Fuck that, I want an album that makes Purple Rain look like shit. Goddamn, don't we all deserve that!! Prince has the skills, but not the heart. What the fuck does this guy think about when he is in the studio? Grrrr.

I agree folks that have praised 3121 as an album that ranks amongst his best are riding the "hype wagon" as you say and may be in need of some clinical help (LOL)...But I also believe that saying 3121 is a good album (I myself give it a 3.5 out of 5 or a B+) does not mean you are not giving an "honest" review

It's interesting to me that within all these reviews being posted on the Org no one wants to come to the obvious conclusion that maybe, just maybe, some of the dissapointment over this album may have more to do with hearing 3 tracks off an already short project (by Prince's standards) early on before the release of 3121; Add the fact that diehard Prince fans who wanted to hear some screaming guitar were spoiled with a rocking performance of "Fury." To me, this has a lot to do with the "I expected more" statements...If you take the album as is, there's no way you can say it's worst than Musicology and Rainbow Children...Just my opinion...

Previous thread had to be closed due to an all-out über flame war that was all kindsa wrong. This kind of behaviour is not tolerated.

Discussing your thoughts and impressions on music is fine - telling people to 'f*ck off' and getting angry because they don't 'get it' is both immature and is gonna win you no friends fast. So, if you wanna be Johnny No-Mates, go ahead, but be under no illusions - you will get modded.

If anybody would like their reviews retrieved from the bowels of the previous thread, just org note me and I'll gladly sort that out for you.

"Musical excellence, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder".
~ Prince (1994)

It is truly sad when opinions become more energy than they deserve to be conceptualized; however, on the point, please read the following:

Pertaining to 3121 via Prince Rogers Nelson, no matter what type of song he does, he always puts his music out into the world with his heart on a plate. Respectfully speaking, people need to truly touch an instrument and know that it is not just the instrument playing (even being recorded) that really makes that song come through in the music but that the energy the person is feeling deep down into their bones and spirit that allows us to contemplate and arise out of a slumber of daily life to feel something good or bad about it that awakens our senses even for a split second to realise that potentially for that fracture and fragment within that moment there is a shot of energy running through your veins and mind to your spirit to make that opinion good or bad. With that being said, Prince Rogers Nelson has within this cd compiled songs that are being shared to simply "awaken your senses" out of what might be a better day for you to simply enjoy what he is sharing. I wish the best for 3121 and all of the musical companions he shares this venture with (including whom may be reading this now)... aka all of you.

Take care just somebody sharing."promisekept"
Remember, musical taste is relative - 'Free yo mind, and yo ass will follow'


© NPG/Universal Records 2006

Just for the record, while we're on the subject, we're watching... CLOSELY.

Ignoring the site rules, and/or any public requests for, or posting of any leaked, illegal files will be dealt with seriously.

If we see anybody posting links to illegal copies of 3121, or posting requests for this album (however sly!) they WILL receive a temp ban.

So please, we're asking nicely, don't. This is for 3121-related discussion only.

We strongly suggest anyone contemplating any of the above to think very carefully indeed before you post.

Think of it as the Org's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy! We really can't make this any clearer, so please - be aware, and be forewarned.
- BananaCologne.

MendesCity said:

What's interesting (kinda lol) is that the overwhelming majority of people either really love practically all the songs on the CD, or hate pretty much every song on the CD...and the ones who love the CD and play it for their friends always report back that their friends dig it, too..and the ones who hate the CD and play it for their friends always report back that their friends hate it, too...

I'm waiting for the one Orger who hates the CD yet reports back that they played it for their friend and they all loved it...lol (or vise versa)

Byron said:

Prince is an artist that unfamiliar listeners do not love out of the box. Especially his best stuff. His songs seem strange at first listen compared to all the other pablum that people are used to listening to. The brilliance of Prince requires a committment of repeated listens and always has.

I can remember seeing Purple Rain for the first time and hating the music so much I almost walked out. My senses were just assaulted with something very different and the original response was negative.

Not that we need one, but here's my review all the same:

3121 - Feels more like a groove, an intro, than a full-fledged song. Has a little head-bobbing effect and a bit of idiosyncracy about it (quirky guitar, voices), which sets it apart from some of the other tracks. Had potential for being something a little better, but all in all it's alright. Could've done without those synth horns. Doesn't quite satisfy.

