I don't get it, why so many seem 2 dislike NEWS. It can't be compared 2 his other albums.
it came after the magnificent album TRC, a fulfilling and exhausting experience.
NEWS was (4 me) like the cool afterglow. A not very demanding and refreshing listen.
It's a true jem!

thedribbler said:

Just please don't operate heavy machinery 8-10 hours after listening to it.

GottaLetitgo said:

The first time I heard the album I remember making a mental not to listen to it while riding my bike. It certainly isn't background music!

Great music.Love News.

sexxydancer said:

I looked at a couple of reviews and the and it seemed, at the time, 2 b well recieved. It's just here, on the org, I've heard it mentioned in negaive tones

I applaud Prince for trying out different, non-commercial experiments like NEWS, but that doesn't mean I like it. Prince's strength has always been well-constructed, flowing, memorable, short pop tunes. The fact he can sit in with his band and just jam for hours on end going in no particular direction doesn't mean he should put it on record. The tracks on NEWS don't go anywhere, they don't build up to anything, or are particularly different from each other stylistically. You don't get the feeling he spent hours reconstructing the material to get them to sound a certain way, or adding some bit because it really needed it at one point... it's just free-flow music that Prince could knock out a million times and it come out slightly different everytime, pretty much as he did with the CNOTE and Xpectation jams too. And that's cool but... also kinda boring.

I enjoyed the cd

part of yet another golden era


80-88
92-96
01-03

i enjoy listening to it when i paint...
or, you know...

*kinda*....KINDA, reminds me of Dream Theater's "Train of Thought"
only on vicodin and valum... but i still really, thoroughly enjoy that album...


IN fact, i'm puting it on NOW.

SammiJ said:

You like Dream Theater?

You are the first person I've seen on this forum make reference to them! You have no idea how cool that makes you in my book.

I hate NEWS and ToT so I guess your description is kinda fitting.

Well it's nice to listen to while working...


Would I want to watch it live? No.

It's dull. Like everything Prince makes at the moment.

i think it's a really nice album. to me personally, it always felt
like a lengthy coda to The Rainbow Children. i dig it.

perhaps the songs being 14 minutes is what makes it hard for people
to crack the album. if it was all 4 or 5 minute tracks i think it'd
get a bit more love on here.

I've said this before- I put it on in my classroom while my kids are working quietly. It makes good background music. It's not something you ride around in your car jamming to, but it's nice to be able to tell the kids it's Prince when they ask what it is. They get to hear that Prince is not all dirty lyrics.

I enjoy listening to it, it's a great showcase of Prince and co's musicianship and I always seem to find something different when listening to particular tracks. I think North and East are the most focused/accomplished songs, they seem to have a structure and actually manage to build to something of a climax.

it's just too damn hi-energy for me. gets me too pumped up, I start going "YEEEEEAAAAAH! CMON! YEEEEEAH!" and jumping around like on some steve ballmer shit. i also put it on at frat parties and me and my bros do keg stands to those ASSKICKIN keyboard solos. CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG

theghostoftonym said:

I sense some sarcasm in your post.

r1ghteousone said:

no way

News just Sucks, it's just a concept that failed!

thedribbler said:

2003 was fabulous all the way around. With the exception of the track "Empty Room" Prince unleashed some incredible instrumental music: Xpectation, C-Note, & NEWS.

I want more, More, MORE!!!!!

.....

There's no funk on it. That's what's wrong with it. Stick to funk/rock ONLY. Leave the experimental artsy/fartsy shit alone. For every album that doesn't have funk, that means waiting another year or two for some funk.

vainandy said:

I think u should be careful with expressions like artsy/fartsy, it makes u sound stupid.
Funk music came about through experimenting, I think p is at his best when he's reaching for something new. I think musicology soon followed NEWS, there was no waiting another year or 2.
I'm all for movement and progression in music, that's what makes it exciting. Only a few masters have the skill and nerve to try something new, I, 4 1, certainly hope thyt p doesn't waste any more time with repetition. May God bless u, vainandy 'cause I certainly won't!
And u do need blessing

Love NEWS-especially the third track

gcu1 said:

Yes...was a real breath after those HIGH tracks

[quote]

thedribbler said:

I use the word artsy/fartsy because it pisses off the fans that want Prince to be artsy/fartsy. Like Prince, I am very bold and believe in telling it like it is whether people like what I say or not. A lot of folks don't like that type of music either but are afraid to say it because this is a Prince site and they want to seem so diverse like he is. I have no problem telling people that I'm not. I have my own mind and tastes just like he does. A question was asked which was "What's wrong with NEWS". I answered what I think is wrong with it, truthfully and honestly.



Well, that's you, not me. I'm happy with funk and rock only. If I want classical sounding music, I will buy a Lawrence Welk album.



I didn't even know about "NEWS" and did not buy it. A friend of mine just showed up my door and he had burned me a copy of it. He said "Prince has really flipped out this time". Other than that, I wouldn't have known about it. That's probably why I wasn't very pissed about the album because I wasn't expecting it. I can't say the same for "Parade" though. That orchestra shit on there really pissed me off and I did have to wait another year for something else.



I hope he doesn't repeat himself either. He's done the classical shit so don't do it again.



Don't we all?

It's more like ET rather then CNN.
It's more like the national equirer then the wall street journal.
It's more like...

The problem with NEWS is that folks have heard much better performances in rehearsals or aftershows or soundchecks, yet he chooses to release a mediocre instrumental album held together by a flimsy concept of 14minute tracks.

It works well as wallpaper or background...but that's not why I want to listen to Prince.

vainandy said:[quote]

You should stop listening to Prince. You're the kind of fan Prince despises. The type that puts him in a box and only wants to hear one 'format' of music. If you just want funk - buy some James Brown and some Parliament and do Prince a favor.

Do you think I care whether or not I'm the type of fan Prince despises? My name is Andy, not Prince. We are two separate individuals with our own tastes, likes, and dislikes and I'm not going to change my tastes just because Prince changes his. I would think Prince would be happy with fans with minds of their own since he likes to speak out against idol worshipping. If not, oh well, who cares?

Gohi said:

i only have ToT because it was a cruising soundtrack for a friend and me
but nice to know i'm considered cool