Art Official Age
by Prince
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
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  1. Los Angeles Times
    Sep 29, 2014
    100
    If you're looking for a freaky good time, Art Official is your ticket.... An exquisite Prince R&B album.
  2. The A.V. Club
    Oct 1, 2014
    91
    A stellar album that functions more as an ellipsis than a period. This album is an indicator that Prince is still pulling levers and asking questions.
  3. Exclaim
    Sep 30, 2014
    90
    As an original whole, Art Official Age is Prince's most complete, most consistent and most contemporary album in a minute.
  5. Chicago Tribune
    Sep 29, 2014
    88
    In an era when innovative artists such as Frank Ocean and The Weeknd are redefining the form and feel of R&B seduction ballads, Prince sounds not just relevant, but renewed.
  6. Paste Magazine
    Oct 1, 2014
    84
    Let’s call ART OFFICIAL AGE a beautiful renewal of vows.
  7. The Observer (UK)
    Oct 6, 2014
    80
    This is a far better album than you’d dare hope from the latterday Prince; Breakdown is a heavy, plangent ballad, while The Gold Standard just sounds like he’s partying like it’s 1999 all over again.
  8. Billboard.com
    Sep 30, 2014
    80
    Art Official Age isn't just the stronger of the two--it's among his most imaginative albums since the '90s.
  9. The Telegraph (UK)
    Sep 29, 2014
    80
    It is all quite delightfully nuts.
  10. Rolling Stone
    Oct 15, 2014
    70
    Prince's genius remains intact, and as confusing as ever.
  11. musicOMH.com
    Oct 1, 2014
    70
    There are sections of this album where the excessively excessive for excessiveness’ sake draw attention away from the parts that are genuinely fantastic. Not that Prince cares what anyone thinks. He proves with this album that he will experiment and make the music he wants to make.
  12. PopMatters
    Sep 30, 2014
    70
    A s Art Official Age plays out, it winds up being less of an introduction to a new generation as much as it is the treat for loyal fans that MPLSound tried so hard to be but end up felling short of.
  13. Entertainment Weekly
    Oct 1, 2014
    67
    Even the purest pop songs get derailed by the sheer volume of ideas he attempts to cram into every sonic cranny, including a confusing sci-fi narrative thread that periodically breaks in.
  14. Pitchfork
    Oct 3, 2014
    65
    Art Official Age is not a return to form by any means, but a modestly exciting Prince album.

Awards & Rankings

59
#59 Most Shared Album of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 58 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 58
  3. Negative: 9 out of 58
  1. MrErw
    Oct 1, 2014
    8
    This could very well be the best we can expect from Prince at this stage of his career. Surprisingly fresh and confident, he's undeniablyThis could very well be the best we can expect from Prince at this stage of his career. Surprisingly fresh and confident, he's undeniably 'Princey' while at the same time embracing current musical trends. Trend-setting? Not anymore, but that's ok, he's past that and how could one hold that against him?… Full Review »
  2. Viktor85
    Aug 1, 2021
    8
    Criminally underrated, there are no weak tracks on Art Official Age. Prince was exciting til the end.
  3. more
    Oct 14, 2014
    7
    How hard it seems for Prince (cough... cough...) to be sincere and true for a minute.
    Just like his productions, he's packed in some cheap    How hard it seems for Prince (cough... cough...) to be sincere and true for a minute.
    Just like his productions, he's packed in some cheap plastic condom, far from the real thing.    … Full Review »
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