i think we all have to appreciate the fact that he dared to make an album that wasn't necessarily commercial by todays standards, but returned us all to the fact that albums can be good because of their overall content, and that they can also be also be varied...i.e. you dont have to repeat the same formularic grooves for 10-12 songs; you don't have to make sure the tempos don't stray from radio's accepted formula; and that the lyrical content is acceptable even if it's different from the 'set' standards, especially the childlike rhymes of a lot of todays so called hits..
what he proves with "musicology" is that an album can be what albums used to be...a listening experience; that is, not cookie cutter stuff, carved out to make record companies and radio stations happy.
a true innovator knows how to write more than one type or style of song.
And like it or not, he is a true innovator.
Variety is a good thing. Even though record companies try to dissuade an artist from diversyfying. (I'm in the rceord business, and have closer ties to HIM than you can even imagine.....I also know the shenaningans that go on in the record industry)
all the songs on an album do not have to sound the same - it's not written into music law, and it sure as hell as hell isn't written into Prince's law.
Look at the the last two Grammy awards ...best pop instrumental in 2003, and now this year, 2004, all of the RnB stuff and pop...i defy you to find another artist who crosses over with such ease into a varied range of accepted styles.
Don't give me Usher - who needs three other artists to make a single - that's just record companies cynical outlook purveyed into making sure y'all buy the record; don't give me Fantasia, (who has made sure that with the top producers who r getting $50,000 per song) that they can make a hit for radio (and sure enough she sells 271,000 in her first week - gotcha); don't sell me on Ashlee Simpson who can't sing, can't write, and spends most of her time ,when she actually deigns to be in the studio, spending most of her time on her cell phone or ordering food..... the rest of the stuff that they call hits....well.....we have to stop this stuff , and HE may may well be our last chance.
as he says in the businesss magazine interview, this is why live concerts are taking a dive...nobody wants to hear someone lipsynch for a whole show, when they can see the same thing on MTV. he proves that variety in music , is certainly what keeps us going, and the lack of variety is what will kill the industry and the art form. the man is a true innovator and, even though we hear the word a lot, a genius.
let's hope the grammy's reflect this.

PS - i posted this as a response on a a previous post, but i really feel strongly that this should be spelled out on another forum....listen to the record - it's unlike anything else out there!!

I don't think it will go down as one of his best but it is a nice album. It is a mellow. laid back Prince though. Which I guess is okay but it would be nice if he went through another Black Album phase or something.

I appreciate Musicology, and I understand it's purpose.

I cant undestand how can someone say they love the 80's and at the same time HATE the 90's. It just people who limit themselves in such high standarts, I am very glad Prince is not messing with synths and that same old guitar tone. I dont Love horns but it's better than do the same tour over and over again since the 80's. IT would be pathetic. NEWS is great sonically, still people wont get it.

OdysseyMiles said:

Yes, there's a definite purpose with Musicology.
1. It shows a happy content side of Prince.
2. The title cut talks about how alot of people miss REAL music, not the pacakaged, studio bullshit that is mass produced today and called music.
3. You can't miss the political messages in Cinnamon Girl and Mister Man.

1sexymf said:

People can hate on the music all they like, but the lyrics in this album cannot be fronted on.

1sexymf said:

Yes the title cut is about "real" music but then he proceeds to give us a bunch of filler... (Life of the Party??? What do you want be to do?)

and the "political" messages of Cinninmon Girl and Dear Mr. are trite and cliche and really dont add anything of substance to the conversation....and in the case of Cinnamon Girl, is set to one of the worse tunes prince ever laid on wax...


only tracks here that will stand the test of time are Musicology and Reflection...(and maybe Marrying Kind/Man in your life for shere energy and cleverness)

I thought Musicology was Prince's best since Emancipation (I know some folks didn't like Emancipation, but I loved it). I don't think it had any filler. The one thing that it was missing was 2-3 killer singles, but I don't think Prince is really a singles artist anymore, so that's ok. Musicology wouldn't rank in my top ten of Prince albums but it's definitely far from his worst. I hope some folks will give it another chance. Maybe it will grow on you?

