Ifsixwuz9 said:

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

I just got my copy at Target today. I'm sorry I wasted $10. I already had it downloaded on my computer. Maybe these songs will sound fresh to a non-Prince fan, who hasn't already heard tons of his stuff, but I feel like I've heard it all before from him (mainly in the last 7-8 years).

I, for one, am not going to be brainwashed by the propoganda that NPGMC puts out, raving about how "brilliant" this album is. Truth be told, I was excited reading all the emails about the cd listening parties, claiming that this was the best thing Prince has put out since Purple Rain or 1999. Not even close!!!

Don't get me wrong, I still love Prince. I've been a huge fan since 1984. It would be a dream come true to win a ticket to his house party. I will still be getting my 3121 tour tickets the second they go on sale. But I'm not afraid to admit it, I just really don't like most of his new songs anymore.

Oh, and that line at the end of 3121, "it's going down, people. Like the wall of Berlin" makes me cringe.
[Edited 3/21/06 9:15am]

dustysgirl said:

And I think the lyrics are mad corny. "Falling like the wall of Berlin"... what? That's a wack lyric and plus out-dated to boot. (I'm with you, dustysgirl).

altavista said:

Glad I'm not the only one...not only is it corny, but the SYNTAX. It's the "Berlin wall" FYI. No need to go all Yoda on it when I'm sure another simile would have sufficed.

dustysgirl said:

I was looking for the right place to join in the coversation, but you've really hit on how I feel about this album.

It couldn't be more anti-climatic. I should have known... I didn't like TAC -- think it's unbelievably boring and "lite."

I don't know if it's the poor production value or what.... but the sound is very flat, not full-bodied or lush (unlike AWIAD or TRC). I'm not a audio-ophile, but I keep feeling like there's not enough bass or that I need to turn up the volume or something. I also feel like the songs are too slow and draggy.

I guess what I'm saying is that this album is just not very good. The songs that people have been calling stand-outs are just so-so to me. And I'll probably never listen to them again after the next month or so. (A lot of the 90s output was just okay, but I listen to it a lot.)

And I think the lyrics are mad corny. "Falling like the wall of Berlin"... what? That's a wack lyric and plus out-dated to boot. (I'm with you, dustysgirl). What is going on in his mind, I just don't know.

The only song I like, I liked better in its first incarnation --- The Dance.

Actually, I think if he released the entire The Chocolate Invasion album now it'd be a lot more successful than this album is going to be -- that was a great missed opportunity.The fact that he thinks this is a strong album and that one wasn't worth releasing outside of npgmc has me wondering about the evolution of his tastes. I think this is a big drop in quality from Musicology, which was actually an okay, if scattered, piece of work.

That said, I'll also continue to see his live performances at any opportunity. If I'm honest, though, I don't know how long I'm going to feel this way. If his newer stuff continues to dissappoint, we'll be left with the classics. And how many concerts can we go to where we hear Kiss and Purple Rain? After the last tour, I have to admit it's getting tiresome -- on the Grammys, the Brits. No wonder the new generation fail to see what the big deal is -- he's an oldies act to them.

Unless his taste improves, I may just have to put Prince on pause and hope one day to hear some gems from the vault.(and I wonder if they actually ARE gems)

And I say all that I've said with an enormous sense of regret. (Now I'll go back to listening to Parade --- now that's a timeless, groovy little album.)

I'm not a hater. His music has been part of the soundtrack of my life and I will always be a fan.

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.

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.

So noone else thinks it sounds like he's trying really hard not to be drowned out by the music on some tracks?

Love2tha9s said:

No. Even if he was, I'd still take that over the lameass choruses of 416 Princes that Emancipation featured...

DMSR said:

Just what I said as well; it's only the second day of the album and I can't stand it anymore....it just may be his worst album ever...

So noone else thinks it sounds like he's trying really hard not to be drowned out by the music on some tracks?

my 3121 emoticon review! after only 4 listens

3121 - uhh.....not feeling this one...not yet, maybe it'll grow on me but that wall o berlin line
Lolita - NOT a strong tune in my mind.

after hearing the first 2 songs I was like but...I was pleasantly surprised with the remaining album

Te Amo Corazon - I like this much better now than I did at first
Black Sweat - great pop tune
Incense and candles another good one
Love -
Satisfied - and a lil but I think I'll like this more and more.
Fury -
The Word - so far..MY FAV! save me baby save me!
BLB - I like it more than I thought I was gonna...can not deny that it's catchy!
The dance - I like it but I need to hear this a few more times
Get On The Boat - I like this too just need to hear it more also.

disclaimer
all emoticons subject to change with out notice or notification.

PRINCE IS BACK, 3121 HAS LEAPED INTO MY TOP 5

This whole album is brilliant, NO FILLER, NO CRAP, just Pure funky ass Prince, its sounds like his 80s greats with the return to falsetto, jangly Prince riffs and a variety of keyboards and voice tracking devices. The songs are all very catchy and very funky. Prince has given the best 30th birthday present ever.
I knew this album was good from the point I got into it with the first listen (they didnt release the singles in NZ). Black Sweat and Get on the boat have to be amongst his best, theyre 5 star Prince, Black sweat is almost Kiss for the noughties. Fury is endorphinmachine squared and Get on the boat is Partyup 2nd generation. Te Amo Corazon sees him moving in a brave new directio.
Whats best is that hes having fun with his music again, hes not trying to ape trends like rap in the 90s with Tony M or any of the jangly crap of Emancipation. Its Prince being Prince, doing what he does best, writing catchy, inventive, funky, clever pop and rock songs with the sex and narcissim thrown in good for good measure.
Rather than weighing the album down, the other players enhance it, its always great to hear Candy and Sheila E with various members of NPG pl;ay behind him and Tamar has got a great voice I just hope Prince can really sell her cause she aint no sex kitten, could you ever see Mayte doing Beautiful loved and blessed, (hell to the naw).
Seriously this is pure and any Prince purist like me will lap it up and demand more!!!!

tane1976 said:

I hear ya. I was just as excited as you on first listen. Last time I felt this good about a Prince record I was in high school.

padawan said:

Yes and I stand by it, I put it on jusyt a few minutes ago and it still sounds good I am not dreaming. The album I got excited about at high school would have been Diamonds and Pearls (honestly.. its been that long)

Graycap23 said:

It hurts my ears.

I just noticed the prevalence of negation in 3121. It's all about saying "No" and "Don't."