Ok folks, first thread here on the org.

This came about from a talk I was having with a friend the other day.....

We were remembering at our musical views and debates of years gone bye.

Now I've been a fan of P since about '82 - really connecting with 1999 and not looking back since then.....

But reflecting on this I find there isn't that buzz I had years ago about his music and realise it lost something to me somewhere around the Warner aftermath....

I remember back in the day when news of an album would have me excited, taking "the day off" school to get my hands on it and rushing home to listen to it....forcing my pals to listen to it.....but there was more..... digging out those rare bootlegs in record fairs.....finding a 12" remix I didn't have....you know the score.

But now? It's sad to say, but the music feels stale a lot of the time - like the man can't get into his thing anymore.

Part of this is possibly the internet, so much info circulates that there is little to surprise you....the weight of expectation gets to you in advance of a release etc... but it's more than that.... something changed!

I won't get into the blame game and the religious thing either (done to death) I'm just after views and tales on both sides of the fence..

I'd also like to avoid a lot of the mzkqueen03 style outpourings (no offence but I couldn't smoke enough crack to ever get on the same wavelength/understand some of that scat).

Here's an example of what mean -

Then - after one suitable forrage at a fair I found a pretty good quality tape (shows my age) with a few new tracks on - one was a slightly fuzzy version of Joy in Repetition.... it was a sultry and hazy summer night I put it on in the garden and let the music wash over me.....fantastic!

Now - Ordered my copy of Lotusflow3r/MPLSOUND on e-bay.....was a little excited...it arrived, the house was empty I put it on...and it slipped past me! there was the odd glimmer but not enough!

So - what d'yall think?

Sivad said:

I've said this before, and I am sure I'll say something like it again:

This has much more to do with you, your life and times, how you receive art/music, than it has to do with Prince.

More than anything, it sounds like you are talking about a bygone (pre interet) era and all that is different about it.
[Edited 2/8/10 11:11am]

i blame the absence of the cloud guitar.

bring back the cloud guitar

skywalker said:

Well not really, I'm talking about how you felt/feel with P then/now....I did mention the internet as a possible cause but it hasn't had the same impact on other artists I like....

Anyway does that mean to you it's all the same and we've changed instead?

for me, I'm a fan since early 1983.... it went wrong for Prince in nov. 1996 with the release of Emancipation.


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[Edited 2/8/10 11:43am]

I became a fan when my next door neighbor got "1999" on tape. It was the first time I had ever heard such a synth heavy album, and it was love at first listen. I bought all of his stuff week one right through the Gold Album, but I started to really get disillusioned around Diamonds and Pearls. It was the first time I bought one of his albums where there were several songs in a row that I just couldn't stand (which is saying something after Graffiti Bridge). I actually enjoyed most of Come and The Gold Experience (the last really solid P album for me), but Emancipation was the first time I ever thought "you know, I really don't like any of this" when listening to a P album.

There was something magical about the time limitations of vinyl and tape releases that forces even great artists to self-edit (and to be cognizant of song sequencing, which seems to be a lost art). Prince benefited from this like no other in the 80s - it kept the albums tight and focused, and it allowed great non-album tracks to show up as b-sides and stand alone by themselves.

I still buy all of his stuff, but mostly so I can compile enough good cuts from several releases to make my "own" versions of his albums (I mean, if you edit D&P and The Love Symbol Album down to one album, you have a classic jam!). I am totally OK with doing that and I am glad he is still releasing material.

Are we going to get another SOTT? Or even Gold Album? I'd wager "no." But if he continues to release x2 CD sets, I can at least give myself a sweet EP's worth of songs. I'll take what I can get.
[Edited 2/8/10 12:55pm]

I would have to agree that age has something to do with your personal thrills as new Prince music comes out. As we get older, life has more responsibilities. U even mentioned that when U played the album, no one was home. For some people, they may be expecting more of some kind of incredible delivery of songs, when 4 me, I just can't wait to hear Prince's voice.

skywalker said:

I agree~ you were excited with Prince at first because he was new to you, now you've been a fan for nearly 30 years & have heard most of what he has to offer so naturally he doesn't exhilerate you the same way. Just like anything else, like first learning to drive, or owning your first home, the novelty wears off!

I am always happy 2 get new music from Prince, I agree with skywalker and Blackbelt. Prince is still putting out good music. U have changed. We all do and some things Prince does is not 4 everyone as u already know. I have invested 2 much n him 2 let him go.

I truly love his new music, very few songs I have 2 skip over. He has so much music until I could care less about the crap out 2day. I do have a few artists I will spend my money on purchasing there music, again very few.

