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Forums > Prince: Music and More > Can we all agree 3121 kicks Musicology's ass?
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Reply #30 posted 03/28/06 7:45am

scandalousalan

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id agree with that hombre
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Reply #31 posted 03/28/06 8:06am

lynx

Musicology the song has the same riff over and over and over, keyboard at the end is so lame

Illusion is really lame, weak drums, no hook

Million Days has some of the lamest lyrics I've ever heard

Life o the party is total crap although I must say I like the "nose done" dig.

Call My Name is OK, but boring after awhile

Cinn Girl was a great idea, but the songs has the worst chorus of any Prince song ever.

etc, etc,

I like Dear Mr. Man and the live acoustic version of Reflection is excellent but not on the actual album of course.


3121 sounds alive to me, a return to form by Prince.
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Reply #32 posted 03/28/06 8:07am

heebong

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funny that after i listen to 3121, i became to like musicology more..
even though i like 3121 more than musicology...

i think they r just Different...
i can't tell which is better... anyway i love both of them!!
Sometimes It Snows in April...
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Reply #33 posted 03/28/06 11:52am

squiddyren

"Musicology" is a grand snorefest; "3121" is no masterpiece itself, by a long shot, but it's infinitely more entertaining.

The title track, "Black Sweat", "Love", "The Word"... dancing jig
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Reply #34 posted 03/28/06 11:55am

PurpleRein

Since listening to 3121 all week, I put Musicology in the cd player...and liked it better then the first few times I played it. I feel 3121 improves the songs on Musicology
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Reply #35 posted 03/28/06 12:03pm

S3V3N

3121 wins. But it's a fight where platitudes are thrown (instead of punches).

At least (with 3121) P's scaled back that hideous "Day of Discovery" harmony schtick he's been using since the 90's.

"Discovery! Dis-covery! Dis-cover-reeeeey!"
[Edited 3/28/06 12:05pm]
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Reply #36 posted 03/28/06 12:14pm

Thang

It's interesting how Prince's releases inspire us to look back to his previous output; the way we compare.

Personally, I think Musicology pales in comparison to 3121.

I'm 33 and bought my 1st Prince record (PR) in a second hand shop when I was 13 years old. It's been years since I've really enjoyed an entire Prince release this much. Even though I started getting concerned around Lovesexy, which I loved...it's been that long since I've enjoyed Prince's art this much.

I ask myself why? Because..as much as i dig them... Black Sweat and Love are reminders to the youngens out there that Prince can also DO THAT if he didn't inspire them in the 1st place.

3121 is pure funk...imagine a whole cd of such funk! Lolita is light weight for me, and Satisfied Prince does in his sleep. Now, The Dance is powerful. I dig this version mo' than the 1st.

The Word is full of life as others have said. Even Get on the Boat, a genre Prince has mastered, is funki and tight. It matches Musicology.

Now, I just don't want 2 talk about Pimp...the airy Dear Mr. Man and Reflection. Good intentions, but just w/out life. I can hear Prince singing Cin. Girl over Fury...he needs 2 get more innovative with his rock songs, make them more funki or something. I do love Fury though.
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Reply #37 posted 03/28/06 12:19pm

SupaFunkyOrgan
grinderSexy

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big ass nod
2010: Healing the Wounds of the Past.... http://prince.org/msg/8/325740
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Reply #38 posted 03/28/06 12:27pm

NDRU

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Reply #39 posted 03/28/06 12:28pm

NDRU

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Musicology was okay, but it sounds kind of forced in retrospect. The music's good, but it's not going to connect to people on a very deep level.

3121 is a much easier listen. The songs are funner, cooler, more melodic, catchier. They are stuck in my head already, but they also get better the more I listen.

It's no more groundbreaking, but it's like Musicology was a dress rehearsal for the pop comeback that 3121 has the potential to actually be.
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Reply #40 posted 03/28/06 12:28pm

NDRU

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Oops, what's wrong with me?

