Unfortunately for you Prince, 3121 is already downloadable from the net. But you probably already heard. You don't have to worry about me Prince, I'll buy it anyway. I just might do it twice, because you outdid yourself again. 2006 won't bring a better album, I'm sure. You can discuss taste, but not quality.

In my opinion it's a male album. I'm sure there are a lot of girls who're going to like it, but there aren't any real 'ballads-that-make-girls-scream' on it (like Adore or Howcome You don't Call). A lot of very rhythmic funk though, which made it the best Prince album ever for me. But in all honesty, I say that with every new Prince album when it comes out. If I hear new funk, I'm gone

I'll give you my review in a short version and a long version.

Short version: 3121 = Musicology 2

Long version:

First impressions; it's his most commercial album ever. Not every song is fit to be a single, but if you want to give it to a friend of yours, you won't have to worry they'll find it 'weird'. There are also a lot of twists. Just when you think you made up your mind about a song, he does something unexpected. Love that. I have three favorite songs, but that's because this album is pretty diverse and I've only listened to it twice.

1. 3121 - (9/10) A Prince fam will appreciate Prince chose this as the opening track on the album because it's classic Prince with a modern twist. In contrast to the second song which is produced and mixed 'neatly and slick', this one is 'messy and dirty', if you know what I mean. Fat base, groovy beat, distorted guitar solo, funny Prince voices.

2. Lolita - (10/10) Favorite song! Fit for a single. Poppy funky rhythmic track. I love the bridge, which he does twice and the chords in there are so cool, you fear it will go away too soon so you'll have to rewind, but both are a whole 8 bars long. Love it! The strings are playful and rich as well as his (own) voice layering.

3. Te Amo Corazón - (6/10) Same as single version. For me the weakest track on the album, not my style. Too 'sweet'.

4. Black Sweat - (10/10) Favorite song! What more is there to say about his one. You've heard it. If you don't like it, you don't like funk and you won't like this album. To me, this song defines Prince. If people ask me why I like Prince, I'll say 'Listen to Black Sweat'. Everything in there I love, the beat, the voices, every note, every twist. 'Nuff said.

5. Incense and Candles - (8/10) I think I hear Tamar on this as well. It's a ballad with a fast paced rumba-like rhythm. Intro: cool, 1st verse: a little boring, first twist: cool, second twist: Prince rap: very cool, rest of the song: little bit boring.

6. Love - (10/10) Favorite song! Oh my GOD! This'll trigger the funky face! It's got kind of a techno dance beat with a dirty bass tone below it. Strings and funky guitar are added later which only enrich the experience. I hear a female voice which I think is Tamar's. Prince raps again. I don't like the chorus very much, but the upside is that after that, the verses explode! The outro has more rhythmic surprises. Man I want to hear this song in the club! But because the chorus has too much melody in it, you probably won't hear it there...

7. Satisfied - (8/10) Almost the same as the NAACP live version. But it's too short. It's very groovy and you want to float away on it, but after 2 minutes and 50 seconds it's suddenly over. Love the fat bass under it which I didn't notice in the live version.

8. Fury - (7/10) Sounds like one of the guitar pop/rock tracks from Musicology. I like it, but it won't excite me, although I'm sure a lot of Prince fams will like it. I don't think the public will. It's too simple.

9. The Word - (8/10) The intro and the outra are the best parts of the song. It starts with a simple groovy beat and an acoustic guitar, which loses power when the strings come in. Later in the song you'll hear some new chords, which will wake you up again. The outro is Pharrell style. Prince showing off his beatmaking skills (because there's no voice or solo on it).

10. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed - (8/10) Outro is the best part in my opinion. The song is the same as the single version, except for the outro which (for trained ears) is a little bit different and might be two bars longer. I like Tamar's voice but the song doesn't do much for me until the funky outro begins.

11. The Dance - (8/10) Weirdest song on the album. It's a ballad which sounds a little unsettling. It's not depressing but it certainly isn't uplifting. I'm sure it has 'sensitive' lyrics, but I was too busy listening to the music. Further in the song, the beat gets cha-cha-cha like, which I don't care for but keeps the song fresh. In the end Prince starts 'venting' and screaming which gives power to his voice, but then it's suddenly over and we're partying again..

12. Get On The Boat - (8/10) This song is just a little bit too 'white'. It's more jazzy than bluesy, although it's funky. It's got horns on it which sound great but somehow don't come off very 'lively'. I'm sure this song is a lot better when played live. I like the percussion break which is probably Sheila and later we get a Maceo solo (of which I never get tired). After that there's another Sheila percussion part, than we get a piano solo, Renato style (not sure it's him), a trumpet solo, another Maceo solo (which is even better than the first one). It ends with a new beat and suddenly the album is over.

This album is definitely not meant as a musical 'story'. The songs are very different from each other and the order they are in, sometimes comes off as random. But almost all the songs are from exceptional quality and I can't wait to hear them live!

(When reviewing this album I haven't listened to the lyrics at all. If you find those important, my review wasn't very helpful to you and I'm sorry for that.)

What's opposite of unlock?

Look before you leap: http://www.prince.org/msg/7/180033