From Rollingstone.com

Los Angeles’ rock radio station Indie 103 was “summoned” to Prince’s home this past week to preview his new album. According to the station’s “Mr. Shovel,” Prince “wants nothing to do with record labels, so he’s meeting with people to figure out how to operate at his level without a record label.” Following a long conversation with the Purple Rain star, the radio reps were played the new album in Prince’s home entertainment theater. “It’s heavy, rockin’, and our enthusiasm was immediate,” Mr. Shovel said. Prince permitted the station preview a few of the new songs, so that’s where we were today at 3 p.m.

The album kicks off with an explosive, four-minute instrumental before launching into the first song that was played on the radio… Prince covering Tommy James & the Shondells’ “Crimson & Clover,” with the Purple One altering the lyrics as he’s been known to do for covers. Keeping with the original, the vocals sound like Prince is submerged under water. Things deviate at the chorus, however, as Prince belts out the “ooh baby, I think I love you” part of Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady.”

“Colonized Mind” is another laid-back guitar joint — it seems like Prince wants people to stop dancing and just chill. More aquatic layering on Prince’s voice as he sings politicized lyrics along the lines of, “Did you know your record deal was another way for ‘The Man’ to steal.” Yeah, we don’t think Prince wants anything to do with record labels. The guitar solo is killer, out-guitaring the entirety of Planet Earth’s “Guitar,” before the chorus returns.

“Wall of Berlin” brings more guitar virtuosity. If he’s aiming to make an album similar to Side C of Electric Ladyland, he’s off to a good start. The songs also sound more intimate, like the Artist recorded these songs without any Revolution and New Power Generation behind him. “4ever” is the ballad, with Prince busting out the piano before being joined by backup singers. It’s not “Free,” “Ballad of Dorothy Parker” or “Sometimes It Snows In April,” but it’s still a solid, latter-day Prince slow dance as he ruminates about marriage and being with someone, well, 4ever.

And that’s all we get. For now, at least. Again, according to the DJs, Prince’s new album is finished and he’s just looking for a non-record label vessel in which to release it. We’ll keep you posted in what promises to be a busy year for Prince.

Comments I haven't been very enthused about Prince's recent work, but if this is truly "heavy" and "rockin", I'll be looking forward to hearing it.

And a follow-up story from Rollingstone.com

A fifth new Prince song made its way onto the Internet last night as the funky “There Will Never B Another 1 Like Me” popped up on a mysterious Website. Unlike the three guitar-god songs and one ballad that debuted yesterday on Los Angeles’ Indie 103, “Another 1 Like Me” is a return to the funk, similar to that fan-baiting “PFUnk” song that popped up last year and the Black Album, but without the weird vocals. Rick James is even name-checked in this six-minute-plus track.

The Website, mplsound.com, just provides the song stream over a full screen of eye-hurting purple. MPLS is the abbreviation of Minneapolis, Prince’s home turf, so MPLSound would be a fitting spot for Prince to unfurl his Paisley Park creations. As much as it pains our vision, we’ll keep our eyes on the site for any future developments. In case you missed all the fun yesterday, Prince reportedly has a new album ready to go and is just trying to figure out how to release it that doesn’t involve record labels — perhaps another newspaper giveaway is in our future.

Comment The song appears to be gone now. All I get is a solid black page when I attempt to load the page. No music.

This sounds like it may finally be the Prince album I've been waiting for since the last one I think was great, Chaos & Disorder.

Some first impressions after hearing the 5 tracks: I really like "There Will Never B Another 1 Like Me" - it's a stone cold jam. It should pack the dance floor. Also like the ballad "4Ever" a lot. There's some nice guitar on "Crimson & Clover", although I hear "Wild Thing" at the chorus, not "Foxy Lady" (it works, IMO). "Colonized Mind" *vaguely* reminds me of "All Along The Watchtower" at times...not sure why. It doesn't sound anything like AATW, I just hear echoes of Hendrix. The more I listen to it, the more it grows on me. "Wall Of Berlin" is probably my least favorite of the five, but it may grow on me after I've heard it a few more times. Overall, I'm encouraged - I'll be looking forward to this release.

I've thoroughly enjoyed Prince's recent output and still listen to those albums all the time ("Musicology", "3121" and "Planet Earth"). I thought the stuff prior to those sucked, but I thought those 3 recent efforts were great.
To hear him truly "rock out" would be sweet, but that's not gonna 100% happen. I did like "Chaos And Disorder" alot, but some that sounds very rushed (I think it was recorded in a few days) and there's some real filler like all his albums including the recent ones.
But I'll absolutely get this next one unless it's download only, then forget it.

Chaos was an outtakes album.

Prince's New 3 CD Set Gets Target Exclusive

March 02, 2009
Associated Press

Prince is coming to a Target near you.

The superstar is releasing a three-disc CD set through the retailer at the end of this month. The set will include two new albums — "LOtUSFLOW3R" and "MPLSoUND" — as well as a third by his new artist, Bria Valente, for the price of $11.98.

