I've listened to it over and over, and tried to come up with a good idea of how I feel about each track. I've heard some folks hail this as a "return to form", while still others claim it is "lackluster". Well, I think the truth is somewhere in-between. It isn't a masterpiece like Sign "O" The Times or Lovesexy, but it's hardly on par with the craptacular offerings of NewPower Soul, or the boring mess of Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic. It is a decent, solid album that has some truly great moments on it. The production is tight, and it's overall a better package than Musicology. Here are my thoughts, track by track:

3121: "Don't U wanna come?". This is the first hint of the idea that Prince has behind this project. The "address" of 3121 is obviously yet another concept of a utopian party palace, where the "purple party people" can groove their way (much like the concepts of "Uptown" and "Paisley Park") and co-exist with like-minded individuals of all races. The groove is killer, and the layering of the "Camille" voice over his regular voice adds a funky feel that reminds me of P-Funk. Fantastic opening track!

2. Lolita: A fun, poppy number that makes you want to dance. Taking the title from Nabokov's famous book, Prince manages to resist this "Lolita" where Humbert Humbert could not. Still, you can hear the temptation in his voice, which makes the song all the more playful. The highlight, for me, is the male voices hollering back to Prince's inquiries "how bad is this girl" BAD! Very reminescent of The Time.

3. Te Amo Corazon: This track seems to have been panned by many harcore fans, but I quite like it. The Spanish feel is nice, and the whole thing has a very laid-back, tropical groove to it. I love the bossa-nova atmosphere that permeates the track. The song is quite pleasant, and works well within the context of the album. Lyrically, it is yet another song that references the Biblical tale of Genesis, but I think this one handles it better than previous attempts.

4. Black Sweat: Prince just thought he would remind Pharrel who did this type of song first! Personally, I think the song is incredibly funky. The vocals are a little weak, but I'll forgive him that with a beat that sick!

5. Incense And Candles: Incredibly poppy, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if this wound up a single. Seems the most clearly commercial track on the album. I like the song, but I hate the vocorder modulated vox on it. It's been done by everyone from Cher to Madonna, and it's really getting old.

6. Love: LOVE this song! Like Pete observed, it wouldn't be out of place on a Madonna album. In fact, it would be quite at home on Confessions On A Dance Floor. Slammin' dance number!

7. Satisfied: Many people have noted that this song is basically "On The Couch" Part II. I cannot disagree. For years, Prince has done the R&B ballad based on "Scandalous" and "Insatiable" on almost every album, but now it looks like OTC might be set to be his new ballad template. This song is more focused than OTC, but lacks the charisma of that number. Not a bad track, but I have a "been there, done that" feeling about it.

8. Fury: Well, we all were blown away by this track on SNL, and I was fairly dissapointed when I heard the studio track. The guitar is further back in the mix, with the keyboards being far more prominent. In many ways, this reminds me of how we'd all heard "Endorphinmachine" in its raw, live form backinthaday, and were all shocked to hear the over-produced version that made it onto The Gold Experience. In time, I came to appreciate the album version of that track, and I think the same will be true of this one. Still, the live version was so brilliant, it's hard to adjust to this one. Man, how I miss that guitar solo at the end!!!

9. The Word: This song has really grown on me. The acoustic guitar loop is tight, and the lyrics remind me of his Lovesexy days. It's spiritual, yet it's far more accessible to folks than some of his more recent works. The vocals are incredible, and there is a sexiness that overlays the spiritual feel

10. Beautiful, Loved & Blessed: When I first heard P duet with Tamar on this track on SNL, I was underwhelmed. I didn't think it was a bad track, but I wasn't impressed either. I felt the same the first time I listened to the studio cut, but the more I listened the more I dug it. The harmonies between Tamar and Prince are some of the finest he's done with another artist. Musically, the song is really strong, and the arrangement is just incredible. Yet again, he references the Genesis story, but he does it with taste and style. The song is positive, uplifting and doesn't come across as preachy. A fine track.

11. The Dance: A MAJOR improvement over the version on The Chocolate Invasion. The original just seemed like another tepid Emancipation outtake, but this take has SOUL! The angst and pain that Prince conveys feel quite real, and the song's arrangement is far darker and brooding than the original. He's taken a song I always felt was boring and actually turned it into a captivating tune.

