Prince to drop three albums this year

Three: that's the number of albums Prince plans to release in 2009. What's more, he told The Los Angeles Times each will be self-released, saying "the gatekeepers need to change." Gatekeepers, of course, referring to the record labels. Remember, this is the guy who appeared in public in the early '90s, while embroiled in a lawsuit with Warner Brothers, with the word "slave" scrawled on his face.

While this might sound like the early glory days of music (like when The Beach Boys and The Beatles could snap their fingers and magically knock out three or four a year), these three records will represent an experiment in both differentiation from one another and in the larger, still-evolving exercise of digital distribution.

Prince told The Times fans will be able to buy the new songs from a "highly interactive website." Presumably, he's referring to LotusFlow3r.com, which reads: "An entirely new galaxy awaits..." Although not fully functional, the site promises to offer users the opportunity to buy music and tickets, watch videos and listen to new tracks.

Currently, three tracks can be previewed, one from each of the albums. The first is a cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' "Crimson Clover" off the guitar-heavy Lotus Flow3er, followed by "(There'll Never B) Another Like Me" off the funkified MPLSOUND. Finally, there's "Here Eye Come," which is from Elixir, a collaborative effort with newcomer Bria Valente on vocals.

Along with the digital experience, Prince is also close to negotiating a deal with a "major retailer" to distribute the albums physically.

Related links:
News: Prince turns 50, gets angry at Norwegians
News: Prince blocks YouTube cover of Radiohead's "Creep"
LotusFlow3r.com

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