In today's Journal du Dimanche newspaper, the accompanying magazine Femina has a go at Prince.

In their Tops/Flops section Prince is criticised for repeating himself.

A rough translation summary:

"Prince has aged well but his music hasn't. On the triple album, at best he repeats himself (badly).Prince is no longer charming".


It's hardly high-brow stuff but I just thought I'd let you know.

If he would record new Purple Rain - he would repeat himself.
If he would record different album - oh, come on, it's not like Purple Rain..

People just hate Prince

People don't hate Prince. I don't hate Prince. But when an artist sets a standard for themselves, then fails to meet it....therein lies the problem.

ernestsewell said:

Yeah, he has so many brilliant albums - and try to not repeat yourself. Still I love his recent output, no matter what will journalists say, they'll be always bitchin' I'm my own judge
[Edited 10/4/09 10:09am]

ernestsewell said:

The accompanying magazine Femina says it all
If you knew the French, you'd know they love to complain about everything. It's a national sport.

Besides, bad reviews and press articles get more attention that good ones.
That's just the world today.

Since when my taste in music are influenced by other's opinions ?

The french press can say whatever they want, I like the three albums, all different.

Ahh! What do the French know about music anyway?

I didn't think Lotusflow3r was Prince repeating himself at all.
Though, I don't think it was a departure from the past, it still doesn't quite sound like any of his previous records--3121 coming the closest.

MPLSound did sound like his first 3 records in parts, but still sounded fresh, if not mindblowing.

Overall, I thought lotusflow3r and MPLSound were his best efforts this decade.

Imago said:

zaza said:

I have a soft spot for Planet Earth, I don't really know why. Its like that bad friend you stayed with for years as a teenager. You know its wrong but u can't help liking it. Maybe because of association with the O2 Gigs..

Lotusflower I associate with Lotuswank.con so that has ruined quite a bit of it, for me at least.

Imago said:

Damn that's sad!

IMHO, Lotusflow$r sounds like an album where all the good tracks have been removed and only the ok filler tracks remain. Its not bad, its not really good, and not in any way memorable. It doesn't have a sound, or a coherent message. Listening to "one night alone..PIANO" last night, at least the lyrics were interesting and human.
Thats were I think this has all gone wrong for P. Imho!. He doesn't really seem to care about anything anymore. His music has lost its personality and humanity. Technically its still great, but lacking in interest. He sings about poverty but I don't believe him as he is selling diamond encrusted croc covered books. I always liked his music, always will I suppose, but I used to admire his intellect and intelligent music, now its just blah...nd. imho.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

I didn't want to go there

Rorywan said:

[Edited 10/4/09 12:50pm]

whodknee said:

Maybe agree, but can we can ask where you are from " whodkee"?

Always keen to meet music specialists.

ernestsewell said:

The problem is yours. Personally I feel sorry for you because I still get alot of enjoyment out Prince's recent music whereas you must only feel disappointment.

I know that feeling, I've felt it with Prince's music. I felt it with big chunks of Emancipation, The Truth , quite a bit of the NPGMC stuff, One Nite Alone, The Indigo Nights CD. I truly believe that 3121Planet Earth, lotus Flow3r and MPLSound are great albums.

mushmackalenta said:

LOL You're hysterical.

My statement stands.

ernestsewell said:

I didn't think you would retract it.

I still pity you.

mushmackalenta said:

HAHAHAHA Ridiculous on two counts. 1) the whole pity/feel sorry defensive "I'm butt hurt cuz someone doesn't like the Prince album I like" demeanor. Totally ridiculous attitude for you to cop, but understandable when dealing with ass kissers.

2) You blindly letting someone spoon feed you a less-than flavorful meal of mediocre music for the past few years. Tsk tsk. Has your musical taste buds really diminished that much?

eireboy34 said:

Co-co-sign

whodknee said:

all this from a nation who eat snails and frogs legs

mushmackalenta said:

eireboy34 said:

Things change.....people change

zaza said:

eireboy34 said:

Yes you may.

ernestsewell said:

Yawn. Here we go again, why U here?

ernestsewell said:

The problem with this sentiment is that great people are then criticized from being good, or just better than average though I think that Ernestsewell's notion is that Lotusflow3r/MPLS is less than average. But, just to address the above sentiment, Prince seems to be at a point where what he is doing is more pleasing to me than what is on the radio, so I'll called that "good." And, I'll take a good or solid Prince record, which is how I rate Lotusflow3r/MPLS, over the bad, or what's not pleasing to me, which is what’s currently being played on the radio.

So, if Jordan averages 35 points one year, and then averages 25 points the next year. I may not enjoy the second year as much as the first, but watching his good year is still entertaining. Of course, if the "fails to meet it..." is implying that Lotusflow3r/MPLS is subpar, then I'd just have to disagree and keep enjoying it while its still in heavy rotation in my car and crib. I’m not looking for Prince to blow my mind or change the way I think about life. He did that years ago for me. At this point, I just want music that makes me move and lyrics that make me say "That was funny or interesting or moving." And Lotusflow3r/MPLS does that for me.

Rorywan said:

To the first part of this statement, I ask, "Is it that Prince doesn't care about anything anymore or is it that it seems that you no longer care about the things that seem to be of interest to him?" And this is quite fair and normal, but the statement seems not to acknowledge that it is normal for a fan or listener to grow and no longer be interested in an artist’s work. That doesn't make the artist fake in his beliefs or less inspired. It just means that you are looking for something else, but that is not the artist’s fault or yours. That is just a fact of life, and to use your lack of interest in his topics as evidence that the artist is no longer inspired or not producing quality work seems myopic.

Additionally, when you assert that you are turned off from his music because he has released "diamond encrusted croc covered books," then that seems to show that you just have different interests than Prince. But, I'm not sure how that makes him less intellectual or musical. Again, it seems that his subject matter more than his lyrical mastery is what is turning you off. For me, songs like "Dreamer" and "Colonized Mind" rank with songs like "Sign 'O' the Times" or "Paisley Park" for Prince being able to find interesting ways to address a multitude of topics. I don't really agree with teaching creationism rather than evolution in public schools (private schools can teach whatever they desire.), but I like Prince's creative way of having the conversation. And more than anything, the guitar work in "Colonized Mind" moves me as much as any other guitar work, and I’ve been a fan since 1980. Not that longevity means anything; being an old fool is worse than being a young fool. But, just as a counter, to me he still seems like an artist that is passionate even if that about which he is passionate now is different than that for which he had passion twenty years ago. Not only is Lotusflow3r/MPLS in heavy rotation, "Colonized Mind," "Dreamer," "Dance 4 Me," and "Old Skool Company" almost always get a second or third play when I’m in the car.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

judging from your icon, it's no wonder such negativity would spew from your post
I say screw the critics and all haters for they are wasting their energy.

Prince's new toys (pro tools, auto tune, ect) look like they are here to stay and evolve. As a fan of the raw album PR and pre PR Prince, it is a blow.. but at least songs like Dreamer quenches the longing
P knows what he's doing, and as a true artist- doesn't give a crap about others misconceptions. I hope people don't believe we dictate this guy in any ways.

eireboy34 said:

I think the bulk of Prince's output has aged just fine. It makes me wonder how familiar the reviewer is with Prince's catalogue. I've always viewed Prince as primarily an underground type of artist with some notable forays into the mainstream. Granted, he has a bigger fanbase than most in that category.

As for repeating himself, I'm not sure how many times the same guy can reinvent himself without losing the core of his identity as an artist. It's an interesting question.

For the most part I still find the majority of his work interesting and fun.