I'd rather have any 8 songs from 3121 and Musicology's title track !

Brendan said:

I see what you are saying. I, too, am revisiting the Symbol album more often than I am 3121, for example, but I think that's less a reflection on whether I prefer one to the other and more about newer Prince records making me revist older ones (especially those I've not quite placed a definitive judgement on). Plus, your damn Essentials List has also been an influencial factor of late!

IstenSzek said:

Wow, Isten, whatever will satisfy that mind of yours?

It seems that Planet Earth is an album which, by your own admission, "feels more cohesive and free, relaxed and breezy", boasting a "great flow and energetic, free feeling", "is really very much like "gold experience" where you "dig some individual songs, in fact..."you "like them all"...except the vocal on Chelsea Rodgers and the bridge on the title track.

And yet in spite of all of those plus points, it still doesn't do it for you?
I'd hate to be your boyfriend. And if I was, I'd be playing you Could It Be Magic Now? (the original), just to make you dig Planet Earth!

IstenSzek said:

See, you don't really hate Planet Earth, do you?
"Player" is f'in GREAT, as is "Mr Goodnight".

Brendan said:

Well, Brendan, it's just been compared in a favourite light to the wicked outtake, "Player".
The film "As Good As It Gets" springs to mind for some reason.

Anji said:

I appreciate the reference, but it's partially wasted on someone like me.

I own all the outtakes, or certainly a vast majority, but I know them about as well as I know Cliff Clavin's ass (he's always seated at a bar stool and I'm a heterosexual male who likes women).

And my awkward attempt at the "We March" analogy, which probably made sense to a grand total of 1 person, meant that it stood out in a similar, awkward fashion; not that the tracks themselves are equals.

And I actually don't dislike "Goodnight", if anything I've overrated it and I'm suffering from buyer's remorse. But amongst 9 tracks that truly inspire me, it wouldn't take too much to spoil the batter.

But I'll certainly be checking out "Player" (I probably heard in once or twice years ago).

And you can break down the psychology using proper terms far better than I. But the unreleased stuff, no matter how good or bad, is simply under far less pressure and scrutiny to perform.

For it's own good, "The Black Album" should have stayed notoriously cool and underground.

**Simply unbelievable!**
[Edited 10/15/07 16:32pm]

Anji said:

In reality I'm just quibbling over things that are very minor.

And no doubt with the passage of time I may be shown the many errors of my way.

"Graffiti Bridge" alone is a nightmare, because it somewhat holds together thematically, but it mixes some of Prince's greatest creations ("Still Would", "Question of U", "Thieves", "Elephants", "Joy", "We Can Funk") with some of his worst side projects.

I'm just glad that I had already heard the first three albums from The Time and the first Prince collaboration with Mavis Staples , else this record may have caused me to never jump in with the sharks.

How do you rate that kind of magnificence with "Round and Round", "Shake", "Release It" and "Melody Cool"?

I don't know. It's always difficult when trying to separate various experiences without partially sounding as if you're degrading.

I think that explains why almost everyone on earth uses math to go along with their words. Everyone can see the difference between 3 stars and 3.5 stars, even if the words don't always fully depict what's going on within the writer's ears.

Anji said:

i already had a boyfriend who played prince music and it nearly turned
me off prince's catalogue for good.

no more mixing relationships and music

anywayz, mr goodnight is cool though, i must admit

Call My Name
What U Want Me 2 Do?
Reflection

3121
Te Amo Corazon
Love

Somewhere Here On Earth
The 1 U Wanna C
Future Baby Mama

Musicology
Call My Name
Reflection

Lolita
Fury
The Word

Planet Earth
Chelsea Rodgers
Somewhere Here On Earth


Now that would have been the best CD of the decade!

Musicology
Call My Name
On The Couch
Life Of The Party
3121
Black Sweat
Satisfied
The Dance
Planet Earth
Planet Earth
Mr. Goodnight
Chelsea Rodgers
[Edited 10/17/07 0:21am]

MUSICOLOGY
million days
If I was the man in your life
reflection


3121
te amo corazon
love
the word


PLANET EARTH
future baby mama
mr goodnight
chelsea rodgers

strongest out the 3, probably 3121 just above Musicology

musicology:
musicology
call my name
on the couch

3121:
lolita
black sweat
fury

planet earth:
the one u wanna c
mr. goodnight
chelsea rodgers

Brendan said:

You are so right, Brendan.
I couldn't have put it better myself.

Brendan said:

Yeah, it is strange, Graffiti Bridge.
Even stranger, I dig it all together!

IstenSzek said:

It's the lil Spanish man, I tell ya!

Anji said:

I wonder where he got that lyric from. It's a neat little throw-on that just fits in so nice with the other lyrics.

Long b4 I heard the song, I write something with the main character loosely based on him.
One of the other characters said "I thought he looked like a Spanish guy whose name should be something like Enrique."

Very strange

Musicology

Musicology
The Marrying Kind
If I was ...


3121

Love
The Word
3121

Planet Earth

Planet Earth
The 1 U Wanna C
Lion Of Judah

I guess I'd pick 3121's top 3 as the strongest. It's tough because on any Prince album there are 3 strong songs. I like each group I picked. And they're all different in tone.

Anji said:

That explains why I like it.

But, seriously, I'm often (too often) talking in terms of a masterpiece or greatness, because that's where my music collection is primarily focused.

Besides, I think that in praising it all equally (like his old website seemed to promote) some are actually doing a disservice to a musical legend who is probably one of the ten greatest (and growing) of the last fifty years.

But I find things to admire about it all, else I wouldn't continue to collect every scrap.

And it all offers insight, regardless of whether it's a timeless work of musical genius or something close to a throwaway.

Musicology
-Musicology
-A Million Days
-Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance

3121
-3121
-Te Amo Corazon
-Fury

Planet Earth
-Somewhere Here On Earth
-The One U Wanna C
-Mr. Goodnight