I´m A Prince-Fan(m) Since 1986, and 4 me 3121 is 1 of his best Records since "Sign "O" The Times", what do U think about?
Louie

princetheone said:

That's good news! Glad you enjoyed it.

i don't think it's a masterpiece, but i think it's a fun record with strong songs. i don't think he really stretches any muscles on 3121. a lot of it is so derivative. but it's derivative in a really enjoyable way, so i'm not complaining. but a masterpiece? hmmmm, no.

Masterpiece?

Well definitely better then Musicology and Rave...

It is to much of a repeat of things to make it a masterpiece...(get on the boat, satisfied)..and it has some fillers...(the word, black sweat, beautifull and blessed)...but some great new songs as well: 3121, love, fury and incense and candles all will be my favorite tunes for the coming time...

so i considerate it one of his OK albums i guess. Not that i stick to much in the past..i mean i would consider ONA live masterpieces...more then this one...

Anx said:

it's better than Musicology but a far cry from the artistic statements
made on albums like "The Rainbow Children", which ís the best album in
about all the time from lovesexy up to now.

A classic... JUST!

I am all confused...to me 3121 is just plain lame. Really truly super weak album. I don't get it, I have been a fan for YEARS...was in the audience of the Sign'Othe times at the Zenith in Paris...And this album is just yuk.

A mix of video game rythmics, Cher'ized vocals, cheap lyrics, predictable grooves, annoying keybords and samplers...

3121 better than musicology?/?/?/?/?

Show me which tune is better than Dr Mr Man or Call my name, ICPC or Marrying kind, etc etc

U guys done lost yalls minds!

It is in my view an amazing record, certainly over time could prove to be in my top3 best of all time. I think the title track is on the money, such an effortless classic. The dance is exceptional aswell, and i have a feeling once i see him perform the trax live it will cement my posative views on th album even more. U get the feeling from this album that Prince aimed to please the fans and he certainly has this one.

hi Sillyme...

u say what is better then: "call my name" on 3121...

u are right..nothing...call my name ..IS..on of my favorite Prince tunes ever..BUT...

Musicology has several up tempo song which are amazingly weak (musicology for instance...)...at 3121 the uptempo songs are making this a better album...

Far, so far from a masterpiece. Better than anything he's done in a bunch of years, but still kind of a snoozer.

He's lucky he had so many hits in the past, otherwise he'd never get signed to a major label with this shit.

prince already made his masterpieces...how many masterpieces can one person have in 'em for one lifetime, anyway? his genius lies in live performance these days - i think his studio work from here on out is just some nice rich gravy on a really good feast.

Masterpiece? What is the meaning of this generic throw about term? What's the definition? Examining the term shows that some people do some things, like paint or make music, and at a place they are judged to become a master. This is however often a retrospective point. For example: take your favorte dead painter. Only in experiencing a the body of the life's work can one come to the conclusion of where that point truly exists. Nonetheless, it is also a term used in a present day context. However, I don't really believe that it is a term that can be used in oppion based discussion.

I don´t know whether it´s a masterpiece or not but I really enjoy 3121 very,very much. It´s a fantastic, energetic album.And I seriously can´t understand how people can dislike songs like Incense And Candles or Black Sweat or Beautiful, Loved And Blessed or the title song...all extremely tight songs, in my opinion....right up there with some of his old songs. Based purely on a " how many good songs versus weaker songs" ratio, I´d rate this album as an album I´ll enjoy for quite some time.

Here's how I've resolved to look at it with regards to the "masterpiece" question.
I absolutely defy anyone to list anything that he has put out since The Gold Experience that is on equal par with 3121.

I know that most folks here at the org (myself included) hold TGE in very high regard. I dare say that the quality of the output on these two discs run neck & neck so if one holds the opinion that TGE was the only post SOTT "masterpiece", then they'd certainly have put 3121 on the same echelon. It's that darn good. I was never one of those that was in any measurable amount dissatisfied with Musicology, but that being said, 3121 is truly leaps and bounds better.
[Edited 3/19/06 18:14pm]

I definitely wouldn't say it's a masterpiece. It's a good Prince rekkid... nothing more... nothing less. Personally, I think Musicology was better

I really dig this album. Every second keeps me listening. Masterpiece? Who knows? It's better than I'd thought he'd give us, though.

i think its better than most of the 90's stuff (excluding gold experience and come) and all of the recent stuff (except rainbow children). but a masterpiece? i consider sott and lovesexy to be masterpieces. parade is a masterpiece. 1999 and dirty mind are masterpieces. 3121 is good music but, in my opinion, it's not standing next to any of those records.

Anx said:

Correct-a-mundo!

"Rave un2 the Joy Fantastic" was THE END of the line for me in terms of expectations.

The post-Warner Bros. releases for me were a relative DOWNWARD SPIRAL culminating in "Rave".

Since "Rave", I actually have more a feeling of apprehension than enthusiasm for a new Prince release. I think ANY good tracks, or albums @ this point are just bonus, or icing on the cake.

New releases are frustrating BEFORE they're even released too, because I know I'm going to hear a former hero struggle when he has some real timeless & superior treasure rotting in his vaults.

Some very strong cuts on 3121...not quite a masterpiece such as Dirty Mind, 1999, Purple Rain, SOTT, TGE & TRC.

Lolita, Black Sweat, Incense & Candles, Love, Fury, The Word are ALL very good songs.

The slow jams are going to take a while for me to get used to...probably
because I have been waiting so long for the FUNK to re-emerge (Musicology
had it's moments, but ultimately felt like plastic funk)
Listening to "Love", this funk wouldn't have been out of place on 1999.

3121 sounds like it could have been on NPS (which happens to be one of my
favorite Prince party albums, so don't take that as an insult)

From an early listen, The Dance seems like it will be the hardest song to get excited about...just nothing there. (Dayum, even Te Amo Corazon sounds better)

IstenSzek said:

I agree 110%!!!

BSK3601 said:

I agree with all that. But as far as I can tell, we're the only 2 people around here who feel that way!

I'll let you know this week.

MendesCity said:

I think they'll come around when they've had time to digest the album. 2 years ago when Musicology was released, I saw some of these same opinions regarding 3121. A lot of folks who are "meh" about Musicology will probably feel the same way in a couple of months once the novelty of 3121 has worn thin.
[Edited 3/20/06 9:05am]

princetheone said:

I've been a Prince fan for about the same amount of time, and I completely disagree with you. I think it's much better in every way than Mushitology and SNOOZE, but it doesn't hit the peaks of his best work and it has no songs on it to rival the highlights on mediocre albums. Tamar is a good, competent singer but her voice lacks any character or depth, and that is reflective of the album as a whole - it's a professional Prince album, with a strong nod to black American music. Call it Prince's answer to contemporary r 'n' b/neo soul - shiny, well produced, but ultimately empty.