...Do you still regard them as favourably? Have they retained their charm?

I always find it very interesting when people praise a new Prince album. There is always that early pocket of passionate listeners who proclaim Prince has rediscovered his form; that we have a new classic on our hands. It's happening right now with 20Ten too.

I'm leaving Lotus/MPLSound out of this because it still hasn't aged enough.

I still like Musicolgy 7/10, the first half of the album (minus Life O The Party) is very good, if not great.

3121 and Planet Earth, I only like 3 or maybe 4 songs on these. Both albums about 5/10.

Black Sweat,

Planet Earth title track

Future Baby Mama

3121 title track too, when played live

these are great. .

I love, LOVE 3121. Planet Earth is definitely good in my book too. Musicology has yet to "catch" on with me but I certainly don't hate it.

I still love 3121, overall. The last 3rd or so has it's issues but I recognized that then and still think it's his strongest single disc since TGE.

I never thought Musicology was anything but "solid and unremarkable" and Planet Earth remains a mixed bag.

I still love 3121, I still like Planet Earth. Didn´t like Musicology when it came out, don´t like it now (except for "Dear Mr. Man").

I dug the hell out of Musicology when it first came out, and I still dig pulling that record out from time to time. Not in heavy rotation or anything but it still sounds great to my ears. Not a perfect record but very very very good I thought.

I LOVED about half of 3121 (3121, Black Sweat, Fury, Te Amo Corazon & Beautiful, Loved & Blessed) I still feel the same about that record as well.

Planet Earth had a handful of songs which I loved right away (Guitar & Somewhere Here On Earth so... the singles I guess), but the majority of the album, while not bad, didn't compel me personally. Again, I feel the same to this day.

Lotusflower/MPLSound makes me cringe a bit. Same cringe I made when sitting in the parking lot at Target. Not feeling it then or since.

Having said that. You never know when an album you weren't into for one reason or another at one time may suddenly sound good or "make sense".

[Edited 7/12/10 1:41am]

Didn't like Musicology or Planet Earth then and I still don't. Dug most of 3121 back then and still do. Not much of Prince's output in the past few years have had me on the fence. There's not a lot of depth to his songwriting anymore - it's either really enjoyable right off the bat, or it isn't going to be.

Musicology and 3121 still do absolutely nothing for me, as a project or individual tracks (bar 1 or 2 OK songs for tracklists), PE is largely a very strong/good recent album, with individual tracks I enjoy a lot. Chuck out a few mis-steps or tracks not to my taste and switch in couple of others, you have a very solid LP-length album.

My initial impressions on a "pop" album are usually pretty on the point as far as my long-term views go. Case in point: 20Ten. I'm not gonna take a second take at that LP, because it's been processed and there's really nothing there to surprise on repeat/background listens. Something like NEWS or ONA got second looks and change of hearts because there's something there that deserves a second look.

I definitely still love these albums! In fact I pretty much love all of the songs on all of these albums. I know that that may seem wierd but I actually do like them all. I have rarely heard a song from prince that I do not like. The only songs I do not like are: Days of Wild, Sexy Mutha Fucker (uncensord because it just doesn't sound as good as the censored although I love cussing), Bob George, and Dead on It.

These are the only ones I hate.

Musicology was an OK album with a few tracks I really enjoyed then and still do now as they are on my playlist (myspace, facebook, personal mp3 player, etc)... so I hear them on a semi regular basis.

3121 as an album ranks right below my fav P albums of all time. And as I did with Musicology and pretty much every Album period... my fav tracks are on my playlist. But this album will get the entire listen too on occasion by itself.

Planet Earth was on the other end of the scale from 3121 with me... ranking near the bottom with my least fav to almost hated albums. If not for a couple tracks I do enjoy and added to my playlist... this album would never see the light of day from me as I whole.

Right now Im digging 20TEN and I've pretty much identified the tracks which will join the ranks of my playlist. And as a whole... this album will see future spins as I consider it one of his better pieces of work.

Personally not much of a fan of any of them. Tho I feel Planet Earth got better with more listens.

I think the thing about Musicology was its maturity and to a large extent you could imagine none Prince fans liking it -it was riddled in personal loops and hoops.

I loved Musicology when it came out. However, the last time I actually played it, was either late 2005 or 2006, at one of my Christmas parties, when I was ready for people to start leaving. Playing that somehow did the trick!

With the exceptions of Black Sweat and Beautiful, Loved and Blessed, I didn't care for 3121 and the only thing I liked about Planet Earth was the picture on the front of it. I actually had a really nice poster of it made for my studio, when the folks at FYE refused to sell me the one they were taking down from a display.

[img:$uid]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e70/SexyBeautifulOne/PrinceOverMyDesk.jpg[/img:$uid]

Then Prince pissed me off with his Web Sheriff bullshit and I sent it to someone on the Org as a Secret Santa gift.

I still love 3121, Musicology's still a good album too.

I never liked Planet Earth, and still don't.

