Musicology was just an easy way back in. Fun pop album, nothing heavy.

I like it.

poetbear68 said:

Give me a break. So because someone doesn't care for X album, they're living in the past and waiting for Purple Rain pt. 2? Maybe some fans, but I doubt most feel that way.

poetbear68 said:

I don't know how you feel, but I think ATWIAD is a mediocre album, so don't even act like people who don't like Musicology would have thought it was great in 1985 because at the time they supposedly liked everything he released. I don't like Musicology and no one has to feel sorry for me. There's plenty of good stuff in my collection, released and unreleased, to satisfy me for the rest of my life.

I disagree that 'Musicology' was not a success outside of concert ticket sales.

The sales figures for 'Musicology' are still impressive without the concerts figured in.

Even with concert sales excluded 'Musicology' is still a major sales increase on previous recent albums.

I don't think 'Musicology' was overly 'commercial', but I think more complex, less accessible material could be chart-worthy if it was promoted properly.

However, regardless of who owns the Masters, would a record company like Sony be as happy to promote 'The Rainbow Children' with the same vigour as they did with 'Musicology'?

Mr7 said:

They'll promote anything if it's a lucrative deal.

I don't think he's in some sort of musical crisis. Somebody tell me Musicology is worse than For You, Controversy, Graffitti Bridge, Batman, the Kamasutra Suite or NEWS. Can you really say, tracks like ICP&C, A million days, Cinnamon Girl or Dear Mr. Man are uninspired? What about the title track. It's a reduced funk track, that plays with those images of the past like so many other tracks (from Housequake 2 Sexy MF). Musicology (the title track) might not add much 2 increase the Funk world but hey: Bootsy's kickin ass for over 30 years with the same beat and sound and he's still kickin MY ass. Listen 2 Earth Wind & Fire's new album: Are you bored? I'm not. I get my groove from that sound.
Back 2 Musicology: Take that overwhelming hook line of A million days or that sexy begging of On the couch - if this does not touch you, you cannot be touched by those masterpieces Dolphin or Damn U either. I'm not saying, Musicology is one of his best albums. There are too many outstanding works like Parade, Lovesexy, Newpowersoul (!), Gold Experience or The Truth, but Musicology is a good one. Even for Prince's high standards. Most people still think, the albums they grew up 2 where the best, because that was the time when they felt best. Get into the flow, try to be that teenager again, and then compare Musicology to Graffiti Bridge. What do u all think?

HenkL said:

not true...two of my all time favorite albums are Vespertine and Aimee Mann's just released The Forgotten Arm...but artist have been in the industry for over three decades...and both artist still get me to drop my jaw in suprise at the musical direction they have taken. to say that once people grow older they loose the capability to be "moved" by art is flat out wrong.

another album that moved me recently? Tracy Chapman's Where You Live.....music still moves me....just not Musicology. The last time i was moved btw, by Prince, was The Truth.

That whole, trying to re-live Purple Rain...or waiting for Purple Rain 2 is the furthest from the truth...The Truth sounds nothing like PP..but its still an effective album.

so lets put this argument to death....can we?

I didn't want to deny your or anyone elses capbilitiy of being moved by sounds. You would not speak like this if u weren't passionate about music. And I know, the impression that music makes and the role music plays can even grow as you grow older (for example: I started playing guitar at 32). I just wanted to focus on a few songs and the qualities they have in my opinion. And this Purple Rain thing: I sincerely hope, no-one in here really waits for a second part to that album or for their own second youth.
You just like three songs on Musicology, I I like a few more - that's all the differnce there is.

so lets put this argument to death....we can.
I now go take a listen to Tracy Chapman's new one.And maybe I get me a concert ticket, just saw the posters. And I guess we both wait for the next P album. Maybe he makes our jaws drop one more time. I bet he can.

sosgemini said:

I do too...but I've heard some journalists say that Sade has been selling the same jazz-lite album for 20+ years. She can't please everybody.

sosgemini said:

I don't agree that Prince sounds content. He might be searching, we don't know.
The lyrics in Musicology were not half-a$$ed and showed some effort to make an honest expression.
Damn Prince for being so incredibly gifted and innovative as a young person.

Well, The Love Below was a masterpiece, but also sold to the masses, so Prince really has no excuse. Did we forget that PR sold ten million copies!

2freaky4church1 said:

That's not a fair comaprison. The Love Below is only Outkast's 5th album, they are where Prince was during his peak run. A fairer assessment will be judging Outkast's success both artistically and commercially when they are at the same respective stage in their careers (ie, when they are in their late 40s). And though I enjoy the Love Below, time will judge how much of a masterpiece the album is. Purple Rain, Purple Rain, ah yeah, that came out when Prince was in his 20s, dude is 47 now. By that type of reasoning Stevie Wonder should be able to put out something as groundbreaking as Innervisions at this stage in his career.

