Handclapsfingasnapz said:

& I hope he didn't have to hurt those ostridges!

wendyrachel said:

Oh it is! I'm buying 3121 for a friend of mine tomorrow. It's just too good.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

thanks. i think i used to (and i'm talking about 1987 here) feel afraid of getting perspective on prince's music, that it was special enough to me that i didn't want any other opinions on it. and lately, i just couldn't lay a hand on a current album that i would recommend to any non-fan friends, no matter how much i may have liked it.

it's just nice after all this time to feel he's honored us with some pretty fierce work. i didn't expect it at all. i'm not going uncritical in the slightest, i just think this is an excellent showing and it shouldn't be uncool to say so... here, of all places!

I havent read all the replies but I will give my 2 cents. I was kinda disappointed with the CD. IMO, MUSICOLOGY was a MUCH better/cohesive album. To me, this album sounds too r&b-ish/commercial. When I first gave the whole album a listen, I thought to myself, "why is he not playing much guitar?"
"3121" is quite good. This is a song that he would KILL in concert! I was underwhelmed by "Lolita" and "Black Sweat." "Te Amo Carazon" is cool. Fast forward the filler till "Satisfied." CLASSIC Prince ballad. It fulfills the need.
"Fury" jump starts the CD. IMO, this is the first REAL song on the CD. The synths reminds me of the early 80's new wave sound. This needs to be the next single.I havent really listened to "The Word." The first 5 seconds of the song turned me off and for some reason, the song reminds me of "2Morrow." The verdicts out on "Beautiful Loved and Blessed." I havent really listened to it."The Dance" and "Get On The Boat" are 5 star tracks. Classic Prince. All in All, the CD will grow on me. I gotta admit that MUSICOLOGY probably will get more listens than this CD but the songs that I like on the CD, I REALLY like, so thats a good thing.

purplecam said:

Ease them in gently ok?
Im sure they will LOVE it!

Jesus man - we talk like its taking your first born to nursery!!!!!

3121
This one is OK. It's pretty good but not great.

Lolita
This is the kind of Prince jam that I love. Great song. It's about time we had some funky synths like this.

TAC
This one has gone from dull to listenable.

Black Sweat
Good song. I could live without the kiddie "Snoop Doggy Dog" synths but I love the rest of the song, especially the sassy falsetto and electronic handclaps which I would liked to have heard on a lot more tracks on the album.

Incense and Candles
One word....sellout. This song sounds like all the other midtempo hip hop influenced bullshit on the radio. He's even singing in the same style they do....singing that almost sounds like rapping. This song is an embarassment and disgrace for someone like Prince to even think about making, let alone actually make.

Love
I absolutely love, love, luuuuuv this jam. This is my favorite song on the album and is one of the funkiest jams Prince has made in a long time. Looking back at how R&B evolved when I was growing up from disco, funk, and house music, afterwards, everyone's music slowed down for the worse. "Love" is the kind of modern jam that sounds as if R&B artists had stayed on the right track and kept on jamming like they should have. It's the kind that would have been dominating R&B radio by everyone today instead of the hip hop shit actually does dominate it.

Satisfied
Good song in the same vein as "On The Couch" and "Dark".

Fury
Good song but the live version was better.

The Word
It might be a grower but for now it's simply OK.

BL&B
I like it better than when I first heard it. Towards the end it gets funky. Too bad it was that funky all the way through though. Some sections of it reminds me of Zapp's "Computer Love" when Shirley Murdock sings..."yes I've found my computer love". The funky guitar at the end reminds me of Rick James "Loosey's Rap".

The Dance
When I saw the title, I was expecting a jam. This song is listenable. I like the screams at the end but could live without Lawrence Welk's orchestra.

Get on the Boat
I knew Prince would have to go back to 1974 somewhere on the album. I guess he waited until the end. Lord knows I'm used to Prince going retro though and I do like the song.
.
.
[Edited 3/22/06 15:24pm]

wendyrachel said:

We are aren't we? I will definetly be easy with him with 3121. I hope he likes it. In fact, I need to call some of my friends and tell them about this CD. Gotta spread "the word".

SlamGlam said:

I asked the same thing.

I'm amazed that everyone seems to like different songs. Maybe this will be a hit after all.

purplecam said:

Ok - I am sure they will love it - start them off with 3121 tho - cos that fecking blew my head off when I first heard it!

One word reviews:

3121
Crazy

Lolita
Catchy

TAC
Segue

Black Sweat
Infectuous

Incense and Candles
Fragrant

Love
Amazing

Satisfied
Intermission

Fury
Tame

The Word
Hypnotic

BL&B
Nice

The Dance
Skip

Get on the Boat
Funk!

Graycap23 said:

Well, I got the album last night, and first spin I really wasn't feeling it. But my experience has always been new albums I like *straight away* I'm not listening to 3 months later. The stuff that grows on you is the stuff that you're still listening to months later.

I have been listening to 3121 practically all day, while at the office, and while at home, and boy, it sure has grown on me - I'm loving it now!

