Damn straight,love it or hate it this CD is tight and focussed with a clear commercial bias. Said it before and will say it again , he has clearly learned from the commercial mistake of ATWIAD. This has sales written all over it, this time he's done the smart thing financially,i think most of us long term hardcore folx would've loved the next SOTT or Lovesexy but it wouldn't sell. 3121 borrows heavily from most of his back catalogue of sounds and melodies like he did with Musicology BUT this time it sounds fresh and cohesive and there is NOTHING else out there , especially in R&B, that has anywhere near the variety or inventiveness. [if there is please tell me!]
Take this CD for what it is and enjoy it. Also great to hear loads of Synths and not so many horns again.
I bet you all that his next album will be a concept CD. It's P , he won't be able to resist!.

I was approaching this album with great trepidation after reading the comments on the org. Well I think the album is really good – not brilliant if you like his more conceptual albums. My personal opinion is there are a lot of Princes’ out there – my advice go and produce your own album.

Most disappointing track 'beautiful, loved and bless'

Yep, i'm still enjoying it (which is a major thing, i tired of musicology rapidly). I did have it downloaded, but nothing beats the sound on the CD (except for vinyl)

case in point, 'Fury' sounds a zillion times better.

his best all round 'pop' album since TGE.

Yes! I love 3121. It's his most accessible, enjoyable album for years.

For those of you who are down on Beautiful Loved...I suggest you really listen to the lyrics, which are truly lovely and inspiring.

Spunky said:

No apologies but this album is great I have listened to it about four times so far and it gets funkier every time. I started with the volume low but soon moved to my headphones. Some people might cringe about the lyrics of ‘the word’ but what a groove – it reminds me a bit of an old black spiritual sound (very much in the same vien as 7 – the ending of Beautiful Love and Blessed the last minute is funky - where is this boat because I sure would love to get onboard just imagine this at a live gig I am sure it would bring the roof down – it’s gonna be beautiful night y’all.
This is by far his best for a long time more consistent than – sorry y’all ‘the rainbow children’. In future when a new album is due I will avoid reading the org and wait to hear it for myself – still love the org.

Spunky said:

I can't say that I blame you . I'm glad I heard the leak before the boatload of people reviewed it. I know it would have colored my view of the CD.