What's so bad about a digipak?

someone just needs to leak the album and we'll see what it's like

well after these one song singles, i hope there are more songs on this album than 11.

and the digipac thing - lets hope not. i like to be able to flip through the booklet without holding the whole freakin package....

art said:

Can somebody translate this? I don't get it.

Ok, on housequake it was better translated (thanks to the person overthere who did this job!):

3121 :
a true strong title. A powerful funk as Prince knows how to make it. Big work on the voices, with a semblance of camille in the choirs,
I think that the effects on the main voice will disturb the purists.
Quite a lot of sounds that he/it never used. The electro mind of Black Sweat recovers itself of it. Some said that there was not a chorus indeed on BS, and well the it is a little the same case. The melody is not persisting, but the really good title. (if that is after two monitorings one will only sing that..). One takes it in full face.


Lolita :
The rhythm is ultra close to soft and wet, the intro, Prince's vocal attack etc... Except that the again the sounds are more modern. chorus once again very brief around the sentence "titles." Enormous reference has the Time with Prince who throws "fellas", answer "yes" has some "questions/réponses" then as in the big stocks of the Time.
A title that he/it could have given has this group in an album 2005

Tap :
No how. Only surprise, this title bell not really on the whole of the disk.

Black Sweat :
No how. But with the two first, we are in a resonant consistency, that makes that the album is not definitely a new "Dawdles"

I don't want to all long night :
very "in the air of the time", Rn'Bs will say some. But has strength to hear these rhythms, and the manner of which prince sings, one begins has feel that there is the "sex" in this disk.. Prince was not in one "chaste" period when him composed this album... of sweat has in in all cases the.
effect on the voice that risks to displease the also. But the title is not stupidly linear. Is there a station wagon, prince who leaves in a good enough rap, then the presence of feminine vocal background (tamar? ) rather not pain. More one advances more one is in the Prince, and therefore in a very good title, far from being low-end as a lot of bad single rn'b

Love is forever :
unfortunately not a wink has "heart you"
once besides an electro funk, of the synthés, of the sounds traffiqués. Presence of a feminine voice that sings at the same time as Prince, but that resembles more has Sheila E (I say a big stupidity surely, but at the time...). The chorus of this title is a little more marked than the other. The also a sort of station wagon, and one leaves in a true slaughter, for the dancefloor in all cases, Prince throws the "bounce", on riffs of guitars funky. Very Royal. In all cases the again a bomb for March 19 if one has the disk.


Satisfied :
Radical change. One would say that one turned the face of a vinyl and that one passes has something else.
Satisfied is very close to naacp. Return to the sources. Prince makes the RnB but to the noble sense of the term.. homage has its masters of at atlantic records. Perfects vocally... The shape is succeeded very. Now, at the time of an unique listens, the piece doesn't keep all my attention. Can be am me again a few in the precedent and with time me intègrerai perfectly this song. But I confess to keep the success of this ambiance more "old school" that the title of it him even.

Fury :
all has been said elsewhere. faithful title has the benefit has SNL.
Finally a little guitar. That sounds live. One continues to be in an ambiance more live, that contrasts with the beginning of the disk. Efficient indeed. To the level of the audience almost all people hang indeed has fury

Let's Do something
Mid tempo. guitar accoustique forward on the beatific. A title has part. Less electro.. again a filter on the voice (or it is their turntable that fools around)...
More sonorités more "live" especially by the presence of the guitar.
Without being original Prince is in a register where, seem me t him, he/it never went. I will like the réécouter well. Then the also the piece evolves, solo of guitar, and percussion at the end of track... can be that this title deserves a few more of attention, that to judge it in a monitoring.

Beautiful, loved and blessed :
For me the intruder of the disk. Well more that very TAP if that surprises. This title is well, but probably the more formatté for the radio and a "young" public. Finally one realizes that even when Prince makes in the air of the time (on the other smorceaux) it is had a level to the over. This song clearly belongs has the album of Tamar that will be certainly more accessible. Now it is impeccable, Tamar sings very well, and Prince also...
For me the end of the piece saves a little the all, the last 2 minutes, or Tamar takes the hand-held things vocally, then the last 40 seconds when that topples besides in something Tamar groovy,avec that repette "beautiful." It can happen that the version of the album is a little longer according to the statements of those that listened to this title in studio, what was not my case,


