802 said:

People have to remember that great album doesn't always = cutting edge

Yes, and cutting edge doesn't always = great album.

I guess it is an interesting term. I think what I love about Prince is that he has always been Prince and continues to be Prince. He has carved out his own niche in the music world, and I love that about him. Whether others define what he does as cutting edge is really neither here nor there when it comes to my enjoyment of his music - yesterday, today and tomorrow.

EmancipationLover said:

bellanoche said:

Lotusflow3r had some great music on it to me. The actual Lotusflow3r disc displays some complex and interesting instrumentation. From the Lotus and Back 2 the Lotus just blow me away. I also LOVE the guitar on Colonized Mind. While I am not crazy about 77 Beverly Park, the song shows Prince challenging himself with a different guitar style. Dreamer just kills. The instrumentation on the album is top shelf. For example, Love Like Jazz has beautifully executed modulations and a sweet melody that are only matched by the skill at which they are executed. Again, I really haven't seen anyone put out an album as musically diverse and interesting as Lotusflow3r in recent years. That is cutting edge to me.

I fully agree. That album was criminally overlooked by the general public, of course also as a result of Prince's distribution strategy (Target only, no proper European release - wtf...?). If Janelle Monae had recorded that album, it would be praised to death now.

I know. Sometimes I do have to scratch my head at his distribution strategies, but I guess he is doing what works best for him now when it comes to profit, and I don't blame him for that. It's hard to make a penny in today's music biz.

However, that does not detract from that greatness of that album. You are right, if someone other than Prince put that album out, it would be an instant classic. As much as artists like Cee-Lo and Janelle Monae are praised/hyped at the moment, IMO their respective albums weren't nearly as interesting as Lotusflow3r.

bellanoche said:

802 said:

People have to remember that great album doesn't always = cutting edge

Yes, and cutting edge doesn't always = great album.

True.

I'd say his last really innovative album was Parade. Whoda thought baroque pop and minneapolis funk were compatable at all? Everything after that fit the old Prince formula, or someone else's, to great results up to Lovesexy, and mixed afterwords.

purplenuts said:

What was the last thing Prince did that was truly cutting edge?

... to answer your question, I'd say TRC (The Rainbow Children) album

datdude said:

beware of critics. lol. but seriously who's doing stuff like Here and Valentina. just two examples from the much maligned MPLSound that no one could do. same for Planet Earth (title track) Colonized mind while not "cutting edge" per se is just stellar and shows he hasn't stopped challenging himself instrumentally, guitar playing is on point! So if YOU think its cutting edge, let that suffice. Critics make a living by being subjective and speculative about somebody ELSE'S art. how sad

[Edited 4/11/11 7:38am]

It's not just the TYPE of music, it's how it is put together and the vibe of it. Most of his studio stuff sounds dated and worse than usual nowadays. He need engineers. And a producer to get some of what is probably there underneath the same synth sounds and guitar patches. He has the talent, and when he takes some of the less than stellar album cuts and rocks them live suddenly they have some life. Prince always took bits and pieces of other sound and made it his own. That's what Janelle is doing. The difference is enthusiasm and discovery. Prince doesn't seem to have those in the studio, tho he has it in spades live. As is evident in his recent shows.

i've revised my opinion - Gett Off was pretty cutting edge for 1991 - i don't think anybody else thought of dropping such a bombastic beat at such a slow grind of a tempo. Certainly got the 9th grade cellists talkin' in the music room and no mistake! (PS i was also 9th grade at the time)

Probably the last cuting edge thing he did was use his mobile/cell phone.