Uptempo funk, guitar with LOTS of fuzz, some waa-waa, some thumpy bass guitar, maybe some throwback linn here and there, but nothing self-parodying. No loungy, James Brown knockoffs and fewer (I never thought I'd be saying this about Prince) stock ballads. I wouldn't mind a "concept" project -- it might fail, but the challenge to both artist and listener would be welcome.
[Edited 6/10/08 20:55pm]

Volitan said:

but we can still b friends tho

I was just checking out 'the vault' on itunes, and while I understand that is random stuff from his early years, it is all so cool and sounds quite out there....
a couple of jazz numbers sound like they have some potential, and I would usually say that he should leave that alone, because I don't usually dig how he jams with jazz muscicians (sounds like elevator music... but this...

This is what he should be doing (and not because it sounds like his old stuff, but because it doesn't)

I'm going to buy btw

It doesn't matter what the man does as long as it comes out sounding great. Prince has been on a good roll with the last 3 albums. So maybe he'll do even better with the next one. I just wish some of these fans would stop being elitist snobs when Prince fails to meet their expectations. Just accept whatever music he does for what it is.

If you don't like it, go listen to fucking Springsteen or something.