Let's face it, no matter how talented, creative or innovative a songwriter may be, after 25 years one of 3 things happen:

1. you start repeating yourself

2. you start sounding like someone(s) else or,

3. you sound different but its weird or just plain corny

P has released over 25 albums in the last 25 years and that does not include songs he wrote for others and b-sides of singles. As much as we may have loved this back in the day, i'm starting to think that P may have burned himself out. Maybe he should take a year or 2 and concentrate soley on his record label(signing new and GOOD acts) or making a fantastic CD. Jill Jones CD is the best CD to come out of Paisley Park(next to P's of course) because it was at least 4-5 years in the making. I'm not saying P should take that long but imagine what a album would sound like if he took his time(let's say 2 years) and put everything he had into it. It might be one of the best of his career if not ever. What do U guys think?

hey there are still other genres to explore with

would we like to see a HEavy Metal Prince?

Or a NEw Age Prince?

or how about a World Prince? lol
prince singing in spanish and french

lol its what he wants to do

and if he wants to do the same thing over and over
thats his problem

all i want is my Rock C.D. and i'll be happy

He took a couple of years off between TRC and Musicology and I don't the results were that great.

For the record I'm not counting the Piano album because most of that was recorded before TRC and I'm not counting the instrumental albums or the live album because they do not take the same effort as a studio album.

Okay everyone.... sing along....

You take the good
You take the bad
You take 'em both and there you have the
music of Prince... the music of Prince...
[Edited 9/4/04 12:40pm]

Plus i still think N.E.W.S. was his creative peak

Luv4oneanotha said:

I for one hope he does not do the same thing over and over. I don't think anyone does and i'm sure even you would be upset if he put out, let's say, 3 rock albums and they all sounded the same

TheDeacon said:

At this point Prince doesn't have to record ever AGAIN!
i don't need another Prince C.D.
i was dissapointed with musicology yet i loved N.E.W.S

P can't satisfy everybody
i think he should just satisfy himself
cause thats all that matters

Luv4oneanotha said:

I know P can't satisfy everyone and it's true he does not HAVE to record another CD; however we all know he will continue to record until he passes away. All i'm saying is if he is going to continue to record, he should take some more time in writing songs(like 2 years). I think he would be pleased with the outcome AS WELL AS everyone else.

TheDeacon said:

well you know
and i know

That Prince doesn't release anything "Old"

i don't like it, but thats just the way his mind works

but i agree with you

if he went on hiatus for 2 years
just writing

we might have another masterpeice

he claims he writes a song every day...
so you know
he comes up with alot of crap most of the time...

I know, but i guess that's what makes him Prince.

I think at this point P just wants to be heard...

It gets tiring when people don't even think you record music anymore...

Musicology was him settling for Mainstream, he didn't put himself out there
much Like Rave back in 99 with clive

PRince is extremely creative cause some of the tracks on musicology where solid

and its not that he doesn't make them

its just that he doesn't release them

he throws every single thing in the vault

i would love to hear the unreleased tracks for musicology
cause their quite possibly better than the tracks he decided to release

But Prince is fussy

and even worst he has to satisfy his Jehovah Wittness partners
...

