Whitnail said:

The original version is on 'One Night Alone' (piano album).

It's strange to me that I keep seeing comments about how anyone who doesn't like MPLSound doesn't like R&B, or doesn't like Prince doing R&B. It's quite odd and most unfounded. I can only imagine everyone saying this thinks there is a chunk of Prince's fanbase who won't accept anything less than him turning into a Metallica tribute band - if there is, I ain't in it.

stanleylieber said:

i assume you are taking the piss

NouveauDance said:

I hear that....There's R&B and then there is R & Cheese.

Whitnail said:

actually, no. i acknowledge the song is ludicrous but that's why i love it. prince can be so fearlessly, gloriously retarded.

SUPRMAN said:

It's strange to me that I keep seeing comments about how anyone who doesn't like MPLSound doesn't like R&B, or doesn't like Prince doing R&B. It's quite odd and most unfounded. I can only imagine everyone saying this thinks there is a chunk of Prince's fanbase who won't accept anything less than him turning into a Metallica tribute band - if there is, I ain't in it.

You don't see or hear his R&B fans that prefer his R&B and Funk side saying those kinds of put downs about his more Rock based music

Alexandernvrmind said:

Wha? The amount of posts I've seen negging on C&D or stuff on Planet Earth, yeah I think I've read those comments!

I don't even know how you'd be into Prince if you didn't dig R&B - I think some people just aren't into that post-Emancipation plastic schmaltz sound, not R&B/Funk in general.

I only heard both albums 1 time, so this is not a 'full review' yet.

On first impressions, my thoughts about MPLsound are:

Kinda what I expected: Prince uses key-elements of his 'original style' (the period 1981 - 1984 most obviously) to create new songs with: the linn-drum, the prominent 'cheap' sounding synthsounds, expanding songs with a (semi-) instrumental coda to turn it into dancefloor-type of material.
A big complaint about how he uses those elements on this album is, is that it is often far from creative.
Its NOT the linn-sound that made Princes music so great back then, its how INVENTIVE and brilliant the beats were he created with that drummachine. On the album i havent heard a single programmed beat that can be compared with the brilliance he offered with, lets say: Automatic, When Doves Cry, Raspberry Beret or the Ballad of Dorothy Parker.
The same goes with how he uses synths that are VERY obviously suppose to sound like synths, and not like other instruments. In his 'older' arrangements they were often cleverly arranged to offer a kind of campy or 'outlandish' flavour to his songs, on MLPsound they often sound misplaced or gimmick-ish.

So far, my complaints about the sound and the production of the album.

Another big let down of this album for me is that most of the compositions underneath that gimmicky 'retro-sound' lack any real punch, strong hooks and riffs or real funkieness.
Songs like Chocolate Box and Dance 4 me sound like Prince doing old-prince songs through the ears of Prince-inspired producers like The Neptunes, Timbaland and Missy Elliot, but then worse: Chocolate Box reminds of filler from a late Britney Spears album, or, something as ridicolous like 'My Humps' by Fergie. And anyone who dares to call Dance 4 Me 'great funk' needs not only his or her ears checked, but his or her brain also. Flashlight by Parliament is great funk, Automatic, Le Grind and Hide the Bone by Prince are great funk, Dance 4 me is mediocre dance-pop.
A huge difference with the early eighties is that, back then, Prince mostly used strong, well composed 'skeletons' to create his innovative music. Compositions that could compete with the best funk-stompers and the most 'hip' new-wave compositions at that time. On MPLsound his compositions are mostly copies of empty bubblegum dance-pop / producers-pop.

Is it all bad? well, lets be generous, the last track: No More candy 4 U was kind of a pleasant surprise. Campy, computerized rockabilly / new-wave that reminded me of Delirious and Jack U Off.
But... for the rest? Plastic, generic dance-pop, not much better then that on The Slaughterhouse or The Chocolate Invasion. Sorry, but i can't rate it higher then 4.5 out of 10.
[Edited 3/27/09 8:55am]

Its NOT the linn-sound that made Princes music so great back then, its how INVENTIVE and brilliant the beats were he created with that drummachine. On the album i havent heard a single programmed beat that can be compared with the brilliance he offered with, lets say: Automatic, When Doves Cry, Raspberry Beret or the Ballad of Dorothy Parker.
The same goes with how he uses synths that are VERY obviously suppose to sound like synths, and not like other instruments. In his 'older' arrangements they were often cleverly arranged to offer a kind of campy or 'outlandish' flavour to his songs, on MLPsound they often sound misplaced or gimmick-ish.

So far, my complaints about the sound and the production of the album.

NouveauDance said:

dude when you are driving this weekend... turn up Dance 4 Me really loud!

I stopped reading at your Hide the Bone comment

You don't see or hear his R&B fans that prefer his R&B and Funk side saying those kinds of put downs about his more Rock based music

BigDaddyHQ said:

dude I'm curious do you hear a little bit of Zapp (Roger Troutman's old joint I can make you dance)? I think this and Old School are my favorites

I only heard both albums 1 time, so this is not a 'full review' yet.

