the whole thing wit P's new so called 'jazz' style . . . .ppl havent even thought about the fact that it MAY BE with his father dying in 2001 .. . .& this is perhaps an Xtension from that . .. carrying the torch 4 his father's music legacy.

since his father was a jazz musician . . . .maybe he wanted 2 do & shed light on what his father could no longer bring 2 the people,i dont know how successful John L's band was,but just a theory of mine

i am surprised this way of thinking on his 'new direction' has not been brought up much.

your thoughts Orgers?

Prince likes 2 experiment with different styles of music and jazz was next n line

he had done the jazz-ish style with Madhouse back in the late 80s . . .who knows his real reason,but i love the music so its all good

Who knows. Perhaps he's just growing older and wants to
make some music he feels really good about instead of
albums that follow trends or commercial success.

The music sounds more mature and organic. more timeless
than anything he's done in a long long time.

I think that after 1992, he wasn't happy with his style
anymore and thought he'd gone too commercial [according
to the npgmc commentary] he kind of wanted to find his
true direction and consequently plunged into a midlife
crises.

[young wife, cursing like there's no tomorrow, very hard, driven, angry songs, shitloads of sexual lyrics].

Don't get me wrong, it propelled some of the coolest songs
he's ever recorded. But for someone over 40 it might seem
a bit silly to go around acting like that.

And now, after a few years of trying to come to terms with
that and searching for a balance again he's tapped into
another vein of wild creativity. But this time with a true
sense of style. No hysteria, no glitter and stardom, just
music 1st and 4most.

And it works.

Who knows perhaps he even had a talk about some stuff with
his father. He told people at the celebration that his dad
had told him "Brother...change is good" and that he then
started to wanna change things.

Well, I must admit that, because it seemed that Xpectation might be a sort of continuation, yesterday I listened to the two Madhouse albums. Except that it showed me that at present Prince has not gone that far from what he was doing in the mid-80's, a detail drew my attention. On Madhouse 16 picture sleeve you will find a little note:

New directions in Garage music

Coincidence - I don't think so. I believe that Prince somehow acknowledged, by putting the moniker "New directions in Prince music" on the website for downloading "Xpectation" (damn, my fingers can't get used to typing this word without "e") that he is again on this track.

I think people are reading too much into "new directions" (with the S). "New Directions" are new styles he's trying now, and it doesn't imply that he's changing his overall style or that anything in the future will be like XPectation. It's not Prince's New Direction. (missing the 's').

I reckon XPectation sounds most like Madhouse 8 (my favourite of the two official Madhouse albums). There are some melodies and structures that sound similar, or at least like they're composed by the same person.

In my opinion Prince wants to be remembered as one of the most talented and versatile musicians/performers. Why did he release "Xpectation" and why is it jazz? Because he is obsessed with constant self-development; he feels he needs to touch upon everything."Xpectation" is a fine piece of jazz music. Some people labeled the album as "elevator music". Compare "Xpedition", the last song from "Xpectation", to Miles Davis'es "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down". It is not far from that. And I wouldn't say it is any worse. And what about the Le Bataclan version of "The Question of U" or the opening Le Bataclan jam? I think this is the direction Prince wants to take now. And obviously this is not going to be the ultimate stage of his musical experiments. The only thing I miss on "Xpectation" are the man's vocals. But it doesn't spoil the overall experience.

Prince has had a very commercial career, and unfortunately a lot of folks out there would assume he can't do much more than sing songs penned by others instead. That's how most pop music is works nowadays. If Prince does more music like this, with no vocals, then people will become curious about his other talents. "But he doesn't sing anything?" Yes, that's because he plays the guitars and keyboards as well as being the main composer... "No way!"

This new Direction of Prince's just Fits him like a Proverbial Glove. I think the music is Fantastic and it is true Prince. It makes sense if he was going to Progress even more to Excellence and Perfection he would pick Jazz and he would be Cultured and Cultivate this style. He has become more like his father now actually. He is quite the Distinguished Gentleman you know. I think it Suits him better than the past Coats he's worn. He has Settled Down from his Wild Ways and gotten Quiter and more Serene. This is absolute Coctail and Debutante music. This is Prince!

sabaisabai said:

I fully agree with you. I think that we as fams are always reading too much in those things. Why not accept it as it is? A cool nice album and the latest release from Paisley Park. BTW anyone of the so-called "stars" ever released an album at New Year 0:01 hrs? I guess not

I think Prince has been recording music like this for a while, he just now decided to release some of it. Listen to many of the bootlegs of rehersals, and you will hear alot of instrumentals and jazz-like segues.