DO IT THINK PRINCE HAS LOST A STEP IN THE LAST 25 YEARS? WELL RESPECTIVELY I WOULD HAVE 2 SAY NO,4 A COUPLE OF REASONS:
1#.PRINCE NO MATTER HOW MUCH HE MAY SEEM 2 REPEAT HIMSELF 2 SOME PEOPLE HE STILL REMAINS 2 BE 1 OF THE VERY FEW ARTIST MAKEING A MUSICAL DIFFERENCE BY MAKING MUSIC HOW IT'S BEEN MADE 4 YEARS,WITH REAL MUSICIANS PLAYING REAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.IN A DAY WHERE COMPUTERGENERATED GROOVES DOMINATE THE AIRWAVES.
WHERE IT IS OK 2 LOOP A SAMPLE FROM A JAM OF A FORGOTTEN (& MOST TIMES NEGLECTED GENERATION)& CALL THIS SLOPPY EXSCUSE 4 AN OFFERING OF ARTISTIC EXSPRESSION
A REMIX OR EVEN WORSE A PRODUCTION.IS NOT ONLY AN INSULT 2 INTELLEGENT MUSICANS EVERYWHERE,BUT AN INSULT 2 MUSIC IT'S SELF.PRINCE AFTER ALL CAN ONLY OFFER HIS LISTENERS 1 THING, ULTIMATELY HIMSELF ALL SIDE OF HIMSELF.AFTER ALL WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME U HEARD AN ARTIST WHO PLAYS JAZZ,SOUL,DISCO,FUNK,CLASSICAL,ROCK,EQUALLY WELL?MAYBE U SHOULD DO WHAT I DO WHEN I FEEL MY DEVOTION IS WEARING THIN(AS WITH ANYBODY IT SOMESTIMES DOSE)LISTEN 2 SOMETHING THAT MADE U LOVE THE MUSIC IN THE FIRST PLACE.PRINCE HAS ENOUGH MUSIC IF U LISTEN 2 EVERTHING BACK 2 BACK BY THE TIME U FINISHED HE WILL REMIND U OF WHAT U LOVE IN THE 1ST PLACE WHICH 2 ME IS QUITE SIMPLY NOT WHAT HE SAYS OR SINGS 4 THAT MATTER BUT HOW HE PUTS IT.

PEACE BE WILD

I don't mind if he takes all the time off that he wants to record a new album just as long as he releases old stuff from the vault in the meantime and keeps the music coming.

I've given up on the "old Prince" coming back a long time ago and some albums from the vault would be a good way to hear him. Of course, Prince would probably release some of the more "jazzy" stuff like he did with "The Vault...Old Friends 4 Sale". What is he doing, holding on to the "good" vault stuff until a TRUE rainy day?

Like I said, Prince can take off all the time in the world he wants....just release some vault stuff that sounds like "Extra Loveable" or "Heaven" in the meantime. I wouldn't care if he EVER recorded a "new" album again.

Luv4oneanotha said:

I have been waiting since The Gold Experience for a rock inspired album. Not that Chaos was that bad, but it was obviously thrown together at the time. I havent heard that made me say DAMN since Eye Hate U. I have liked almost everything but not just bowed down to its greatness. At least not since TGE

DJINFINITE said:

vainandy said:

Yes, i think that would be a good idea to release stuff from the Vault. You're right; the "old Prince" is gone now that he is a JW. We may never get another "fantastic" CD from him like SOTT or PR.

The "old Prince" died after "Purple Rain". The JW thing just buried him.
[Edited 9/4/04 13:40pm]

if we're not careful he might just burn those tracks

but i'd kill for a pristine copy of dance with the devil
i'd die and go to heaven if i here a C.D. quality version of she's just a baby

One thing i am personally tired of are these instrumental and jazz CD's P has been putting out(rainbow children, n.e.w.s., potential upcoming jazz cd). Although it shows his versatility, i like the rock, funk and R&B Prince. A jazz album here and there is one thing but not 3 in a row.

OR WAIT!

NEON TELEPHONE!

name one artist who has satisfied the desires of his/her fans over a career as long as Prince.
He has grown as an artist. Compare For You to Crystal Ball. Prince has said in interviews that he has hundreds of songs in the vault like 1999. To flood us with said songs would dilute the value of the songs now out. Perhaps your tastes are changing, not Prince's ability to make music. All artists, I mean all..writers, painters, dancers, movie makers...all grow through periods of brilliance and mediocraty. Personally, I dont think Prince has had a low spot yet. CD's like Paisley Park and Parade are not my favorites, but they're more sophisticated then other albums released by other artists. The man has released an album a year (almost) since what..1981..thats 23 or 24 years of music..times how many tracks on each album...plus other projects...Jeez louise..Hes FUCKING BRILLIANT

^^^^ newbie what are you high?
comparing for you to crystal ball

what the hell?

