New York Post


BY DAN AQUILANTE
-----
PRINCE

"3121"

4 STARS
Universal

WITH the cunning of Machiavelli, Prince has completed his comeback campaign from self-imposed obscurity.

The pint-sized funkster re-emerged two years ago at the Grammys playing an incendiary duet with Beyonc‚, after which he issued the well-received "Musicology." Now he reclaims his stardom with "3121," a record that's lyrically sexy, musically crazy and totally cool.

Where others like Madonna have attempted to stay young through reinvention, on this album Prince wears his own skin and rediscovers who he is and why he's part of rock royalty. "3121" is pure Prince, and these dozen songs showcase his considerable music vocabulary. Crunchy, aggressive guitar rock, bump 'n' grind funk, spiritual R&B and hints of a Latin groove are integral to this record's tight weave.

It all comes together on the title track, "3121," a sexy rave where Prince makes his electric guitar squeal to the funked-up horns of the chorus. His Purpleness has been elusive as to what "3121" means, but the lyrics point to an address where, like the Hotel California, Prince warns "You can come if you want to, but can never leave."

The three other exceptional songs on this record are the pop-powered "Love Is," the R&B number "Satisfied" and a seriously funky "Lolita."

On "Lolita," Prince gets his inner Humbert Humbert out in a peppy, up-tempo song ready-made for radio and music TV. Between bass-and-drum thumps, Prince reminds himself that Lolita is "sweet-a" but in the end "will get a brother in trouble."

But if you're looking for Prince at his drop-dead vocal best, check out "Satisfied," an R&B song that's heavy on the blues. Prince is almost vulnerable as he sings in his trademark falsetto to a melody that's big, brassy and beautiful. This could have easily been written as a big-band ballad for another generation. As sexually provocative as always, he croons seductively "Love is ... whatever you want it to be." If you're Prince, you don't need a better pickup line.

Prince did step outside himself and take a couple of risks on "3121." He explores Latin music on the light samba ballad "Te Amo Corizon," an OK song that's this album's weakest track. The fuchsia-loving funkster fares much better on "Incense and Candles," where he demonstrates his skills as a rapper. He's not bad for a guy who has always shunned hip-hop styles.

In all, "3121" is the kind musical excellence that you expect of Prince, and it just might make you forget about lesser album efforts like "Emancipation," "Crystal Ball" and "Rainbow Children."
[Edited 3/19/06 16:57pm]

wow...they consider the rainbow children a "lesser album." 3121 is good and it has a few hits on it but it pales in comparison to rainbow children.

You know, I had a feeling that the NY Post would like this CD. Thankfully, a NY paper has some taste (take that NY Daily News).

I like the Post but I think they're way off. I do agree it's a lot better than TRC, which is a dreadful shit fuck album.

I doubt 3121 will sell much more than Musicology. Prince really can't hang with modern times.

This newspaper once used a news thread I started on the old org word for word.

lovemachine said:

oh shit...you shoulda called 'em up and asked to get paid, then.

murph said:

Um, did he get two songs mixed up there??...

interesting review but I dont see this better than Emancipation. For all its fluff, there was enough reality in that set that made it very compelling.

Lets have a baby, holy river, Friend, Mother, Sister, Wife, In this Bed I scream, my computer all seem to give us a glimps into what was going on in his life. Here in 3121, while a perfectly nice set of songs, I dont get a sense of where he's at.

emesem said:

YES. That's my biggest problem with it.

murph said:

I thought all three albums above were exceptional; he should have mentioned the Rave album instead. Overall, a very good review of the album. Now I'm beginning to feel more hopeful about the album.

I wish it's Tuesday already!!

Don is Cool and gives Prince good reviews. I think he truly digs him.