NDRU said:

I agree. I wonder who "oversees" his mastering process? Surely it's NOT Prince.

Graycap23 said:

it is likely that give all the years of all thoes concerts he couldhave some hearing loss/damage.... it happens.

oh yeah....am I the only one hearing a bit of Your love is so hard on "love"?

SlamGlam said:

I know. I had to pump the volume way down when I'm trying to master stuff. To much time in front on monitors (speakers) will jack your hearing.

1. 3121 - Kinda cool how he resurrected Camille to sing along with him.
2. Lolita - Funky pop jam. One of the better tracks.
3. Te Amo Corazón - Lovely ballad. Should've been the 2nd single, IMO. I like Clare Fischer's string arrangements.
4. Black Sweat - Yeah! It's got that familiar stripped-down FUNK that we all know and love.
5. Incense and Candles - While the song is good, it seemed to me like he was trying to conform to the mainstream R&B format.
6. Love - He's still in the mainstream R&B zone, but this is a better attempt.
7. Satisfied - Sexy and soulful. One of the best tracks.
8. Fury - In his attempt to rock hard, he could've done a whole lot better. Remember "I Like It There" and how that sonmg fucking ROCKED?! I just didn't get the same kinda energy here.
9. The Word - Too preachy, but a solid song anyway.
10.Beautiful, Loved and Blessed - Nice love song, but too safe.
11.The Dance - Too long, but kinda cool. I love how he gets into classic Prince mode with the screams at the end.
12.The Boat - Maybe if I saw him do this live it would be hot, but that energy just doesn't come alive to me on record.

All & all, I have to say that this is just a.....good and solid album. While I was expecting Prince to do a complete about face, what I got was more of the same vibe and production from Musicology. While I thought Musicology was more upbeat, I thought this album was much more mellow. I've also noticed that the thing that probably influenced Prince was love. Namely his love for women. Yeah, I know he does that on every album, but he's more of a romantic kinda guy here. Mind you, I was really trying to listen to this album with an open heart and mind, but some other part of me was hoping he would do something totally amazing. But he decided to play it safe and just cool out with some mellow tracks. I guess that's good, but.... I don't know, man, I just can't settle for good. I want something GREAT!!!!! It doesn't even have to be like what he did in the 80's. It just seemed like he was influenced by a lot of the R&B/Pop standards and styles of today. Whereas in the 80's he was just completely radical and was totally different from what was hot at that time.

Remember 20 years ago when Parade came out? Remember how different it was from everything else that was popular at that time? (Janet, New Edition, Whitney, Def Jam records, Madonna, etc.) It seemed like Prince was on an entirely different wavelength from everyone else in pop music. I'm just not really getting that now when I hear stuff like 3121. While the album is smart, sophisticated, solidly produced Soul/Pop music, it's just not as revolutionary as his previous output.

***1/2

To be fair though, innovative/revolutionary music isn't something he has put out in years and years, so to expec it now would be unrealistic.

Fair review, though!

GoldenGlove said:

i have heard it...it is a duet between Prince and Larry Gram

it goes like this:


Prince:
I never thought my life could be
Anything but catastrophe
But suddenly I begin to see
A bit of good luck for me

'Cause I've got a Purple ticket
I've got a Purple twinkle in my eye

I never had a chance to shine
Never a happy song to sing
But suddenly half the world is mine
What an amazing thing

'Cause I've got a Purple ticket

[Spoken]
It's ours, Larry!

[Sung]
I've got a Purple Moon up in the sky

I never thought I'd see the day
When I would face the world and say
Good morning, look at the sun
I never thought that I would be
Slap in the lap of luxury
'Cause I'd have said:

Larry:
It couldn't be done

Prince:
But it can be done

I never dreamed that I would climb
Over the moon in ecstasy
But nevertheless, it's there that I'm
Shortly about to be

Prince and Larry:
'Cause I've got a Purple ticket
I've got a Purple chance to make my way
And with a Purple ticket, it's a Purple day

Prince:
[Spoken]
Good morning, look at the sun!

Prince and Larry:
[Sung]
'Cause I'd have said,
It couldn't be done

Prince:
But it can be done

I never dreamed that I would climb
Over the moon in ecstasy
But nevertheless, it's there that I'm
Shortly about to be

'Cause I've got a Purple ticket

Prince and Larry:
'Cause I've got a Purple ticket
I've got a Purple chance to make my way
And with a Purple ticket, it's a Purple day

I see you standing with your back on the wall.