12. Get On The Boat: Oh yeah, now THIS is how to end an album. This track is slammin', start to finish! Sure, it's a tad bit repetitious, but who cares? It adds to the almost "live jam" feel that the track has. Sheila's percussion is the perfect ingredient to blend with the amazing horn work from Maceo Parker. If we don't ever get to see this played live, it's a dayum sin!

Well, those are my brief takes on the tunes. I'm sure time will change my perspective on many of these tracks, but I think this fairly well sums up my thoughts on it.

After the Tamar show, and hearing this album, I'm ready for a full-fledged tour!!!! Gotta hear "Get On The Boat" live!!!!!

wendyrachel said:

Prince hasn't sold decent amounts in over a decade, despite all the hype. I still see copies of Emancipation at next to nothing in several stores I visit on a regular basis and no one's even buying those. Prince used to sell a couple of million worldwide without much trouble, these days it's a couple of 100,000 max. when they're really putting an effort behind it.

wendyrachel said:

Prince hasn't sold decent amounts in over a decade, despite all the hype. I still see copies of Emancipation at next to nothing in several stores I visit on a regular basis and no one's even buying those. Prince used to sell a couple of million worldwide without much trouble, these days it's a couple of 100,000 max. when they're really putting an effort behind it.

sallysassalot said:

Because I still hope that Prince rediscovers what made him great. Not that I'm swayed by the listening parties reports I read here, those just made me think "amazing how people don't change, they're still hyping stuff that you just know they'll dismiss as 'filler' when the next 'masterpiece' comes around."

sallysassalot said:

Why can't fans stand to read a little bit of criticism? Answer: because it reveals what they're thinking deep down inside but won't admit.

While I was at Best buy picking up my copy I talked to the woman who keeps the table stacked with the new releases. She said that she had to keep filling up the Prince section all day long, and that a lot of people were buying more than 1 copy. She also said that they were buying a lot of Prince's older stuff too. They had one guy come in a buy 1 of every Prince release they had including ONA Live and the DVD.

While I was there I handed 10 Prince cd's to 10 people that were standing by the table and told them that this "is the only musician" on the table. 8 of them purchased the cd. I just love that.....

I can't rip the tracks off my official CD to MP3, so I can't listen to it on my portable MP3 player.

Gawd - I hate copy protection on CDs I have purchased for my OWN enjoyment!

I never recognized this b4, but did anyone else notice the Thank U Falettinme B Mice Elf Again guitar lick at the end of Beautiful Loved and Blessed. It's blatant enuff to where Sly should have been given credit, but I don't see any.


did anyone else hear this or am I too stoned?

is it me or is Get on the Boat the Work Pt 2?

is it me or is Get on the Boat the Work Pt 2?

SlamGlam said:

Part 2 for sho.

I still can't quite put my finger on Black Sweat, but there is something about the track that really bugs me. I thinks it's the synth lead driving me nuts.

though.

Graycap23 said:

It hurts my ears.

Nasalhair said:

Maybe there is something wrong with those CDs pressed for the UK?

Track 1 = 69 minutes long! - it is the whole album in one track (a bit like what was done with Lovesexy)
Track 2 = blank
Tracks 3 - 12 are all fine and can be ripped as expected.

Very strange.

BartVanHemelen said:

My God Bart. You're busy talking about how people don't change but YOU are the one who hasn't changed at all. You're just as bitter now as you were when I first read your posts here in 1999 and it seems you've been bitter for at least 10 years. Nothing's wrong with criticism but when you sit here and talk about, in so many words, how we're crazy for liking his shit and that his music will never be always be shit, then that speaks more about you then Prince or us and it doesn't make you look good at all. If Prince isn't doing what you want, then do ureself a favor and gett off the boat.

Graycap23 said:

Nah...It's more a mixture of JB, Earth Wind & Fire and some Latin flourishes to spice it up...Plus it ain't as preachy...I have to admit, I disliked the song when I first heard it; But it has grown on me...But no...in my humble opinion it aint "The Work" 2...

murph said:

That's what the work is....isn't it?

NDRU said:

There are several songs that don't sound like they are "mixed" correctly.