After digesting the CD, it is better than I originally gave it credit for. Songs like Love, The Word, The Dance and Lolita have really grown on me and this is probably one of the few Prince CD's where I genuinely like all of the songs. With that said, I'm not convinced that this release is "historic" as advertised and still does not compare to the "classics," but it is certainly a great CD and more fulfilling than Musicology or Rave. I am one of those fans who appreciates his more daring projects, so if I had a criticism it would be that it is a little too commercial for my taste and it still feels like a collection of songs the same way Musicology did. The songs don't have to tell a story, but projects like Dirty Mind, Sign O the Times and Around the World In A Day all had a feel to them and this one does not.

Just my opinion, but all this comparison with the "classics" seems pointless to me. Many people consider "Parade" to be a classic NOW but when it was first released it was called a lot of things, including a 'mixed-bag'. It's had 20 years for people to develop long term feelings for it and for it to find it's place in Prince's canon. For fans who hopped on board in the last few years, Musicology might be the best thing they've ever heard and, one day, become a "classic" for them.

Plus, we won't even all agree what his classics might be... In the scheme of things I think Dirty Mind is a so-so album and TRC is a lyrical crapfest. I think 1999 is worlds better than PR. I think is just as much a classic as SOTT, Come is just as worthy of devotion as ATWIAD, and TGE is worlds better than the majority of his 80's releases.

As far as having a 'feel' to them. I think 3121 does. Each track might be of a different style but, as a whole, they seem to fit well together. I think "Beautiful, Loved & Blessed" might be the only offender here.