I've finally decided to add N.E.W.S to my collection. And it seems I am going to regret this dicision.
Half-way trough listening to the CD I got so impatient and bored by it, that I couldn't get myself to listen to the rest of it.
Is it going to get any better? I'd appreciate some advice from the music experts on this site. Am I missing something? :
Where did the vocals go on that CD? Did they go east, west, north or south?

I feel the same way!

GiGi319said:


You are wrong 4 that!

Just focus on his guitar playing !!
And if you listen very carefuly you will here him on west !!

It's easily the hardest Prince album to get into, but IF you do manage it, you'll find it one of his most intricate and fascinating CDs. Put it on as background music whilst you're doing something else and maybe it'll start to get under your skin.

Or just play the last 6 minutes of West to hear one of the most beautiful things he's ever put on record.

Exactly!: File Under AMBIENT

Haystack said:

Haystack said:

I so fully agree. If you play this CD and just sit there and try to listen to it too closely, you'll never get it. Like many great paintings, you need to stand back from it to appreciate it. Or like a pot, as long as you stand over it and stare at it, it will never boil. I find this CD mesmerizing when I just put it on and let my mind wander.

I enjoy the N.E.W.S. Once in awhile, when I don't feel like words.
Sometimes music is nice just to have without having to focus on
anything but the way it makes you feel.

FANTASTIC record!

Love the intrumental jams and arrangement.

I love this album!

I listen to it a lot on the train to work - my journey is 1 hour, so it's a perfect travel soundtrack.

If this had vocals - eveyone would be saying it's one of his best - got to give it a chance though, it's not your immediate hit of poptastic tunes you'd associate with Prince, so it throws a lot of people off guard.

usernamealreadyinuse said:

I agree with you! Well said.

GiGi319 said:

Maybe u are not ready for it. Some things take a certain level of maturity to appreciate. I find this to be one of the most defining CDs of Prince's career and pretty much seperates the shallow from the deep. In other words Prince's talent goes much deeper than his voice. I would think most fans would find it a fantastic collection of songs.

Given the state of music and how many younger people have grown up in an era that is pretty empty in real music terms I wonder if that plays a part in the response to this work. So much of nusic created these days lacks complexity and true musical skill.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I will give it another spin!
I guess I just lost interest the first time around, because his vocals weren't on it. I am such a sucker for his voice! Just to hear his voice does it for me, he doesn't even have to sing. Spoken word, squeals, moans, screams,etc. will do it for me, as long as it's Prince's voice. Am I being weird, or does anybody have the same issues?

tricky99 said:

Maturity? How condescending.

As for complexity, if you think N.E.W.S. is complex you must love getting into elevators and listening to that music. N.E.W.S. is about as far from 'complex' music as one can get.

Nope and u r right, "eye" felt the same way! YUCK!

TikiColadas said:

I couldn't agree MORE!!!

.....

truefunksoldier said:

I agree that Tricky's 'maturity' comment may have been somewhat condescending, but like the album or not, there's no way on earth you can say that NEWS isn't complex. Your criticism of NEWS is, sadly, very stereotypical of those people who don't get into it and then feel the need to tell us that we're wrong for thinking it may be something worth appreciating (elevator music; we've not heard that before ).

In what way isn't it complex? How is it simple? How does it compare to your own musical work?
Answer those questions and I might see your criticisms of the album as valid.

Haystack said:

The is one of his greatest CD's.the man is a genius

blacktrump said:

I can't agree with that because the man has a lot of great CDs. I just popped it back into the CD player for some background music. It is a good album but (and this is the part when Jazz fans everywhere line up to beat on me) I prefer the Madhouse projects. They are less mature but have more life in them.

That said, I am glad that they all exist depending on my mood...
but it AIN'T one of his greatest.

Haystack said:

I think it's a fairly complex project also, certainly not for the Simple Minded.

GiGi319 said:

If you don't like N.E.W.S you are probably best avoiding 'xpectation' too!

and the madhouse albums!

N.E.W.S was actually nominated for a grammy - something like 'best instrumental...'

i love it with a passion, the stuff of dreams for me, but i could understand if it wasn't to everyone's liking...but, it's not because it isn't any good, if you're bored by it, that's your perception, and for you, it probably isn't going to get any better!

for me, it COULDN'T be any better!

not to sound poncey, but, there's a long ostinato bit, then suddenly this bass note comes in, and it puts the whole tune in a different key....whenever i hear it, i throw my hands in the air and go: whaaa, howww, ehhhh, how'd he do thaaaa!

Usually cats who don't like N.E.W.S. Can't get passed the no vocal melodies...
and can't surpassed you're brainwashed image of what music should be...
Are probably the same type of cats who aren't open minded to listen to anytype of world music as well...
N.E.W.S. was the closest Prince will ever get to genius...
I showcased the album to my jazz history class, and my professor and many class mates were just blown away
"That's Prince"

Tame said:

now THIS i can agree with.

How could you not know this was an instrumental album?

The solution is simple. Listen to Rhonda.

I've never listened to "NEWS" all the way through either. I've never listened to "The Truth" all the way through either. However, I can tolerate "NEWS" more than I can tolerate "The Truth".

Haystack said:

In fact, there is a way on earth that I can say that NEWS isn't complex. I believe I already did.

Haystack said:

Please tell me where I told anybody that they were wrong for appreciating it?
The fact that you're being so defensive is telling.

Haystack said:

The arrangements are very bland. The progressions are predictable. There's nothing innovative there. There's no soul to it, it's just noodling.

Haystack said:

What does my own musical work have to do with my opinions of someone else's? I'm sensing that defensiveness again.

Try some Rob McConnell for complex arrangements. Squarepusher for some innovative music. (Both mainly vocals free) Bjork, Curd-Duca, Boards of Canada, Pedro, Bela Fleck as well for interesting stuff. Or if you want some jazz throw on some Miles or Thelonious Monk. I'm afraid, in my opinion, N.E.W.S. just isn't in the same league.

Another one of those type people. If we were musicians ourselves, we wouldn't need to buy Prince's music because we would be making our own. I guess we're supposed to like every single thing that Prince ever puts out simply because we aren't musicians ourselves. People have their own tastes and if they don't like something, then they just don't like it.

vainandy said:

there was an interview with jimmy jam and terry lewis where they said 'the truth' for them was 'real' Prince. In that, that's how they know him/think of him - a guy sat playing acoustic guitar while singing.

personally, 'don't play me' is one of my favourite tunes

EmbattledWarrior said:

Cats listen to Prince's music, too??? Who knew? Guess, you lern something everyday!