, When She Comes, One Day We Will All B Free, and 1010 Rin Tin Tin. Yes, and Stand Up and BFour great tracks on this album, 1000 Lights Years, When She Comes, One Day We Will All B Free, and 1010 Rin Tin Tin. Yes, and Stand Up and B Strong are growers. Check The Record and Same Page, Different Book are decent. The rest I can take or leave, but a better album than I expected. Expand
  5. Jul 30, 2021
    8
    I'm going to repeat some things I've heard others say, that I agree with. Cohesive. Solid. Thoughtful lyricism. I was not initially asI'm going to repeat some things I've heard others say, that I agree with. Cohesive. Solid. Thoughtful lyricism. I was not initially as excited for this album. The first 2 tracks I'd heard did not excite me...the title cut and Born 2 Die. However, they worked much better within the context of the album. Very interesting lyrics....some try to make it sound like he was prophetic with all the media attention George Floyd received and so much of the album's songs being about race and America's misdeeds. I laugh b/c it's the media that caught on in 2020, the misdeeds and Floyd incidents have been happening throughout all of American history...Prince knew this. He was a black man. ...something that's often overlooked due to his appearance. Overall, I think this is a surprisingly super album. The usual fantastic playing on songs like Check the Record, muted guitars on some tracks, the usual excellent vocals.... The album also includes the original versions of 1000 Light Years Away and When She Comes. The former was included in part on the back half of Black Muse on his last album, Hit and Run Phase 2. A diff version of When She Comes came out on that Phase 2 to album too. Amazing he could change the same song to be so different and more amazing for us, that he took the time to do so many revisions. Of everything, what I found most amazing are the lyrics. It is obvious he was a thoughtful artist and as he got older, delved deep into his own history. His observations on race, historical figures and black Americans repeatedly getting the short end...are not news to me but to hear a master musician make it sound this good....only Prince. Sadly, it feels that we lost him much too early. He seemed to be returning to to centre from his conservative leanings of the early 2000s.This guy had a lot more to say. I really hope people get the set...the Blu ray live show actually is the real gem in the set. Expand
  6. 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. Expand
  7. 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.
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