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Is 3121 the most embarassing example of a veteran artist trying to sound contemporary? My beef with 3121 stems from it's tacky, overblown production.
The Word is one of the albums highlights until about three minutes into it when you have that horribly overblown keyboard which sounds as if it was lifted straight from Michael Jackson's 1991 Dangerous album. The use of vocoder on Incense and Candles makes Prince look like he's playing catch-up with producers that were hot six years ago. It's a sad day when Prince wannabe's such as Pharrell know hot to produce a better Prince record than the man himself. Hollaback Girl is the best produced Prince track I've heard in years. And don't tell me Prince is above competing with todays chart acts when it's quite clear that 3121 was his feeble attempt at a contemporary sounding chart comeback. |
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 " the embassy shut to keep the fools out " - as above, so below. | |
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You mean with songs like 3121, Te Amo Corazon, Fury, Satisfied, Get On The Boat and The Dance (debatable maybe)? There are just many contemporary soundings songs on there as there are not, IMO. | |
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MattyJam said: My beef with 3121 stems from it's tacky, overblown production.
The Word is one of the albums highlights until about three minutes into it when you have that horribly overblown keyboard which sounds as if it was lifted straight from Michael Jackson's 1991 Dangerous album. The use of vocoder on Incense and Candles makes Prince look like he's playing catch-up with producers that were hot six years ago. It's a sad day when Prince wannabe's such as Pharrell know hot to produce a better Prince record than the man himself. Hollaback Girl is the best produced Prince track I've heard in years. And don't tell me Prince is above competing with todays chart acts when it's quite clear that 3121 was his feeble attempt at a contemporary sounding chart comeback. ----- " Pharrell know hot to produce a better Prince " You lost me with this comment. All Pharrell does is rip Prince off. He should be paying Prince a royalty for the rip off. There is nothing wrong with making a CD that is contemporary. Don't you think P would like the masses to hear his music. If you like "Hollaback Girl" than you gonna love a song called "Housequake" | |
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Yes, 3121 by and large is crass and forced sounding. The only tracks that work for me are 3121 and The Dance.
Musicology was a far more "natural" sounding album. | |
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Disagree.
Pharell wouldn't even have a career if it were not for Prince. Have you heard his latest album 'In My Mind'? Pharell's new CD also has retro-sounding keyboard and drum fills all over it. The Vocoder has been used in funk and soul records since the 60's and 70's. By no means was it exclusively used by 'hot' producers six years ago. 'Hollaback Girl' virtually copies and pastes the drum beat programming for 'Housequake'. The production on '3121' is not over-blown. In most parts it is quite simple, clean and relatively uncluttered. 'Black Sweat' for example employs minmal production. 'Lovesexy' would be an album that I would class as having a 'busy', instrument heavy production. I would in no way categorise '3121' as having 'overblown' production values. I feel the production sounds contemporary and accessible without betraying Prince's roots. It is a balance of modern and vintage sounds. I'm pretty sure the retro-keyboard sounds were chosen because they were just that: retro. I find it interesting that you make reference to Jackson's last decent album, 'Dangerous' released in 1991. If MJ had released anything with half the quality of '3121' since 'Dangerous' there would be reason to rejoice. Lets be frank; Prince's 'Love' is the song both MJ and his fans wishes he could make. Peace Mr7 | |
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actually 3121 is one of my all-time favorite prince albums.
i'm still digging it today | |
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Hell this CD is alot lot lot better than whats out today "3 1 2 1" | |
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MattyJam said: Hollaback Girl is the best produced Prince track I've heard in years.
 Riiiiight... And Gwen Stefani can hold a tune... Brotha please...  [Edited 8/3/06 6:28am] | |
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"is 3121 the most embarrassing example of a veteran artist trying to sound contemporary?"
No. Rave un2 the Joy Fantastic is a candidate for that. 
I don't think 3121 is embarrassing because it's trying to sound contemporary. It's just not a very good album.  But Marge! What if we chose the wrong religion? Each week we just make God madder and madder. | |
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I'm just glad Prince hasn't followed in the trend of doing an album of duets - this could be done well on his terms, but it's become an easy way to make a commercial comeback for a faded star. See Santana and many, many others for examples of this. Of course, Rave was an attempt at this, but probably failed because most of the tracks were solo tracks, and the guest stars weren't very prominent. Plus the single(s) involved no major guest stars. | |
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This thread is the most embassing thread about music. | |
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Graycap23 said: This thread is the most embassing thread about music.
Surely it can't compete with your threads?  But Marge! What if we chose the wrong religion? Each week we just make God madder and madder. | |
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laurarichardson said: MattyJam said: My beef with 3121 stems from it's tacky, overblown production.