I really enjoy the CD my friend gave me from his concert
Musicology is what made me want to find more of his music.
I didnt know there was going to be so much, but its fun to find

For that reason this album holds a special place in my heart
(cue the sappy music)

Musiclogy is a very good album
Not phenomenal not revolutionary, but just what P
needed to return to public favor

I feel the next album will really be a step up music wise
now that hes proved his point and reclaimed his name!

I know around here that the Grammy's are often disregarded. However, I think it is telling that "Musicology" is nominated for the same amount of Grammy's as "Purple Rain".

emesem said:

I agree with you about Life of the Party b/c that song is a stinker. As for the rest of the album, I can slighty tolerate. Also, I admired the way the way he said fuck you to mainstream by making the protest song Mr. Man. Despite the cool video, I couldn't listen to Cinnamon Girl. Overall, I felt that this album was one of Prince's mediocre albums to date.

it's an average album at best.
sounds bereft of inspiration for most of the disc though.
anyhow,i dont trust any album with input from any of the Kipshire brothers.
way too Jodeci for my tastes.

emesem said:

What do you want me to do is one of his best songs in ages, and certainly the most "classic" Prince-sounding of the bunch. There's nothing groundbreaking on Musicology, but who really expects him to be groundbreaking after 25 years at it? That's just unfair. I'm just happy to have a solid, heartfelt Prince CD in 2004 (and I couldn't say the same aobut "Rave")

skywalker said:

Yeah, telling in as much that it was a cleverly marketed, commercial album, with record company big bucks behind it.

That was the purpose of the album I presume OdysseyMiles was refering to(?)

NouveauDance said:

NO. I don't subscribe to the "Prince was so much better back when he was doing blah-blah-blah" club.

OdysseyMiles said:

(telemarketer voice) but sir, if you act now you'll get 10% off your first subscription payment and a commemorative coffee mug free...

IMHO - Musicology is not a great cd, but it is very good. It certainly beats the hell out of almost everything nominated for a Grammy this year.

It’s funny how Musicology has brought so much controversy and attention 2 Prince. It’s a beautiful CD, the lyrics are tight and he’s very focus and free. The voice as always is simply beautiful. I like everything on the CD. I like the fact I don’t have 2 skip over one song 2 get 2 the other. I can see the buzz was not only on the giveaways themselves but the music which in my opinion is simply beautiful. 2 top it all; it was not really played on the radio like all the other crappy music that gets heavy rotation. I have friends that actually purchased Musicology who totally hate P, but love the CD and that says a lot. These people I’m speaking of have gone out and started collecting his music LOL…. This CD has brought in a whole new generation of fans 4 him. I love it, I love the attention it’s received and I can see why he was nominated 4 5 Grammy’s.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Nah, I'm through with y'all. Where the hell is my football phone? *click*

OdysseyMiles said:

pennylover said:

you mean "life of the party" doesnt make your ears bleed????? that song scarred me for life....Candy should concentrate on blowing her horn...

OdysseyMiles said:

I had a Sports Illustrated football phone!

OdysseyMiles said:

That isn't what I meant at all.

Skywalker said:



All I was saying was that it IS telling that they both got the same amount of nominations because they were both marketed as commercial albums (as opposed to say The Rainbow Children which clearly wasn't marketed as a commercial album - little promotion, no singles/videos etc).

And I presumed that's what you meant by "I appreciate Musicology, and I understand it's purpose." - In as much that it's purpose was to bring Prince's music back into the mainstream of pop culture and the charts (which it did successfully).

Musicology is an excellent album, and should spawn more successful singles in the future ( if marketed right ). It's one of the few albums in the last ten years that I can personally listen to from start to finish without skipping anything. Also, "Call My Name" will be another Prince classic song, as may "Reflections" and "A Million Days".

It's too bad that so many on this site are stuck in a particular time and cannot embrace change. It must suck trying to keep Prince all to yourself. You're loss.

NouveauDance said:[quote]

OdysseyMiles said:

Yeah, that's all fine and good. I agree with that. I just don't see it as the album's only purpose.

Do you realize you're on drugs? The whole hype about Musicology was about musicianship and then he churned out mainly a studio album. A very safe album at that. Ultimately I'm dissapointed in the album because he coulda came way better

OdysseyMiles said:

I didn't say that either

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

musicology wasn't just for the die-hard fanbase, y'know.