Hey folks, this is a review I've written for 3121, an album that, despite my conclusion, is a fantastic conversation point. What do you think?

With consistent musicianship and songwriting at its core, 3121 nevertheless shows an artist treading water in every way that once earned him a place amongst music’s elite.

2004’s Musicology thrust Prince back into the public attention to a degree not seen since the early 1990s. Eager to return to the public consciousness, Prince heavily promoted the album with press conferences, television appearances, and an extensive tour that handed out Musicology to all ticket-holders. Touted by the artist himself as an album designed to reintroduce Prince to listeners rather than to extend his musical vocabulary, Musicology was an enjoyable, though hardly evolutionary, work that indeed achieved popular chart success.

In many respects, 3121 is a close sibling of its predecessor. Fully digestible after few listens, the album is easily accessible, focussed, and spans a gamut of styles, from the relaxed latin vibe of “Te Amo Corazón”, to the bluesy “Satisfied”, to horn-powered showsong “Get On The Boat”. Eager to please, 3121 frequently reminds listeners of the many musical signatures that made Prince a household name in the 1980s. “3121” bears a close resemblance to fan favourite “Days Of Wild", “Black Sweat” recalls the taut minimalism of “Kiss”, and the synth that carries “Fury” is close to that of “1999”. And, as with Musicology, there is little fat on this trimmed album, bland “Incense and Candles” aside. Thematically, 3121 also repeats much of Musicology. Fidelity and self-control inform Prince’s wariness of a young girl’s affections in “Lolita” and his plea to his lover to keep her clothes on in “Incense and Candles”; “3121” echoes the party call of “Musicology”; and “The Dance” recalls a troubled relationship similar to “A Million Days”'s. The result is an experience reminiscent of Musicology.

Though throughout 3121 Prince either imitates himself, or somebody else, the album is not entirely Musicology Part II. The title track is a stronger start than Musicology’s equivalent, and the pulsing dance beat of “Love”, guitar-tinged volume-raiser “Fury”, and the taut vocal delivery of “Black Sweat” all establish a more energetic collection of songs. Though hardly revolutionary tracks, “Te Amo Corazón” and “The Dance” both showcase, more successfully than any track on Musicology, Prince’s ability to write as a mature artist. For the most part, protegé Tamar’s contributions on 3121 provide a strong vocal backing and welcome distance from Musicology. Prince’s Jehovah’s Witness-influenced beliefs are more explicit on the album, providing lyrical influences on “Incense and Candles”, “The Word”, “Beautiful, Loved and Blessed”, and “Get On The Boat”.

However, despite the consistent songwriting and production across the album, 3121’s similarities to Musicology ultimately reveal an artist uncertain as to how to move forward carrying a past littered with critical and commercial successes. An album sharing the populist intentions of Musicology makes for an unsatisfying second visit, instead showing Prince hoping to reclaim popularity rather than forge new ground. At the same time, on songs such as “Incense and Candles” and “Beautiful, Loved and Blessed”, 3121 finds Prince imitating popular musical trends, with mediocre results. Though 3121 has musical breadth, the same sentiment also makes the album poorly sequenced and incoherent. The result is an album that adds little to Prince’s existing musical portfolio.

As with Diamonds and Pearls, Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, and Musicology, 3121 reveals a longstanding conflict within Prince between recapturing commercial success and fulfilling potential as an artist. Whilst albums like The Rainbow Children and One Nite Alone… offer a truer reflection of a mature artist, it is to a less satisfying commercial sentiment, one that delivers what Prince imagines listeners expect of him, he returns to on this album. 3121 is a work that simmers but never boils. It breaks no new ground and does nothing to reflect Prince’s potential, something that, even after almost thirty years, remains formidable.
[Edited 6/4/06 10:34am]
[Edited 6/5/06 14:24pm]

Great and accurate. Whose review is this, and for what publication?

I wrote it. I should probably have made that clear at the top!

I had to write this because 3121 has hit me harder than almost any other Prince album - as a disappointment. After striking back with a quality bunch of albums from TRC onwards, it was a jarring experience for me that he would seem prepared to sacrifice inspiration for easy listening. 3121 is the first Prince album ever that even at the end of the first day I was already starting to dislike it.

Anyway, plenty of others seem to like it, so at least many are happy. With all these opinions, with Prince's sheer unpredictability, isn't being a Prince fan great?

Do you write professionally?

If not, consider it!!!

Awww, that's cute.

luv4all7 said:

Hey! Hey! What's cute?

ThreadBare said:

I think you're the one referred to as cute, though if luv4all7's icon is anything to go by, you've got competition!

Oh, and thanks ThreadBare for the compliment. You big ol' softy.

gubbins4ever said:

I can't help but to think, given this review, and what I feel about 3121, that he is trying to warm us up with each album for something that we absolutely wouldn't expect, but would absolutely love in the near future.

As with Diamonds and Pearls, Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, and Musicology, 3121 reveals a longstanding conflict within Prince between recapturing commercial success and fulfilling potential as an artist. Whilst albums like The Rainbow Children and One Nite Alone… offer a truer reflection of a mature artist, it is to a less satisfying commercial sentiment, one that delivers what Prince imagines listeners expect of him, he returns to on this album. 3121 is a work that simmers but never boils. It breaks no new ground and does nothing to reflect Prince’s potential, something that, even after almost thirty years, remains formidable.
[Edited 6/4/06 10:34am]
[Edited 6/5/06 14:24pm]
[/quote]

The question would then be, "Can you win for losing?" Be true to yourself and make something that will not sell well, or settle for trying to make commercially successful records that makes the critics not like you so much? You make one group happy and upset another group at the same time. What is an artist to do?

1999n3121 said:

The problem with Prince's output in recent years... as in, the past 10 or so ... has less to do with breathaking indie efforts vs. commercial pablum.

It has more with the fact that he has ceased to astound listeners -- fans and critics alike. He's a stellar performer, he's still charismatic and funny; and he's always playing up the role of the mysterious, narcissistic revelator.

But I haven't had my socks knocked off (i.e., JIR, Morning Papers, etc.) in a number of years.

Yet, I keep coming back, hoping that he'll do it again like he used to.
[Edited 6/7/06 12:49pm]

Awwwww, I think everyone is cute, but I was actually talking about the review. It's a cute review!

ThreadBare said:

"When I Lay My Hands On U" knocked my socks off. This really should have been released on an album.

A few tracks on 'Emancipation' did the same.

Most songs on 'The Truth' did so.

Nearly all of 'The Rainbow Children' did.

There's more.

I am wired in reversre though... I don't like 'Diamonds and Pearls' or 'The Gold Experience'.
[Edited 6/7/06 13:33pm]

ThreadBare said:

It's all opinions .
You have yours and I have mine.
Shit that knocked my socks off ...
7
Shy
I Like It There
In This Bed I Scream
So Far So Pleased
Last December
Illusion,Coma,Pimp, and Circumstance

Now is that shit the same as 1999,LRC, Purple Rain,Kiss ... Hell no but it is kicking the shit out of 80% of the same shit that is out there.

Good review, and much of it is right on. On place I think 3121 succeeds where Musicology & Rave did not is that the songs are simply more memorable, if not musically better.

Musicology was good, but it seemed a bit forced. 3121's melodies & hooks flow much more naturally. Plus it sounds more like Prince than Musicology did.

You're right, it doesn't move forward, exactly, but it accomplishes what Musicology was supposed to, which is reintroduce his style of music to a pop audience.