The Dance :
One reassures itself, it is not the version of the npgmc. She/it is blacker, deeper. There are the weaknesses of the chorus again to the level of the melody, but the again, and it is that that I like at prince, the pieces are living, and as advancing there in oneself discovers some subtleties. More one advances more one says itself that one has can be even business has a strong title of 3121. The final is vocally impressive, Prince puts his trippes there, and sincerely it is very good. But there is will have controversial on this song that is on also

Get one the boat :
That demolishes all. Of the pure funk that tears as one likes. In the vein of the Work, Pretty Men and I pass some. Line of copper forward, that plays in all senses, solo of Maceo, Discerned very present (e sheila are you the? ). One even speaks of Wendy and Lisa on this title (not obvious to monitoring). A piece of a dangerous efficiency for the dancefloor, and in live that risks to make very very pain... if he/it doesn't forget it.

good veiled I made to best.
I iron a layer of evidence: these are impressions, of the notes taken to the proportion and has measure, 100% of that that I say are has take with reserves.
First because it is an unique monitoring, then because it is I and it is known well "I like all."
More seriously I participated has two monitorings as the one here. 3121 and Rainbow Childrens.
Of course, and even if today many have some reserves, when one takes Rainbow Children head first in the time at the time of a monitoring in good conditions, one takes a gigantic slap that nails you at the armchair. First because there is a concept that leads you all along the disk, then by his/her/its diversity, and of the stocks really strong nevertheless.
For 3121 there is not a slap that annihilates you on your chair. There is a good disk on the other hand. An artist's good disk that in 2006 is even capable to write some pure songs perfectly in his/her/its time. We are not in the funk dated of the title musicology, or of life oh party that rested on an instrumental of james brown in live.
You wanted a Prince who plays with his/her/its time, that speaks to the young, that can pass in radio, and it without disowning itself/themselves, or to go indeed in the doubtful FM as in Rave un2... and well it is the case.
For me him ya as 2 faces have this disk. A modern, electro enough gone premère. One second more "live" in a more traditional register for prince. More coarsely: a face for the young, another for his/her/its faithful public...

in short the CD will be close to my descriptions, or not of the all can be... one will see that in one month. On the other hand. I persist, I insist and I sign with this stencil: listen to the for mercy's sake in true conditions. Behind his/her/its very "simple" apparance this disk has hidden treasures sometimes, surely. The job on the voices is once again as always remarkable at Prince. And it is obvious that one lives this disk differently, in mp3 rotted on surrounding walls of pc, that on a chains truly in Cd (or vinyl

For my part I am a lot happier has the end of this first monitoring, that after the first monitoring of Musicology. Even if I have a lot of affection for this album.

PurpleKnight said:

It's all good PurpleKnight. Sometimes it takes awhile for songs, especially Prince songs, to "Hit" us. Glad you love it! It really is a kickass song.

PurpleKnight said:

I am glad you like the song PurpleKnight. I didn't liked Fury after the first few listenings either but now the song had grew on me and I love it.

I adored Fury from the moment I heard it on SNL. But therein lies the reason for my adoration. That performance was stellar! Hard not to like it after that...

I am digging Fury. I did not care for it right away but seeing him perform it on The Brits, oh yea!

No shock P has done another Pop record...its what he does. He does a lot well but nobody writes a Pop song like Prince

Sometimes they are just bad like NPS & Rave, Sometimes hit or miss liek Controvery & Musicology, sometimes overblown and inflated like Emancipation and O+>, other times they are mediocre like Diamonds and Pearls or even Batman...sometimes they are brilliant like 1999 & Purple Rain

lets hope 3121 is brilliant...but Pop is Prince...its what he does

okay--with this, i'ma probably be the odd girl/fan out but i could care less. as always, i gotta be me:

this whole 3121-thing really hasn't impressed me or made me excited at all. why? well, lemme tell ya'll why. it's an amalgam of several things, really: the annoying house party reports, the equally annoying princebonics-laced noodlings from the club, just...it's just the entire package that's got me bugged. the entire i-was-there-and-you-weren't mentality that this project has been riding upon is what bugs me the most; i don't care about who was at your house last night, all's i wanna know is what you did in the studio the other day. that's one of the main pillars of my fandom, the whole musical aspect of it. the rest of it is pretty much fluff for me.

i'll readily admit that "bs" has a fun video to go along with the song, prince was pretty much saturday night live's lone saving grace a couple weeks ago, ol' boy's still around after all these years (that fact i always appreciate, regardless)...other than all that, none of this has really gotten me excited.

i'm not expecting or demanding things to happen with all this 3121 shit, but still...it ain't my bag overall.