I loved Musicology when it came out and I love it now. 3121 was a solid cd but I can't get over my disappointment with how Fury came out. I tried to like Planet Earth, but it didn't work.

[Edited 7/12/10 7:55am]

Musicology 0 then, 0 now

3121 8 then, 7 now

Planet Earth 8 then, 7 now

As a true funkster, I listen and learn all of P's songs on every lp when they come out.

I Freakin loved 3121 when it came out...the whole album.

Still loving on it.

Musicology, I thought was a good average P album, still feel that way

Planet earth had a few gems that stood out. still feel same way.

overall 3121 is the shit still in my eyes.

Right now, Im placing 20Ten somewhere between muciology and 3121

as far as how Im feeling it.

I love all three albums. PE is a stronger record than it's been given credit for. 3121 is the best of the lot.

Babydubistzuschnell said:

I still love 3121, Musicology's still a good album too.

I never liked Planet Earth, and still don't.

I Loved "Musicology"," Planet Earth" and "3121" when those albums First came out, and I- Love -Them -Now !

My Favorite Songs from "Musicology": 1."Musicology" 2. "Call My Name" -

3. "Reflection".

- - - - - - - - - - from "Planet Earth" : 1."Planet Earth" 2. "SomewhereHere On Earth" 3. " Mr. Goodnight" 4. "Chelsea Rodgers" 5. " Lion of Judah".

- - - - - - - - - - from "3121": 1." The Dance" 2. " Beautiful, Loved and Blessed" -

3. " Te Amo Corazon" 4. " Incense and Candles" 5. " 3121".

[Edited 7/12/10 8:06am]

[Edited 7/12/10 8:08am]

Musicology - liked it a lot when it came out. Now, I still think it's good but I don't play it much. It still has cuts on there that I love so I don't knock it at all. Plus, with Prince back in the spotlight with that project, it made the project that much easier to jam to but once the tour ended and the awards were done, I played it less and less.

3121 - I loved it then and I love it now, probably moreso. It's a classic Prince album to me. It has cuts on there that reminded me of why I loved Prince like Black Sweat, 3121, Love, The Dance and The Word. Even the other cuts I didn't mention, I enjoyed immensely. I love that album like I love Purple Rain and Parade and many others.

Planet Earth - at first I didn't know what to make of it. I liked it one minute then I didn't like it the next. I had a moment where I did enjoy it but that didn't really last long. It's now one of my least favorite CD's. It has a couple of great songs like Somewhere Here on Earth and The 1 U Wanna C and I like Resolution but the others aren't really that memorable.

I can tell you that 20ten is the best thing from Prince since 3121 and I liked Lotusflow3r and MPLSound but not like 20ten. I know that I will be bumpin this CD for a long time, I love it this much. The feelings that I had when I loved many of the 80's CD's, , The Gold Experience and 3121 are the same that I have with 20ten and it keeps on growing. I won't call this a classic yet but the fact that I feel the same positive way that I did with with the older recordings is a great sign for me. Anything could change but I have a very good feeling that it won't.

The second half of 'Musicology' contains some of his strongest, most mature songwriting. Period.

Glad to see people appreciate 3121 as his best album of the 2000's. I totally agree. Absolutely love that album. I'm going to re-listen to the others but I know that I honestly don't care for Planet Earth. No thoughts on Musicology at the moment. I'll be back

I still like 3121. Still dislike Planet Earth. Still don't care about Musicology.

My feelings haven't changed that much:

Musicology -

back then: got really excited by a few trax and really disappointed by some others.

now: take it or leave it, not very excited, doesn't get many spins (pull out musicology, reflections, OTC or ICPAC occasionally).

3121 -

back then: initially disappointed after the build up of BS, Fury (SNL) and the title track, then really grew to love the album EXCEPT for I&C and BLAB.

now: Still love it but those two trax are on permanent skip.

PE -

back then: WTF?! Most disappointing thing since Rave (and probably worse).

now: Never listen - skip any tracck if it comes up on shuffle. really dislike this album.

overall - little change.

really love all 3 but not necessarily when i 1st herd them.

great albums if a new artist had dne them they would hve down as classics.

LOVE 2010 ITS LIKE SEEING AN OLD FRIEND.

loved Musicology when it came out. enjoy it a lot, aside from ICP&C and Life O' The Party. didn't like them then, don't like them now. love the rest, though I probably wore it out to some extent.

didn't care for 3121. it's grown on me a little, but I only really like half the tracks. and those I love. (3121, Black Sweat, Love, Fury (despite how weak it sounds), and the Word. the rest range from apathy to extreme dislike. i think part of the problem is that everyone was hyping up the leak and I was on a month-long work trip to Hawaii at the time without a computer that I could get it on and by the time it made its way via FedEx to me, I was really underwhelmed. the title track gave me an instant hard-on and then came Lolita and Te Amo Corazon

Planet Earth sounded better to me as a leak. I think it was 96kbps mp3 quality. sounded rough and raw. when I heard it in better quality, I thought it suffered from the same thing as 3121. way too polished. and kind of schizo. I did like the album a lot and I still do, but it's not one of those that sticks with you for too long. and boy, there are very few Prince songs I loathe more than Resolution. really puts a sour taste in your mouth at the end.

