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Thread started 07/18/07 11:42pm

Jatrig

The Problem = The Drums

Prince's last few albums have a very serious problem: the drums - they're dead and they're flat. They are boring. They are lame and uninteresting. Listen to the drums on chelsea Rodgers, on musicology, on any new album. Michael B - we need you.

(I can't wait for folks to get mad at me personally for writing this post instead of responding to its substance!!)
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Reply #1 posted 07/18/07 11:57pm

TheMatrix

Really? That's laughable!
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Reply #2 posted 07/19/07 12:07am

VonMarie

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Michael B is a Bad Mother...Shucho Mouth!!! lol
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Reply #3 posted 07/19/07 1:01am

bigwillpreache
r

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Jatrig said:

Prince's last few albums have a very serious problem: the drums - they're dead and they're flat. They are boring. They are lame and uninteresting. Listen to the drums on chelsea Rodgers, on musicology, on any new album. Michael B - we need you.

(I can't wait for folks to get mad at me personally for writing this post instead of responding to its substance!!)

Interesting observation/opinion about the drums on the last few albums! Whether it is true or not,...I hope you realize that it is direct critizism of Prince's musicianship and ear. He usually does the majority of recordings himself and has final say on the sound mix. I'm not mad at your opinion,...just don't start a thread stating that "P is best at everything he does musically." lol
Intelligent people talk about ideas. -->Average people talk about things. --> Small people talk about other people.
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Reply #4 posted 07/19/07 1:07am

Flowerz

no offense.. but damn... how many more threads are gonna be created about Prince's downfalls? or what ppl 'think' are the downfalls? .. cant we talk about how we're gonna invade PP when he gets back??
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Reply #5 posted 07/19/07 1:14am

Wall

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Jatrig said:

Prince's last few albums have a very serious problem: the drums - they're dead and they're flat. They are boring. They are lame and uninteresting. Listen to the drums on chelsea Rodgers, on musicology, on any new album. Michael B - we need you.

(I can't wait for folks to get mad at me personally for writing this post instead of responding to its substance!!)


I agree but he's never had excellent drumming showcased on his records. We are, after all, talking about a man who became famous for programming a drum machine. How many fans on this site still get all giddy just at the thought of the linn drum machine? Goes to show how much they know of "Musicology."

Fact is, Prince has no clue how to properly record in studio so someone like Michael Bland or John Blackwell ends up short changed on record when they are actually recorded. But of course, we'd all prefer the linn to give us that 1984 vibe. lol
No hard feelings.
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Reply #6 posted 07/19/07 2:05am

bboy87

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Wall said:

Jatrig said:

Prince's last few albums have a very serious problem: the drums - they're dead and they're flat. They are boring. They are lame and uninteresting. Listen to the drums on chelsea Rodgers, on musicology, on any new album. Michael B - we need you.

(I can't wait for folks to get mad at me personally for writing this post instead of responding to its substance!!)


I agree but he's never had excellent drumming showcased on his records. We are, after all, talking about a man who became famous for programming a drum machine. How many fans on this site still get all giddy just at the thought of the linn drum machine? Goes to show how much they know of "Musicology."

Fact is, Prince has no clue how to properly record in studio so someone like Michael Bland or John Blackwell ends up short changed on record when they are actually recorded. But of course, we'd all prefer the linn to give us that 1984 vibe. lol

Ya damn skippy!!! lol
"We may deify or demonize them but not ignore them. And we call them genius, because they are the people who change the world."
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Reply #7 posted 07/19/07 2:11am

BoySimon

I don't quite agree that Prince has no idae how to record in a studio... I rather think he captured both Michael B and John Blackwell's sound rather well.

But I agree that the drums seems to be the first thing laid down and then left rather than refined/augmented... which is odd considering the importance he places on percussion in his live performances.
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Reply #8 posted 07/19/07 2:12am

BoySimon

Oh... addendum... let's just hope that now he's back on board with the Girl Bros, he'll put a call in to Susan Rogers and all will be well in the world once again!
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Reply #9 posted 07/19/07 2:16am

love2thenines2
003

Jatrig said:

Prince's last few albums have a very serious problem: the drums - they're dead and they're flat. They are boring. They are lame and uninteresting. Listen to the drums on chelsea Rodgers, on musicology, on any new album. Michael B - we need you.