Lolita - Goes straight in with a keyboard riff that reminds me of 'IWBYL', but the actual keyboard sound could've been better. It's straight up fun pop, kinda catchy but ultimately not my thing. A little too fluffy and Emancipation-eque. Wouldn't have made my 1 disc CDR of that 3 disc album.

Te Amo Corazon - Sweet track, beautiful production and instrumentation, but doesn't conjure up any more exciting adjectives than 'nice' or 'pleasant'. I wouldn't skip it, I'd enjoy it, but it could pass me right by if I weren't sitting there specifically to listen to it.

Black Sweat - Sparse, electronic funk track that is too short and for me never really hits stride. Another that doesn't quite satisfy. Some funky rhythm guitar would've improved it in IMHO, but even with that addition wouldn't feel like a good song.

Incense and Candles - Sexy, without a doubt, with some nice touches, but again just not that good a song. Production is good, some nice sounds and a smoothness to it that in this case I don't think detracts, but in conclusion only an average track.

Love - A kinda funky track which combines electronic elements with some nice rhythm guitar licks. The hook is nice, but the verses are pretty poor. The ending is where the track gets funkiest the more the guitar is prominent.

Satisfied - As many have said, very similar to 'On The Couch' but lacking something interesting like the vocal horns on the aforementioned track. Nice instrumentation, pleasing loose feel to the structure and playing, but passes by without really registering. Pleasant enough, but hardly taxing for ol' boy. He could write 3 of these a day and I'm beginning to think perhaps he does.

Fury - As suspected, and often feared, disappoints compared to the SNL performance. Sounds pretty soft, keyboards too prominent, guitar not prominent enough, vocals just so-so and a little quiet in the mix. Even the scream towards the end has a perfunctory feel about it. A cool song that I do quite like, but having seen the SNL performance it's hard not to feel a little disappointed. Knew it was coming though, unfortunately.

The Word - Acoustic guitar is a nice touch and there's quite a nice feel about this track. Lyrics aren't the best, but it's not a big issue. An enjoyable track without being that catchy or interesting. The usual nice touches here and there, some cool guitar work and a good vibe about it, but certainly not a great song.

Beautiful, Loved and Blessed - A decent pop Rnb track, some nice vocals from both Tamar and Prince. Good structure and quite catchy and a funky coda at the conclusion. All in all quite a well put together track with decent instrumentation. Quite good, will probably work well on Tamar's album. Doesn't break any molds but is a pleasant listen.

The Dance - Greatly improves on the other version. Has a nice mood about it and some subtly emotive singing. Piano work is good and fits well. I think this is one of the stronger tracks on the album. It feels more fully thought out. Again, it doesn't really jump out at you but there is some beauty in the subtlety. Ends with passionate pleading, emotion that is very welcome and sadly missing from much of the rest of the album.

Get On The Boat - Fun and funky with some nice solos in there. A very weak hook though, and verses almost identical in rhythmic delivery to 'Pretty Man'. The backbone to the song is chugging and funky though and the overall effect is a nice groove. Could've been a little grittier, but the playing is pretty tight. Not bad.


So, hardly the most positive review on here. In fact, I've not been exclusively positive about a single track on the album. The problem for me is that while it's quite consistent and I wouldn't have a problem with putting the disc in and letting it play all the way through, there's nothing really great on here. A few nice tracks, some cool music, a handful of good ideas, some wasted opportunities, some pretty weak songwriting, some questionable choices of instrumentation and production, and an overall pleasantness that ends up disappointing more than enthusing due to the man's obvious talent and our expectations of what should be capable of.

2.5/3 out of 5.

Not that we need one, but here's my review all the same:

3121 - Feels more like a groove, an intro, than a full-fledged song. Has a little head-bobbing effect and a bit of idiosyncracy about it (quirky guitar, voices), which sets it apart from some of the other tracks. Had potential for being something a little better, but all in all it's alright. Could've done without those synth horns. Doesn't quite satisfy.

Lolita - Goes straight in with a keyboard riff that reminds me of 'IWBYL', but the actual keyboard sound could've been better. It's straight up fun pop, kinda catchy but ultimately not my thing. A little too fluffy and Emancipation-eque. Wouldn't have made my 1 disc CDR of that 3 disc album.

Te Amo Corazon - Sweet track, beautiful production and instrumentation, but doesn't conjure up any more exciting adjectives than 'nice' or 'pleasant'. I wouldn't skip it, I'd enjoy it, but it could pass me right by if I weren't sitting there specifically to listen to it.