On first impressions, my thoughts about MPLsound are:

Kinda what I expected: Prince uses key-elements of his 'original style' (the period 1981 - 1984 most obviously) to create new songs with: the linn-drum, the prominent 'cheap' sounding synthsounds, expanding songs with a (semi-) instrumental coda to turn it into dancefloor-type of material.
A big complaint about how he uses those elements on this album is, is that it is often far from creative.
Its NOT the linn-sound that made Princes music so great back then, its how INVENTIVE and brilliant the beats were he created with that drummachine. On the album i havent heard a single programmed beat that can be compared with the brilliance he offered with, lets say: Automatic, When Doves Cry, Raspberry Beret or the Ballad of Dorothy Parker.
The same goes with how he uses synths that are VERY obviously suppose to sound like synths, and not like other instruments. In his 'older' arrangements they were often cleverly arranged to offer a kind of campy or 'outlandish' flavour to his songs, on MLPsound they often sound misplaced or gimmick-ish.

So far, my complaints about the sound and the production of the album.

Another big let down of this album for me is that most of the compositions underneath that gimmicky 'retro-sound' lack any real punch, strong hooks and riffs or real funkieness.
Songs like Chocolate Box and Dance 4 me sound like Prince doing old-prince songs through the ears of Prince-inspired producers like The Neptunes, Timbaland and Missy Elliot, but then worse: Chocolate Box reminds of filler from a late Britney Spears album, or, something as ridicolous like 'My Humps' by Fergie. And anyone who dares to call Dance 4 Me 'great funk' needs not only his or her ears checked, but his or her brain also. Flashlight by Parliament is great funk, Automatic, Le Grind and Hide the Bone by Prince are great funk, Dance 4 me is mediocre dance-pop.
A huge difference with the early eighties is that, back then, Prince mostly used strong, well composed 'skeletons' to create his innovative music. Compositions that could compete with the best funk-stompers and the most 'hip' new-wave compositions at that time. On MPLsound his compositions are mostly copies of empty bubblegum dance-pop / producers-pop.

Is it all bad? well, lets be generous, the last track: No More candy 4 U was kind of a pleasant surprise. Campy, computerized rockabilly / new-wave that reminded me of Delirious and Jack U Off.
But... for the rest? Plastic, generic dance-pop, not much better then that on The Slaughterhouse or The Chocolate Invasion. Sorry, but i can't rate it higher then 4.5 out of 10.
[Edited 3/27/09 8:55am]

Alexandernvrmind said:

Yes. All I here is "I can make you dance if you want to, I can make you dance." I liked the song when Zapp did it. Its sort of disappointing that one of the best cuts on the album is really just an old Zapp song. Where is Prince's funk? Does he really not have any of his own ideas anymore?

I am underwhelmed by MPLSound and it was the album I was most looking forward to. Oh, and Valentina is super creepy.

I only heard both albums 1 time, so this is not a 'full review' yet.

On first impressions, my thoughts about MPLsound are:

Kinda what I expected: Prince uses key-elements of his 'original style' (the period 1981 - 1984 most obviously) to create new songs with: the linn-drum, the prominent 'cheap' sounding synthsounds, expanding songs with a (semi-) instrumental coda to turn it into dancefloor-type of material.
A big complaint about how he uses those elements on this album is, is that it is often far from creative.
Its NOT the linn-sound that made Princes music so great back then, its how INVENTIVE and brilliant the beats were he created with that drummachine. On the album i havent heard a single programmed beat that can be compared with the brilliance he offered with, lets say: Automatic, When Doves Cry, Raspberry Beret or the Ballad of Dorothy Parker.
The same goes with how he uses synths that are VERY obviously suppose to sound like synths, and not like other instruments. In his 'older' arrangements they were often cleverly arranged to offer a kind of campy or 'outlandish' flavour to his songs, on MLPsound they often sound misplaced or gimmick-ish.

So far, my complaints about the sound and the production of the album.

Another big let down of this album for me is that most of the compositions underneath that gimmicky 'retro-sound' lack any real punch, strong hooks and riffs or real funkieness.
Songs like Chocolate Box and Dance 4 me sound like Prince doing old-prince songs through the ears of Prince-inspired producers like The Neptunes, Timbaland and Missy Elliot, but then worse: Chocolate Box reminds of filler from a late Britney Spears album, or, something as ridicolous like 'My Humps' by Fergie. And anyone who dares to call Dance 4 Me 'great funk' needs not only his or her ears checked, but his or her brain also. Flashlight by Parliament is great funk, Automatic, Le Grind and Hide the Bone by Prince are great funk, Dance 4 me is mediocre dance-pop.
A huge difference with the early eighties is that, back then, Prince mostly used strong, well composed 'skeletons' to create his innovative music. Compositions that could compete with the best funk-stompers and the most 'hip' new-wave compositions at that time. On MPLsound his compositions are mostly copies of empty bubblegum dance-pop / producers-pop.

Is it all bad? well, lets be generous, the last track: No More candy 4 U was kind of a pleasant surprise. Campy, computerized rockabilly / new-wave that reminded me of Delirious and Jack U Off.
But... for the rest? Plastic, generic dance-pop, not much better then that on The Slaughterhouse or The Chocolate Invasion. Sorry, but i can't rate it higher then 4.5 out of 10.
[Edited 3/27/09 8:55am]

Riverpoet31 said:

.
good to see someone who talks sense....i agree with almost everything you said
....prince's recent output is lacking in really strong melodies with the odd exception but prince has a back catalogue second to none....his days of making inovative music are gone and i think he is now content with being a still great live act....i still enjoy his new music but i dont expect him to top sott