Ok, dude is roughly 38 albums in at this point right. And while I know he's still capable of greatness, I don't assume or expect that he'll drop something that ascends to top 10 status for me. (that list is in constant flux and too difficult to compile, thus its absence) but MAN, Black Muse is SPECIAL. I can't stop listening to it. Musically isn't not "groundbreaking" and doesn't have a killer RIFF or melody but it muscially TIGHT and seems to be in a category all its own. The background vocals and the band are stellar (Ledisi, Allo?). For me its the best thing this configuration of NPG has done and hightlights their strengths and his band leadership. Its not a "protest" song, its not a provacative RAIL against the "system", but its just a feel good, matter of fact song about hope and perseverance which makes me feel uplifted every time I listen (which is why I can't stop listening). It's part EWF, part Stevie Wonder and all Prince. He's never had a song that has had THIS affect on me

Has anybody heard it on radio yet?

And what is the cutoff point for the edit? (I think I may know but...)

[Edited 4/10/16 18:26pm]

RJOrion said:

datdude said:

It's part EWF, part Stevie Wonder and all Prince. He's never had a song that has had THIS affect on me.

He probably watched an episode of the peanuts on television and got "inspired".

I think that Big City is a much stronger song. And Black Muse needs an edit, because there's too much "noodling around" in the second half of the song.

I agree it's one of his best. That was my initial impression of it, after a few listens, and I still feel this way. I like that it's poignant, but also uplifting. Acknowledging the darkness, but refusing to give it any power.

I dont get it. Why do so many people rave about this track?

ughh

If it's love at first sound (which is was) it makes it straight into the top 10. In fact have had to force myself to stop listening to it to give the other poor escaped vault children a chance to be listened to.

.

Black Muse harmonies, horns and bass and extended version make it perfect. As far as the lyrics go it's as if it is the crystallised butterfly from When Doves Cry, after having been synthesized through TRC Muse to the Pharoah. Real standout track of the last few years, but Groovy Potential is also great as are the others!

I have listened a few times, I found it as boring as the rest on Phase2..

but honestly I don't remember a single thing about this song..

maybe I should take another listen & try just once more...?

no... boring,

sounds like a Chelsea Rodgers kind of very boring song to me...

it just goes nowhere, boring rhythm, boring horns.

thedance said:

no... boring,

sounds like a Chelsea Rodgers kind of very boring song to me...

it just goes nowhere, boring rhythm, boring horns.

.

It's just not your preferred style. You love guitar I think. [?] What you like I can barely stand.

^ yeah ok I love the second half of Phase1 very much better...

^ 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 on phase one i like. But actually I think 9, 10 and 11 go better at the end of AOA (minus Funknroll and the Gold Standard.) Can't get into those two.

[Edited 4/11/16 12:25pm]

thedance said:

no... boring,

sounds like a Chelsea Rodgers kind of very boring song to me...

it just goes nowhere, boring rhythm, boring horns.

agree. it's not a bad song... but by not being a bad song doesn't mean it's exciting. it is boring and drags on... drags on like a love bizarre remix or america extended version... except it's neither those 2 songs...

PHASE 2 is more organic from PHASE 1 I feel the older fans prefer PHASE 2, not because it's musically superior, but because it's more generic for their ears... Just like Planet Earth, Phase 2 is not bad, but it's very boring.

... Where's the energy and excitement we used to get from the Prince albums... ok we won't get the raunchiness anymore, but where's the danger, where's the rebellion... or is that only a thing of the past now...

feeluupp said:

jonnylawson said:

feeluupp said:

agree. it's not a bad song... but by not being a bad song doesn't mean it's exciting. it is boring and drags on... drags on like a love bizarre remix or america extended version... except it's neither those 2 songs...

PHASE 2 is more organic from PHASE 1 I feel the older fans prefer PHASE 2, not because it's musically superior, but because it's more generic for their ears... Just like Planet Earth, Phase 2 is not bad, but it's very boring.

... Where's the energy and excitement we used to get from the Prince albums... ok we won't get the raunchiness anymore, but where's the danger, where's the rebellion... or is that only a thing of the past now...

Here's another example why I shouldn't log onto this site ..... Where's the rebellion ?? Where's the danger ?? Words fail me.

yup exactlly what i said.

REBELLION

DANGER

RAUNCHY

... all what made PRINCE the legend he is... without that in his music do you think he would've broke into the mainstream?

not only did he include sex, spirituality, but he was a rebel within the music world...

he pushed the envelope with his earlier music, broke the barriers within his own sexuality, challenged the creative and artistic image...

so i stand behind those words.

[Edited 4/11/16 13:08pm]

loved the interview with QUESTLOVE when he brought home the DIRTY MIND LP and his father thought PRINCE was "DANGEROUS" artist for the youth at that time period.

i love how RAUNCHY PRINCE was with his early work... without that blueprint PRINCE would've never achieved the success he has achieved today.

imagine PHASE 2 and PLANET EARTH and those albums in the beginning of his career, rather the end...

[Edited 4/11/16 13:10pm]

Hi feeluupp I stand behind your words as well.

I agree with you, all the way..

ludwig said:

I think that Big City is a much stronger song. And Black Muse needs an edit, because there's too much "noodling around" in the second half of the song.

Tidal has an edit version available for sale

feeluupp said:

loved the interview with QUESTLOVE when he brought home the DIRTY MIND LP and his father thought PRINCE was "DANGEROUS" artist for the youth at that time period.

i love how RAUNCHY PRINCE was with his early work... without that blueprint PRINCE would've never achieved the success he has achieved today.

imagine PHASE 2 and PLANET EARTH and those albums in the beginning of his career, rather the end...

[Edited 4/11/16 13:10pm]

The songs that Prince produced during the "Dirty Mind" (and I love those songs as well) period represented his state of mind, beliefs, thoughts, at that time. That was 36 years ago. While he is the same person, i'm sure his perspective, points of emphasis etc have changed over the years. It's called maturity.

Black Muse touches on some disturbing American history in a joyful, uplifting manner that only Prince could pull together. Brilliant lyrics, vocals, instrumentation.

ethanthomas said:

feeluupp said:

loved the interview with QUESTLOVE when he brought home the DIRTY MIND LP and his father thought PRINCE was "DANGEROUS" artist for the youth at that time period.

i love how RAUNCHY PRINCE was with his early work... without that blueprint PRINCE would've never achieved the success he has achieved today.

imagine PHASE 2 and PLANET EARTH and those albums in the beginning of his career, rather the end...

[Edited 4/11/16 13:10pm]

The songs that Prince produced during the "Dirty Mind" (and I love those songs as well) period represented his state of mind, beliefs, thoughts, at that time. That was 36 years ago. While he is the same person, i'm sure his perspective, points of emphasis etc have changed over the years. It's called maturity.

Black Muse touches on some disturbing American history in a joyful, uplifting manner that only Prince could pull together. Brilliant lyrics, vocals, instrumentation.

im not talking about musical maturity, or religious or spiritual beliefs... we all know where he and his music stands now.

i was explaining why i used those words, rebelious, dangerous, raunchy, because thats how he started and protrayed himself in the beginning.

dirty mind was just an example of the blueprint he laid down while being riske and rebellious...

Bohemian67 said:

datdude said:

Bohemian67 said:

^ If artists at 57, after being around for forty years in the business were still rebellious and dangerous they probably wouldn't be around anymore. Raunchy, dangerous rebel are words that belong to youth. There are limits to how far you can push boundaries and it's best to know them lest you fall over the cliff in trying to constantly surpass them.

Right!! People seem to have frozen him in an era, a mindset that THEY prefer because it produced THEIR favorite songs or fueled and ideology THEY had or lived through vicariously. Hell, I'd posit that being an intelligent, entrepreneurial, independent black man at 57 years in AmeriKKKa with some semblance of self love and NOT be embittered but hopeful IS radical, dangerous, and revolutionary even if 'boring' not 'sexy' enough for the 80s nostalgists and superficial types whose politics don't go beyond gay marriage. SMH

That's why I listen to New Model Army: a band that has never lived the silly rock star life,

but whose lyrics can still be dangerous, i.e. thought-provoking. Oh, and the lyricist turned 60 this week.

And, as Prince has proven many times over, the Sister etc lyrics were just meant to stir things up: image, not ideology. As confirmed as well by then-members of his band.
Kudos for performing in your underwear with pubic hair on show, but hey; he realled wanted

to be a STAR.