Prince is just the latest music legend to release new music exclusively through a major retailer. AC/DC and the Eagles were among the acts who sold millions of CDs through their partnership with Wal-Mart.

Prince has released his recent CDs through major labels, but they were one-album deals that gave him the flexibility to go elsewhere when the project was done. Last fall, he released a coffee table book of photos titled "21 Nights" documenting his record-breaking, 21-night run at London's 02 Arena in 2007. The book also included a CD of live performances.

"Prince has long been renowned as one of the world's most original and iconic musical artists," said Mark Schindele, Target's senior vice president of merchandising. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share his most recent work with our Target guests."

The CD set will be on sale at Target and its Web site on March 29.

Great, I love it when Prince puts out muti discs sets..........."Sign Of The Times" and "Crystal Ball" were fantastic. M.

Great price. I'm going to wait for reports on the music quality before spending the $12. I still haven't been thrilled with anything since Chaos & Disorder.

I was a huge Prince fan in his rock days; before the hits/b-sides set collecting Prince b-sides was an obsession.

Unfortunately, he lost me with Batman & Grafitti Bridge, & while I've tried to like every album since, the funk & pseudo hip hop have sucked for me. The last non-vault album I really liked was Lovesexy.

I'm not saying I don't like Funk (I do like it), however, I don't like Funk as played by Prince.

As I said before I've been a big fan of the last 3 albums and look forward to 2 of these, but why do I have to also purchase an album by another failed protege? Most of the acts he promotes go nowhere, although I did think that Tamar chick was pretty good. Still, I do not want that third disc. Guess I have to take it at that price, but I'm not interested-maybe there will be a special 2 disc version? Nope.

If Bria's a bust, just think of it as a 2-disc Prince set with a free coaster, IP.

I have been a huge fan forever...I started getting into him with Controversy (which was strange - being a 15 year old blue-class white kid from a race-baiting Chicago suburb who went from all Beatles to all Beatles and Prince, while everyone else was listening to Sabbath and Priest). I've pretty much enjoyed something from all his albums, (a notable exception being N.E.W.S. and Rave On...) although I bought a few, just to show my support (and some of these, early-mid 90 releases actually are worth returning to, despite some missteps as 'artistsic statements'). Have to agree with IP, though, his last 3 albums have been a decent return of form.

I've always like the slap together feel of Choas and Disorder, and Come - which I consider another 'rockish' albums of his. I'll snatch this up in a heart beat, even if they are tossing in a 3rd disc which won't get any play. Hopefully the 3rd dicsc will have awesome artwork, so it will be a classy Coaster, per David's suggestion.

I have been a huge fan forever...I started getting into him with Controversy (which was strange - being a 15 year old blue-class white kid from a race-baiting Chicago suburb who went from all Beatles to all Beatles and Prince, while everyone else was listening to Sabbath and Priest). I've pretty much enjoyed something from all his albums, (a notable exception being N.E.W.S. and Rave On...) although I bought a few, just to show my support (and some of these, early-mid 90 releases actually are worth returning to, despite some missteps as 'artistsic statements'). Have to agree with IP, though, his last 3 albums have been a decent return of form.

I've always like the slap together feel of Choas and Disorder, and Come - which I consider another 'rockish' albums of his. I'll snatch this up in a heart beat, even if they are tossing in a 3rd disc which won't get any play. Hopefully the 3rd dicsc will have awesome artwork, so it will be a classy Coaster, per David's suggestion.

Maybe it's Bria's bust that got her signed! True though-there is always another option. Maybe a frisbee for my dog or a toy for the cats. So many possiblilties! Of course, I'll give it a listen first.

Holy frickin' crap-just saw night #2 of Prince on Leno and he absolutely shredded on a new song called "Dreamer". I believe Jay said this was on the "Lotus Flower" portion. Regardless, it kicked major ass. he wailed away during the solo, and the whole song had a nice heavy early 70's sound of Classic Rock to it. The drumming was awesome and at the end Prince simply walked up to some clown in the front row and handed him his guitar (a light blue Strat I think-can't remember) and walked off. Yes!!!
This may end up on You Tube or Prince's website-if not I have it on my DVD-R anyway. He will be on Leno for night #3 on Friday.
I believe the CDs come out Sunday at Target.

I'm looking forward to reviews from those braver then I before i purchase; but if either of the cd's is a true rock album, I may jump in.

Wow. I saw it too IP and if the album is anything like what I just saw I am going to be all over it. He had sort of of power trio thing going on (although he also had keyboards and a harmonica featured) and he just tore the roof off. I know the whole album isn't going to be like that, but WOW.

amazing performance.

the man can play guitar, always could.

A little jealous, IP?

Thanks for the heads up. I just watched the perfomances on the tonight show site. I enjoyed both of them - with a preference for the Thursday night show. The Wed night is the typical (read fun) Housequake type of jam which would fit much better mid set rather than a stand alone song. I'm buying Sunday.

No. The guy looked like a moron. I have a '72 sunburst Fender Strat anyway. I would take one from Prince however if he offered!