Listen... I have been such an uninterested, former hardcore Prince fan for so many years now. I used to be such a naysayer on this board. I thought (and still think) Musicology was a snore (aside from Illusion, Coma)... I loved a few songs on Rave, but hated the whole package. "Baby Knows" still makes me a little nauseous. I was firmly in the camp of fans who feel that most of the nineties work (and since) has been a rehashed, overproduced shame.

Unlike Bart, feeling like that left me with no desire to come and post about it. Why would I? I have been perfectly happy listening to my 140% complete back catalog, alone, and hoping that Prince, some day, would listen back to "Lady Cab Driver" or "17 Days" or "Crystal Ball" and get reinspired. Besides, I listen to quite a lot of other music, constantly, mostly indie and dance. Dwelling on Prince's current releases has just been depressing, except for a few bright spots along the way.

I think of 3121 as a supernova.

The new album has fucked up all of the last twenty-four hours for me. I can't get any work done. I have other new CDs that I haven't listened to yet, and maybe won't get to for a while.

So I was pretty surprised to log on to Prince.org, confident that I'm going to the one place where 3121 will be nothing but celebrated, and people are actually saying they're not feeling "Love"?

I am so happy I came to this with fresh ears. I mean, whatever, I've been listening to old Prince as much as ever, but I haven't been on the boards, I haven't been seeking out leaks, and I haven't been talking to anyone about Prince. SNL and the "Black Sweat" video got me a bit excited, but otherwise I've just been reserving any anticipation.

I did that because I figured I'd be disappointed, and because discussing and criticizing Prince as obsessively as I used to... it eventually robbed me of objectivity and I found, especially with Musicology, that the worst had happened: the whole world loved a Prince album that I didn't give a shit about.

So let me tell you where people ARE feeling 3121: out here, in the big world. Check out the other thread for a bit, you know, the one that has all the media reviews. Balance out the point of view. Prince does indeed fit into the current musical landscape. He's not going to be just ours anymore, at least for a while. "Incense and Candles" is a far, far more competitive and current song than most fans seem to be comfortable with. Here's some more news: Prince may not be the first to vocoder his vocals, but I&C contains probably the most understated, graceful, appropriate, and beautifully produced example of it in any R&B song I've heard recently. How can you not raise your hands and sing along with "I'm-a wannit all night long?" How can you not feel that rat-a-tat drum break at 2:02?

"Love" is the song I feel like Prince promised me, way back in 1988. And he f**cking kept it. My most played. The most driving mix yet of the familiar with the totally unexpected. The very first Prince song that made me get up and dance on first listen in probably over ten years. Let's skate.

And when has he been as loose and funny as on "Lolita"? I know the song is totally retarded. But I also think it's totally excellent. This is the same Prince that used to yell out "Fishtail!" and s**t like that. You didn't smile at 0:01 when that synth line came in? You didn't shout when you heard Prince taking back that call-and-response that he gave the Time in the first place?

Even though I'm playing "Love" the most, the song I am probably most blown away by is "The Word". Aside from being (what I think is) his most beautifully produced single track ever (headphones, headphones, headphones), it's the first time I've heard such a religious song from the Jehovah Prince that still felt emotional, resonant, universal. He's never sung verses like this. The arrangement is so beautiful. I couldn't believe Prince played that horn, too, I thought it was Eric Leeds or something, with Wendy on acoustic guitar... this sounds like the Revolution would have sounded in 2006. Bliss. Um, and the scream at the end?

Yes, I have my little critiques (I didn't really need "Satisfied", as great as his vocal is)... but this is my whole point. I would hate to think that my dislike of a corny synth fill here or there would distract me from the fact that 3121 is easily Prince's most fresh, accessible, and yeah, brilliant album in years and years.

If you're too close, man, back up and give yourself some air. It's okay to love the f**k out of this joint. It really is.

