I've been wanting to start this thread for a while, but I never got around to it.

It's like.....Prince is back and everything and he's got a new release now and I initially thought that this would be a return to form for him.

I'm listening to "If I Was The Man In Your Life" right now as I type this. A fookin' fantastic number if I ever heard one. A great mix of Jazz/Rock/Soul/Fusion. This is not a bad album. It's not great or groundbreaking, but it's a very solid and awesomely produced/engineered album. Also, the musicianship is top notch. This NPG line-up is badass.

Now I was expecting everyone else to dig this as much as me. But for some reason, there are orgers here that bitch about this album as much as there are some here that absolutely love it. I don't think I've ever experienced seeing such divided opinions on a Prince album. Usually many of us can agree on a Prince album of great quality.

I mean, look at.....er.....say.....




Nearly every orger here likes this album. There's no disputing the fact this is a badass record. Essential Prince, without a doubt. Rarely are there people with bad opinions about 1999.

But it's a little different with "Musicology". Some like it, some hate it, and I can't figure out why.

well i'm not as an experienced fan as many others, seeing as ive only fully heard 3 of his albums....but i can aggree 100% with everything you're saying

i thought the album was mindblowing....the way everything is arranged that you can hear almost every instrument is amazing...


its a treasured album in my thoughts

I definitely agree. As for my opinion on Musicology, I don't think it's the best Prince album, but it's definitely good. "If Eye Was The Man In Your Life" is definitely the best song on that album. I also like "Cinnamon Girl" and "The Marrying Kind." I don't see how people can dislike this album when there are tracks like these on it. That's just me.

the same can be said for any of p's albums, really...and not everyone likes 1999: i've seen some folks complain that it's "too long".

For me Musicology was the same old same old.

An album or two coasting the same thing can be fun, but it soon get's old after that.

I thought he'd turned a page with TRC, but evidently he was willing to take a few steps back for the almighty dollar.

If Was The Man In U're Life is finally starting to get some respect...

That's one smokin' tune

This CD is very consistent thruout...all very good songs.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Yeah, a buncha wusses!

Supernova said:

f'real.

I don't think any REAL Prince fan would say anything bad about 1999.

DITTO!

I have mixed feelings about Musicology, but Prince is so unlike any other artist. No matter how much I dislike something of his, I can never completely dismiss it, because there's a pretty good chance that down the line, I'll discover something about the song or album that I didn't before. Suddenly I'll find myself going nuts over a song that used to make me ill.

There are a few songs on Musicology that I absolutely love. At the moment, the title track is one of my all-time favorite Prince songs (I just can't keep myself from dancing when it comes on!). It's one of those songs that I just get lost in. The others that I love are ICP&C, Call My Name, On the Couch, What Do U Want Me 2 Do, and IEWTMIUL. I could go either way on the others. I'm sure at some point, I'll be raving about A Million Days or one of the many other Prince songs that I'm currently lukewarm about.

It's such a different direction for him, but overall, I think it's a decent album. Thank heavens for the title track. Musicology rocks my world!!

NWF said:

Well the reason for that is because their are alot of older close minded Prince fans on this site. They don't want Prince to age and change because they don't want to age and change. I agree with you about Musicology. I love the CD I think it is great and I really can't see how anyone could have a problem with it but give people a chance and they will bitch about anything.

I am sure back in the day when some of these people first heard 1999 they had their bitches about it. You have to realize that 1999 is over 20 years old. Over that period of time they have had a chance to appreciate the music. I believe the same will be true of Musicology. Over time people will listen with much less judgement and just enjoy the damn thing.

Thanks for posting your thread. I believe what you said needed to be said and heard.

Peace

Comparing Musicology to a classic like 1999 is like expecting a new Fleetwood Mac album to be just like Rumours or like expecting a new Bowie album to be every bit as good as Aladdin Sane. Even if such expectations were fair, it just plain ain't gonna happen.

That said, I think Musicology is a really solid album. I wouldn't count anything on there as an "all time favorite" Prince song of mine, but when I listen to this record, there's never anything I want to skip past....which is a rare feat for a Prince album where I'm concerned.

I didn't expect SOTT but I was hoping for better than Newpower Soul - in my opinion, I got what I wanted.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Terrible album.

MrSquiggle said:

MaquisVixen said:

Have some sympathy for Yoko Ono fans.

Supernova said:

Anxiety said:

Fair enough. But one thing: I wasn't comparing Musicology to 1999. There's not a chance in hell that Musicology will be nearly as great as 1999. 1999 was REVOLUTIONARY!!!!!

I was saying that most of us Prince fans can agree that 1999 is classic and essential Prince. There's no arguement as to how great that album that was. But with Musicology, some people like it, others loathe it. It's not like 1999, where everyone can say, "that's a fookin' great album".

Something is keeping me from going back to listen to it. I listened to it for the first few days after I bought it when it came out....it's a good album, not great. Somebody once called it "Prince lite"...that's a pretty dead-on description. I don't dislike the album, but I have yet to revisit it.

I don't like the CD. But the concert was beyond incredible. Musicology sounds like it was put together using a single synthesizer...like all of his work since the 90's. I miss the live band sessions.

Supernova said:

Seriously though, the tracks on 1999 would've made great 12" mixes.

When they're all together on an album format, it's sooooo long it's excruciating. Automatic particularly. I have only listened to it once.

If Purple Rain had the fifteen-minute version of Computer Blue, the 10-minute version of Baby I'm A Star, the 30-minute version of I Would Die 4 U, the 12" version of Let's Go Crazy, and the 30-minute version of Purple Rain, it'd suck too.
[This message was edited Mon Aug 16 0:48:25 2004 by MrSquiggle]

I think it's a really good album. A little too mellow. I fixed that by removing a ballad and adding "United States of Division."

Luv & Peace,
Alex
Clubbin' in Mpls/A Night w. Prince

MaquisVixen said:

co-

mrsquiggle me

Anxiety said:

I would. That tune would be Reflection for me. I think it's a beautiful piece of work, and for me, one of the deepest and most personal tunes P has ever written. There's a long list, but I'd put Reflection right up there with the rest of my favorites.

The only tracks I can't get into are 'On The Couch' and 'Life Of The Party'. Everything else is great.

I like Musicology a lot. It flows so nicely and i can appreciate almost every track. Actually i think "musicology" is one of the weaker tracks on the album, i don't like it too much but nonetheless a great way to start the album.
The contrast between "the marrying kind" and "if i was the man in your life" is what really makes the album special to me.

And i think Yoko Ono is a great entrepreneur so don't laugh

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Any album Yoko's ever done is better than 1999.

MrSquiggle said:

Aiight.

But:...



ONCE?? ONCE??? 1 TIME???? Oy!