I just think everyone needs to understand that artists get older, music changes and no one's time lasts forever.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

thank you, man.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

so, do you think it would be easier on the fanbase if prince just came out and acknowledged this?

what have other artist done in the past? how was it for miles davis? kate bush? david bowie reclaimed his "flame" per his fanbase...

im asking sincerely here so lets dispense from the peanut gallary cheerleading folks...lets actually talk to each other..

its either threads like this folks, where people agree to disagree about the worth of music politely...or the tits and ass threads.....

and ive bored of the t&a stuff...
[Edited 10/4/05 14:35pm]

Personally i dont think prince has a target audience in mind when releasing his records, and he is now just playing what he enjoys playing, we can like it or lump it basically. I think people can look too deep on this.

sosgemini said:

...sez the cat who uses the term "peanut gallery"...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

sosgemini said:

Why should any artist have to explain themselves or acknowledge this? Any rational thinking person should have the competence to realize this on their own. Besides, interests change. Tirelessly trying to find new sounds may have spurred Miles Davis' genius, but that obviously was not the case for Stevie Wonder who did not release an album for 10 years. Sly Stone faded into obscurity, though he never stopped recording, does that make him any less of a genius? That's why you cannot compare what people did in different phases of their careers because we don't know what they wanted to attain once they've acheived that level of success. Besides comparing people is ultimately pointless because we will end up going in circles.


Second point, I can only speak on Miles Davis in your second statement. Miles was criticized for chasing trends when he went into fusion and hip hop later in life. Davis' cool, modal, post, and be-bop Jazz fans often cringe at the mere mention of his eclectric fusion work. They believe that Miles was spent and his music was pure shit. But there are some, myself included, who like the fusion work. I actually find merit and depth in all incarnations of Davis' work. The same way with Prince.

See when I purchase a Prince album I don't go into it thinking oh wow, this is gonna be the next Sign, Dirty Mind, Parade, Gold etc. My mindset is simply on what he's doing now. I enjoy some of it, I don't like some of it but it doesn't change my view of Prince and his genius. I simply realize that the man has nothing left to prove and if I continue to compare his past works to what he's doing today I will never enjoy anything he puts out regardless of how good or bad it maybe. Besides, there are numerous other artists' back/current catalogs I've yet to explore so Prince not blowing my mind anymore is not top priority.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:[quote
See when I purchase a Prince album I don't go into it thinking oh wow, this is gonna be the next Sign, Dirty Mind, Parade, Gold etc. My mindset is simply on what he's doing now. I enjoy some of it, I don't like some of it but it doesn't change my view of Prince and his genius. I simply realize that the man has nothing left to prove and if I continue to compare his past works to what he's doing today I will never enjoy anything he puts out regardless of how good or bad it maybe. Besides, there are numerous other artists' back/current catalogs I've yet to explore so Prince not blowing my mind anymore is not top priority.[/color][/quote]

thanks for the miles info...

and its funny, i could easily have typed out the paragraph above...i agree with it 100%. Except for the bolded part...What makes you think I (or others) are comparing the music to what he has done in the past? (keep in mind ive pointed two examples: bjork and aimmee mann where i still appreciate their work and who have been around almost as long as prince)...

and if your not blown away by prince's current work, just what is wrong with expressing that?

i'd love to hear bowie fans take on this subject because bowie is an artist that supposedly lost it (through the 80's) and regained it.

sosgemini said:

Well, sos, I know you are as big a fan of W&L as the majority of us are with Prince so there's a reason why I might assume that you are judging his past work with the current work. Furthermore, if you go thru this thread you will see some people mentioning past albums being commercially accessible and stating that Prince has no excuse for what he puts out now. And those points are innaccurate, and moot.

As far as your points about Aimee Mann and BJORK, again, I adressed that earlier, people's motivations are different and they come to different points in their careers in different ways. And how much one appreciates their new work as well as their old work is still subjective.

There is nothing wrong with expressing that you are not blown away by Prince's current work. That's the great thing about opinions. I just take issue when people harp on things like that (not saying that's what you are doing).

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

ahh.see, this is where i would rather have people "ask me" my views rather then make assumptions....

yes, i discovered prince through wendy and lisa...but i feel just as much in love with Lovesexy, Diamonds & Pearls and the Symbol album...i experienced those albums after becoming a fan of wendy and lisa's and loved each and every one of them for what they brought....the only prince album i was dissapointed in was Graffitti Bridge....

then came C & D and Come..and they were underwhelming but i credited them to being throwaways like he said..and then came Gold...I still love Gold....then came Emancipation..dissappointment because theres too much crap...but theres still good stuff on there....and then NPS...everything since NPS has been a dissapointment..

so see, it has nothing to do with me being dissapointed that the music doesnt sound Purple Rainish...

heck, none of wendy and lisa's albums sound the same....am i dissapointed? nope..because i see growth...or i hear challenges that they gave themselves...a perfect example of this is them switching roles (wendy playing drums and lisa playing guitar) for Girlbros....that created a creative challenge for them that resulted in a different sounding album...

thats why I probably enjoyed The Truth so much..because he set a challenge for himself to release an album that was mainly accoustic...

sosgemini said:

Thank you for stating your preferences explicitly, that places your arguments and statements in a more proper context.

I just wish Prince would put out some of the great material he records but doesn't want to let the record buying public hear. I'm sure much of it is mindblowing but I think he feels like his audience isn't up for the journey with him. Then again, he may not even care.

It's hard to get a definitve answer to these questions....the level of bias we have interferes.

Do U go by the 80's fans , the fans who came on board in the 90's , or the newly discovered fans ?

I'd like the opinion of someone who wasnt a fan in the 80's ,but is a good judge of music in general.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

DP, you are my brotha from anotha motha.

OdysseyMiles said:

Thanx Odyssey, I appreciate it

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

your a guy?

NouveauDance said:

couldn'ta said it better