3121
The beginning is eerily like "Scarlet Pussy". I don't really get the Camille comparison. It's a sound effect that could be mistaken for Camille, but no it's not the dark Camille we all know and love. Some of it sounds like "La, La, La, Hee, Hee, Hee" too. I really like the sound effects. They work well. The guitar breakdown is great at the end. The 3121 chorus is a little dry. Overall I think the song is good and could be called the return of the Spooky Electric sound, but not quite. 8/10

Lolita
I like the synth. The lyrics are 50/50. The arrangement is a little remedial and boring. It's a Prince song and I think it's refreshing to actually here this style again, but the frustrating thing about this song is that it doesn't really break any new ground. It would have been nice if there were some detailing that was new. 7/10

TAC
I don't like this song. It's safe and very VH1. Boring

Black Sweat
It's Kiss 2 and deserves to be a hit. I like the Black Albumesque bass and the simplicity of it. This is an instant Prince classic that isn't getting the play it deserves. The chorus is a little bland though.
9.5/10

Incense and Candles
I haven't had a chance to listen to the whole song, but from what I've heard this is definitely single ready. It's very radio friendly and smooth. I like everything I've heard. I can't wait to hear the whole song. I like the vocal mixing a lot. It's clever.
9/10

Love
I like Love. I don't love it. I love the chorus. Its soooo Prince "...like a bird flying over the hilltops..." love that. The breakdown rap is cool to. The layered choral sound always works for Prince. It reminds me of someone else’s songs and I can't pinpoint it. The twirping laser effect at the end is so Debbie Deb and then it goes right into the Kiss like guitar rift that one would have to think that it was Wendy.
9/10

Satisfied
First off. I like the falsetto. Always love Prince in falsetto. It's so "On The Couch 2". Lyrically it's pretty bad. I don't know that I really like this song at all. Too short. To me it's a throw away.
5/10

Fury
I like Fury. The synths are nice and the Rolling Stone kind of energy to it. I don't really notice the difference between the SNL and Lp versions. Everybody has been making it out to be second rate to the SNL performance, but I don't see it. It's not a great song. A little slow on the take. I'm finding while listening the record as a whole that it's hard to believe what Prince is singing about. It doesn't seem like he's really feeling his songs. If you listen to The Beautiful Ones you feel his pain and his love for the person he's singing about. I'm not getting any connection on this record. Fury could have been a whole lot more. I like the guitar throughout the song, but Prince is an amazing guitar player and it's a little tame for a master like Prince.
7/10

The Word
Before hearing this song I had a lot of expectation because everybody was hailing this as "The Amazing and Great New Prince Song". Is it? I think it is. The reason is because it has a new sound to it. I really like the relaxing pleasantness of it, The horn is perfect. He's talking about spiders again. I'm a sucker for Lovesexy themes. His voice is a little strained, but I like that. "Get up, c'mon let's do something" is super smooth. The guitar is perfect too.
10/10

BL&B
It's a Tamar song. It's good, but it's not a Prince song or even a duet by standards. It's Prince basically doing back up for Tamar. Good song, but it takes away from the record as a whole because it doesn't feel like a complete Prince record.
8/10

The Dance
I love this song. It sounds like Wendy & Lisa might have had a hand in the jar. It's very "Reflection" sounding. I like the piano.
9/10

Get on the Boat
This song is straight James Brown. I would have liked for a heavier bass. I don't like the lyrics that much. It's like "Life O The Party" all over again as far as the theme is concerned. I really don't like these kinds of songs by Prince. It's just plain cheesy, tacky and boring. This song is big O.
O.k. I'll give him a 2 for effort.
2/10

My letter grade would be C+
This is definitely not the amazing Prince comeback. It's better than most of his stuff in the past 10 years, but there's not masterpiece here.
It bums me out a bit. By the sound of thing I thought this record was going to blow us away. NOT.

Better Luck nextime Prince.

3121
The beginning is eerily like "Scarlet Pussy". I don't really get the Camille comparison. It's a sound effect that could be mistaken for Camille, but no it's not the dark Camille we all know and love. Some of it sounds like "La, La, La, Hee, Hee, Hee" too. I really like the sound effects. They work well. The guitar breakdown is great at the end. The 3121 chorus is a little dry. Overall I think the song is good and could be called the return of the Spooky Electric sound, but not quite. 8/10

Lolita
I like the synth. The lyrics are 50/50. The arrangement is a little remedial and boring. It's a Prince song and I think it's refreshing to actually here this style again, but the frustrating thing about this song is that it doesn't really break any new ground. It would have been nice if there were some detailing that was new. 7/10

TAC
I don't like this song. It's safe and very VH1. Boring

Black Sweat
It's Kiss 2 and deserves to be a hit. I like the Black Albumesque bass and the simplicity of it. This is an instant Prince classic that isn't getting the play it deserves. The chorus is a little bland though.
9.5/10

Incense and Candles
I haven't had a chance to listen to the whole song, but from what I've heard this is definitely single ready. It's very radio friendly and smooth. I like everything I've heard. I can't wait to hear the whole song. I like the vocal mixing a lot. It's clever.
9/10

Love
I like Love. I don't love it. I love the chorus. Its soooo Prince "...like a bird flying over the hilltops..." love that. The breakdown rap is cool to. The layered choral sound always works for Prince. It reminds me of someone else’s songs and I can't pinpoint it. The twirping laser effect at the end is so Debbie Deb and then it goes right into the Kiss like guitar rift that one would have to think that it was Wendy.
9/10

Satisfied
First off. I like the falsetto. Always love Prince in falsetto. It's so "On The Couch 2". Lyrically it's pretty bad. I don't know that I really like this song at all. Too short. To me it's a throw away.
5/10

Fury
I like Fury. The synths are nice and the Rolling Stone kind of energy to it. I don't really notice the difference between the SNL and Lp versions. Everybody has been making it out to be second rate to the SNL performance, but I don't see it. It's not a great song. A little slow on the take. I'm finding while listening the record as a whole that it's hard to believe what Prince is singing about. It doesn't seem like he's really feeling his songs. If you listen to The Beautiful Ones you feel his pain and his love for the person he's singing about. I'm not getting any connection on this record. Fury could have been a whole lot more. I like the guitar throughout the song, but Prince is an amazing guitar player and it's a little tame for a master like Prince.
7/10

The Word
Before hearing this song I had a lot of expectation because everybody was hailing this as "The Amazing and Great New Prince Song". Is it? I think it is. The reason is because it has a new sound to it. I really like the relaxing pleasantness of it, The horn is perfect. He's talking about spiders again. I'm a sucker for Lovesexy themes. His voice is a little strained, but I like that. "Get up, c'mon let's do something" is super smooth. The guitar is perfect too.
10/10

BL&B
It's a Tamar song. It's good, but it's not a Prince song or even a duet by standards. It's Prince basically doing back up for Tamar. Good song, but it takes away from the record as a whole because it doesn't feel like a complete Prince record.
8/10


The Dance
I love this song. It sounds like Wendy & Lisa might have had a hand in the jar. It's very "Reflection" sounding. I like the piano.
9/10

Get on the Boat
This song is straight James Brown. I would have liked for a heavier bass. I don't like the lyrics that much. It's like "Life O The Party" all over again as far as the theme is concerned. I really don't like these kinds of songs by Prince. It's just plain cheesy, tacky and boring. This song is big O.
O.k. I'll give him a 2 for effort.
2/10

My letter grade would be C+
This is definitely not the amazing Prince comeback. It's better than most of his stuff in the past 10 years, but there's not masterpiece here.
It bums me out a bit. By the sound of thing I thought this record was going to blow us away. NOT.

Better Luck nextime Prince.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

The 2 cuts that stand out 4 me are, The Word, The Dance and Love. I stayed up all night listening to them. The arrangements are beautiful and innovative.

How am I gonna sleep with this feeelin' rushin all thru my veins?-The Word

Where does the guitar solo at the end of the 3121 title track sound like it came from? It's a sound I feel like I've only heard on one of his other tracks, but I can't place it...

skip said:

Not all of us diss on this album - Ive said how much I love it - you've totally banged the nail on the head with your comments - I was amazed with some of the negativity on this album on here - dont worry - its just a small % of certain people that seem obsessed with coming on here and being rude and obnoxious with their comments instead of using 'healthy criticism' or whatever...
I was hooked after hearing one of the best intro's to an album in a fecking long time...hes a star, my star, and always will be

Krystal666 said:

I thought the same thing. Made me miss some of the darker material of old.

skip said:

Nice writing there, thanks!

skip said:

One of the best threads I've read so far this year. I knew that this CD would bring back people who were dogging or flat out dropped Prince for years and here's the proof.

purplecam said:

I am SO giving you and skip a fecking HUGE high five right now.....

[Edited 3/22/06 14:10pm]
[Edited 3/22/06 14:10pm]

wendyrachel said:

Let me return the favor!

alright ya'll, i just went to target and bought a legit copy of 3121 as i promised i would...prince, you'd BETTER put the $10.68 i paid for the mofo to good use too, and not on shit like a new palette of makeup or something like that. anyway, since i already gave my review of the album when i heard the leaked copy a while back i'm gonna give a review of the album's artwork. i'ma do it the same way i did the album--song by song, since the lyrics for each song are printed out with accompanying photographs n'such (kinna cool!). so, here i go:

3121: The Album Layout

front cover: looks rather generic...it's like it's basically a screencap of something outta one of the "rooms" on the npgmc.

3121: ...that's a lotta purple. the picture is a lot brighter to me than the song itself, which is odd.

lolita: the gold-accented stuff reminds me of them brass-and-glass table sets that my sister had back in the '80s, but WAY tackier. betcha ol' boy got down on that pool table that's there...in more ways than one.

te amo cortisone (yeah, i still call it that): i like the two vases on the side of that little stool-thing...the heart-shaped mirror's like the only thing that goes along with the song itself, really. is it still tacky? yeah. i wonder what that little room is that's just off to the right side of the page...looks like a bathroom or something.

black sweat: the lighting reminds me of them lights that would be lit alongside the front wall of paisley park sometimes during the friday night parties.

incense and candles: it don't look too bad, except for one minor factor: lumpy curtains, ewww!

love: that couch looks as if it should be partially edible and up for sale through wuollet bakery as a humongous edible couch. i'm staring at the picture and waiting for a lady to pop outta that big-assed ottoman.

satisfied: i wouldn't be satisfied in that bedroom, i'd be scared to death. like superspaceboy mentioned on that one thread a few days ago, it just screams "ego"; "YOU ARE IN PRINCE'S BEDROOM. PH33R TEH PRINCELINESS." how you gonna sleep in that shit? may as well just sleep downstairs on that big cakey-couch instead. and yeah, i still think them pillows on the bed look like giant saltines.

fury: ain't no fury...like a bad ethan allen advertisement scorned! that light in the corner above the lyrics make it look like the wall's on fire...it's furious, arrrrgh!!!!

the word: *tack-o-meter asplodes*

beautiful, loved & blessed: a chandelier? 'k.

the dance: i'd fall asleep in one of them chairs...

get on the boat: looks like a window display at dayton's gone wrong.

credits page: "i'm rollin' down the stairs, too drunk to fuck!" (heh...fancy as that shit is and a dead kennedys song pops up in my head upon seeing that staircase)

back cover: GAAAAAH, it's like diamonds & pearls: the close-up chandelier version!


OVERALL: gawd, them's some tacky surroundings. the layout's nicely done, but just...just...th' hell's prince's interior designer?!!! i'd keel them ded!!!! the only part of the entire album art i like is the cover itself.

skip said:

That was a good review. I like your defense of Lolita "I know it's retarded..."

I'm liking the album more & more.

purplecam said:

Why thank you!!!!

your soo kind!!!

Heres a little
cheeky one - right back at ya!!!!!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Doesn't the overabundance of s in the house seem a bit weird, even for Prince? Particularly the mirror shaped one.

wendyrachel said:

I don't know if I can deal with learning emoticons, but thanks & >smooch<.

oh, here:

skip said:

Well Put
Embrace the ablum ~ the ablum ~ become 1 with the album

skip said:

a while ago i had a lot of the same feelings that you did when it came to ol' boy's music and, like you, have since learned to simply enjoy what i can. i'm still very picky/critical when it comes to the newer stuff but i definitely don't feel the need to come here and continuously nag about it like some folks here (i'm surprised bart is STILL up on this bitch!). it ain't worth the keystrokes to do so.

great review.

wendyrachel said:

Awwwww Thanks! I don't know about you but with this album, I'm sooooo glad to be a Prince fan! I really am! This is a great time for all of us! Let's celebrate!

NDRU said:

It wasnt his house in the first place - only renting - guess he felt he could do what he wanted to it - it was only costing 70,000 a month in rent HA!!!!!

NDRU said:

yeah, it's kinna weird...it's as if all them symbols were like constant reminders of "you're at prince's party! don't forget!!!!"

purplecam said:

Purplecam - Ive certainly celebrated this week - my fridge has been full of wine and even though its a sin for me 2 drink during the week cos of work etc - Ive thrown caution to the wind and have had a few 'wines' to celebrate my happiness for this album. cheers Prince - we salute you!!!!

Isnt it great to be a Prince fan?