Black Sweat - Sparse, electronic funk track that is too short and for me never really hits stride. Another that doesn't quite satisfy. Some funky rhythm guitar would've improved it in IMHO, but even with that addition wouldn't feel like a good song.

Incense and Candles - Sexy, without a doubt, with some nice touches, but again just not that good a song. Production is good, some nice sounds and a smoothness to it that in this case I don't think detracts, but in conclusion only an average track.

Love - A kinda funky track which combines electronic elements with some nice rhythm guitar licks. The hook is nice, but the verses are pretty poor. The ending is where the track gets funkiest the more the guitar is prominent.

Satisfied - As many have said, very similar to 'On The Couch' but lacking something interesting like the vocal horns on the aforementioned track. Nice instrumentation, pleasing loose feel to the structure and playing, but passes by without really registering. Pleasant enough, but hardly taxing for ol' boy. He could write 3 of these a day and I'm beginning to think perhaps he does.

Fury - As suspected, and often feared, disappoints compared to the SNL performance. Sounds pretty soft, keyboards too prominent, guitar not prominent enough, vocals just so-so and a little quiet in the mix. Even the scream towards the end has a perfunctory feel about it. A cool song that I do quite like, but having seen the SNL performance it's hard not to feel a little disappointed. Knew it was coming though, unfortunately.

The Word - Acoustic guitar is a nice touch and there's quite a nice feel about this track. Lyrics aren't the best, but it's not a big issue. An enjoyable track without being that catchy or interesting. The usual nice touches here and there, some cool guitar work and a good vibe about it, but certainly not a great song.

Beautiful, Loved and Blessed - A decent pop Rnb track, some nice vocals from both Tamar and Prince. Good structure and quite catchy and a funky coda at the conclusion. All in all quite a well put together track with decent instrumentation. Quite good, will probably work well on Tamar's album. Doesn't break any molds but is a pleasant listen.

The Dance - Greatly improves on the other version. Has a nice mood about it and some subtly emotive singing. Piano work is good and fits well. I think this is one of the stronger tracks on the album. It feels more fully thought out. Again, it doesn't really jump out at you but there is some beauty in the subtlety. Ends with passionate pleading, emotion that is very welcome and sadly missing from much of the rest of the album.

Get On The Boat - Fun and funky with some nice solos in there. A very weak hook though, and verses almost identical in rhythmic delivery to 'Pretty Man'. The backbone to the song is chugging and funky though and the overall effect is a nice groove. Could've been a little grittier, but the playing is pretty tight. Not bad.


So, hardly the most positive review on here. In fact, I've not been exclusively positive about a single track on the album. The problem for me is that while it's quite consistent and I wouldn't have a problem with putting the disc in and letting it play all the way through, there's nothing really great on here. A few nice tracks, some cool music, a handful of good ideas, some wasted opportunities, some pretty weak songwriting, some questionable choices of instrumentation and production, and an overall pleasantness that ends up disappointing more than enthusing due to the man's obvious talent and our expectations of what should be capable of.

2.5/3 out of 5.

The Word is deceptive. Starts off with such a dull beat, but then the acoustic guitar hits in, and the song begins proper. This is a highlight of the album without question. Very cool delivery from the man, and it grooves along nicely.

...its certainly his most focused effort at a pop album since the Gold Experience.

Simple Question. For those of us who are gonna wait and go by a copy from the wrecka stow when it comes out does anyone know how much its supposed to be?

Love2tha9s said:

Normally about 9.99 to 11.99 the 1st day at best buy.

My main hope is that he explores the songs more in concert. Musicology was ignored on his last tour,

The review is very positive, at least about the first 8 tracks.... the rest of the album is according to the review "a hail of dribbly mid-tempo R&B and central-casting James Brown pastiches, and the lyrics take a sudden detour to Kingdom Hall". ehm..... OK?

PurpleKnight said:

I don't recall them off hand, but I thought the religious message was pretty obvious. Maybe they can be applied to any religion, though the "Let's get saved," part is certainly more central to some religions than others, but knowing Prince is a JW, I don't think it's a stretch to say he takes you to the Kingdom Hall at the end of the record. I'd wager if you asked him the meaning of those songs he wouldn't say "All religions and understanding are one."

Wall said:

The lyrics are direct in their spirituality, but there's nothing in them that's direct JW dogma.

No talk of any theocratic order, Armageddon, etc.

And come on, all religions believe that finding God means being saved.