I will always be fond of the album 1999. Songs like Free, Something In The Water, and The Beautiful Ones (PR) seems so uncluttered, almost minimal. It seems music these days is so overproduced, & manufactured. What happened to simple, open music where a song just breathes life. Can anyone else relate?

NONSENSE said:

I agree. So many songs have so many sounds they are no longer pure art. Simplicity is still beautiful, when done with a dose of ingenuity and artistic touch. I blame the internet, music software and anybody being able to just put sounds together with any electric instrument available.

It's probably why I've never liked a lot of MJ's solo work. IMHO, it always seemed too over produced. Like the intro to "Bad" or "Beat it". I like my music fresh. I think "Colonised Mind", "Here" and other songs from Lotusflow3r have that vibe.
[Edited 8/23/09 15:49pm]

A lot of today's artist can't really dance or sing, and have none of the talent like the classic entertainers. So they try to divert our attention with other things, that's the truth.

NONSENSE said:

Even though Prince was BIG in the 80's, he was still non-conventional, still non-"Hollywood" (I know he was never Hollywood, but I mean he was not a STAR who only hung out with other stars and dated other stars and performed with other stars) Prince was still living at home, still dating 'no bodies' still performing with 'no bodies' still wild and doing his thing, still hiting the neighborhood clubs, getting music to a dj to test it, still jamming for hours at the home studio with friends/bandmates

That's a large part of the reason you get the uncluttered minimal music from the 80's, when Batman hit, he still had some of the vibe of that but a lot of what I talked about changed and he started to become 'Hollywood' his music overall after that was seriously affected by his 'stardom'

On one hand I can relate, there is something so sweet and profound about a guitar all alone. On the other hand, a full band coming 2gether to produce the music we have come to love is powerful.

Tame said:

I'm not sure it has anything to do with band or no band. I think it has more to do with space and being able to hear each instrument or sound clearly. Perhaps someone said it best, maybe computers are ruining music. I once hear a story of Prince telling Beyonce she'd sound better with a band. I kind of agree because her song "Single Ladies" is really horrible.

Dayclear said:

true. Or maybe the industry is more concerned about an artist's image than actual talent. Many of yesterdays artist wouldn't make it today because they wouldn't have the look. I guess Video did kill the radio star.

Dayclear said:

Good point

NONSENSE said:

It's true, some of MJ's hefty stuff was too cluttered too. But his perfect ballads soul/r&B off Invicible for example were just perfect. Easy listening but funky and beautiful simultaneously. I think computers have killed music to a big degree. Mind you I don't think a band clanging out every sound is impressive either, it just drowns out individual sounds.

less is more.but then some people say if some is good more is better.a love when prince keeps it simple.adore, when 2 r in love etc.