independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > What in the 3121 album makes u say "WOW?"
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Page 1 of 5 12345>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 05/29/07 2:37pm

DreamyPopRoyal
ty

avatar

What in the 3121 album makes u say "WOW?"

I think the problem with this album is that there's no WOW factor. It's just a bunch of average songs that really don't have a lasting impact.

If anything, I think the most impressive tracks are:

The Word &
The Dance

The Word, I think is probably one of the few remaining examples of Prince's sheer brilliance in current material. It sounds like he isolated himself in a room with only a spotlight & acoustic guitar and just let the music come to him. The words might not make any sense (a lot of people complain about the bridge with the "guard against forked tongues" line), but I believe the first verse talks about his closeness with music. I'll elaborate later on.

in The Dance, he added the right balance of instruments and creates 2 different characters from 2 vastly different voices he uses. And it creates a story and leaks of passion that hasn't been seen since "The Beautiful Ones" & "Condition of the Heart"

Would anyone care to raise the ante and note anything in this "average" album that says "wow" that is worth listening to every now and then?

Or will this be one of those albums that you appreciate more 10 years from now?
had 2 run away... pride was 2 strong. It started raining, baby, the birds were gone
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 05/29/07 2:41pm

Raze

avatar

There's nothing "WOW" about this album. The closest things for me are the title track and The Word.

But I do enjoy this classicist era of Prince's output. Musicology and 3121 are, I think, the albums that he was trying to make for so long with Emancipation, NPS, Rave and the High/Peace stuff from NPGMC. There's nothing "wow" about what he's doing on record at the moment, but it's like finally figured out how to make that mainstream pop comeback album without sounding desperate, like he did for so long with those other releases.
"Half of what I say is meaningless; but I say it so that the other half may reach you." - Kahlil Gibran
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 05/29/07 2:44pm

shaedove99

avatar

Those are my two favs (The Word/Dance) but I also like Lolita and Incense & Candles. But I find that if I let the whole album play I end up skipping 3121.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 05/29/07 2:47pm

chaosandisorde
r

avatar

Yeah, I'm a female drummer, and yeah I'm
Awsome!
Love is to weak to define... Music!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 05/29/07 2:50pm

chaosandisorde
r

avatar

I think that the whole album is WOW. You sort of get a piece of every side of Prince. There is some rock, some funk, some dance, just about everything you might want from Prince. The songs might not be his greatest, but the album as a whole is one of his best. I can listen to the whole album, but I will sometimes skip Satisfied. This is one of my favorite albums.
Yeah, I'm a female drummer, and yeah I'm
Awsome!
Love is to weak to define... Music!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 05/29/07 2:58pm

Raze

avatar

chaosandisorder said:

I think that the whole album is WOW. You sort of get a piece of every side of Prince. There is some rock, some funk, some dance, just about everything you might want from Prince. The songs might not be his greatest, but the album as a whole is one of his best. I can listen to the whole album, but I will sometimes skip Satisfied. This is one of my favorite albums.




for me, it's the overly polished, slick production that brings it down.

With Musicology and 3121, I wish he'd taken the songs as they were released and used them as demoes and gone back into the studio and re-recorded them with the full band. To give them a more raw sound. It's like the production has sucked all the life out of them. Exhibit A: Fury on SNL vs. Fury on the album.
"Half of what I say is meaningless; but I say it so that the other half may reach you." - Kahlil Gibran
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 05/29/07 3:14pm

Anxiety

the freaky dissonance in the title track made me say "huh", and the funky little "let's skate" break in the song "love" made me happy for a bit, but no "wow" moments. i think it was passionately adequate.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 05/29/07 3:18pm

virginie74

I'd love 2 c "get on the boat" live
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 05/29/07 3:54pm

chocolate1

avatar

virginie74 said:

I'd love 2 c "get on the boat" live



Hearing it at GMA positively changed my opinion of it. music

The only 2 songs I still play regularly are "Black Sweat" and "3121".

"Love Hurts.
Your lies, they cut me.
Now your words don't mean a thing.
I don't give a damn if you ever loved me..."

-Cher, "Woman's World"
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 05/29/07 4:33pm

prettymansson

how lame and predictable it is...
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 05/29/07 4:43pm

metalorange

avatar

Raze said:

There's nothing "WOW" about this album. The closest things for me are the title track and The Word.