From the descriptions I've read in French (there are others), this is not a "3 good songs and the rest average and even annoying" record.

They trip on the first and last tracks, pretty much everyone loves Fury, Black Sweat gets quite a bit of love (from previous reports), Te Amo Corazon is at least in good taste, BLB has its fans too, and these French reports point to a few other tracks that might be worthy.

This sounds pretty good as far as pre-release assessments go. I think fans are finally able to settle for some middle ground between Prince the seminal/revolutionary artist and Prince the Pop Star.

PurpleKnight said:

some of us are slower than others,

or maybe its just osmosis,

Anyway, I can't believe WDC didnt hit you like a ton of bricks!

gee the album ain't even out and already we are complaining.

IstenSzek said:

co-

babelfish is a wonderful thing.

THE 3121 REPORT: CD TOUR PART 1,2&3

EMAIL FROM NPGMC.


An international 3121 CD Tour has begun and we asked The NPG rep on the road 2 keep the Club in4med on how it's going. Check out their ongoing reports, more 2 come:



CD Tour, Part 1 - The Beginning

The story begins with a phone call:
"R u available 2 do some international listening sessions 4 the 3121 CD?" Wow, what an oppor2nity. Eye said yes right away, didn't need details. A few days later, a travel itinerary arrives: 3 continents, 6 countries and 20 listening sessions in 2 weeks. With Universal's help, all major media and music retailers in each region would get 2 hear the album b4 its release without being able 2 leak any priveleged in4mation. This project is completely under wraps: there's no tracklisting, no artwork, no background in4mation on any of the trax. The music will speak 4 itself.

This is huge.

----

B4 catching a flight 2 Sydney, Australia, eye'm handed a CD-R of 3121. After testing a few seconds of each track in my CD player, eye package the cd in a sturdy case and sandwich it between other CDs in my bag. 3121 will b at my side at all times 4 the next 2 weeks.

Eye meet the Universal representative who's traveling with me on this whirlwind tour, and off we go.




CD Tour, Part 2 - Sydney
We meet some local Universal reps in Sydney and r driven 2 the offices of Sanity, Australia's largest music retailer. We scope out the conference room, disconnect all the teleconferencing gear. Security is xtra tight: no phones, no portable electronics, nothing that could possibly record any audio. We air the videos 4 Black Sweat, Te Amo Corazon and play 3121 straight thru. Everyone in the office is amazed with the CD, from the young, fresh-out-of-school folx on up 2 the senior staffers. This CD is going 2 b bigger than big and they know it; u could c it on their faces.

Eye grab the CD and later that day we're shuttled 2 a swanky niteclub rented specifically 4 two more listening sessions. The media, some mobile media folx and others at Universal who will work on album promotion will attend. A decent JBL sound system pumps the ahdio and the vibe instantly trans4ms in2 one of those slammin' all-nite afterparties even tho it's early afternoon. Heads r bobbing, folx r dancing in their seats as they take notes.

The videos and the CD get massive rounds of applause -- bear in mind most of these r journalists who wouldn't b seen clapping at an event they're reporting on. We hear nothing but positive comments from everyone. As one journo put it, "this album is positively sexy." Some ask us when Prince will tour Australia, and many of them r still raving about the legendary aftershow per4mance at The Basement jazz club back in '03.

The buzz begins. Next stop, Tokyo.

--- 2 b continued ----

Anyway, this is the 3rd one from PP5:

A 12-hour flight later, we're in Tokyo. After a day's rest we head 2 Universal 4 a full day of listening sessions with journalists and some mobile and online reps. These folx r more businesslike than their counterparts in Sydney, and the sessions r held in a conference room. Unlike the standard conference room, this one has speakers that THUMP!
After each listening session, reporters ask questions. They're most interested in the meaning behind "3121." While neither eye nor my Universal touring partner speak Japanese, we can tell each time this question is asked, as our Japanese Universal rep is frequently saying "mysterioso" in the middle of his xplanations. We also catch many ?s about Maceo Parker and when Prince will next tour Japan.

The reporters were asked 2 fill out feedback 4ms and the responses were xciting: "best album in 15 years;" "this album is big like 1999." We saw lots of "thumbs up" signs and heard many a "very funky!" comment.

A radio show host from a station called J Wave is so psyched about 3121 that he asked the local Universal rep 2 go live on air at 1:30 am that same nite 2 discuss the album. We try 2 tune in but r so tired we're asleep b4 the show ends.

