3121:

Right now i have put 3121 on 'repeat' for the second time. I havent listened to this CD for weeks, because i did get bored by it quickly after its release.

For the first time i havent skipped any songs, when in the past i often skipped 3121 (too obviously aiming at hardcore fans), Black Sweat (No chorus), Incense and Candles (too modern R&B-ish in my opinion) and Beautifull, Love and Blessed (idem).

I must say that my impression of this record is changing: the R&B cuts sound better, and not as polished, as i made them out for first, Black Sweats beat is more intricate then i made it out first. And when it comes to the other songs: Lolita is really a fun song to listen to, Love 'works' because of the contrast between the 'rude' sounding synths and the smooth 'chorus', Satisfied is nothing new, but showing Prince can handle traditional R&B very well, The Dance offers a surprising arrangement (and not messy, as some listeners stated before, you just have to listen to it more to get it) and a truelly great chorus (subtle, but great. Again, another 'grower' here), Get on the Beat is a nice slice of organic funk, aking to James Brown of course, but far more 'poppy' then JB has ever done.

3121, Prince and Diamonds and Pearls:

The more i listen to it, 3121 reminds more and more of the records 'Prince' and 'Diamonds and Pearls'. All three records offer nothing really new: there is nothing on it that Prince hasnt done before, they dont go to extremes when it comes to attitude (The provocation of Dirty Mind, the 'Fuck You' of Around the World in a day, after Purple Rain), arrangements (Lovesexy), concepts (The rock operatic Symbol Album) or message (The Rainbow Children).
The three named albums have in common that they show a Prince who is standing still, focussing on his abilities as a songwriter and performer, sounding more traditional then on many other of his records (in the case of 3121 Prince is obviously relating to key elements of the music from the eighties that made him popular: the electronic beats, the synths sounding as synths, the sober, dry arrangements).
Those three records are also purposely aimed at the general public, offering catchy 'songs' without getting too commercial. Showing a gifted songwriter and musician, without the eccentrities that are often a put off for the people who dont know about the song "In all my dreams", and who never heard that Prince is a Jehova knowadays.

Concluding:

3121 is, at first, a record obviously aimed at the general public, the people who only bought Purple Rain, Batman and maybe Diamond and Pearls. It offers 'a Prince' who tries to focus on the wellknown key-elements of his music, almost in a 'retro' way. Some can say that in that way Prince is offering nothing new, on the other hand, you can say that Prince is sparing us the 'troubles' of a whining musician comparing himselve to a 'slave' (Emancipation), an irritating Darth Vader voice talking religious crap (The Rainbow Children) or sporadically interesting forays into jazz (News).
At second, i am honest about this and dont feel ashamed for it, when i look at what Prince records i listen to the most (next to Sign of the Times, which i have listened too much probably..lol), it are records like Prince and Diamonds and Pearls. Records that offer strong songwriting, good musicianship, a mastership of different styles, without falling into the trap of 'messing up styles to much', without too much cringeworthy lyrics or lame concepts.

It seems like 3121 is going to fall into this camp of records: albums i can listen to for a long time, without getting irritated or annoyed by the extra atrocities that sometimes spoil his music. Right now this 'conservative' gives 3121 an 8/10.

This is an excellent view of 3121. It's actually the best view of 3121 I've read anywhere. I love it. Required reading, you all!

I posted a review of the album recently on this fair site and, whilst my conclusion was negative in tone, Riverpoet's view has much in common with it. Prince is focusing on what he can already do instead of pushing forward. It's just that Riverpoet celebrates it and others don't. But that's okay. Prince cannot satisfy everyone.

I think the key to this album is listening to it 'lite'. Don't analyse it too much or expect depth beyond what you hear with the casual ear. I can't say I want an album like that but I can see what it's coming from.