(I can't wait for folks to get mad at me personally for writing this post instead of responding to its substance!!)



....IT SEEMS that MB and Sonny T are on 3121 the song and Planet Earth the song wink
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Reply #10 posted 07/19/07 2:16am

love2thenines2
003

BoySimon said:

Oh... addendum... let's just hope that now he's back on board with the Girl Bros, he'll put a call in to Susan Rogers and all will be well in the world once again!


100 % right biggrin
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Reply #11 posted 07/19/07 2:20am

Wall

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BoySimon said:

Oh... addendum... let's just hope that now he's back on board with the Girl Bros, he'll put a call in to Susan Rogers and all will be well in the world once again!



Right, because two average musicians with the chops of a white belt and the range of a blind sniper will get him back on track lickety-split.
No hard feelings.
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Reply #12 posted 07/19/07 2:24am

BoySimon

"Right, because two average musicians with the chops of a white belt and the range of a blind sniper will get him back on track lickety-split."

Yep.

"Average"? Sorry, I'm pointing and laughing at the screen now. You're funny.
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Reply #13 posted 07/19/07 2:28am

Wall

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BoySimon said:

"Right, because two average musicians with the chops of a white belt and the range of a blind sniper will get him back on track lickety-split."

Yep.

"Average"? Sorry, I'm pointing and laughing at the screen now. You're funny.


Don't apologize for having a good time. It's good to know that not all are minions and actually agree to the point of audible mirth with my criticism. Cheers.
No hard feelings.
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Reply #14 posted 07/19/07 2:29am

wlcm2thdwn

Once again your Opinion is like your asshole, sometimes it STINKS! lol
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Reply #15 posted 07/20/07 2:27am

rebelsoldier

Michael B and Sonny T average? Wow!
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Reply #16 posted 07/20/07 2:30am

Serena

Jatrig said:

Prince's last few albums have a very serious problem: the drums - they're dead and they're flat. They are boring. They are lame and uninteresting. Listen to the drums on chelsea Rodgers, on musicology, on any new album. Michael B - we need you.

(I can't wait for folks to get mad at me personally for writing this post instead of responding to its substance!!)


Both Michael B & Sonny T are credited on Planet Earth. I haven't seen any specifics of what song(s) they contributed to, but it's there.
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Reply #17 posted 07/20/07 2:39am

wickyb

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rebelsoldier said:

Michael B and Sonny T average? Wow!


I think that the reference was to Wendy & Lisa
"Sheeeeeeeeit"
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Reply #18 posted 07/20/07 6:31am

ufoclub

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I think it's a conscious decision to not have intricate drumming lately, and especially on this new album to stick mostly with a plain drumkit sound with simple raw acoustics.

I think he felt the musicianship/ jazzy drumming was tired, and uncool for him right now for this new album.

There are a lot of parallels between this new Prince album and Paul McCartney's new album in terms of theme and style choice.
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Reply #19 posted 07/20/07 6:37am

emesem

variety is the spice of life.

also, understated musicianship lets the songs breath on their own as songs as oppossed to recorded tracks.

Not to mention it makes Prince's guitar playing stand out more.
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Reply #20 posted 07/20/07 6:49am

Giovanni777

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Sorry, but i strongly disagree.

Have U listened 2 the album on CD yet?

I don't know who is playing drums on "Guitar", but that really works.

On "Chelsea Rodgers", Prince's drumming is exquisite and powerful, also adding the perfect amount of room reverb on the kick drum.

On "Planet Earth", well, that's just perfect.

I understand what U mean about sometimes sounding 2 dry, and the 'Musicology' album as a whole was fairly dry (lack of reverb), but U had Blackwell bangin' the &$#% outta the skins on "If Eye Was The Man In Ur Life", and I actually liked Prince's drumming on "Cinnamon Girl" and "A Million Days".
"He's a musician's musician..."
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Reply #21 posted 07/20/07 6:59am

Giovanni777

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Wall said:

BoySimon said:

Oh... addendum... let's just hope that now he's back on board with the Girl Bros, he'll put a call in to Susan Rogers and all will be well in the world once again!



Right, because two average musicians with the chops of a white belt and the range of a blind sniper will get him back on track lickety-split.