There's another long flight in store 4 the next day, destination: PARIS

althom said:

I'm cheering for my boy to win...But I could do without the propaganda machine working the Org...Shit like this shouldn't even be allowed to be posted...

homeandmantel said:

When I first heard When Doves Cry, I thought it sounded a little hollow.

It didn't take as long to grow on me as Fury, though. I heard When Doves Cry a third time and then worshipped it, and played it for pretty much the whole day.

dang I caint waits to hears this.

Both translations are a bit pathetic but I have no time to come up with a better one, sorry.

Just to tell you that Raphy is the most famous Prince fan here in France, and is also extremely reliable as regards facts (not necessarily tastes since, as he puts it himself somewhat ironically, "he likes everything' Prince does). Therefore I would take it for granted that this is the final track list (+ I know another person who attended this Universal listening session and confirms it)...except if Prince decides to change it again in the next 4 weeks (but I doubt it is still possible, since thousands of CDs are probably in the process of coming out of the factory...)

To sum up his view, this album is a "commercial" one in the sense that it is highly accessible. According to him it is, in that vein, better than Musicology. The obvious drawback is that unlike, say, TRC, it is not a concept album and will do little to justify Prince's "genius" label...

DrD said:

Good 1.....and i can CONFIRM that RAPHY is one of the Greatest serious and objective Prince Fan around the World!!.....La vérité si je mens...!

PurpleKnight said:

Don't worry about it, I'm still waiting for Housequake to 'get' me.

anyone have Raphy's review translated in English (that is readable)

Papaj has posted his impressions from the Berlin listening session over at housequake.com

Sorry if this has been posted already, but here's a review of the album in English!


Report: 3121 in Berlin
Hi folks! Sorry for making you wait for so long! I have not been able to sit with a computer and post my impressions after the listening session of 3121 immediately afterwards. Here I am! I will try to describe the event, which impacted me tremendously in as much detail as possible.

Above you can see the entrance to Kronzprinzenpalais located at Unter den Linded 3 in Berlin. I was astounded to see the huge banners at the façade of the building. As we entered the lobby we were greeted by Universal’s staff. Each of the people wore 3121 t-shirt. White was the theme for yesterday – walls were decorated with white tapestries, onto which the well-known 3121 logo was projected. There were 3121 flower pots with purple tulips and 3121 drinks (I was to excited to try them!). My style may not be as sophisticated as VB’s

Finally the door opened. Earlier we were asked to leave all our personal belongings in a cloak room. No recording devices were allowed to be brought in for the playback (no bootlegs thus far ). Kronzprinzenpalais’ Spiegelsaal was lavishly furnished with white couches, coffee tables and poof chairs. There were around 30 people present at the listening session I attended. I was anticipating what would come next and happy because the speakers looked and sounded (there was some lounge music on while the people were gathering) impressive.

No sooner had we started to get comfortable than the things turned even more exciting. One of the Universal’s execs made a speech in German (I do not speak German, unfortunately) and introduced to us Kathy from the NPG Records (I cannot recall her surname) and Mark (or maybe Michael from Universal Motown USA. That having been done, Kathy took a CD-R copy with 3121 scribbled on, slid it into elaborate CD player and the playback commenced. Before she pressed the “play” button I could see there were 12 tracks to be played as I was sitting right in front of the CD player’s display 

I will try to describe each of the songs as accurately as I can. Please not that I only were blessed to hear the album once and my description might not be totally accurate. It is going to be difficult because the album sounds unlike anything you have heard!!! I am positive about that point!

On a side note, we were given no tracklist, no titles, no promo stuff, nada! I will let you know why later. The titles I give you are the ones from CD-WOW, as I think they might be pretty close to the truth.

1. 3121 (running time: ?)

The opener of Prince’s newest album hits you really hard. It is a slow to mid tempo funk extravaganza. The drums are really hard, the bass is really prominent. It sounds really psychedelic, like something by Bill Laswell & Material. It has got a lot of rhythm guitar, absolutely crazy synths, and an electric guitar solo at the end. It is sung in a Camille voice, which actually gets even more distorted. It is highly experimental and will make your jaws drop I assure you. It does include the “thru the gates, leave your clothes on the floor etc.” lyrics. Funnily enough, it ended with the words “it is going down like the wall in Berlin”! I got goose bumps in a blink of an eye!

2. Lolita (4:04)

This is a “Lady Cab Driver” meets “I Wanna Be Your Lover” tune, very catchy and melody oriented. The drums remind me of “Lady Cab Driver” while the synth line sounded like the latter cut. Prince sings swaggeringly “Lolita, you may be sweet, but you’ll never make a cheat of me”. There is a synth solo, some spoken word in Spanish by a female I could not identify, Prince calls “fellas” and “girls” and asks them some question to which they respond in unison.

