I like both these records, particularly 3121, which is more melodic, catchy and sounds like Prince.

But something about them sounds small. Compared to Diamonds & Pearls, Gold, and even TRC, something is missing. A sense of space perhaps. Maybe they're sterile sounding. Less lush?

I don't know what it is exactly.

Do Dirty Mind and 1999 also sound small to you?

Just asking.

FunkMistress said:

It's hard to compare because they came out so long ago. But I'd say no, because the rawness & energy those albums have make up for any simplicity (compared to something like ). I love Nirvana & Jimi--3 piece bands. In Utero doesn't sound small to me at all.

3121 seems to be missing some kind of ooomph, not in the performances necessarily, I'm not sure where.

NDRU said:

Probably in the butt.

FunkMistress said:

Yeah, probably.

carlcranshaw said:

....and more cowbell.....definitely more cowbell....!!

PurpleKnight said:

No, it's really the lack of reverb.

I think it's because neither Musicology nor 3121 have a big, epic ballad on them that would potentially be a concert highlight and would also give the album a 'big' sound. Think Purple Rain, Last December, Gold, and the title track to Diamonds and Pearls. All those songs are/could be worthy of ending a concert on. Take each of those songs off their respective albums and I think those albums too would lose a lot of that big, commercial feel.
As much as I like A Million Days, Call My Name and The Dance, I just don't think they have Big Commercial Ballad written on them.
[Edited 6/3/06 2:56am]

RitaQoS said:

Hello The Man in yur life, A million days, Fury, Love, BLB The Dance are pretty big and bloosy Prince tearjerker productions 2 me.

One thing that stands out to me on 3121 is the space between tracks. It's 3121 - CLIP - Lolita - CLIP - Te Amo . . .

None of the songs blend into each other or have any kind of segues. Although that doesn't change the sound of the songs themselves, it does give the album a more cohesive sound instead of just a collection of songs that he assembled.

Musicology does blend, and I think it works very well. The songs also sound like they were recorded at the same time (which is probably not true but the compilation choices were better).

All that aside, yes the albums sound "thin" compared to his other stuff. I'd love to hear a WALL OF SOUND-like production from him. Think Love Thy Will B Done and you see where I'm going. Think the One Nite Alone album and he was there on half the songs. Very full, lush, well-produced.

Novabreaker said:

that's what it is, he seems to be trying a new mastering sound, still in the "demo" type aesthetic. Loud, bassy tone, almost no overall reverb, to make it sound like it's more "real" and in your face in tone?

dry

It may just be the dryness!

Its the production/engineering - its not as good on albums post 96 - the albums have a muted/muffled/plasticy sound to them and dont have the airy/spacy sound of his 90's albums.
[Edited 6/4/06 12:53pm]

TheFreakerFantastic said:

I think the airy/spacey sound is tired.

[/quote]....and more cowbell.....definitely more cowbell....!! [quote]


I've got a fever and the only prescription is...more cowbell!....freakin hilarious.

NDRU said:

Eh!

tane1976 said:

Nobody mentioned tearjerker productions. And none of those songs you mentioned would make anybody shed a tear. The Man In U're Life, Love, Fury and Beautiful, Loved and Blessed are about as tearjerkery as winning the lottery (you obviously cry at the drop of a hat). And The Dance simply isn't commercial enough, as lovely as it is.

I was talking about those epic, commercial sounding ballads that Prince often puts on his 'intended for the masses' albums that he hasn't done on Musicology and 3121. None of the songs you've mentioned fall into the category of 'epic' in the commercial sense.

You've missed my point completely and I still stand by my original post.

so are we saying Prince is dry?

ufoclub said:

Perhaps he felt the same--that using too many studio post production tricks dates the sound more and it actually doesn't help anything if the music is good enough (which I'm sure Prince believes about his own stuff)

The Beatles made Let It Be Naked much more dry, and I like the results a lot. Now the reverb doesn't hide the music at all.

Now, of course the vocals on Incense & Candles sound dated, but not to 2006. Similarly, the synths sound dated on Lolita, but not to 2006. Elements may sound dated, but maybe he's trying to not date the whole package as much?

the point about reverb is an awesome one.

I think the engineering is a big deal, too. Most older fans associate a lusher, wetter Susan Rogers sound.

Yes, W&L-co-written songs were typically more "colorful" and sprawling, too.

Factor in Rogers' touch, and you have some days where the difference between then in now is like b&w vs. Technicolor.

I think the "Graffiti Bridge" album has too much cold wet reverb, especially "Still Would Stand all Time"

it works on "Joy in Repetition"

lilgish said:

lilgish said:

lawd forbid...don't have me throwing a full bottle of palmer's cocoa butter at 'im.

FunkMistress said:

and here i was thinking that he wasn't just feeling so fresh...

PurpleKnight said:

everything on 3121 and Musicology lacks real passion or even anger ,
Prince is writing about emotions but hes not feeling the emotions in the performance so much nowadays sadly , I blame the JWs , they've drained the life out of his studio work .

moonshine said:

I think he's being lazee 2. Comeon, is 3121 real funk or recycled Prince? The whole set is lackluster. I didn't feel the connection. Don't B hatin', but 'foreplay is only in the mind'.

paisleyfreek said:

please, I'd never listen to anything on "dirty mind" as much as I listen to the title track on 3121, just the tonal shift to the almost cartoon circus when the "horns" kick in is genius. But then again I'm way into that kind of colorful painting with music and textures over the disciplined theme of treble demo tone in dirty mind.