I think 20TEN is probably going to end up in the same boat as Planet Earth, and not be the kind of album that sticks to your ribs and fills you up for long, but I'm loving it for now.

I still love every track on 3121. It's one of my favorite Prince albums and I still play it often.

I can't remember the last time I played Musicology...probably not since '05.

PE has not held my interest except for 2 tracks.

Sorry, but I have to mention Lotusflower 'cause I love it to pieces...20ten, on the other hand will go the way of Planet Earth.

But I've been like that since the beginning...loving every other album. The only time I loved 2 in a row was 1999 and PR.

For You........

Prince...........

Dirty Mind.....

Controversy...

and so forth.

Musicology Didn't like musicology at all on my first listen, but now I like a few of the songs. I think some of the stronger tracks are brought down by the weaker ones. At first I'd have given it 3/10 but now 5/10

3121 Loved 3121 the first time through and still love it, but the second half of it is unfocused for sure. 7/10

Planet Earth Planet Earth has a few strong tracks but a lot of bad stuff as well. Didn't like it that much the first time through but compared to his next couple efforts it's actually stacking up well. 4/10 at first now 5/10

LotusFlow3r I remember cringing listening to this in the target parking lot said another orger, and I couldn't agree more. There's so much gross cheese on this album. The bland stereotypical guitar playing shows princes creative decline The cheesy synths show he can't recreate his good synth work of the 80s at will. Strangely enough he does well lyrically on Both Here and Better with Time which is completely lacking in 20ten. I'd give it a 2/10, but with $ on there I'd have to give it 3/10

20ten Worst Prince album ever. negative score -2/10

[Edited 7/12/10 18:03pm]

Wildboy said:

20ten Worst Prince album ever. negative score -2/10

[Edited 7/12/10 18:03pm]

Wow, seriously? The worst ever? You prefer the plastic production of NPS and the half-hearted attempts of Rave? Interesting.

I have had a pretty typical long-term reaction to all of Prince's new pop albums.

Musicology - Upon my first listen, I adored this album. That soon revealed itself to be totally owing to the fact that I was just elated to hear him go back to recording conventional pop songs after all the gratuitious jazz dirge. I now find it as boring as a Jehovah's Witnesses meeting at the Kingdom Hall, if at least nowhere near as offensive. I have no desire to return to Musicology.

Initial score: **** out of *****

Latest score: ** out of *****

3121 - After Musicology quickly began putting me to sleep, the greater emphasis on a forward-looking sound and memorable hooks made 3121 appear special. It wasn't long though before poor production choices (the muted guitar in Fury, autotune on Incense and Candles, an overproduced version of The Dance etc.) and the tedious pacing of the album's second half brought it down a good few notches. Now I barely listen to it.

Initial score: **** out of *****

Latest score: *** out of *****

Planet Earth - I couldn't stand this album when it first came out. I found it annoying and vacuous. Now I've come to appreciate its warm production and plethora of guilty pleasure pop hooks. Where it lacked before and still does is in the lyrical department. It remains the most embarrassing ensemble of lyrical naivety he's come out with, and it began an obnoxious trend of Prince attempting to be political whilst completely lacking any understanding of the complexity of geopolitical issues and political philosophy/science.

Initial score: ** out of *****

Latest score: *** out of *****

Y'know, one thing I love about Prince releasing a new album is that even though the album tends to fail to move me, it always inspires me to go back and revisit one of his classic albums.

I haven't heard 20ten yet, but I was thinking about this very subject a few days ago.

Musicology: This was only my 5th ever Prince album, and being a casual fan, I bought it mostly out of curiosity due to all the hype surrounding it. At the time, I thought it was serviceable... if kinda boring. As the years go on, though, I appreciate the craftsmanship of the songs and I actually really enjoy it.

A lot of the choruses are toe-tappingly catchy, and rarely does the album fall into the embarrassing lowpoints that would mar the albums that follow.

Initial Listen: C-

These Days: B+

3121: Initially, I loved this album. Lolita sounded so spritely! Love sounded so soaringly perfect! The album quickly lost its luster with me, though, thanks to the uninspired lyricism, the concessions to modern music (Incense and Candles) and the fact that it the JW influence crept in so far as to outright ruin a couple of the songs for me (The Word). As it stands, this is one of my least favorite Prince albums.

Initial Listen: B+

These Days: D+

Planet Earth: This one I've been very consistent with. I loved the warmth of the production, the slow tunes, and the fact that it just feels like a slight project that never feels too forced. I still really like PE, and feel that it's one of Prince's most underrated albums. "Resolution" just sucks, though.

Initial Listen: B.

These Days: B.

+

[Edited 7/5/12 0:57am]