Well with each new Prince album that kind of talk has begun. I already have heard that 3121 is his best since "LoveSexy", but its just more of the same talk. Everyone keeps looking back for Prince to create a Vibe like before and it ain't gonna happen, there is a big difference between a 47 year old man and 30 year old man. I mean its just not going to feel the same now because the world has changed, he has changed, and I hope we have changed or else we seriously need some help. So with that known lets get all of that "His best since" out of the way, and of course Lets please not get all hyped about numbers and soundscan, who cares where the album lands. Universal is pushing it big, so with the "slowness" of new music right now, Prince should debut high and then fall down the charts, like everyone else with a loyal following does. I dont see this album having a Big single, Because of the fact that Prince is 47 and thats not "cool" for a radio playlist. But i think on the strength of his appearances, media, and touring (like it should be done), the album will have a good run up and down, but if it doesnt who cares, as long as you like the music.

lastdecember said:

You make some valid points in the rest of your post.

On the other hand, age has little to do with being "cool" or having a hit these days.
Easy Listening 70s fossil Leo Sayer is currently number one after a 27 year absence from the UK charts, knocking off Notorious B.I.G's "Nasty Girl" from the top spot in the process.

The guy is 57.

.

giotto said:[quote]

lastdecember said:

that's not important to me, or in honesty to 80% of his 'fans' who
hung on for the ride this far.

the only thing i want is an album as diverse and consistently good
as Sign O The Times. no, not a second Sign o The Times, but a cd
I can enjoy as much and as timelessly long as that one.

the songs i've heard this far remind me more of TheGoldExperience
than anything else. let's hope it comes close to that and i will
be happy.


[Edited 2/18/06 9:42am]

lastdecember said:

Well said. I feel a main poisonous aspect of Consumerism is the attempt to hold onto something that we know in the back of our heads, but for some reason don't want to face, can't be held onto. In our case, namely the 20-something Prince most of us fell in love with "back in the day."

giotto said:

yes.. but it was remixed. so was the baywatch theme. whats ur point!?

lastdecember said:

Don't overestimate Rock&Roll. It is about 'the best he has done since' and nothing less. History has proven that over and over again. When a band or performer has already been at the top, the main way people critique is how good it stands to other works.

And cut it out with the 47 YO crap. Its absolute nonsense. There are songs that go beyond rap and bubble-gum pop and those that penetrate the charts usually stay for awhile. How old was David Bowie when "Lets Dance" came out. How good did his album do? I'm sure there are many other examples and I hope you get the point.
[Edited 2/18/06 10:10am]

wheres the good new days of just STICKY threads

Rockability said:

You're right. Its just that the average age of the rock star has been around age 24 - give or take - for quite some time. There have been many instances where important artits, like Sun Ra for example, have remained innovative and cutting edge right up to age 80.

skywalker said:

Yeah. Unfortunately, I'm seeing the exact same thing happen with 3121 that happened with Musicology.

Remember when the album first came out and most people (myself included) were talking about how it's the best album he's put out since Lovesexy, or the best album since The Gold Experience?

The truly great Prince albums are usually growers, so I just hope 3121 doesn't get released to a bunch of Org scores of 9/10 only to never get listened to much months later.

PurpleHouse said:

Remix or no remix the point is you can be as old as the hills, or dead for that matter, and still have a hit.



.



.

i have the funny feeling this is gonna be the gold xperience II.

great for fans who xpect EVERYBODY is gonna freak out by listening to it but in reality is gonna do worse than musicology or batman

seekay said:

I heard the album in Berlin. It has got very little in common with The Gold Experience, rather 1999 if anything. Yes, the album is stellar. You will see for yourself. Mark my words

Papaj said:

i wasnt talking about the music...

Papaj said:

Papaj....are the tracks more jam oriented or "pop" ? To me thats the difference between 1999 and Gold. I'd rather all over 5 minute tracks rather than 3-4 minutes.

Blah, blah, blah.... I'll be posting my thoughts when I actually hear the album.

it is his best since musicology

skywalker said:

good posts both of you although I think you both mistake the excitiment for wanting to see Prince do well on the charts with people being happy with the albumn as a whole. I saw somone post today that if 3121 was as good as the Gold Experience they would be happy. I want it to be better than the Gold Exp, better than Musicology, NPS, Rave, D&Ps, Come, Batman, and O+>.

People say Lovesexy because in most peoples mind that was the last great one. Thats when Prince was Prince. Think about it...that albumn wasn't a hit on the charts yet it is loved and admired greatly because despite not charting well its an amazing electric, spiritual, sexy journey.