3. Te Amo Corazon (3:35)

Exactly the same as the one released by the NPGMC.

4. Black Sweat (3:10)

Exactly the same as the one released by the NPGMC.

5. I Don’t Wanna All Night (or I Don’t Want It All Night, could not tell) (4:03)

It begins with some keys (a Wurlitzer piano?). It is a duet with a female, Tamar presumably. The song is a ballad but very far from being schmaltzy and pretentious. There is some use of vocoder noticeable here. The song features a very nice breakdown part with drum ‘n’ bass like drumming, a little bit like the one from “The Sun, The Moon and Stars”. It ends with some beautiful vocal harmonies.

6. Love is 4ever (5:45)

An uptempo, crazy funk track with a pulverizing beat and synths on crack. Stripped down funk. Something in the vein of “Strange But True”. Prince sings “stop telling me what you want me to hear, stop giving me your wish list”. It has plenty of handclapping, fantastic rhythm guitar, Camille vocals. It sounds very complex and experimental because of the crazy drum patterns and prominent synths. Real chicken grease!

7. Satisfied (2:50)

The studio version of the song is much better than the live excerpt we were able to hear. It is a stripped down blues with beautiful passionate vocals sung in different registers. It reminds me of Ray Charles’ songs but has this Prince feel at the same time. A very heartfelt and emotional excursion in blues.

8. Fury (4:00)

This is a classic rock song with unbelievably catchy melody. It sounds just like the SNL version, although obviously it the vibe is different. No cowbells on this one! The songs is driven by synths and some heavy guitar. You can count on some fierce solos with this one!

9. Let’s Do Something (4:10)

This is a mid-tempo jam, a little bit reminiscent of “Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do”. It has some acoustic guitar and saxophone parts. “Get up, come on, let’s do something”… It seems like the weakest track on the album at first only to turn into a marvelously complex composition with a heavy guitar solo and… a congas solo. Sheila E., anyone?



10. Beautiful, Loved & Blessed (5:43)

Exactly the same as the one released by the NPGMC.

11. The Dance (5:13)

Get ready for the biggest surprise of your Prince geekhood. The Dance is the same song as the one from “The Chocolate Invasion” but… the arrangement is completely different and will make you say “OMG!!!!”! This is tango!!! It is full of real strings, piano soloing (yes!!!), Latin percussion (congas). The vocals are some much different on this version – at the very end Prince starts screaming just like he did on “The Beautiful Ones”. It is easily the best ballad he has released in a long time!!! There is a guitar and synth solo at the end, handclaps and the screams!!!

12. The Boat (6:17)

Classic funk in the vein of James Brown but nothing like “The Work Pt. 1”. It is very catchy, full of soloing and blazing horns, acoustic guitar and prominent bass licks. Again we have some vocals by a female (Tamar?). “Get on the boat people, we’ve got room for a hundred or more”. There is Maceo Parker on this track (Prince calls his name) and someone who is really good a Latin drumming (Sheila E.?). It has got a very live feel with James Brown like chants and lots of solos either on sax or percussion.

Once the listening session concluded the Spiegelsaal became filled with handclaps of the people who were privileged to listen to the album. I had the pleasure to talk to Kathy who was very kind and this is what she told me:

- there was no official tracklist as of tomorrow
- Prince was supposed to hand in to Universal the artwork of the album with full credits and lyrics today (02/17/06)
- there was supposed to a full page ad in today’s USA Today with the cover of the album
- tour is planned for spring/summer

My final thoughts on the album:

This is one of the best albums from Prince, take my word for it!!! It is raw, funk oriented, with unbelievable drums, bass, synths, guitars, vocals, melodies… It is nothing like “Musicology”. I thought “Musicology” was decent albeit too calm; this one will blow your mind with its originality and power. I did not expect it be that good, honestly. The journalists that were not Prince freaks said it was “awesome”. You can dance to it, you can think to it… It is stunning!!!

Does anybody know if there's going to be a "3121 listening sessions" in Spain?

Thanx in advance

nice to hear you find the album great (although your view is somewhat at odds with Raphy's, yet he is a Prince freak, would be able to tell you NewPowerSoul was the best album of the late 1990s...). Hope I will have the same view, crossing my fingers!!!

This is the most excited I have been about a release since TGE

CAMILLE IS BACK, I am sold RIGHT THERE!!!!!