But since I triple posted I'll just add that the most important thing is that 3121 sounds like the Prince we know & love (if not Prince at his creative peak) but Musicology sounds like post 1990 Prince.
[Edited 3/28/06 12:35pm]
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Reply #41 posted 03/28/06 12:38pm

herb4

I like them both.
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Reply #42 posted 03/28/06 12:42pm

Veej

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GottaLetitgo said:

I know there is a thread comparing song for song of the two albums but after listening to 3121 about 20 times, I am just convinced that the new album is so much better than Musicology. The events surronding the Musicology project heavily colored that album's reception and perception. Prince just seemed to emerge from the netherworld he had been hiding in for several years and Musicology was a pleasant enough offshoot. There were some good songs but none that you would call "classic Prince". In hindsight, the album almost seems half-done now, like he laid the tracks down and left out some of the hooks that would put the album over the top. Overall, it was a good but not great Prince project, ranking in the middle of the pack but not something I really feel a compulsion to listen to these days.

Compare this with 3121. The Prince that many of us became fascinated by in the first place is back. The experimentation, the weirdness, the funkiness, the melodies that stick in your head and just linger. Okay it's not Purple Rain and it sure as hell is not Sign O The Times but hell, what is? It is just a really really strong Prince record with a handful of songs that compare favorably with his best works and not really a complete loser in the bunch. 3121 sounds like Prince; Musicology sounded like Prince trying to sound like Prince. There is a definite difference.



Have to agree with you word for word.
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Reply #43 posted 03/28/06 12:46pm

Miles

'Musicology' was a creatively dead sounding album. I think it's the only P album i actually dislike. I played it a few times then put it away. I personally consider 'Chaos and Disorder' and 'New Power Soul' better and more interesting albums than 'Musicology'. At least some of their tracks sounded alive and 'meant'.

'3121' crushes 'Musicology'. Prince is himself again, writing fun quirky songs, more serious songs and experimenting with production for the first time since 'Rainbow Children'. In fact, 'The Word' sounds like it could have come off of 'Rainbow Children II', and good for it. 'Love' and 'Lolita' are infectious tracks. And the title track itself is fab experimental funk - nice to hear Michael B and Sonny T back on the case here. 'Te Amo Corazon' is a real grower and really fit in nicely in the album. Clare Fisher's strings add so much to P's sound and always have.

'3121' feels like a breath of fresh air to me, as it amounts to the first good new P songs album since 'Rainbow Children'. I don't love every track (like most tho), but it feels rather nice to be spinning and exploring an overall very good new Prince album. music
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Reply #44 posted 03/28/06 1:04pm

Illustrator

I dunno. I haven't bought 3121 yet.
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Reply #45 posted 03/28/06 1:25pm

Coolaid

sure 3121 is a bit better than musicology but musicology has some songs i dont wanna miss, like a million days, reflection, dear mr. man and call my name!
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Reply #46 posted 03/28/06 1:44pm

NDRU

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Maybe what really seperates this from Emancipation, Rave, & Musicology is that Prince was trying to prove something with those records. They're all not very fun, either, though, they're supposed to be.

2004 was one of Prince's most successful years financially, & he even re-emerged slightly on the pop horizon.

Maybe he has more confidence & was just having more fun?
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Reply #47 posted 03/28/06 1:59pm

EAL

NOPE !!!
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Reply #48 posted 03/28/06 2:26pm

Graycap23

GottaLetitgo said:

I know there is a thread comparing song for song of the two albums but after listening to 3121 about 20 times, I am just convinced that the new album is so much better than Musicology. The events surronding the Musicology project heavily colored that album's reception and perception. Prince just seemed to emerge from the netherworld he had been hiding in for several years and Musicology was a pleasant enough offshoot. There were some good songs but none that you would call "classic Prince". In hindsight, the album almost seems half-done now, like he laid the tracks down and left out some of the hooks that would put the album over the top. Overall, it was a good but not great Prince project, ranking in the middle of the pack but not something I really feel a compulsion to listen to these days.