But I do enjoy this classicist era of Prince's output. Musicology and 3121 are, I think, the albums that he was trying to make for so long with Emancipation, NPS, Rave and the High/Peace stuff from NPGMC. There's nothing "wow" about what he's doing on record at the moment, but it's like finally figured out how to make that mainstream pop comeback album without sounding desperate, like he did for so long with those other releases.


See, I tend to think the only reason the Musicology/3121 era has so far been so successful is due to enough years going by for Prince to achieve universal 'legendary status'. Sufficient years out of the mainstream finally distanced him from various negative career moves, not least the name change and fight with Warners, so that he could be accepted back and his music appreciated on a simpler level. In other words, Rave released in 2004 might have been as big if not bigger than Musicology simply because of the timing.

Saying that, I do like 3121, I think it is a cohesive enough album such that it is stronger as a sum of its parts. No wow factor for me, although the oddness of the first track, and the synths of Lolita almost got me there!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 05/29/07 4:45pm

XxAxX

avatar

3121 is going to be one of my all-time favorite prince albums
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 05/29/07 4:52pm

DreamyPopRoyal
ty

avatar

good 2 c some action here.

Yeah, it definitely seems to be overly polished to be. I mean, it sounds more typical than any other Prince album... anyone could have pulled something like 3121 off (i mean the album here).

I always thought of it as unbalanced because half of the songs stand out while others are just... blah... just don't really make it worth listening to all the way through sometimes, but I do it anyway.

the title track has grown on me and its pretty innovative for something so modern. I dig it time and time again.

Lolita & Fury kinda fall flat for me. Whether they're live or not... disbelief I dunno. The last time I gave Lolita a listen, I just wanted to turn it off really bad. But my mind's been kinda weird lately.

The Word is where Prince is in his own little world that's nothing but music... that's why I think its such a gem.

Incense & Candles I've always sort of liked too. Everyone's so hard on it, but I do like what he did with it.
Love is a great innovative track... but I was in a weird mood last time I listned thru the album...
had 2 run away... pride was 2 strong. It started raining, baby, the birds were gone
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 05/29/07 4:55pm

Empress

I don't think there's anything wow about this album. The Dance is the best song on the cd and although it's a great song, I would never say wow.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 05/29/07 6:19pm

babooshleeky

avatar

Well Dreamy, I actually really love this album, even tho there is no WOW song, the album as a whole is WOW to me. I know alot of ppl do not care for it, but it is one of my many favs of P's. I am also looking forward to the new album, I am sure it will be wonderful.

Incense and Candles is WOW to me.....
tinkerbell
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 05/29/07 6:26pm

bobsteezy

avatar

Wow? with a question mark is different than wow!

But I think I understand what you mean anyway.

Wow! is The Dance. Wow! is the bassline of Get on the Boat.
[Edited 5/29/07 23:23pm]
We all want the stuff that's found in our wildest dreams.

http://www.ustream.tv/cha...dj-bobstar
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 05/29/07 6:31pm

babooshleeky

avatar

bobsteezy said:

Wow? with a question mark is different than wow!

Wow? is the wack rap on Incense and Candles. Wow? is the corny lyrics "ain't `gon be no drama cause we have a good time"
Wow! is The Dance. Wow! is the bassline of Get on the Boat.

U underdig what I'm saying?


I love that song!!!!!
tinkerbell
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 05/29/07 7:20pm

Raze

avatar

I really don't get what the deal is with all the love that "The Dance" gets. It's a bland 1996 outtake re-done in an extremely overwrought style. It really gets on my nerves actually.
"Half of what I say is meaningless; but I say it so that the other half may reach you." - Kahlil Gibran
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 05/29/07 7:22pm

tznekbsbfrvr

avatar

i think the whole album was WOW. the lyrics were well written, there's some great beats, etc. i love that album.
"So shall it be written, so shall it be sung..." whistle
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 05/29/07 10:24pm

cristina9

I love 3121, it is Wow!Like any other Prince album.It has a definete variety,when i wanna dance- Lolita ,Incense and Candles(absolutely love the rap bit,got it down pat,including screaming PRINCE).When I wanna have fun-Get on The Boat.Whe I wanna brood-Te Amo Corazon, The Word.When I'm lusting-Satisfied ,The Dance etc etc.That's why Dreamypoproyalty probably finds some songs lacking.Need to b in right mood 4 certai ones,like any other Prince album Hennce the skip button.
It's fucking WOW! alright biggrin
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 05/29/07 10:50pm

Amaxx

Raze said:

chaosandisorder said:

I think that the whole album is WOW. You sort of get a piece of every side of Prince. There is some rock, some funk, some dance, just about everything you might want from Prince. The songs might not be his greatest, but the album as a whole is one of his best. I can listen to the whole album, but I will sometimes skip Satisfied. This is one of my favorite albums.




for me, it's the overly polished, slick production that brings it down.

With Musicology and 3121, I wish he'd taken the songs as they were released and used them as demoes and gone back into the studio and re-recorded them with the full band. To give them a more raw sound. It's like the production has sucked all the life out of them. Exhibit A: Fury on SNL vs. Fury on the album.


Gotta love what U just said! cool
Lots of his sub par studio stuff sounds 1,000,000% better in concert! Average songs like, She's always in my hair, sound magic live. And great songs like, Pop Life, are awsome live!

Maybe he should release the soundtracks 2 "live at The Aladin" and Rave unto the year 2000. razz
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #21 posted 05/29/07 11:16pm

Jakeasaurus

avatar

Everything

The album, the concept, all of it


I am obsessed with 3121.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #22 posted 05/29/07 11:49pm

Snap

3121 is the most fun i've had in a short while dancing jig
to me, the wow factor belongs almost souly to "The Word"
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #23 posted 05/29/07 11:52pm

runningbear

hmmm, I would agree The Word and it's acoustic guitar and message have wow effect.

Fury, with it's guitar work and passion has wow, somewhat decreased by it being preceded by that killer live version which is superior (on SNL)

I will also say Beautiful, Loved and Blessed. Tamar and P voices mix well, great spiritual message song with some tasty guitar work at the end.

In fact , I often think of Marvin Gaye and some of the duets he did early in his career so effectively when I hear Tamar's contributions to 3121. Of course , she is most obvious on BLB
merf
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #24 posted 05/30/07 12:04am

vivid

Raze said:

I really don't get what the deal is with all the love that "The Dance" gets. It's a bland 1996 outtake re-done in an extremely overwrought style. It really gets on my nerves actually.


Have to agree there - obviously meant to conjure up memories of Beautiful Ones, but it sounds way too forced for me.

The title track and Black Sweat are good fun though and to be honest after all these years I'm not expecting any WOW factor (not whilst he's still making pop records anyway).
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #25 posted 05/30/07 12:17am

purplesweat

for me, it's the overly polished, slick production that brings it down.

With Musicology and 3121, I wish he'd taken the songs as they were released and used them as demoes and gone back into the studio and re-recorded them with the full band. To give them a more raw sound. It's like the production has sucked all the life out of them. Exhibit A: Fury on SNL vs. Fury on the album.



nod nod nod
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #26 posted 05/30/07 12:31am

catpark

metalorange said:


Saying that, I do like 3121, I think it is a cohesive enough album such that it is stronger as a sum of its parts. No wow factor for me, although the oddness of the first track, and the synths of Lolita almost got me there!

Agree. 3121 is a good album. The tunes that have any wow factor for me is 3121 and Lolita. .
Lolita is a great tune. I use to absolutely hate cuz it was too popie. Now love it, cuz it is too overly-popie (if there is such a word giggle )on purpose.
It's brilliantly made.
FUNKNROLL! dancing jig "February 2014, wow". 'dre. nod
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #27 posted 05/30/07 2:10am

MIR1

avatar

The only 2 songs that I still listen 2 alot on 3121 is The Word and The Dance.I'm not sure this will b one of my all-time favorite Prince albums but it's an ok album better than Musicology, NPS, News and C&D.No there is nothing "Wow" about this album but I wasn't dissapointed when It came out.But I hope Prince next album is better than 3121.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #28 posted 05/30/07 2:11am

MIR1

avatar

The only 2 songs that I still listen 2 alot on 3121 is The Word and The Dance.I'm not sure this will b one of my all-time favorite Prince albums but it's an ok album better than Musicology, NPS, News and C&D.No there is nothing "Wow" about this album but I wasn't dissapointed when It came out.But I hope Prince next album is better than 3121.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #29 posted 05/30/07 2:21am

Maradona

avatar

i love the bit where he sings-``whose gonna save us when those spiders get next to u--on THE WORD


great great album
EVEN IN THE SUMMER TIME
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Page 1 of 5 12345>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > What in the 3121 album makes u say "WOW?"