Nope its about the music man...I don't need it to sound like anything else I just need it to be good. Maxwell, D'angelo, Incubus, Pharell, Eryka Badu, Rapheal Sadiq, Bilal all doing his music biting his style Just want to see him take his place back and he can do that by releasing a complete albumn regardless of what happens on the charts
[Edited 2/20/06 20:20pm]

I hear it is his best album since New powersoul!!

PurpleKnight said:

Sorry, I'm in stil squarely in the camp the Musicology was his best since TGE (and better than Lovesexy, or TRC for that matter). It was about SONGS. Good old fashioned, well-thought-out, content-over-texture songs. Whatever with Sun Ra. Prince is a pop artist, his real strength is pop songs, and Musicology delivered those. If 3121 is as good, I'll be happy.
[Edited 2/20/06 20:59pm]

NoTime2Hate said:

Prince isn't the average rock star, we can agree on that I think. He has become an Americon icon and we really shouldn't worry about how well he charts. We just hope for some quality. I personally hope not for a Lovesexy sound(3121 already has a couple songs that outlast anything Lovesexy), but ATWIAD or Parade style where there is some experimenting and some catchy works.

To ask for Purple Rain is silly. That album was Prince's sell out album. Although it was a great work, he can pull that music off in his sleep and it would probably do well until people got sick he always sounded the same.
[Edited 2/20/06 21:15pm]

IstenSzek said:[quote]

giotto said:

You SO missed the point. Consider this idea: If playing the comparison game doesn't help a relationship satisfying, then do you think it will work to make your music listening experience satisfying? Furthermore, wouldn't you rather be around to see the evolution of an artist, instead of the constant recycling of ideas and musical sounds? Haven't we been there with Michael Jackson? Look at what happens whenever he is in concert. There may be a new move now and then, but for the most part, all MJ does is the same set of 6 or 7 moves, and he does it ALL THROUGHOUT THE CONCERT. This bores me TO TEARS!

People say Lovesexy because in most peoples mind that was the last great one. Thats when Prince was Prince. Think about it...that albumn wasn't a hit on the charts yet it is loved and admired greatly because despite not charting well its an amazing electric, spiritual, sexy journey.

But remember, even at the height of this album, the Prince who created Lovesexy (which is my 2nd favorite album, don't get me wrong) was not anything like the man that he is. Would we honestly still have him in that state of mind, making 3121?

No one can really say what will or won't be popular... the public is a fickle beast but people who use his age as an excuse as to why he can't make a great album are deluding themselves.

We shouldn't expect Parade version 2 but there's certainly no age related reason why he couldn't pull another work of genius out of his a*s.

The same Joni Mitchell that released The Hissing Of Summer Lawns in 1975 was still going strong in 1994 when she dropped Turbulent Indigo on the public and got a Grammy (Pop Album Of The Year) for her efforts.

origmnd said:

Something in between... The longest track is The Boat (6:17), while Satisfied is the shortest (2:50). I think the album is perfectly balanced between well-crafted pop songwriting and experimental production / jamming. There is no gargantuan (in terms of length) stuff like Automatic but the songs pack a whole lot of incredible musical ideas.

giotto said:

Yeah...but that Sayer track is a remix isn't it? Not to mention that the UK is known for having some odd entries on their charts ("Crazy Frog" ringtone anyone?)

NouveauDance said:

Bravo....

I agree with a lot of what's written on here, it pisses me right off that every album is hyped to be his best since sign o the times. In reality its lazy journalism trying to relate to the casual / passing fans that dont want to hear he's done anything in the years between.

At the end of the day most music journo's are usually big fans of prince and will write anything to get new fans on his side, even if it means disregarding almost 20 years of output.

As for radio dont care for 47 year olds, i agree its totally ageist, but Madonna's been number one in countless countries across the world and shes the same age. Madonna manipulates the media in many ways, and Prince simply couldnt do the relentless media wagon thing that she does, but in fairness to her also, she's always open to whats happening in music, prince is only ever open to what he wants to do (as he's always been), and thats the problem.

Prince generally speaking fits into no box. Its hard for radio stations to find a space for him because the only people he generally appeals to are Prince fans. This isnt a criticism, i love prince because he's so single minded and arrogant about his music, and id love nothing more than to see him have a hit again, but i kind of figure it'll never happen, because he isnt willing to compromise himself enough.
[Edited 2/21/06 3:00am]

Papaj said:

For commercial appeal I gather...thanks