CalhounSq said:

I can't believe I've listened to this song over 100 times and never noticed that the 'hoo!' sounded like Mike.

I cued the song up furiously all ready to refute you thinking 'i bet this is a sound Prince has done on another song' ...but nope at 4:08 it's straight up Mike. Musta been a shout-out or sumthin.
[Edited 3/26/06 6:25am]

I had folks round last night and played the album, and everbody loved it.

so unlike musicology its an album i can play with my friends without folk chanting to turn the cd off every 5 mins.

BlackBuddy said:

But just as many would complain about that.

I’ve been a real fam today and bought the CD right after my lunchbreak. Just listening for the third time (I’ve even ignored the presence of my boss today). Here’s my review:

3121 – Wow!!! Wow, wow! What’s that? Just to qualify this track as a return of Camille doesn’t do it any justice. The dark bassline, the guitar noise, the distorted vocals… this is Prince doing the craziest Bowie/Eno stuff or something like that? (10/10)

Lolita – Grower! Great pop! The synthline, the melody, the little “Dirty Mind”-like keyboard licks in between, the chants at the end (1999-ish). Cool 80’s retro tune with a few contemporary elements! (9/10)

TAC – I always liked this song, but in the context of the record, I realized its absolute greatness. Though maybe not Prince’s strongest melody, the instrumentation and the dark vibe of this lovesong are amazing! (9/10)

Black Sweat – A little bit of classic Prince (Linn drum, falsetto), a little bit of contemporary R’n’B (synth hook), a little bit of new (industrial in the drum sounds?). Great! (9/10)

Incense and Candles – Has been described by many as the weakest track on the album. I hate to admit it, but people, you’re right (so far). Not really bad, but just doesn’t make a huge impression (compared to the other songs). Contemporary R’n’B in a better way than 95 % of contemporary R’n’B artists can do it, but just not outstanding. Still not bad. (7/10)

Love – Second grower! First reaction was WTF, does he do Usher here?! Repeated listen made me realize that it’s actually very innovative (mixture of pop, techno, industrial, R’n’B and funk)! And it’s catchy! (9/10)

Satisfied – Yes, y’all are right, it IS “On the couch” pt. 2 (stylistically). But it’s also more consequent than its Musicology sibling (stylistically). Prince goes Ray Charles and 60’s southern soul in this song on a high level. Fantastic instrumentation! (8/10)

Fury – O.k., my 2 cents on the “SNL vs. studio” story: The vocals on the SNL version are more passionate and the song has more energy. But that studio version is fucking amazing, folks!!! It shows the song in a totally new light, as an 80’s new wave rocker with heavy synths (the studio vocal style actually fits nicely into that imo). David Bowie having heavy sex with The Cure or something like that. And the guitar work is some of the best Prince put EVER on a studio recording – dissonant in highest glory! And no, I don’t care that it’s a little lower in the mix, I have ears. This song is a classic, top ten Prince ever! (10/10)

The Word – Third grower! Relaxed groove, possibly the best use of synthie sax I’ve heard in a long while. And that guitar… A dark religious song, great! (9/10)

BL&B – Call me fam, send me moon earwraps, I don’t care, I like this song. Well placed in the album sequence, a relaxed 90’s style groove with great vocal layers and a fantastic ending section. Not outstanding, but good. (8/10)

The Dance – Wow! What an arrangement! Latin touch. Again, very clever use of synths, and have you heard that piano?! Maybe not a very catchy song, but very well done. Room to grow on you. (9/10)

Get on the Boat – O.k., who of you here was the comedian to write “another JB style jam”??? Are you kidding? This is classic funk combined with Latin sounds, Mambo/Salsa! Innovative arrangement, and a great band jam!!! And that horns and “get on the boat” hook are so damn catchy, I can’t get it out of my ear. FANTASTIC! (10/10)

Overall: 9/10. A great album, maybe not his best, maybe not reinventing pop music, but very high ranking in the Prince catalogue. It’s a pop album, commercial sometimes, but very innovative, fresh and energizing. And it’s definitely not Prince repeating himself. He’s exploring new ground (3121, TAC, Love, Fury, The Dance, Get on the Boat). O.k., he’s doing some things (stylistically) that he probably can do even after 15 beer (Incense, Satisfied, BL&B), but at least he does them well. And no, it’s not Musicology pt. 2 imo. It’s less retro.