This is interesting 2 me, because there R alot of folks around here who think W&L actually contribute 2 Prince's songwriting, which is false. They may make him feel more comfortable bringing out other styles that he writes, but that's about it these days. He loves Wendy's energy, and it inspires him, yes, but Prince has written stuff like what we hear on 'Planet Earth' 4 years and years without W&L.

I do like the fact that Wendy is playing some acoustic guitar, and providing some background vocals, but I don't want 2 hear people saying that the reason this album rocks is because Wendy (and possibly Lisa) R making an appearance.
"He's a musician's musician..."
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Reply #22 posted 07/20/07 9:06am

love2thenines2
003

Giovanni777 said:

Wall said:




Right, because two average musicians with the chops of a white belt and the range of a blind sniper will get him back on track lickety-split.


This is interesting 2 me, because there R alot of folks around here who think W&L actually contribute 2 Prince's songwriting, which is false. They may make him feel more comfortable bringing out other styles that he writes, but that's about it these days. He loves Wendy's energy, and it inspires him, yes, but Prince has written stuff like what we hear on 'Planet Earth' 4 years and years without W&L.

I do like the fact that Wendy is playing some acoustic guitar, and providing some background vocals, but I don't want 2 hear people saying that the reason this album rocks is because Wendy (and possibly Lisa) R making an appearance.



.....maybe u'r right Giovanni...i did not listen yet the New Album ...i can't say to much...but it seems that the Good Tracks on this album are with W&L...this is for me a Fabulous news because my favorite Prince Era is The Revolution era...so i pray for other albums with the Girls and i wish 4 a Release of ROADHOUSE GARDEN....this would be a Great Present for an Old Fan Like me! wink
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Reply #23 posted 07/20/07 7:30pm

TheMatrix

Serena said:

Jatrig said:

Prince's last few albums have a very serious problem: the drums - they're dead and they're flat. They are boring. They are lame and uninteresting. Listen to the drums on chelsea Rodgers, on musicology, on any new album. Michael B - we need you.

(I can't wait for folks to get mad at me personally for writing this post instead of responding to its substance!!)


Both Michael B & Sonny T are credited on Planet Earth. I haven't seen any specifics of what song(s) they contributed to, but it's there.



Which could very well mean the songs were pulled from the vault.
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Reply #24 posted 07/20/07 7:34pm

NDRU

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Haven't heard PE, but I think the drums are what really made TRC sound special. I didn't understand why he didn't use John B more on record.
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Reply #25 posted 07/20/07 8:55pm

Serena

TheMatrix said:

Serena said:



Both Michael B & Sonny T are credited on Planet Earth. I haven't seen any specifics of what song(s) they contributed to, but it's there.



Which could very well mean the songs were pulled from the vault.


Well, Michael B. said they had worked together again. I don't recall exactly when, maybe a year or two ago? Although, Prince could've used bits of old stuff and credited them for it.

I'm not one to be able to pick out who's drumming in songs. Does anyone hear something that sounds specifically like Michael B. in anything on PE?
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Reply #26 posted 07/20/07 9:42pm

Wall

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Giovanni777 said:


I do like the fact that Wendy is playing some acoustic guitar, and providing some background vocals, but I don't want 2 hear people saying that the reason this album rocks is because Wendy (and possibly Lisa) R making an appearance.


Hopefully no sane person is saying this album "rocks." At best it meanders and fluffs its way towards complacency.
No hard feelings.
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Reply #27 posted 07/23/07 3:27am

BoySimon

Meanders and fluffs, yes. It's just so encouraging to hear thosr harmonies and the chords and shit. People need to get over the Prince/Wendy&Lisa debate... he's just, in the main, better with them. They inspire and move him and make his sound sound better, more accomplished and interesting. It is no accident that the interesting tunes on the new album include these two revolutionaries.
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Reply #28 posted 07/23/07 7:29am

GustavoRibas

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Well, I only heard ´Guitar´ and the drums sound real flat. But it´s probably Prince there, which is a shame. Because Prince can play real nice drums when he wants to ("Crystal Ball" for example)
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Reply #29 posted 07/23/07 9:31am

ufoclub

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he wanted a young, cool, live, simple rock-n-roll drum sound, not the jazzy hifi sound. He is trying to break a stereotype of how his music normally sounds with most of these tunes.
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