He has grown as an artist. Compare For You to Crystal Ball
early in career later in career
simple complex
sheesh

*****Attention all bitchers and moaners*****


Prince is in the midst of one of the greatest "comebacks" in music history. But don't call it a comeback.

Whether it takes you another 15-20 years to realize it, or not, Prince is still releasing great music.
"Musicology" is a great album. Is it a legendary classic? Only time will tell.

Do yourself a favor and go to http://princetext.tripod.com/ and read some reviews of what we now consider "classic Prince albums" and see what was said about them. The reviews usually aren't on par with the reviews "Musicology" is receiving.

Want to see the "old" Prince? Watch "Purple Rain". Want to see a Prince that is fresh, invigorating, and possibly better than ever? Catch the "musicology" tour.

Nostalgia messes with your mind, and whether you believe it or not, Prince still has it.


PS. Prince didn't take a break between "The Rainbow Children" and "Musicology" he released roughly 8 CD's worth of music.

-xenophobia
-one nite alone
-one nite alone ...live (3 discs)
-NEWS (grammy nominated album thank you very much)
-Slaughterhouse
-Chocolate Invasion

Who can say how much effort goes into any of the music besides the ones who are there?
[Edited 9/4/04 13:58pm]

PurpleRein said:

I agree that compared to other albums released by other artist, P's are more sophisticated, but sophisticated does not necessarily mean good. I wouldn't want P to release stuff from the Vault that sounds like something he did before(1999) but something that would shine on its own. I have many bootlegs that have songs on them that i've said if he officially released these, he could have an awesome album(Witness for the Prosecution for example)

I know exactly what you mean. I wish he would do the jazz albums as side projects to be for sale through his NPGMC and do the funk/rock albums for sale in the record stores.

TheDeacon said:

As awesome as Witness for the Prosecution is and as much as I'd love to have a crystal clear copy myself, I still don't see how releasing an 18 year old song would justify his ability to be creative. I'd love to see a compilation of vault recordings. However, it's still unfair to compare Musicology, NEWS or The Rainbow Children to those recordings. One of things I respect about Prince's catalog is that during the Warner years, every recording was extension of the last and managed to branch out into new territory.

From '96 - '99 (with the exception of The Truth) he was stuck in a formula and even tried to dupe old school Prince fans into believing that there would be an old-school resurgence with Rave and the use of the Linn Drum.

For the first time, in a long time I was actually able to feel that resurgence with The Rainbow Children and it didn't take a Linn drum machine to feel it. Sure it may not sound like he's exploring new territory. But after 28 studio albums (not including side projects), what more do you expect him to do? At this point, all I expect is an attempt at a good inspired album.

psykosoul said:

My point exactly. A good inspired album that he could take his time to put together. Hence, the original comment of P taking a year or two to do so. He does not have to release Witness for the Prosecution, but other songs in the Vault that we have not heard on bootleg would be nice

TheDeacon said:

Different strokes for different folks, I reckon. Compared to the output of the latter '90s, I've definitely heard more inspiration in his albums since The Rainbow Children.

I wonder why I don't see disgruntled fans of Stevie Wonder or The Rolling Stones. Neither of them have made albums comparable to Innervisions or Exile On Main Street (respectively). However, their fanbases seem to hold strong without making their heroes accountable for making new albums in the same vein as their prior masterpieces.

What Prince needs is a new mindset. As long as he hangs around people like Larry G., Maceo, and other old fogies, he's not gonna have a fresh outlook on things. Plus he may need some anger inside, or at least some kind of raw emotion that he transforms into more agressive music. He's basically just very dry inside. And of course he needs to lose the JW bullshit cuz that just puts all kinds of shackles on him.