Apparently, Prince's recent New Yorker controversy -- where he made antigay statements -- hasn't scared off the Purple One from dealing with the press. In fact, he summoned a Los Angeles Times music critic to his Los Angeles mansion Tuesday for a scoop.
Prince told critic Ann Powers that he will release not one, but three new albums in 2009. Minnesota fans take note: One will be called "MPLSOUND," an obvious reference to his Minneapolis roots. He told Powers he recorded the album, full of experimental pop songs, at his Paisley Park studio in Chanhassen. Prince said he won't be working with a record label this time. Instead, he's in talks with "a major retailer" to sell the album, a la the recent Guns N' Roses album, which was sold exclusively at Best Buy. "The gatekeepers have to change," he told Powers.
Prince also will release the previously announced "Lotus Flower." The third album he talked about was "Elixir," for his new protégé, Bria Valente. While the album is overtly sexual, Prince said it doesn't conflict with his devotion to being a Jehovah's Witness. "This music is nasty, but it's not dirty," he said. "There's no profanity. It isn't promoting promiscuity."
Prince appeared to be in a cheery mood, even opening up about his previous controversial statements. He said that since Jehovah's Witnesses don't vote, he did not cast a ballot in the recent election, including for Proposition 8.
"I didn't vote for Obama either," he said.
TOM HORGEN