The Word is one of the albums highlights until about three minutes into it when you have that horribly overblown keyboard which sounds as if it was lifted straight from Michael Jackson's 1991 Dangerous album. The use of vocoder on Incense and Candles makes Prince look like he's playing catch-up with producers that were hot six years ago. It's a sad day when Prince wannabe's such as Pharrell know hot to produce a better Prince record than the man himself. Hollaback Girl is the best produced Prince track I've heard in years. And don't tell me Prince is above competing with todays chart acts when it's quite clear that 3121 was his feeble attempt at a contemporary sounding chart comeback. ----- " Pharrell know hot to produce a better Prince " You lost me with this comment. All Pharrell does is rip Prince off. He should be paying Prince a royalty for the rip off. There is nothing wrong with making a CD that is contemporary. Don't you think P would like the masses to hear his music. If you like "Hollaback Girl" than you gonna love a song called "Housequake" co-sign | |
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Graycap23 said: This thread is the most embassing thread about music.
For once I agree with you. (Not that I don't agree with your previous writings per se, just that they have yet to be verified.) Peace Mr7 | |
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Graycap23 said: This thread is the most embassing thread about music.
I totally agree. I'm not a fan of "old Prince". I'm not a fan of "new Prince". I'm just a fan of Prince. Simple as that | |
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laurarichardson said: MattyJam said: My beef with 3121 stems from it's tacky, overblown production.
The Word is one of the albums highlights until about three minutes into it when you have that horribly overblown keyboard which sounds as if it was lifted straight from Michael Jackson's 1991 Dangerous album. The use of vocoder on Incense and Candles makes Prince look like he's playing catch-up with producers that were hot six years ago. It's a sad day when Prince wannabe's such as Pharrell know hot to produce a better Prince record than the man himself. Hollaback Girl is the best produced Prince track I've heard in years. And don't tell me Prince is above competing with todays chart acts when it's quite clear that 3121 was his feeble attempt at a contemporary sounding chart comeback. ----- " Pharrell know hot to produce a better Prince " You lost me with this comment. All Pharrell does is rip Prince off. He should be paying Prince a royalty for the rip off. There is nothing wrong with making a CD that is contemporary. Don't you think P would like the masses to hear his music. If you like "Hollaback Girl" than you gonna love a song called "Housequake" Preach it Laura! I'm not a fan of "old Prince". I'm not a fan of "new Prince". I'm just a fan of Prince. Simple as that | |
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no its not, and if ya dont like it, then dont listen  "Paisley Park is in your Heart" | |
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MattyJam said: Hollaback Girl is the best produced Prince track I've heard in years.
You lost me there. 
It just sounds like Housequake. I hardly think imitation is what Prince is all about. | |
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no. | |
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3121 is actually a pretty good album. I'll have to take listen to the entire Gwen Stefani album to compare.
And housequake is still ahead of Hollaback girl and it was done in '86 most likely? My art book: http://www.lulu.com/spotl...ecomicskid
VIDEO WORK: http://sharadkantpatel.com MUSIC: https://soundcloud.com/ufoclub1977 | |
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3121 the CD reviews that wont die | |
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And the award for "Embarassing Veteran Attempt @ Contemporary Sound" would have to go to...
Teena Marie! ...sorry to say. Never let me slip, cause if I slip, then I'm slippin | |
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Stinky said: "is 3121 the most embarrassing example of a veteran artist trying to sound contemporary?"
No. Rave un2 the Joy Fantastic is a candidate for that. Stinky speaketh the truth. 3121 has 2 contemprary-ish songs, imo. I&C and BS. Ecerything else is just Prince being Prince with a few retro tunes thrown in there if anything. . [Edited 8/3/06 10:42am] "What kind of fuck ending is that?" |
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Handclapsfingasnapz said:
no. Thats a good one. When I first saw this thread the first word that came to mind was DISCO. There were a lot of artists who tried disco to disasterous results. | |
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Silly boy; Prince does not compete...he doesn't have too.
MattyJam said: My beef with 3121 stems from it's tacky, overblown production.
The Word is one of the albums highlights until about three minutes into it when you have that horribly overblown keyboard which sounds as if it was lifted straight from Michael Jackson's 1991 Dangerous album. The use of vocoder on Incense and Candles makes Prince look like he's playing catch-up with producers that were hot six years ago. It's a sad day when Prince wannabe's such as Pharrell know hot to produce a better Prince record than the man himself. Hollaback Girl is the best produced Prince track I've heard in years. And don't tell me Prince is above competing with todays chart acts when it's quite clear that 3121 was his feeble attempt at a contemporary sounding chart comeback. Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric. | |
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Actually, Van Hunt did the best Prince album so far this year. All you others say Hell Yea!!  | |
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3121 is classic Prince. The album is a lot more close to the "classic Prince sound" than albums like Diamonds & Pearls or 
Just because what is trendy is aping Prince's sound doesn't mean Prince is trying to be trendy. Learn you pop music history before asking such shallow questions. "New Power slide...." |
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2freaky4church1 said: Actually, Van Hunt did the best Prince album so far this year.
I like him! | |
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