Just got back from my Jazz History class, and my professor show cased and played us N.E.W.S. and compared it with the bebop and Cool era of jazz in 40's and 50's,
All 40 cats in the class dug N.E.W.S. and couldnt believe that it was prince, and all said they're gonna look for the album,
I spoke to my professor and asked him about how he heard of n.e.w.s,
he said its being passed around in the underground jazz circuit, he first heard it when one of his own band mates was playing a few licks from West during a break, and couldn't believe it...

about a week ago i was in a cafe called smalls in the lower east side of manhattan, a band called the mike moreno trio, played an excerpt from East, and talked about the album,
so i thought today was kinda a coincidence,
i just googled N.E.W.S. and it's widely popular...
i know back in 03 when it came out people trashed it to bits,
funny how things change...

EmbattledWarrior said:

Cunt following, more like...


Childish. Sorry.

Funny you should post this today...Just last Friday I called the classic Jazz radio station here in Baltimore to ask if they ever play Prince's jazz songs. The DJ (who said she's a fan and called Prince a genius) had never heard of N.E.W.S. I told her about 'The Rainbow Children' too. She asked me to call her back this week to see how she liked them. I feel like if people only knew of his versatility he would be more popular. I wish I had warned her about the narrator on TRC. Prince has other jazzy tracks like 2morrow and Strollin that would be recommended listening...What would be the best song to push for radio play in a classic jazz format??

EmbattledWarrior said:

That's fantastic. NEWS really is a true demonstration of Prince's genius!

.....

ejnbmore said:

Don't forget to introduce her to a couple more albums: Xpectation and C-Note.

.....

Finally, it's catching on!

Might wanna hip that dj to the long version of She Spoke 2 Me, also.

EmbattledWarrior said:

I just think that it's great to hear that our feline friends are finally getting some kind of education, musically or otherwise. Our cat just eats, shits, miaows and sleeps and I wish he'd get off his butt and study something useful just like the cats in your class have. So are you the only human in the class?

I've said it before and I'll say it again - NEWS is one of Prince's greatest albums. It challenges fans, it's more intricate and deeper than Lovesexy and it takes the listener on a great journey.

Haystack said:

I agree with u 100%

If it does have a cult following, consider me a cult member! I love it!

Haystack said:

It challenges my patience, that's what it challenges.

If you want a great journey, check out Liszt's B Minor Piano Sonata and I promise you your life will be brighter for it.

Wow. That's rather amazing.

Glad though.

peterfalconer said:

Hey, your loss. But I will definitely check out your recommendation.

ejnbmore said:

Do you get 89.3 WPFW in Bmore? I was listening to it when i heard "when the lights go down" from the vault for the first time and it was during their jazz set. i loved it from the start and just about seized when he came in after that long intro... As for N.E.W.S., I love it. I do a non-stop dance set to it at least five times a week. There's something magical about it. while listening to it you can close your eyes and imagine a story unfolding around you. hmmmmm.... think i'm gonna go dance right now! lol

I was listening to this the other day. I actually like it better than I did when I first heard it. I really have to be in the mood for certain Prince music (or any music for that matter) and if I'm not really in the mood to hear it I won't enjoy it.


.
[Edited 3/21/07 16:41pm]

cult following? wasn't it nominated for a Grammy?

i put it on a cd with xpectation and c-note and love it

and also sent it to a friend/jazz fan and told him it was Prince after he listened to it and he couldn't believe it either

i just listened to the Fury track from SNL and i have to say it is incredible

the guy still is putting out great stuff.....still

That's the only one of my Prince cd's that I never play because I hate it!

There is an awful lot to like about NEWS. Specifically:

1. The dirty guitar at the 5:35 mark in East
2. The breaks at 7:59, 9:01 and 10:04 in West
3. The guitar solo at 1:34 in West
4. Everything from 4:03 through 10:30 in West
5. Everything about South from the beginning through 5:00

I'm much less wild about "North" -- reminds me of a background track to a bad porno.
[Edited 3/20/07 15:22pm]

what's c-note. i don't have that one?

unless people are aware of where they can get stuff like Xpectation and C-Note legally, u shouldn't recommend them. i'ma have to cop NEWS, though i've always loved Prince's jazzy stuff, i slept on this one

Haystack said:

o god that was so funny

Whatever cult N.E.W.S. has following it,
I'd just like to say that,
while I'm very virginal in nature, I am not a virgin.
Though it was a long time ago, I did get laid once.

Just something to consider during the sacrificial rite portion of your next meet'n'greet.

I burn Prince CD's for my best friend all the time and he is a bit of a fan, just not as crazy as I am for example. Back when NEWS came out I must have given him a copy but I forgot. Then we were at his dinner party and late in the night he put it on ! FMD it got everyone talking and the response was excellent.
I never gave this CD much credit.

I have always dug this CD. I think it is fresh and creative from beginning 2 end with all of those great musicians.

Welcome 2 the Dawn...of a New Era...Bright Circle

This cd NEEDS 2 be heard. I LOVE the cd but I guess I'm biased.

EmbattledWarrior said:

Oh please, these guys couldn't find their arses if you provided a map. They just "like" this stuff because they think it is obscure and leftfield.

As for fans liking it: that's just them pretending to be oh so smart: "look at me I'm listening to JAZZ" -- as if that means something.

BartVanHemelen said:

Don't be such a sour-puss. Maybe some people actually like it because, you know, they LIKE the music, with no ulterior motive of appearing 'cool'.


Not me of course, I think it stinks.

I will say I think some of the more recent attention it's getting is down to it being so overtly trampled on in the past.
[Edited 3/21/07 3:25am]

i have loved NEWS from the day i got it. i even bought a copy for a friend and i never do that.

i should pull that out again.

EmbattledWarrior said:

Wow, if all 40 bought it, they would double the total sales figure for NEWS.

Sorry couldn't resist...