Needs to make an abrupt change in style like he did from 79-80.


Dude needs to do something like throwing away the pro-tools, the gazzilion vocal tracks, all his studio musicians, the horns, the hip-hop, the strings, the blistering, but at this point cliched, guitar solos, most of this studio equipment and just go down to the basement with an eight track recorder a drum machine, a base, one guitar, one synth and maybe something to sequence with and make some "demos" and then release it.

I was hoping MPLSsound would be such a record but it wasnt.
[Edited 5/17/09 0:04am]

emesem said:

Alan Leeds, or someone close to Prince, once said Prince should be limited to 16 tracks, maybe 24 total. He starts to overdo it at some point. D&P was a good example of that, and was close (although I do loves me some CD). But I agree with your thought pattern. He needs to get raw again. We kind of saw that in recent years with "Contest Song" (which I still think was an outtake from the early 80's anyway, not a new track), and "No More Candy 4 U". I also agree that MPLS was WAY over done, especially when it was hyped as a throw back to his 80's sound. You can't over produce something, and then throw a Linn-1 drum machine and a synth in it and think "they'll think of 1999 when they hear this" or something. It just doesn't work that way. The great thing about even in 1984 was that he WAS limited to so many tracks. The band recorded together, or it was just him and his few instruments. His bass, his Hohner, some drums (or the Linn), and a couple of synths. I miss a piano on Dirty Mind but it's a trade off for the rawness of those songs.

He didn't use drum machines on dirty mind and on controversy I beleive it was only on Annie Christian and Private Joy.

no he doesn't, it's already been done.

He needed to update the Mplsound, though not the Dirty Mind sound exactly....and he did that well with my new fave, Mplsound
[Edited 5/17/09 5:31am]

i'm not sure what era, album, or sound i want him to RETREAD.
me thinks moving 4ward NOT backward is what's up.

datdude said:

yes. thats the way.

Why do people that don't know what THEY need , think they know what Prince needs??

scoot over bitches..i'm coming to a studio near you!

Dayclear said:

...and then there's that

He doesn't NEED anything. I want a better album myself, the last one really shocked me at how bad it was (just my opinion, not the point) and all I can say is I would love to hear something new in maybe 3 years. After some away time. And with some ears he trusts chiming in. If he needs anything it's some musical walls to bounce his ideas off of, not employees that say "yassir!" That's the only think i'd like to see him look into. But he doesn't NEED that even. He seems satisfied with what he is doing, and that's really all HE needs.

ernestsewell said:

I just read that yesterday and it's a good point. Some people think more is better when it's not. Working with some musicians has been a pain in the ass when you tell them you have limits and they can't accept them. Like spoiled kids. Even with my own music I look back and regret so much of the overdubbed stuff I put on. After a certain point it stops working. Rock music at it's best is conviction, be it lust, rage, joy, a simply worded yet meaningful profound lyric with basic chords organized in a way that can move people. The rest is just window dressing. In fact it's like you're trying to hide something.

he isn't capable of another Dirty Mind...he has a 50 year old brain now, not a 20 year old one...his creativity has been severely diminished by age...happens to everyone.

another Dirty Mind would be just fine

but I agree, he's not capable to deliver that, the music doesn't have that raw edge no more....

so, go pull out dirty mind & listen to it, it's as easy as that.

WetDream said:

then theres you beggin for recognition??

FunkiestOne said:

Daminet!... ..

I feel Prince is more interested in preaching to the masses with his Jw stuff in his lyrics, than talking about head and stuff.Still there's always a few jems on every album to keep me happy.
When he stops releasing that's when it's time to worry...

FunkiestOne said:

I don't believe that personally. The great composers could do vital work up until their deaths. Prince might not be putting up the best he can but i think great music is still in him. However, in a sense, in the genre he's in, i can't think of many people who could do vital music at his age.

mozfonky said:

Oh...he's more than capable! The fact that I KNOW what he is capable of...is what's got me hooked and won't fucking turn me loose!!!

I KNOW this man's greatness...I've lived and breathed it...right along with his motherfucking happy ass...damned near everyday for 20 solid years...REAL TIME!!!

With anything short of a (Heaven Forbid! ) life altering event...HOW AND WHY THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO FORGET THAT?
[Edited 5/17/09 9:07am]

FunkiestOne said:

LOL True. Although he might be able to eek something out if he was in a celibate rage.

myfavorite said:

The Egyptions built the pyramids because they thought they were funny.

I'd love anything Prince does...Musicians are best to answer the technical stuff anyway.

Also, I know it's one of his most celebrated works, but it's one of my least favorite Prince albums. I never saw what the fuss was about other than the attention getting lyrics.

I think that there was more than enough from that period to satisfy us all in regard to that sound and that vibe. (Not that we would own such things.) tracks like "Lisa", "Work It Out", "Possessed" and "Purple Music" all filled that void of wishing the album had just one more track or that craving for just another b-side.

...if u got the time..prince got the ride...
..where he wanna go 2 keep me satisfied..
...if u like it R-E-A-L slow..he got days...
..but if u wanna take the short-cut..HE KNOW THE WAY!!..
...mzsexybaby'TRUST'

no doubt about that, his work alone filtered through several other artists was much more than anyone else gave.

..imagin all the levels prince has taken L-O-V-E 2...where is my lover?..where has it gone?..what's going on?..computer-blue..
...where is my baby..where can she be..somebody..please..please..tell me??what b wrong wit me??...WHERE IS MY BABY?..
..mzsexybaby'COMPUTER-BLUE-STYLE'

I need a little time and clarity....ill come up with another suggestion

...2X'S...i wanna rap a lil-bit...
..u so fine..i'm not that popular..if u want me i'm urs..
..mzsexybaby'I DON'T NO ONE 2 SEE..U KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT