I enjoy all these songs too

I love the entire CD...from the 1st song to the last!!! I have my car rockin' to There'll never be another, Chocolate Box and Valentina!!! Love them all!

PaisleyRose said:

That is too funny!!! And oh so true!!!

vainandy said:

What about giving someone license to get away with certain things when they've earned it?

For example, you mention Prince asking "where's your drummer?" on a song with electronic drums. Yes it seems hypocritical on the surface, but he also has another disc in that set with real drums. He doesn't need to prove he can work with drums, he's played them himself and everyone knows it. Can't he make that point based upon his history (or even based on Lotusflower's real drums)?

Prince has always been able to get away with stuff that would pidgeonhole him as a superficial synthepop star because of the talent behind his creations.

Even if the music is lame plastic stuff on the surface, doesn't his music separate itself by virtue of the fact that Madonna or Mariah or Justin or Beyonce has to hire a talented musician/producer to bring their ideas to life and he just does everything himself?

I don't expect you to like his rapping, but when it's balanced by stuff with melodies/guitar/real drums, etc, then isn't it more acceptable than a rapper who could never in a million years do one of his simple throwaway love ballads?

Or when he mentions fake grills, rims, etc, isn't it a little different in that he is telling them to step to the side?

I actually hear these albums as less hip hop wannabes than stuff like Diamonds & Pearls &
[Edited 4/8/09 14:28pm]

No one has ever disputed his talent or musical ability. So why even make the statement if the music in the particular song doesn't back it up? The only sane reason I could think of for putting a message like that over a shit hoppish sounding song is because the sound of the song would draw the type of crowd that needs to hear that message the most. If he put that message over a funky jam, he would simply be preaching to the choir. Hell, I don't know, who knows why Prince does what he does these days? But should that be the reason, it doesn't work because the people that need that message the most are too busy liking the horrible way the song sounds (because they like that horrible sound to begin with) to even pay attention or care what the message is saying.

vainandy said:

that's a good point right there!

I have to admit when I heard the song on Leno and he said something about someone who appreciates a sexy groove and an "old school melody" and I thought "but this song barely even has a melody"

Still I think Michael Jordan is still qualified to comment on someone else's basketball performance even though he hasn't dunked a ball in years. Likewise, Prince is an authority.

But I don't expect to convince you to like it!

Okay, I've only heard MPLSound so far. I wanted to concentrate on one album at a time and I was always more excited about this album - being the sucker for MPLS funk I am.

And boy has it delivered the goods. This is Prince's most fun and downright funky record in years. He sounds like he's having a ball!

"Prince and the MPLS sound can't be beat - SUCKERS!!!" - I love it!

Ol' Skool Company is the jam for me.... I've waited a long time for Prince to do something like this. It has swagger without sounding contrived or desperate... it's basically everything Musicology wanted to achieve but failed. I could listen to this endlessly on repeat and never tire of it. Prince has done other songs with a similar message but nothing as convincing as this. The strength and quality of this track adds to the conviction of his message. Todays music IS bland and this track alone shows up anything else in the charts today!

No More Candy 4 U is sheer madness! There's more life in this one track than anything on tediously safe albums like 3121 and Musicology.

I found the entire listening experience incredibly uplifting. When I first heard the album I was listening to it on my discman and by the end of the album I was dancing like a fool in my seat. My family were looking at me as if I was crazy.... Thank you Prince!
[Edited 4/9/09 1:07am]

i love
chocolate box....great song
valentina.....awesome salma hayeks daughter?
dance 4 me....hallelujah

i personally like its funky 80's sound....its something you
can definitely groove to.

thatsmrjaytou said:

That's interesting because I found the production to be one of the stronger points of both albums - and I prefer 'MPLSound', but like them both. Compare the production of these records to the plasticky sound of Emancipation (which I also like), 'Rave' or 'NPS'.

To me the new records sound way more organic than any of those others, including the much lauded 'TRC'- which I find to be an example of horrible production. To this day when I turn up "She Loves me For Me" or "Mellow" too loud they sound like bootlegs - and, no, haters, it aint my sound system.

Interesting observation though. The one criticism I haven't heard about these records is their production.

NDRU said:

Awesome post, NDRU (what's that stand for)?

I was about to write something similar until I read your post, especially about the real drums and then name-checking the other album. If not mistaken, the part about "where the real drummer?" immediately proceeds the part where he name-drops every song on "LotusFlow3er" (and Mike Bland specifically).

Your reference to "step to the side' is well taken also. "Songs we used to sing used to mean something. Now they just MEAN".
[Edited 4/9/09 14:02pm]

right now just got it and here eye go,hopefully weeeee!

Amen. This is P at his funkiest in a looong time. Some tracks remind me of b-sides from the late 80's. MPLS sound cant b beat!

Its so good this is my 4th time posting about how much I love it...

eye it eye it eye it YES!!!

I am so happy that P is giving it to me - but sad that my Adonis is no where to be seen !!!!! come back lover come back - littlenicci wants to kick your behind !!

MPLSoUND is: AWESOME

Better with time is kinda growing on me.

At first i did find it too syrupy, and composition-wise it (still) is nothing new for Prince, but anyone agrees that this are some of his best falsetto vocals in years?

I can also see this being turned into a more edgy soul-ballad on stage.

After a few listens, so far all the tracks before Track 5 sound kind of dated, but I'm loving Here, Valentina, Better with Time(I keep thinking he's singing to Sheila E.), Ol Skool Company and No More Candy 4 U-a sick track.

Old Skool Company was great on Leno but on record is seriously worthy of bein on some of his 80s albums or at least a very good B side - Yes he has thrown in the sounds and voice (maybe slightly contrived) but it's just got the vibe that feels like 'Prince'

MPLS Sounds is my fave of the 3. Ol Skool Company is by far my fave. It's just downright funky and he's all up in your face. I love how he's so outspoken about his thoughts and everything crossing his mind in it. I agree, it "feels like 'Prince.'"

HERE is the best song on this album. I feel Princes heart crying out for the one he truly loves and it made me cry, not that its a hard thing to do, but this song really touched me! I hope he can love a woman this time around without cheating like he cheated on every single woman he ever married or dated in his life!!

Why cant men love 1 woman and be satisfied!! You cant have your cake and eat it too and expect a woman to take it and shut up!. I want to believe in love again but I know i will never stay with a man who cheats on me EVER AGAIN. Immature boys cheat and lie and real Men are loyal and take care of their wife. I dont blame Halle Berry for never wanting to get married ever again. It will take alot for me to go there again. Good men are way too hard to find!!

Yes! I love "Here" too! It's like this genius melodic gem. What a gorgeous pop tune.

MPLSOUND is my fav of the 3.
Apoligies if this is an ignorant question, but who is the "Ben" that he mentions (unfavorably) in a couple of the songs? I haven't found anything in any of the postings.

Bit late to the review party but just got the new CD this weekend in the UK...

Ok played the songs i've already heard and like first so now for a real review playing the album as a whole....out of 5 ***** stars

The Best Tracks on MPLSOUND for me are.....
Chocolate Box ... really like it now *** (it grows on you not bad)
Dance 4 ME ....A Classic Prince Track of the Future ***** (This should be a 10 out of 5 its so good)
U're gonna C Me ...very cool in the wrong place on the CD but good ****
Valentina ...funny / cool (lyrics are poor but it's fun ) ***
Here....stars * (worst track on the CD just have to skip it - should have put Turn Me Loose on here)
Ol Skool Company ...like it good groove gets a **** (Could have been faster like the live version on Leno)
No More Candy 4 U .....funny lyrics...but poor track for a Album...(Prince should have put F.U.N.K on here then it would make the CD a true hit) **
There'll Never be ALM ....poor lyrics ...ok music ... **
Better With Time ....very good track ...music cool ...nice lyrics.. ***

Not bad P ...like it but get Turn me loose and FUNK on this Album and it would be a near classic for sure

MattyJam said:

well said:)

Thanks!

augustwinters said:

well said

Rightly said:

I have to say that Mpls sound is my favorite of the two discs also. I grew up with Prince s music and although his music has taken on a more subdued funk....it is funk none the less. He has aged so fittingly the music will too. If you listen to the lyrics you can still feel that baaaaad boy jammin at you.I still feel many emotions in the songs. I love the compilations on this disc. Baby still has it!!!![quote]No more candy 4 U!!!!!

I have finally gotten the chance to fully digest the cd. I like
all of the tracks but chocolate box, valentina, and no more candy.
I like this cd. I read where some were disappointed with this cd.
I think people were unfairly comparing it to his early eighties stuff
whick it's not but prince shows more grit on this cd than planet earth.
The first track, dance 4 me, u're gonna c me, and here are excellent
songs.

I went into the 1st listening of this CD actually trying not to expect too much. But then again, it is Prince so I was always going to expect a lil' more than I would with other artists. Needless to say I was actually finding myself enjoying it straight away which doesn't always happen when I listen to something the 1st time. It usually takes a 2nd listen for me to comprehend how into a CD I am. All in all I'm rather impressed by the effort...

phunkdaddy said:

That's just it right there. As long as people went into this CD expecting the 2nd coming of Let's Work, DMSR or Lady Cab Driver, they were were setting themselves up for disappointment but it's the same story with every album that the man does and no one ever learns. Those same people probably never compared SOTT with 1999 so why do it with MPLSound? People here are a hot mess.

April 4, 2009 Saturday (posted on my Myspace blog).



(There’ll Never B) Another Like Me....
As soon as this song begins I’m in party mode. I immediately think of the Minneapolis sound and a bit of Teena Marie, another artist I've studied and love. Right from the beginning I was hooked to this song with it's infectious hook that makes me want to bounce up and down on the bass and the boom. Lyrically, Prince is doing his whole braggadocious thing, and I do enjoy listening to him share how he gets out of bed late in the afternoon, uses olive oil in his hair (but of course), and Prince acTUally checks his OWN email! I’d sure like to know who the girl is Prince seems to be saying he's waiting on and singing, I can get you what you want anything at all girl all you gotta say is please? Wonder if Prince has anyone in mind? If she’s "thinker than before" perhaps she’s someone from Prince's past? The..I’m Rick James...probably made Rick James smile from Funk heaven since I heard him and Prince had a little beef back in the day. I'm not sure if they ever made up and were cool. I heard Vanity was with Rick James first. Prince has definitely made another fun party song I can shake my ass to. I like the part near the end when Prince keeps asking,"What you waitin for?" I wonder what in the world IS she waiting for. More than likely we know it’s probably Prince. Seems he's always making people wait.


Chocolate Box....
Prince is still in bragging mode with the, futuristic, cheeky yet cheerful I got a box of chocolates that’ll rock the socks of any girl that want to come my way". Catchy yet I’m not exactly sure what Prince means in this song. However, if he’s talking slick like he is in this song and flipping the bird while he’s in "Orwellian" mode, he should realize she’s probably confused as hell and this my may be the reason why ‘she’s frontin’. Perhaps Prince decided a guest appearance by one of Queen’s finest, rapper Q-tip, could deliver his "Love Divine" a matrix-mack rap? "...I’m your Willy Wonka come and take it..":)lol Prince was walking around at one time with the Willy Wonka look wasn’t he? Some of you know that look Prince had I’m talking about. In spite of all Prince’s frankness in this song, (I still can't believe he flips the bird in this video), this song Chocolate Box is one you can get your dance on to and I do love to dance. The heavy breathing in the hook is a reminder of Prince’s song "Sexy Dancer" from 1980. Wow! It’s 2009 and Prince can still rock my sox off.


Dance 4 Me....
This song is sure to be pumping in many clubs like Sin City in the Bronx and Club Onyx in Houston yet you wouldn’t know it from the beginning when Prince, along with his "Funky Congregation" gives praise and thanks to the Most High for Prince's sexy dancer. This sexy sonic funk groove has so many variations I think anyone alive would have a hard time not dancing or moving to the beat of Dance 4 Me. One of my favorite parts in this song is towards the end when Prince does a Larry Blackmon (Cameo "Word Up") voice and says, "Make me wanna...make me wanna pick up maracas and just shake". Yeah baby yeah!


U're Gonna C Me....
Wait one minute! Prince can’t sleep at night?! "I’ll hit you back with no delay." (Prince likes to two-way), "there’s never a minute that I find that you don’t ever cross my mind Darling", “you’re the reason I took a rope and lassoed the Moon", “there’s nothing I won’t do" (he’ll even stare into the sun for this one?) and "to all others I am blind". Wow! Those sound like the words of a man in LOVE. I love this song! After dancing and shakin' straight through the first three (3) songs on this MPLSound CD, I compare "U're Gonna C Me" to a warm bubble bath prepared and waiting for me. When I hear Prince’s adlibs around 3:51, he hits notes that make me so weak in the knees I would need to be carried into my bubble bath.


Here...
Now this is definitely one of my all-time favorite Prince love songs. It’s currently up there with "Adore" in my book and I loved "Adore". In MY mind Prince is singing to me! I'll have to agree with my friend who said "Here" is probably one of Prince’s most prolific songs ever written in 15 minutes. Well, I don’t know if Prince really wrote the song that fast yet I can feel Prince is singing words straight from his heart. Which is why I say this song has to be one of my all-time favorites. "HERE" is one of Prince’s greatest songs in my opinion. The line at the end..."Donny Hathaway’s ‘Song 4 U’ ain’t the same without you here" Go listen to that song by Donny Hathaway. Would love to hear Prince sing that song to me.


Valentina....
“Heeeyyyy Valentina!" Prince doing something for the kids..I gotta love that. If Valentina is as beautiful inside and out when she becomes a woman like her mom Salma Hayek, she’ll understand why Prince wrote this cute and playful song asking her to tell her momma to give Prince a call. If anyone deserves a song written about them, it’s her ambitious, beautiful, and nurturing mother, Salma Hayek, who must have apparently been quite the life of Prince’s "rock and roll meetings". Hmmm...The music is a Latin, salsa, and futuristic fusion with nice, Spanish guitar licks. I’m happy Salma Hayek got married on Valentine’s Day this year because had she not, this song would not have been reviewed. I'm hoping Penelope Cruz gets married to her boyfriend soon.


Better With Time....
From her first role in Prince’s movie Under The Cherry Moon to Confessions of A Shopaholic, and her many roles and accomplishments, this award-winning actress, Kristen Scott Thomas has indeed gotten better with time. Are you guys paying attention? The theme for MPLSound seems to be Prince singing dedications to people Prince feels are special to him. Something Prince has pretty much always done in his music. You just gotta love that Christopher Tracy.


OL’ Skool Company....
It took me a few days before I figured out why this song sounded so familiar. It has the Ol’Skool flavor and the Craig Mack "Flava In Ya Ear" beat I love so much. Prince is such an original and blends the old with the new very well while preaching the truth about music and radio today. All of you Old-heads and New Skool boys and girls should be able to appreciate Prince’s funky groove and rap throughout this song. This one reassures me that true artists will continue to create real music and keep it real because it’s real music that stands the test of time. I'm Ol’ Skool so this is a funky jam for me and I like it.


No More Candy 4 U...
I’m glad I’m not a big candy eater because straight out of the gate Prince is putting "all the freaks in magazines who never paid no dues" on blast. The same way I put Money Made on blast (lol) "You can’t sing it’s true" (Paris Hilton?) and Prince is calling out the "freaks walking into walls" (so that’s what they’re doing in Hollyweird/Lala Land..walking into walls?). Love the Chuck Berry, vintage Rock and Roll feel of this song. I can roll with it and in the words my wise yet drunk on too many occasions Uncle, "What fools are these mortals." Yes indeed, no more candy 4 U!


I give Prince’s MPLSound CD not 5 Stars but I give it all the Stars in his Purple Galaxy! I LOVE this CD and I’m totally satisfied with it. It was well worth the wait folks. Again, this is just my personal opinion. I'm no Billboard or Rolling Stone music critic; I just know GREAT music when I hear it.