Well,yes I do agree because way back with Parade he was going into Classical and well with Miles and Madhouse yes. It's so wonderful that he decided to release yes something that could be Miles/Madhouse for 2003. He's so Smart!

it doesnt matter 2 me how or why he is doing the music he is doing 2day,cos i love the stuff.

im not reading anything in2 anything . . its just with everyone else analysing it,i thought i would throw another 'shrimp on the barbie' so 2 say
i like alot of the Madhouse material too.

its all good

Prince has always been jazzy. Jazz suits Prince well - it's indulgent and impenetrable

Natasha said:

u psycho natasha! a lil while ago u were dissin prince's directions in funk and jazz and u wanted him to be naughty and "punk" (yeah u are readin the right word). Its time u stop talkin bull and agree with everything lil man does and make up ur mind girl
[This message was edited Mon Jan 13 5:25:51 PST 2003 by IrishGecko]

Natasha said:

Miles? u comparing Miles with Prince? Girl u gotta be outta yo mind!

here's my theory: mainstream don't care about instrumental jazz in general and about Prince instrumental jazz neither , these tracks don't have now a great commercial value so he has decided to give it to fams as a gift (rather that to put Roadhouse Garden to download for instance)

well I dont know about you BUT I think that Lady Cab Driver AND All the Critics Love You In NY are both VERY Jazz Oriented...alot of his music always has been its just not concidered jazz to the main-stream jazz, BUt it is acctually a NEW direction in jazz they just dont associate it with jazz...yet

I try not to read too much into things, as well, but it did cross my mind that the new emphasis on jazz could be due to his parents' fairly recent passing. If I'd lost my parents, and one or both were musicians, I might want to pay tribute to them by doing the music they loved, too.
At the same time, with Prince, it was probably only a matter of time anyway before he delved into jazz at this level, and not just a few segues.

My recollection of the Madhouse stuff he did was that it was more funky jazz, whereas this Xpectation CD only has one cut on it that combines the jazz and funk. Xpectation is closer to, if not, straight-up jazz - Prince-style that is, if you know what I mean.

Peace & Love

re New Directions in Prince's music - I think it is just a tongue in cheek reference to Bitches Brew - that album has "Directions in Music by Miles Davies" on the cover.

Joshy84au said:

I dont think prince's father was all that well known 4 prince to carry on a full fledged "legacy". ( i mean in terms of preserving any of his expertise) I feel he has "jazz" in his veins, & of course this he would have inherited. However, he was into jazz with Eric Leeds & "madhouse" fame many years past, AND as well as he is today, especially with the birth of the very funky "TRC", and the new "better than madhouse" work of "XPECTATION". I think prince always thought jazz was cool. To honor his fathers musical attributes in the jazz genre, he can/did do that with a "single" cd or "album" dedicated to just his dad. He wouldnt change his musical direction 4 anyone unless he was feelin it himself, and loving 2 play it! I m not saying he is selfish in this regard either. it's "his" life & "his" choice of direction.

grandebelle said:

Someone doesnt need to be well known for their offspring to carry on a legacy.

Has anybody heard any of John L.'s music? I'd be surprised if he was not very talented.

Prince ahs always been into many styles of music and jazz was not immune to his curious advances.He said many moons ago that he wanted t release jazz music anonymously.Jazz is a music a man can grow old and play and get respect from many levels of listener and different age groups.A man CAN play rock at an advanced age(not thet he's really advanced) ,but jaz and other such eloquent musical voices lend themselves a little better to the image of that.I don't want to see Prince at 60 doing splits and throwing his back out or something equally as sad and humorous.

Also,jazz is good for Prince since he has such an open mind. That "genre" lends itself as a background to so many dialects that it's limitless.He can sing torch songs,he can add reggae touches,jazz can be funky,he can make it more classical,and,mainly,he can follow Miles' and Gil Scot Heron's and Stanley Clarke's lead into jazz/rock "fusion".And don't forget blues and bluesy jaz are always tasty.

like MILES DAVIS said:
he is changing, little by little
(i think i a good direction)

for me he is becoming like a 'frank zappa'
not in his music, but in a way he approch music
-do what you wanna do-
fuck record companies, and their opinions
play what your heart tells you

like sheila e said
it is not about micing
it is what you think while you playing
don't think about hamburgers (documentery 88)
FEEL the music you're playing

and that is why we all like/love him

The second we all get used to it and come to expect it, he'll shift gears and whack us over our heads with soething different. As long as he never abandons the funk, it's all good with me. Lob me a funkbomb every so often, P...

rockwilder said:

Well said rockwilder! From his present age to infinity...jazz is an eloquent genre. a definitely sophisticated direction 2 go 4 prince, with his addition of blues and funk making it a "unique" sound indeed 4 him. very cool.

Wolf said:

I guess thats true, as well as that his dad was talented too, but in prince's case i was meerly speculating that for him, his new direction into that specific genre, has more 2 do with prince himself than carrying on in his dads shoes to preserve his "legacy". Imo.