I think too many of us listen to Prince's new material in our analytical/critical mode of mind (comparing with old stuff, judging, critiquing) when all you really need to do is just chill out, relax, let it play, and enjoy it with an open, flowing, receiving and non-judgemental mind.

1. 3121 - funktastic - really addictive, Camille voice, thumping-ass bassline.
2. Lolita - really fun track, playful, grown on me big time
3. Te Amo Corazon - I *really* like this track - it fits perfectly, and has been growing me ever since I heard P. perform it at the Brits last month.
4. Black Sweat - not so keen on this one surprisingly, although it just came on as I was typing this, and I think it is creeping up on me..!
5. Incense and Candles - again, it is creeping up on me, I'm liking it more wand more
6. Love - favourite track on the album - this is Prince, it's all there, the soaring chorus is just so uplifting, and makes you wanna GITZ DOWN!!
7. Satisfied - least favourite track, would've prefered another funky groove here, rather than another "On the Couch" ballad, but short enough that it don't bother me.
8. Fury - listen to it enough times, you'll forget all about the SNL performance, I'm hearing it all on its own now, without the memory of SNL, and I'm enjoying more and more each time it comes on. First time I heard it last night I was like 'Damn, watsup with the AWFUL production' but now I guess I'm digging the starkness of it - good stuff.
9. The Word - GREAT, deep track, spiritual, Lovesexy-esque, production is excellent.
10. Beautiful, Loved & Blessed - MUCH better than fans who heard it already were making out, definitely not a disaster, quite pretty track, bit 'safe' but enjoyable, fits in nicely. Uplifting in spots.
11. The Dance - *really* like this, it's still sipping into my subconscious but again more I heard it more I'm liking it.
12. Get On The Boat - this was the only track I 100% liked on first spin, and oddly reverse effect is happening, I'm not liking it quite so much the more I spin the album, I like it, just maybe a little too sparse, Sheila's drums are my favourite part of it.

3121 is a tight album - Willy Wonka analogy it's like a really satisfying special-edition Wonka bar.

I don't think it's quite on the level of Rainbow Children

- just check the guitar solos in "LAST DECEMBER", "FAMILY NAME" and "EVERLASTING NOW" - there's nothing on here that hits that breathtaking level, but it's a different type of album and I'm treating it like that. Tight, poppier, and more appealing to the masses, which is fair enough -

I'm off to give it one last spin b4 bed.

i'll say this...

3121 is no Rainbow Children...

and for that, i'm eternally grateful.

I'm on track 9. Of the first nine tracks the only thing I have found truly corny on first listen is from Black Sweat, which I'd already heard. And I can overlook that... he's been cornier in the past (the entire song Jughead for instance).

I like the little breakdown at the end of The Word. I just know in concert it's going to transition in to the BarKays "Holy Ghost".

Nothing makes my finger inch toward the skip button.

And I like the album version of Fury just as much as the live SNL version.



.
[Edited 3/22/06 16:08pm]

I think 3121 might actually turn my wife into a Prince fan...I NEVER thought that would happen!!!

KingSausage said:

okay ya'll, i've given "the dance" another try...i still kinda favor the 1st version over the new one, but...all that screaming at the end...it's crackin me the fuck UP.

Best - Get on the Boat
Worst - Incense And Candles

Musicology had more energy in certain spots and much better production. I don't like the production on Black Sweat or Lolita; two good tracks. No stand out hits, Beautiful, Loved And Blessed is a weak track in the context of the album. The album will probably sound better if I change the track order.

Get on the Boat is amazing with a TRC vibe. That's the direction I would like to see Prince go in.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

What first version? I'm so out of the b**t loop it isn't even funny.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

the one that's on the chocolate invasion...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Ohh yeah. Ok I remember some people griping that they weren't going to buy that set from NPGMC for just one song. Thanks hon.

:::I think I've been around these parts just a little bit too long when I can remember all of the complaint threads ::::

Ifsixwuz9 said:

anytime.


same here, man...same here.

I got the 3121 CD from the mail today and I just got finished listening to the whole album right now! My expectations were partially wrong. 3121 is an incredible album. First of all, I'll like to say that this is better than Musicology, not saying that Musicology was a bad or average record because Musicology was a great album, in my opinion. When Prince did Musicology two years back, he played it safe, trying to make an album that brought him back to the modern pop/urban spotlight after making straight independent records from his own label. It was a proper and great return to form, but 3121 is three-times better because he shows mostly all his cards here. Lyrically, he's still on point, just as he was on Musicology, but musically, it's a little more complex and thoughtful at the same time. The thing that amazes me about this album is how well Prince can keep up with the times and not try to go backward. All 12 of these tracks are well-produced and they are definitely tight and fresh. My favorite tracks would have to be the funky title-track, 3121, Lolita, the romantic, Te Amo Corazon, the head-banging, Incense & Candles, Love, Satisified, Fury, Beautiful, Loved & Blessed, and The Dance. This might not be in the vein of Prince's masterworks like Sign O The Times, 1999, or Purple Rain, but it is definitely an album that should not be missed. This will be in my list of "the best albums of 2006".
[Edited 3/22/06 16:50pm]

Not a great album, but Prince expands his legacy. These songs should sound great live.
[Edited 3/23/06 6:12am]

DAY 2- This record sounds like crap, I can't hear his voice on half the tracks and the "Love" keyboard sound is an apple loop I think. He even samples "Slave 4 U" i think., its not nasty girl.

