After reading all the views and opines on the CD, I finally heard it myself this weekend and was FLOORED. The musicianship ain't out of this world, the songs are nothing to create a plaque for, but MAN I really liked the CD. It had an urgent live jazz feel to it, (maybe because Prince did it all himself? who knows).

After reading all the criticism that it's elevator jazz, I really expected some zoned out sleepy-time crap, but this stuff is right up there with Madhouse in it's inventiveness and willingness to take some musical risks.

Here's how the CD works best (for me).
I played Saturday night until 2am and had an hour long drive home. I got on a long stretch of open road at 2 am and just drove with the cd playing straight through, full volume.

It's great for unwinding... a great study in developing ideas beyond the verse/chorus/bridge outlines. So, that said, I'm going out today and BUYING the CD. First Prince CD I've bought since the Gold Experience I think.
[This message was edited Mon Aug 18 12:31:03 PDT 2003 by otan]

That's enough for me...I'll join U Otan.

Hell, man can't buy publicity like this!

I like NEWS too. East is my fave, followed closely by South. There is a thread in the NPGMusicClub forum about playing it while watching the Wizard of Oz. I wanna try that!

VinaBlue said:

I dunno. That requires a copy of the movie and a bong...

I absolutely LOVE south. Love how it changes tempo halfway through with that slow groove and just that one bass note. I like East next best. Very strange and interesting.

otan said:

True. I don't have the movie and my bong is empty...

They were all fabulous! I was fond of all of them.


Peace,
JD

the musicianship is brilliant in my opinion.

it sure as hell doesn't have an urgent jazz feel either in my opinion.
still a good listen in the right mood though.

theSpark said:

I still say that Prince is on bass for this one...or maybe both he and Rhonda...

-SWANGpokeshisheadroundthedoor

It's obvious, that this album is a gem for musicians...

I have no cd player and can't listen to at the moment, so I can't remember exactly:
in whitch song of N.E.W.S. can we hear some secuences like/from, Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water?"

Did you hear that too, or am I alone?

I really dig the packaging as much as the content.

Arle said:

No I heard that too - except I thought it sounded more like "Frankenstein" - I think it's the last song on there.

East is dope

I just love the extremes that this music takes the listener to. Sometimes it sounds metal, most of the time it sounds jazzy. I need to get Miles' Bitches Brew ASAP, as I've heard a lot of comparisons.

I thinks its amazing. I love the segments that each song have, all very distinct, & almost non-linear- but it works.
Very, very Miles...I never thought the Madhouse stuff was very Jazzy, a little cold. But NEWS has alot of soul, even in the new agey parts...i'm impressed. & expected the worst.


Nero

otan said:

Smoke On The Water. Frankenstein maybe somewhere else, I've not heard yet, because I don't know right now how Frankenstein sounds.

i'm busting West right now. that half way point where the tempo picks up and at 8:18 there is that drop! Wahhh! man that's cool. you can even hear Prince creaming his pants over that groove - it's true he's audible at that point.

Prince creamin'?


*cues up the wrecka*

Arle said:

i think it's on South near the end. i believe it's in C sharp minor and the riff is C sharp, E then a quick G to Fsharp. or somethging like that.

Slave2daGroove said:

While you're in the record store, get a copy of Hebir Hancock's Headhunters album. I think it is more related to N.E.W.S. than Bitches Brew. Both are great midprice albums anyway and they are both available in remastered versions.

While you're in the record store, get a copy of Hebir Hancock's Headhunters album. I think it is more related to N.E.W.S. than Bitches Brew. Both are great midprice albums anyway and they are both available in remastered versions.[/quote]

U talk about Miles' In a Silent Way and Bitches...maybe pick up some Weather Report (I Sing the Body Electric & Heavy Weather).

milty said:

Yes, it is.

Arle said:

but i wouldn't say it sounds like Smoke in the Water.

milty said:

Not the whole song, of course not. It's only a detail,

chickengrease said:

I think you hit it right there. The fact that these MUSICIANS got into the studio with a few directions and this being the result--I think this is something all of us as musicians can truly appreciate, even if we may not like the entire result. I hope one day to be able to contribute to a project such as this one!

This night the album really hit me. All the 4 songs have connected with me now, there are only a few minor weak spots on the album (in my opinion). I wonder how it would have sounded with vocals...

Anyway, great effort by Prince and his band!

NuPwr319 said:

Co-Sign.


Even if there is a part that sounds like Smoke on the Water