Sidenote: In contrast to Musicology (retina destruction), this album has a great artwork imo! And I really dig the “3121” concept! Though his interior designer must be on crack or something…

I’ve been a real fam today and bought the CD right after my lunchbreak. Just listening for the third time (I’ve even ignored the presence of my boss today). Here’s my review:

3121 – Wow!!! Wow, wow! What’s that? Just to qualify this track as a return of Camille doesn’t do it any justice. The dark bassline, the guitar noise, the distorted vocals… this is Prince doing the craziest Bowie/Eno stuff or something like that? (10/10)

Lolita – Grower! Great pop! The synthline, the melody, the little “Dirty Mind”-like keyboard licks in between, the chants at the end (1999-ish). Cool 80’s retro tune with a few contemporary elements! (9/10)

TAC – I always liked this song, but in the context of the record, I realized its absolute greatness. Though maybe not Prince’s strongest melody, the instrumentation and the dark vibe of this lovesong are amazing! (9/10)

Black Sweat – A little bit of classic Prince (Linn drum, falsetto), a little bit of contemporary R’n’B (synth hook), a little bit of new (industrial in the drum sounds?). Great! (9/10)

Incense and Candles – Has been described by many as the weakest track on the album. I hate to admit it, but people, you’re right (so far). Not really bad, but just doesn’t make a huge impression (compared to the other songs). Contemporary R’n’B in a better way than 95 % of contemporary R’n’B artists can do it, but just not outstanding. Still not bad. (7/10)

Love – Second grower! First reaction was WTF, does he do Usher here?! Repeated listen made me realize that it’s actually very innovative (mixture of pop, techno, industrial, R’n’B and funk)! And it’s catchy! (9/10)

Satisfied – Yes, y’all are right, it IS “On the couch” pt. 2 (stylistically). But it’s also more consequent than its Musicology sibling (stylistically). Prince goes Ray Charles and 60’s southern soul in this song on a high level. Fantastic instrumentation! (8/10)

Fury – O.k., my 2 cents on the “SNL vs. studio” story: The vocals on the SNL version are more passionate and the song has more energy. But that studio version is fucking amazing, folks!!! It shows the song in a totally new light, as an 80’s new wave rocker with heavy synths (the studio vocal style actually fits nicely into that imo). David Bowie having heavy sex with The Cure or something like that. And the guitar work is some of the best Prince put EVER on a studio recording – dissonant in highest glory! And no, I don’t care that it’s a little lower in the mix, I have ears. This song is a classic, top ten Prince ever! (10/10)

The Word – Third grower! Relaxed groove, possibly the best use of synthie sax I’ve heard in a long while. And that guitar… A dark religious song, great! (9/10)

BL&B – Call me fam, send me moon earwraps, I don’t care, I like this song. Well placed in the album sequence, a relaxed 90’s style groove with great vocal layers and a fantastic ending section. Not outstanding, but good. (8/10)

The Dance – Wow! What an arrangement! Latin touch. Again, very clever use of synths, and have you heard that piano?! Maybe not a very catchy song, but very well done. Room to grow on you. (9/10)

Get on the Boat – O.k., who of you here was the comedian to write “another JB style jam”??? Are you kidding? This is classic funk combined with Latin sounds, Mambo/Salsa! Innovative arrangement, and a great band jam!!! And that horns and “get on the boat” hook are so damn catchy, I can’t get it out of my ear. FANTASTIC! (10/10)

Overall: 9/10. A great album, maybe not his best, maybe not reinventing pop music, but very high ranking in the Prince catalogue. It’s a pop album, commercial sometimes, but very innovative, fresh and energizing. And it’s definitely not Prince repeating himself. He’s exploring new ground (3121, TAC, Love, Fury, The Dance, Get on the Boat). O.k., he’s doing some things (stylistically) that he probably can do even after 15 beer (Incense, Satisfied, BL&B), but at least he does them well. And no, it’s not Musicology pt. 2 imo. It’s less retro.