What happened to my man? This CD stinks to high heaven.

DMSR said:

but yet n'still you've given it a second chance...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I am so glad I avoided most fan/critic reviews of this album before it came out. And of the few I did read, after listening to the album ... I have no idea what they are hearing.
I don't hear any Pharell anything. I don't hear any Timbaland anything. I don't hear any Andre Benjamin anything.

I do hear P melding a little of his old syle, with old-school funk (BarKays), old school soul & pop, and a few modern beats here and there. And doing it without making it sound forced like "Life O the Party".

No idea how this record is going to sound live ... I think that scares me.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

i'm thinking that half of the album'll carry over well in a live setting...

After all the Musicology stuff died down, I realized that the one thing that was missing for me with a Prince album was that "fun" factor. Musicology was a very good album but it lacked spirit. I had a feeling that Musicology was going to be the 2000's version of D&P and that 3121 would be 2000's , one of my favorites and I was praying that would happen. Well God answers prayer! I liked it on first listen but the more I played it the more I loved it. Here's my take on the songs:

3121: I knew I was in for something with this one. It's like P-Funk meets Camille in 2006. It's everything that I love about Prince, weird and funky. After the first listen I thought, "Wow. the weirdo is back!

Lolita: I didn't know how to take it the first listen but the second time was the charm. It's vintage Prince here with a a small tribute to The Time. It's cheesy but it's chessiness is what makes the song cool. It's not trying to be sophistocated it's Prince having fun.

Te Amo Corazon: I've grown to love this song and it surprisingly fits well on the CD. I still think that was a bad 1st single choice. In fact, it's not single material but it's a beautiful song that deserves praise. The instrumentation is great. Prince said it wasn't indicative of the whole album and boy was he right.

Black Sweat: I still love this song. I ride on the subways here in NYC and I can't help but dance in my seat when this song comes on my iPod, even if my train is packed like a can of sardines. It's more of what I love about Prince. Pure sparse funk with sexy attitude. I mean Prince doesn't have to talk about sex and yet the sex still comes out in his music and this song is proof of that. My only complaint is that the synth hurts my ears but I still can't get enough of it.

Incense and Candles: I like this song a lot. It's a sexy, midtempo groove and Prince is talking about stuff like lust again. People here are dogging the vocoder machine on it but I like that he's doing different things with his voice and his rapping doesn't bother me at all. He didn't do a bad job. It's a cool song.

Love: WOW! This song KICKED MY ASS! I needed a song that I could drop it like it's hot to and this is it! (Black Sweat too) It's the best dance song he's done for me in 10 years. It would just kill in the clubs. I hope this is the next single or a single at some point. Whether or not it's a hit is another story but a hot video will just knock us all out.

Satisfied: I was sure I wasn't going to like this song. I hated it from the NAACP Awards so my hope was low but boy was I surprised. One of the few times that the studio version was BETTER than the live one. Another great slow, short love song. I understand people comparing it to On The Couch but to me it's better. I was satisfied.

Fury: I don't care what anyone here says, this song kicks ass no matter what version. I knew after seeing that performance on SNL not to expect a version like that. I've been disappointed too many times to let this happen again and it worked. I LOVE the synths on it. Reminds me of the 1999 era. The guitar may not be a wild as on SNL but it's still powerful and I'm feeling it. I can't wait to see him kill it in person.

The Word: Oh My God what an amazing song! It's a tie for 1st place with Love as my favorite song. The music sounds so heavenly and his voice just sounds so peaceful and calm. I don't think he's ever sounded like that before. It reminds me greatly of the Lovesexy era. The message and the delivery. He's not forcing his views on you, it's just from his point of view and it's great.

Beautiful Loved And Blessed: this song has grown on me. It's a very good R&B song. Tamar's voice is really nice and Prince's voice on top of it blends in quite nicely. The end is where things get funky. That's the one song where I wonder if it fits with the CD but yet I think with the message and it being after The Word, it works and I don't skip it.

The Dance: Whoa, another "kick my ass" song. I loved the original from The Chocolate Invasion but this version made a great song even better. The song just builds and builds and then the ending. I LOVE THE ENDING. That scream, the scream of passion. I damn near cream my pants when he does that.

Get On The Boat: In the vein of James Brown songs like Prettyman, The Work and even Musicology but this one is better (though I like Musicology). The live band feel, the joy I hear in the song it's just a fun ride. If that's what it's like on the boat then where can I purchase my ticket?!

I was shocked at how much I love this CD. For me, it's his best since The Gold Experience, hell even . I love the flow, the energy and FINALLY, he's having fun again and it shows in this one. This is the Prince album I've been waiting for for a long time. Thank you God for answering my prayers and Prince for bringing the funk again. And thanks to you, for still reading this, sorry I got so long winded. I'm so happy I don't know what to do!

skip said:

That was absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing!