I've noticed on these boards a general hatred of the NPS album. I understand why in some ways; it's no Purple Rain - not even close. and YET...as a longtime die-hard Prince fan, I gotta tell ya'll, that I LIKE IT A LOT and always return to it, in spite of myself.

For me it was and always will be a very good and funky Prince album. There are at least 7 outstanding and memorable tracks on there:

1. New Power Soul - incredible production, hooks galore, great musicianship, catchy as hell.

2. Mad Sex - different, funky, weird. YES.

3. Until U're in my arms again - Um, hello - of his most beautiful melodies ever?? (Under-produced maybe, but such a lovely lyric and strings by Claire Fisher.)

4. When U Love Somebody - catchy, jammy, funky.

5. Come On - FuunkAYy.

6. The One - slow seduction, great bass line.

7. Freaks on This Side - strange and catchy as HELL.

We all love certain Prince albums for the memories attached - whatever's going on in our lives, a new Prince album provides the soundtrack. But NPS stands out as a solidly fun listening experience. I'll take it over Musicology any day because it's infinitely more catchy and interesting.

Your thoughts?

I LOATHED this album when it was first released, and honestly still think it marks a real turning point in his career.---not for the better. COME was a dreadful album compared to the brilliant things we were used to, but COME sounded like it had great songs that were just...purposefully blanched...Prince proved this by placing a track on COME for "dark" which he clamied to be much better than the album version (in other words, he included versions of the songs on COME that he probably didn't care that much for to make The Gold Experience seem that much more fierce.

But New Power Soul truly marked a period in which we were going to start receive mediocre albums. Stuff that just....well, paled desperately in comparison to his 80's music....stuff that proved "Welcome 2 the Dawn" was nothing more than an empty campaign slogan.

However, these days, I actually find myself playing the album, because it's bland, but still pleasent enough to listen to. Nothing that pops out at you, except the wonderful gem of a song "The One", but that's why I like to play it in the background---it doesn't demand too much attention from me. All the tracks are very tight fitting with each other. It just sort of 'works' even if it still isn't stellar.

I actually played it the other week while cleaning. It wasn't half bad for background music. Certainly better than the Robin Thicke albums I tried to endure that day.

.

[Edited 7/13/10 9:42am]

The album has good songwriting on it. But I don't think it's a real NPG album. It's a Prince album. Even as bad as Goldnigga was, it at least had a feel, a mood, a way of doing things. The most stellar NPG is Exodus. By far, it outshines the other two NPG albums.

Having said that: NewPowerSoul isn't a bad record when it comes to songwriting, but it does suffer from a few things.

The drumming. This has been discussed over and over, but the Kirk Johnson programming is dry, uninspired, not exciting at all, and downright boring.

It's the same thing that Emancipation suffers from. Emancipation is a good set of music, but the drum programming makes it very dry and cold. Again, a good comparison is "Somebody's Somebody (Livestudiomix)" where the band plays the song in one take (sans a few overdubs). Totally warm and interesting, compared to the album version.

NewPowerSoul had the same potential to really be an awesome album. Songs like "Push It Up" sounds like a demo, whereas with a live band setting and recording, it has the potential to be a big party song, with trading of lead vocal similar to what "1999" or "I Wanna take You Higher" did.

I'd love to hear "Until U're In My Arms Again" or "When U Love Somebody" with a full band, doing a tight ballad about love, and lives, lost.

So for me, although I like it, I don't love it. It's an album in search of it's sound and place, but never quite gets there. I still listen to it on occasion though.

Compared to Exodus or even Godnigga this album is a big disappointment.

I thought that after Exodus, the next NPG album would be killer.

Though it is credited to The NPG, i consider this to be just another (very mediocre) Prince album.

One of his worst in my opinion. And the terrible artwork, what was he thinking?

Good things about it? Mmm, "The One" and the "hidden" track "Wasted Kisses."

switters said:

For me it was and always will be a very good and funky Prince album. There are at least 7 outstanding and memorable tracks on there:

1. New Power Soul - incredible production, hooks galore, great musicianship, catchy as hell.

2. Mad Sex - different, funky, weird. YES.

3. Until U're in my arms again - Um, hello - of his most beautiful melodies ever?? (Under-produced maybe, but such a lovely lyric and strings by Claire Fisher.)

