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It’s been five years since Prince put out a new record in the United States, since he limited the release of his _20Ten LP_, but that will change this fall. On September 30th, the artist
will release two new records: _Plectrumelectrum_, his long-teased album with the group 3rdEyeGirl, and his recently announced solo LP, _Art Official Age_. He will reportedly hold a series of
special events and live dates around the world, details for which are forthcoming, to celebrate the albums’ release. Both records are available separately as pre-orders, via the website
ArtOfficialAge.com, and include “instant gratification” downloads. _Art Official Age_ is being billed as “classic Prince,” since it was produced, arranged, composed and performed by the
musician (alongside singer-songwriter Joshua Welton). The record reportedly contains a mix of soul, R&B and funk. The pre-order includes the songs “Breakdown” and “Clouds,” as well as
three digital singles. The funky, jazzy latter track is now streaming at Complex. Prince has already released the video for album track “Breakfast Can Wait” and he played “Funknroll” during
his appearance on _Arsenio_ earlier this year, though the version on _Art Official Age _is “funkier and nastier,” according to a Minneapolis _Star Tribune_ writer who got an early listen.
The reporter also claimed that “This Could Be Us” was a ballad inspired by Prince’s _Purple Rain_ costar Apollonia Kotero and that “The Gold Standard” had lyrics “wild and rude.” The writer
also said the album contained an “aggressive and menacing” rap song featuring Rita Ora. _Plectrumelectrum_, a “classic band album” that is said to be an “electrifying funk-rock statement,”
features the singer leading the all-female group ThirdEyeGirl. The ensemble test-drove a number of the record’s songs on their recent Hit and Run tours. “No one can play like this band,”
Prince told _Rolling Stone_ about the record. “People are going to try, but they won’t be able to.” EDITOR’S PICKS He also previewed the record at a late-night listening session in New York
City, which revealed the hard-rock guitar number (and pre-order instant-gratification track) “Pretzelbodylogic,” as well as the original version of “Funknroll.” Notably absent from the
record is Prince’s duet with Zooey Deschanel, “Fallinlove2night,” which got its debut on _The New Girl_ in March. The records mark Prince’s return to Warner Bros., the label he split from
acrimoniously in the Nineties after wearing the word “slave” on his face as a protest to his record contract. “When you stop a man from dreaming, he becomes a slave,” he told _Rolling Stone_
in 1996. “That’s where I was. I don’t own Prince’s music. If you don’t own your masters, your master owns you.” Earlier this year, Prince worked out a deal with the label where he now owns
the masters to his recordings. The label previously announced a plan to put out a deluxe, digitally remastered, 30th anniversary release of the _Purple Rain soundtrack_, though it has yet to
announce a release date. “Prince is one of just a handful of visionary artists who have truly reshaped and redefined modern music and culture,” Warner Bros. Chairman & CEO Cameron
Strang said in a statement about the two new records. “For the past 35 years, he has never stopped evolving, challenging himself, reinventing his sound and pushing boundaries. In true Prince
fashion, he has just given us not one, but two extraordinary albums that express the incredible range and depth of his talent. All of us at WBR are immensely proud to be working with Prince
to bring this brilliant new music to his legions of fans around the world, and needless to say we are thrilled to be working in partnership with him again.” _ART OFFICIAL AGE_ TRACK LIST:
1. “Art Official Cage” 2. “Clouds” 3. “Breakdown” 4. “The Gold Standard” 5. “U Know” 6. “Breakfast Can Wait” 7. “This Could Be Us” 8. “What It Feels Like” 9. “Affirmation I & II” 10.
“Way Back Home” 11. “Funknroll” 12. “Time” 13. “Affirmation III” TRENDING STORIES _PLECTRUMELECTRUM _TRACK LIST: 1. “Wow” 2. “Pretzelbodylogic” 3. “Aintturninround” 4. “Plectrumelectrum” 5.
“Whitecaps” 6. “Fixurlifeup” 7. “Boytrouble” 8. “Stopthistrain” 9. “Anotherlove” 10. “Tictactoe” 11. “Marz” 12. “Funknroll”