PRINCE
3121
* (out of *****)
Review by Dean Cairns

Diminishing returns: isn't that, when it comes down to it, what Prince's career turns out to have been about? When his sonic palette and lyrical preoccupations remain much as they were 20 years ago, what's left but to shake your head sadly and shove on the classics? The usual suspects - lubricious funk jams, falsetto slowies, jazz excoursions, nods to God - are all here. How they pale in comparison to the glory years; how you wish they reached anywhere near the summits of old. But for the occasional frisson (Fury may lift from 1999, and Lolita use the same keyboard sound as Van Halen's Jump, but at least they swagger rather than amble), this is more of the same: a flaccid specimen from a fading force.

Ouch!!!

(and 1st! )

They're obviously quite confused...online version gave it a good 4 star review: -

http://entertainment.time...42,00.html

machinegun said:

Note two things:
1. Two different reviewers.
2. Two different newspapers (The Times, and the Sunday Times. Both are published by the same parent, but are essentially two different papers.)

This just goes to show that reviews can't be taken seriously because we all have a different taste, hehe!

Thing is, when you base your review solely on comparing an album to older stuff of the artist, you're not doing a good job a all.

calldapplwondery83 said:

To be fair this happens with every artist around, and not just in music but in books, films, art... everything. The only people who get truly objective reviews are first-timers.

Be honest though: when you try some new work by somebody (Prince for example) do you really never look back and compare it to their earlier output in any way?

I've only listened to the album a few times, but sadly, I agree with the review. This is yet another damp squib of an album. And there was me thinking that he couldnt release anything as average as Rave, he tops himself with this. Two or three good tracks dont make an album. Its over for Prince as far as I'm concerned. To me, this album is the final nail in the coffin. Prince has finally dropped to the ranks of mediocrity. Let me know when he comes back please...
yxl1

Nasalhair said:

I'm sorry, do you mean when I know the artist for some time or when I just get into an artist?
When you know the artist of course you cannot help but compare to a degree. If it's all new to me, then of course I don't check out the older stuff just to get an idea how the new one fits. Maybe afterwards.

But of course I don't professionally write reviews of CDs. If I did, I'd knew of course that I'd have to review the album as unbiased as I can because the vast majority of the readers don't know the quality of Prince back cataloque or care about how this one holds up to it. They only see 1 star and that's it.

yxl1 said:

Cool...so what is your favorite Prince album?

I've said this before - reviewers lambast Prince for his indie online efforts and experimental albums like TRC and NEWS, and cry out, why can't he be more like he was in the 80s? Then when he does music which is commercial like back in the 80s, he gets written off for replicating himself! The guy can't possibly win when reviewers are set against him no matter what he does.

calldapplwondery83 said:

I meant do you compare the current output of an artist to their back catalogue when you know their stuff already - for example, when you hear a new Prince album do you say something like "it's good, but not as good as 'SOTT'". If you only just get into an artist then of course you can't do this.

The reviewer from the Sunday Times is, for the record, a Prince fan - or at least he's given other albums of his good reviews.

Regarding your comment about professional reviewers being unbiased you're very misguided here. Take a look at pretty much any music review of an established artist and all reviewers compare the new output to their earlier work.

metalorange said:

This could be because when he tries to follow the market and copy current styles or artists he doesn't do it very well. As the reviewers on "Newsnight" said on Friday, he shouldn't be spending time listening to current artists - he should be spending more time listening to Prince for inspiration. When he ploughs his own furrow he is in a class of his own; when he tries to be commercial he fails. My opinion.

SOTT, Purple Rain, One nite alone, Emancipation...the list goes on. I'm getting used to the fact that I will only like 50% of a new prince album.
Maybe its not Princes music...maybe I've just moved on. Maybe Prince has left me behind..who knows? But I dont dig his new stuff anymore. Even the average 90s albums where better than this. RainbowChildren, Rave, Musicology and 3121 are all average albums IMHO, and moved me as much as the Batman soundtrack...
*sigh*

Nasalhair said:[quote]

calldapplwondery83 said:

OK, when you're writing a long review for a real music mag like Rolling Stone, there's a place for such comparisons. But not in such one-paragraph reviews, IMO.