Compare this with 3121. The Prince that many of us became fascinated by in the first place is back. The experimentation, the weirdness, the funkiness, the melodies that stick in your head and just linger. Okay it's not Purple Rain and it sure as hell is not Sign O The Times but hell, what is? It is just a really really strong Prince record with a handful of songs that compare favorably with his best works and not really a complete loser in the bunch. 3121 sounds like Prince; Musicology sounded like Prince trying to sound like Prince. There is a definite difference.


Interesting. I have not listen to Musicology once since 2004.
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Reply #49 posted 03/28/06 2:49pm

Buttox

For me 3121 gets the biggest compliment I could pay to a new Prince album. This album should be the new yardstick with which to measure all future Prince albums. Rather than asking if the next one is as good as Sign of the Times , Purple Rain, etc...it should be : Is it as good as 3121? This by no means is meant to imply a comparison between Prince's classic albums and 3121! Just that Prince deserves to have the page turned on his career and for us fans to use a realistic, more modern measuring stick and the be 3121!!! Who's with me?


Musicology is well, hmm..Musicology, Dear Mr Man and IIWTMIYL are nice little ditties aren't they? Not as good as most of 3121 but there ya go...what from Prince's 90s and 00s is (save the odd song off TRC)?
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Reply #50 posted 03/28/06 3:00pm

Graycap23

Buttox said:

For me 3121 gets the biggest compliment I could pay to a new Prince album. This album should be the new yardstick with which to measure all future Prince albums. Rather than asking if the next one is as good as Sign of the Times , Purple Rain, etc...it should be : Is it as good as 3121? This by no means is meant to imply a comparison between Prince's classic albums and 3121! Just that Prince deserves to have the page turned on his career and for us fans to use a realistic, more modern measuring stick and the be 3121!!! Who's with me?


Musicology is well, hmm..Musicology, Dear Mr Man and IIWTMIYL are nice little ditties aren't they? Not as good as most of 3121 but there ya go...what from Prince's 90s and 00s is (save the odd song off TRC)?


Honestly I don't get the comparison thing. I like prince's new material for what it is, his new material.
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Reply #51 posted 03/28/06 3:07pm

mzflash

GottaLetitgo said:

I know there is a thread comparing song for song of the two albums but after listening to 3121 about 20 times, I am just convinced that the new album is so much better than Musicology. The events surronding the Musicology project heavily colored that album's reception and perception. Prince just seemed to emerge from the netherworld he had been hiding in for several years and Musicology was a pleasant enough offshoot. There were some good songs but none that you would call "classic Prince". In hindsight, the album almost seems half-done now, like he laid the tracks down and left out some of the hooks that would put the album over the top. Overall, it was a good but not great Prince project, ranking in the middle of the pack but not something I really feel a compulsion to listen to these days.

Compare this with 3121. The Prince that many of us became fascinated by in the first place is back. The experimentation, the weirdness, the funkiness, the melodies that stick in your head and just linger. Okay it's not Purple Rain and it sure as hell is not Sign O The Times but hell, what is? It is just a really really strong Prince record with a handful of songs that compare favorably with his best works and not really a complete loser in the bunch. 3121 sounds like Prince; Musicology sounded like Prince trying to sound like Prince. There is a definite difference.

yes nod dancing jig
guitar sun
king woot!
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Reply #52 posted 03/28/06 5:09pm

silverchild

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If you really think about it, 2004's Musicology was Prince's biggest attempt at playing his musical ambitions safe. It was an enduring pop and urban release that reconfirmed his pop stature. Everything from the album, the promotion, and most importantly, the lavish tour was grand. The production was tight and fresh and he hadn't sound so much better in years. 3121, two years later, is the same thing Musicology was, but Prince betters it by making it sound a little fuller and mature than Musicology was and musically, making it sound complex and sophisticated. He doesn't play anything safe on 3121, he just lets the rhythms and lyrics speak for itself. Don't get me wrong: I loved Musicology and the flair it had, but 3121 is even more exciting, has more energy, and it's on a whole different level of what he partially wanted to do on Musicology. The question is: will this be another Grammy-winner like Musicology was?
[Edited 3/28/06 17:10pm]
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Forums > Prince: Music and More > Can we all agree 3121 kicks Musicology's ass?