Well it took me years to do it- but I finally appreciate Newpower Soul. It is not one of The Purple One's finest moments I'll grant you, but it is pretty fun. I think that the trouble a lot of fans have with this is that this album is quite a shift in styles from what went before eg Emancipation, The Gold Experience. It certainly shocked me with all the horn section right in your face. And at first it jarred me. But as I endeavoured to appreciate it I gained a taste for the jazzy horn playing which I now find rather enhances things.
There are flaws however with the beats being rather unimaginative and a bit 'tired'. I must admit that at first the electronic 'crowd' moments of 'Freaks on this side' for example grate a bit, but we have to bear in mind that at this time Prince was really enjoying his live playing and this definately influenced this album.

My question is. Has anyone else struggled with this album but gradually come to really enjoy listening to it. Imo it is superior at least to Musicology!

I must say i rather despise New Power Soul.

From the tired beats ,insipid production and in general crap songs!

It does have one saving grace however... The truly brilliant Wasted Kisses..
I remember dozing off in a rather bad mood after my first listen and then discovering that gem at track 49 or whatever.

ahh to the sound man , let there be light!!

HismajestysSecondComing said:

well i hate to say it but i think you're righ

songs i like from musicology:
a million days
call my name
what do u want me 2 do?
dear mr man

songs i love from musicology
reflection


songs i like from nps:
when u love somebody
wasted kisses

song i love from nps:
mad sex
come on
the one


plus they both have their share of horrible moments. on the whole though
i guess musicology is more of an album and nps feels kind of like it's a
bunch of funky songs thrown at a disc just because they're all 'funk'.

still, the absolute favorite ratio for me personally is higher on nps

I know what you are saying but the good stuff in these albums is in the horn stuff. If you pay attention to this you begin to feel it a bit more. I must admit though it takes some listening too! But the wealth is there and I think this has been over looked

I became a fan during the New Power soul era...now all of you know my dirty secret!

Cool I bet many people like this but are too embarrassed to admit it. Come On, everyone Shake their ass to Mad Sex (you know you want to!)

I like it , and I know BinaryJustin likes it, too.

It is what it is and it´s good for what it is, especially considering the era in which it was made and the situation Prince was in back then. Also, on a songs-I-Like- ratio, it is much better than some other stuff he´s released. I could do without " I Like Funky Music" and "Push It Up" and Larry and Doug E but other than those flaws it is a decent side project. Wonder how most of us would feel about it if it was just a rare , unreleased bootleg. I bet some folks would love it much more then. Except for those horrible songs I mentioned above.

If my Asshole sealed up for a month and allowed the fecal matter inside to fester that entire period of time at a balmy, sticky 98 degrees, only to one day explode and splatter that fecal matter all over the place, the smell of that would be more pleasant than sitting through one listening of New Power Soul.

I used to think 'Freaks on This Side' was the worst track on the album - but now I quite like it especially the bit where the drum solo kicks in - this is pretty funky!

If my Asshole sealed up for a month and allowed the fecal matter inside to fester that entire period of time at a balmy, sticky 98 degrees, only to one day explode and splatter that fecal matter all over the place, the smell of that would be more pleasant than sitting through one listening of New Power Soul.[[quote]

smells like a hater to me!

HismajestysSecondComing said:[quote]If my Asshole sealed up for a month and allowed the fecal matter inside to fester that entire period of time at a balmy, sticky 98 degrees, only to one day explode and splatter that fecal matter all over the place, the smell of that would be more pleasant than sitting through one listening of New Power Soul.[
I like "the One" though. That song is tight.

HismajestysSecondComing said:

Oh, I don´t mind that one, at least it changes a bit and has some interesting moments, like that stomping beat, the horns and the bass, but those other ones I mentioned are very monotone and the lyrics are very weak, especially I Like Funky Music, which doesn´t even remotely sound funky.

KoolEaze said:

I admit that the rap impair my enjoyment of the song but I thought that before that 'I like funky music' had a pretty tight groove!

I've loved NPS from day one

Mad Sex
When U Love Somebody
Shoo-Bed-Ooh
Come On
The One
Wasted Kisses

And I have a fondness for Freaks On This Side which I do appreciate is a bit naff, but it's a guilty pleasure.

Haystack said:

It´s all good, you are not alone. Be a bold and daring mawfuckka and just admit that there are some really good songs on it.

Imago said:[quote]

HismajestysSecondComing said:

Tighter than a sealed up asshole?

GangstaFam said:

How do I answer this without seeming too familiar with the subject.

Imago said:

Too late I'm afraid.

GangstaFam said:

(that was my flying brick of love Gansta )

I'd ask all of you to please give it a few more spins before giving up on it entirely

Imago said:

it's ganGsta!!

I actually didn't mind this record at all. There wasn't a lot of hype leading up to it, it just snuck out. And I was expecting another record along the lines of Goldnigga and Exodus with minimal Prince vocals. I wasn't too fond of those records. So when NPS came out, I was pleasantly surprised to have an album full of new Prince party jams. It's not to be taken seriously or as his main statement for that time period. It was just a fun little tide-me-over.

I really like NPS, son't why so many people diss it.

My favorite part is in the song When You Love Somebody. Prince says, "My balls are...round..." The way he says that is so sexy! OH PRINCEY!

sucks.



but "Come On" alone makes its existence worthwhile. "The One" and "Wasted Kisses" are just a nice bonus.

Haystack said:

The horns on that one are whack!

I'm also a proud NPS lover.

Haystack said:

anyone that likes that song, for the line about understanding every line in every book alone, really needs to seek help sorry.

Raze said:

OK, I'll give you that one... the lyrics are a little creepy, but the horns are cool

toejam said:

2 posts up you just said they were wack.

Raze said:

I really loved:

The One and Wasted Kisses

and really liked:
Until ur in my arms again

Come On is pretty cool,
and When U Love Somebody is nice.

some of the others... depending on my mood... i can listen to them.
[Edited 6/30/07 8:31am]