Nasalhair said:

Well from what I gathered from the Newsnight panel review, there wasn't much concern with Prince listening to newer artists (the one cat seemed to be the lone critic displaying the ladder view point, while his peers agreed 3121 was still a strong effort...)

But here's the thing...Do I want to hear Prince crank out the contempoary R&B of "Incense & Candles" rather music crafted in the classic "Prince" sound? No...But in all honesty, "Incense & Candles" is the ONLY evidence on 3121 of Prince taking on the youngins' ("Black Sweat" is old school Prince on today's steroids, not a rip off of the Neptunes as some lazy Org heads have suggested) If that's the reason oldschool Prince heads can't get with this album, then to me it's puzzling...3121 contains the most throwback "Prince" sound on an album since the Gold project... I can deal with folks disliking 3121 (It's a good album, but not a "classic return to form" as some lazy reviewers have proclaimed)...All I ask is for folks to not make sweeping statements...

yxl1 said:

I respect your opinion...Keep listening to the tracks you like...

murph said:

When Prince does something experimental, the critics cry out 'make music more like your 80s stuff'
When Prince makes music harkening back to his 80s stuff, critics cry out 'stop repeating yourself, do something more contemporary'
When Prince makes more contemporary music, the critics cry 'stop trying to sound like current artists, so something more experimental'

What I'm saying is, whatever Prince does reviewers have a get out of jail clause to bring him down, due to the huge legacy of music he has created and to which he will always be compared to.

To me 3121 is the first album since Lovesexy I can listen to in its entirely, without the urging need to press the skip button - admit on Lovesexy that meant the end of my listening session, so I wouldn't dare
And in that perspective: 3121 is a nice and fine surprise.
It is an enjoyable album to listen to. That is all I need and expect from Prince!

And people say WE write horrible reviews here on the org. That was just mean.

Listen critics have ALWAYS ripped Prince's music.
SOTT was ripped for being to long by Rolling Stone. Then they turned around and gave Graffiti Bridge 4.5 stars.

They said that Lovesexy was Prince covering Prince and that it was a step back for him. Critics and fans dogged The Gold Experence. Now it is an Org "classic".

Either the music is good to YOU or it is not.Fuck listening to other people's opinions and listen for yourself.

Right on, I wholeheartedy agree. I am so glad I only downloaded this shit. If I bought it, I'd a been pissed off at the little pimply purple fuck . . . . dont you all know the motherlode of superior jams exusts in his little vault?

This shit isnt worthy of an American Idol dropout . . .

muleFunk said:

Well said!

mapaul said:

Let me recap:

3121 - good for a repeated listen
Lolita good for a repeated listen until the stupid call out sections
TAC - skip
Black Sweat - skip
Incense and whatever - skip
Love - skip
Satisfied - good for a listen cuz its short
Fury - skip
BL&B - its ok, but I dont think its worthy of him, yet its typical to throw in some mediocrity to usher in street cred
The Dance - good for a repeated Listen
I forgot the last song, but horns are too Vegas-like cheesy so I never finished it again after the first listen

Thanks Prince, you are now an official has-been only good for the concert stage, but then again, i dont need to listen to your greatest hits again and again. And I dont need the site of overweight middle-agers dancing to your medleys.

muleFunk said:

Exactly! We're all entitled to our own opinions... and yet still people get worked up about others disagreeing with them (see just about every thread on this site).

mapaul said:

Wow, what a well thought out, reasoned, balanced review. You come across as someone who has the attention span of a gnat - "I'll give it 5 seconds but if doesn't grab me by then - next!"

The last song is Get On The Boat. Maybe if you listened to it with any care and attention you might have remembered it...

Hmm, has Mojo reviewed it yet? They're generally a sympathetic audience.

I also will have to check and see if the WARR.org dudes have. They've great musical judgment -- well, I usually agree with it, at least.

mapaul said:

Nasalhair said:

How very blunt.

Oh yeah< i forgot, you guys are esoteric elitists with an informed sense of what music should be like. You have an ear for the deeper things . . . . trust me, I listened. I listened to the dumb CD maybe a dozen times. It flat out sucks, only surpassing Musicology in its staying power. You guys are so starved for new material after two years that you find aesthetic value in Prince's farts.

When shit gets released from the vault, you will see how much this stuff sucks in juxtaposition. But it wont happen so stay clinging to your grim hope.