Sidenote: In contrast to Musicology (retina destruction), this album has a great artwork imo! And I really dig the “3121” concept! Though his interior designer must be on crack or something…

Heres my attempt at a personal review, im not a music CRITIC thus i can only give my own bias opinion and use other P stuff to draw upon.

The packaging is neat, the cd stood out, and was No 3 at the time i got it, i reckon itl go #1 in the UK.

The booklet inside the digipack cardboard is a bit fiddly to get hold of and is diferent to that of TRC or musicology where the booklet was attached to the case, the last page of the booklet looks like the gold experience booklet.

I wont go into the 3 already released trax except that Te Amo has really grown on me and I really dig it, I cant stand Black sweat/B.L.A.B.(the version on 3121 seems to be longer-and doesnt have the sprinking of guitar at the end)

3121 in my opinion is a strong start, first thing i thought is that the bazz/drumz sound like or have been taken from - days of wild (is this right, seeing as sunny and micheal b are credited?)

Lolita - I really like this and at first play the keyboards sound very soft n wet, the song caries on with P's latin/hispanic suject matter - anyone have an insight to this? as its been going on for a bit now. The shouts are very morris day and time-esque.

Incense and candles - pass, not for me!

Love - Pass, not for me! this could be MJ on the invincible cd?? there could have been 2 real tuff songs here instead!

Satisfied-v.Al Green, short and sweet, I liked this from the Vanguard jam appearance and wished that hed used a group of back up singers on it would have made it, in my opinion, sound more live and un studio like, great opportnity missed I reckon - still i really like it.

Fury-all too short but i still love it, of course its not gonna have the nrg of the live versions but i overall i was happy with it

The word- kicks off sounding off like something off my lucy pearl album, lyrics seem very JW influenced and an average track, some nice guitar and percussion at the end keeps my attention.

The dance-a really strong track in my opinion - something about it brings to mind 'when 2r in love', theres a latin theme again and i really like the guitar/piano at the end which sounds like some of the stuff on ONA.

Get on the boat - i found this kicking in at around 2.57 in, sounds out of place in the context of the disc - but i guess thats why its the closer, i love maceos signiture licks - very summery and funky of course

I would have liked a bit more rock, say a couple of trax from fury onto the dance but im not gonna moan as i have a cd to listen to for a few months, basically ima stop whining, and accept that the real prince is live, make sure you catch him this summer.

Man from reading this thread I need to listen to LOVE a lot more because its the one song on there i'm still really not feeling .

Bart, you're sweet-ah, but 1993-94 was simply the last time you liked Prince records. Some of the songs of that period were terrible... actually some of the worst excesses of his career.

As for collaboration, he did enough alone during his glory days not to be seen as someone who always absolutely needs a collaborator.

Wendy and Lisa didn't need to be in the studio to be an influence. WDC = Prince competing with W&L.

Musicology sold around a million in the US with retail sales alone. Including the concert giveaways, it's over 2 million. Worldwide sales including US giveaways were at 6.3 million (according to Wikipedia).

For the "used to sell a couple of million worldwide without much trouble": Have a look at the sales of "Graffiti Bridge": 2.2 million worldwide (only 500,000 in the US, his home market, according to Housequake). "Rave" was at 1.75 million worldwide, so not too much lower!

EmancipationLover said:

Baloney. Completely made up number. If it were true it would make it a huge hit, instead it was a dud that sank without a trace outside the US (and the US numbers are the result of fraud).

EmancipationLover said:

Rave was part of a full-on media campaign and was a flop. And the numbers for GB seem too low.

EmancipationLover said:

Baloney. Completely made up number. If it were true it would make it a huge hit, instead it was a dud that sank without a trace outside the US (and the US numbers are the result of fraud)

EmancipationLover said:

Baloney. Completely made up number. If it were true it would make it a huge hit, instead it was a dud that sank without a trace outside the US (and the US numbers are the result of fraud).

EmancipationLover said:

Rave was part of a full-on media campaign and was a flop. And the numbers for GB seem too low.