4. When U Love Somebody - catchy, jammy, funky.

5. Come On - FuunkAYy.

6. The One - slow seduction, great bass line.

7. Freaks on This Side - strange and catchy as HELL.

I find it interesting that you didn't list "Wasted Kisses" as one of the highlights. For me, and I think for most fans, that is probably the only great song on the album.

Initially I was tremendously disappointed with this album. Prince actually did a fair bit of promotion for it and at the time it seemed like it was going to be a bit of a return to the mainstream after Crystal Ball/The Truth but it didn't exactly pan out that way. For me I viewed the album as the true followup to Emancipation (one of my favourite Prince albums) so I had very high hope for Newpower Soul and it just did not deliver.

In retrospect it's probably not quite as bad as it's reputation but it's also far from steller. To Ernest's point about the drums he may well be correct. I think the difference between Emancipation and Newpower Soul is that the songwriting on Emancipation is, for the most part, strong enough to overcome any deficiencies in the sound of the album where Newpower Soul is not. I think that if there were more clear standouts that the rest of the album wouldn't sound so bland but as it is you get a collection of ok Prince songs but no real knockouts.

I did really enjoy the live version of "Come On" that Prince performed on the Tonight Show. It had quite a bit more guitar and seemed to have more bite to it.

I wouldn't object to Prince playing any of these songs live. I think all of them could probably be rehabilitated in a live setting.

[Edited 7/13/10 10:39am]

2 classic P songs and 1 great song exist on the lp

Come On & The One r classic P joints. Funk and a ballad

Wasted Kisses is the best song on the album.

The others are average at best and have potential.

The album cover is the worst, imo.

rialb said:

switters said:

For me it was and always will be a very good and funky Prince album. There are at least 7 outstanding and memorable tracks on there:

1. New Power Soul - incredible production, hooks galore, great musicianship, catchy as hell.

2. Mad Sex - different, funky, weird. YES.

3. Until U're in my arms again - Um, hello - of his most beautiful melodies ever?? (Under-produced maybe, but such a lovely lyric and strings by Claire Fisher.)

4. When U Love Somebody - catchy, jammy, funky.

5. Come On - FuunkAYy.

6. The One - slow seduction, great bass line.

7. Freaks on This Side - strange and catchy as HELL.

I find it interesting that you didn't list "Wasted Kisses" as one of the highlights. For me, and I think for most fans, that is probably the only great song on the album.

Initially I was tremendously disappointed with this album. Prince actually did a fair bit of promotion for it and at the time it seemed like it was going to be a bit of a return to the mainstream after Crystal Ball/The Truth but it didn't exactly pan out that way. For me I viewed the album as the true followup to Emancipation (one of my favourite Prince albums) so I had very high hope forNewpower Soul and it just did not deliver.

In retrospect it's probably not quite as bad as it's reputation but it's also far from steller. To Ernest's point about the drums he may well be correct. I think the difference between Emancipation and Newpower Soul is that the songwriting on Emancipation is, for the most part, strong enough to overcome any deficiencies in the sound of the album where Newpower Soulis not. I think that if there were more clear standouts that the rest of the album wouldn't sound so bland but as it is you get a collection of ok Prince songs but no real knockouts.

I did really enjoy the live version of "Come On" that Prince performed on the Tonight Show. It had quite a bit more guitar and seemed to have more bite to it.

I wouldn't object to Prince playing any of these songs live. I think all of them could probably be rehabilitated in a live setting.

[Edited 7/13/10 10:39am]

I think you are correct about the songs being played live. Come On really was a good performance.

And i also feel that some of these tracks were rehabilitated in a live setting.

I also think that the Come On remixes were much better than the album version.

As for the remix of The One, i don't have it.....hehehe, it is one of the only Prince releases that still eludes me.

z o m g yeah!!!!!!! i love the album, its up there with his best. it's a great parrrttayyyy album you know. funky. larry is all over push it up like some sort of funky flannel.

Love NPS

rialb said:

switters said:

For me it was and always will be a very good and funky Prince album. There are at least 7 outstanding and memorable tracks on there:

1. New Power Soul - incredible production, hooks galore, great musicianship, catchy as hell.

2. Mad Sex - different, funky, weird. YES.

3. Until U're in my arms again - Um, hello - of his most beautiful melodies ever?? (Under-produced maybe, but such a lovely lyric and strings by Claire Fisher.)

4. When U Love Somebody - catchy, jammy, funky.

5. Come On - FuunkAYy.

6. The One - slow seduction, great bass line.

7. Freaks on This Side - strange and catchy as HELL.

I find it interesting that you didn't list "Wasted Kisses" as one of the highlights. For me, and I think for most fans, that is probably the only great song on the album.

Initially I was tremendously disappointed with this album. Prince actually did a fair bit of promotion for it and at the time it seemed like it was going to be a bit of a return to the mainstream after Crystal Ball/The Truth but it didn't exactly pan out that way. For me I viewed the album as the true followup to Emancipation (one of my favourite Prince albums) so I had very high hope for Newpower Soul and it just did not deliver.

In retrospect it's probably not quite as bad as it's reputation but it's also far from steller. To Ernest's point about the drums he may well be correct. I think the difference between Emancipation and Newpower Soul is that the songwriting on Emancipation is, for the most part, strong enough to overcome any deficiencies in the sound of the album where Newpower Soul is not. I think that if there were more clear standouts that the rest of the album wouldn't sound so bland but as it is you get a collection of ok Prince songs but no real knockouts.

I did really enjoy the live version of "Come On" that Prince performed on the Tonight Show. It had quite a bit more guitar and seemed to have more bite to it.

I wouldn't object to Prince playing any of these songs live. I think all of them could probably be rehabilitated in a live setting.

[Edited 7/13/10 10:39am]

I never liked "Wasted Kisses". I think it's a totally bland and boring song, and a terrible choice to end NPS with. I know orgers love it, but we all have our opinions!

switters said:

rialb said:

I find it interesting that you didn't list "Wasted Kisses" as one of the highlights. For me, and I think for most fans, that is probably the only great song on the album.

Initially I was tremendously disappointed with this album. Prince actually did a fair bit of promotion for it and at the time it seemed like it was going to be a bit of a return to the mainstream after Crystal Ball/The Truth but it didn't exactly pan out that way. For me I viewed the album as the true followup to Emancipation (one of my favourite Prince albums) so I had very high hope for Newpower Soul and it just did not deliver.

In retrospect it's probably not quite as bad as it's reputation but it's also far from steller. To Ernest's point about the drums he may well be correct. I think the difference between Emancipation and Newpower Soul is that the songwriting on Emancipation is, for the most part, strong enough to overcome any deficiencies in the sound of the album where Newpower Soul is not. I think that if there were more clear standouts that the rest of the album wouldn't sound so bland but as it is you get a collection of ok Prince songs but no real knockouts.

I did really enjoy the live version of "Come On" that Prince performed on the Tonight Show. It had quite a bit more guitar and seemed to have more bite to it.

I wouldn't object to Prince playing any of these songs live. I think all of them could probably be rehabilitated in a live setting.

[Edited 7/13/10 10:39am]

I never liked "Wasted Kisses". I think it's a totally bland and boring song, and a terrible choice to end NPS with. I know orgers love it, but we all have our opinions!

switters said:

rialb said:

I find it interesting that you didn't list "Wasted Kisses" as one of the highlights. For me, and I think for most fans, that is probably the only great song on the album.

Initially I was tremendously disappointed with this album. Prince actually did a fair bit of promotion for it and at the time it seemed like it was going to be a bit of a return to the mainstream after Crystal Ball/The Truth but it didn't exactly pan out that way. For me I viewed the album as the true followup to Emancipation (one of my favourite Prince albums) so I had very high hope for Newpower Soul and it just did not deliver.

In retrospect it's probably not quite as bad as it's reputation but it's also far from steller. To Ernest's point about the drums he may well be correct. I think the difference between Emancipation and Newpower Soul is that the songwriting on Emancipation is, for the most part, strong enough to overcome any deficiencies in the sound of the album where Newpower Soul is not. I think that if there were more clear standouts that the rest of the album wouldn't sound so bland but as it is you get a collection of ok Prince songs but no real knockouts.

I did really enjoy the live version of "Come On" that Prince performed on the Tonight Show. It had quite a bit more guitar and seemed to have more bite to it.

I wouldn't object to Prince playing any of these songs live. I think all of them could probably be rehabilitated in a live setting.

[Edited 7/13/10 10:39am]

I never liked "Wasted Kisses". I think it's a totally bland and boring song, and a terrible choice to end NPS with. I know orgers love it, but we all have our opinions!

Uh, Oh. Now you've done it.

by the way love wasted kisses

Brilliant Album, I don't understand the criticism. We should all acknowledge prince's versatility & appreciate it before it's all gone. Some people live in the past some want rock funk jazz soul good songwriting pop etc. If only some of you could really understand him as the listener.

He once said after during Around the world in a day

I Like to challenge the listener! That came from Prince.

The on;y criticism I find on the album is the drum sounds which I believe has been discussed before.

i wish he used Michael Bland, Sheila E or John Blackwell, they would have murdered it.

Push it up is my jam on a Bad Day, such a good feeling song

[Edited 7/14/10 5:06am]

New Power Soul is a FANTASTIC album!

As Mel B said in the Paisley Park interview with Prince, NPS "...has that mad energy.." (paraphrasing).

And she was correct. NPS has a lot of energy - it's funky, it's electric and it's beautiful in it's ballads.

I've always enjoyed this album and truly consider it more of a PRINCE album rather than a NPG album. The Emancipation and New Power Soul followed by Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic periods were superb to me!

4 me this is a superb album. I love P when he gives us the funk!

I listen 2 this cd often alot more than any of his 80`s output. Probably

because it`s obscure & no one has ever heard of it outside of us freaks!

My fave track by far is `Eye like funky music`. I can listen 2 this over &

over. Typical funky P & loving the horns & the return of Camille!!

Pr1nceQuik said:

The worst Prince album. Full of half assed, corny songs that seem as if recorded all together in one day. 2/10

Dude, there's a sticky for your review of 20Ten, use it.

I love NPS. It's such a funky album

Pr1nceQuik said:

The worst Prince album. Full of half assed, corny songs that seem as if recorded all together in one day. 2/10

Don't be shy. Tell us how you really feel.

NouveauDance said:

switters said:

I've noticed on these boards a general hatred of the NPS album. I understand why in some ways; it's no Purple Rain - not even close. and YET...as a longtime die-hard Prince fan, I gotta tell ya'll, that I LIKE IT A LOT and always return to it, in spite of myself.

For me it was and always will be a very good and funky Prince album. There are at least 7 outstanding and memorable tracks on there:

1. New Power Soul - incredible production, hooks galore, great musicianship, catchy as hell.

2. Mad Sex - different, funky, weird. YES.

3. Until U're in my arms again - Um, hello - of his most beautiful melodies ever?? (Under-produced maybe, but such a lovely lyric and strings by Claire Fisher.)

4. When U Love Somebody - catchy, jammy, funky.

5. Come On - FuunkAYy.

6. The One - slow seduction, great bass line.

7. Freaks on This Side - strange and catchy as HELL.

We all love certain Prince albums for the memories attached - whatever's going on in our lives, a new Prince album provides the soundtrack. But NPS stands out as a solidly fun listening experience. I'll take it over Musicology any day because it's infinitely more catchy and interesting.

Your thoughts?

I have to agree with you. When it first came out I was really dissapointed because it lacked the rawness of "Exodus" and the songs had SOOO much potential to be great!! The album was supposed to include the "Good Life Big City Mix" but was taken out -- the reason the album dissapoints is because it was written pre-larry graham but recorded/released post-graham - so we get this lame version of the record.

Still, though, you're right that it does have lots of gems even w/ the plastic production. Compared to Musicology, Planet Earth and even 20Ten -- it is much much much better - and my gauge is what albums can I sit and listen to in my car. NPS still tops the list.

NouveauDance said:

Pr1nceQuik said:

The worst Prince album. Full of half assed, corny songs that seem as if recorded all together in one day. 2/10

Dude, there's a sticky for your review of 20Ten, use it.

'dre