I also notice that u have people hear that hate Prince R&B side, hell they hate R&B period. Then when he does funk, it is not funky enough; his so call hip-hop becomes shit hop, go figure. His rock side is not heavy enough. To some his lyrics r 2 cheesy, make-up 2 thick, he’s 2 controlling, need 2 get someone 2 produce his music, u name it some have reasons 4 him not being what he was 25 years ago

The good thing about Prince Music he is very versatile and can do many, many things. So u end up with the luxury of listening 2 whatever it is u like and skipping over what u don’t like.

I am glad u r still hanging n there with him.

I am proud of Prince and hope I can continue 2 live 2 see the dawn with his music n my ears.

I mean, that it's Prince. Sure, he changes/his art changes and many endless arguments can be made about then vs. now.

Ultimately, it comes down to us.

I never lived or died because of how an album was. My day was never made or broken by Prince. I am happy to have new music from him...whether I like it a lot or just a bit.

Was I ever SUPER EXCITED AND HYPED for a new Prince album? Sure, but I was also SUPER HYPED AND EXCITED for Saturday morning cartoons, Disneyworld, and Star Wars toys. I am different now. I still find joy and anticipation in/of Prince's music, but I am different, so it is a different type of joy/anticipation. It's not more or less, better or worse, it is just different. Just like life.


Lastly, it seems like you were searching for rare Prince stuff back then. There is a certain adventure to that search that is lost once you have the internet and once you have everything readily available at your ebaying fingertips

[Edited 2/8/10 13:04pm]

From my point of view it didn't go wrong. It's a "this is cool" feeling when I acquire a new album now. I've been a fan since 1996 so the feeling isn't the same. Is it possible to have that "feeling" you have when you heard that GREAT album?

When LoTUSFLOW3R came out, the day it came out I was downloading it from the site and that weekend I picked up my hard copy. That was a cool feeling. Seeing him live gives me that feeling of the 1st album I heard now.

I would agree 2 a small degree that it has alot 2 do with your own personal changes over the years.

That said, strong religious views are like a pair of handcuffs 2 an artist. Since 1996 and Prince's intro 2 JW, he has been handcuffed artistically rather he wants 2 admit it or not.

In a very recent thread, I wrote out my opinion on this:

I've written about "hearing in the Now" many times here, and I've come 2 only one conclusion...

You'd likely find in any art form, and with any artist with a lengthy, vast body of work, that the same percentages you find here, of those who experience the current work with a fresh perspective, and those who don't.

Prince fans R indeed a curious, diverse, contradicting, conflicting lot... no doubt about that. Everyone here must realise that it is largely through Prince's own musical diversity through the years, that we have such a diverse group here. Because his span has been so long, we've all essentially grown up with his albums, even though our ages range dramatically.

'Lotusflow3r' is a fantastic album... the songs, the flow, the instruments, the recording, the voice. Stands next 2 any Prince album, easily.

It's just perspective. It's very difficult 2 separate the impact, etc., from when we first heard '1999', 'Sign O' The Times', 'Lovesexy', etc., and from when we listen 2 an album now. Plus, we don't listen 2 albums the same way.
When 'Lovesexy' was released, it was so different sonically, it threw folks off initially. There was no internet 2 publicize your impressions. U just had 2 play the album again, then maybe yet again 2 get it. I sat down, and listened 2 'Lotusflow3r' like I used 2 listen 2 Prince's albums... loud, through real stereo system, from beginning 2 end.

The music IS fresh, the recording and engineering R perfect, including the vocals and all other instruments. Clear, punchy mix. Writing is there, diversity... energy, drive, the guitars R stripped of some of more glossy effects of the past, and R out in front in the mix. The sequencing of songs creates a seamless flow, though the songs themselves contrast greatly.


.
[Edited 2/8/10 13:33pm]

Except for a few songs here and there I could do without nearly every album after Lovesexy.

Sivad I agree with you and it has nothing to do with your life now and you holding on to the past etc. Everytime you raise a crticism of Prince on this site you get attacked by having an honest opinion and some fans find it hard to
believe the man isn't perfect in every way shape or form.

I honestly get just as excited with a new CD from my other fave artists now like Radiohead etc as I did back when they started, because their music is always changing and I believe they push the boundaries and continue to release amazing music IMO. I can't however say this now with Prince (who I have loved since 84) as I feel he just plays safe in the studio and I haven't really heard anything from him since The Gold Experience that made me go WOW and that feeling of "I can't stop playing his latest CD"and telling all of my friends ! Sure every cd from Prince is always good with one or two songs that I love and he has more talent than anyone on this planet, but I get as bored with his new albums as he does. Lotus for example has some cool songs with a fresher sound, but MPLSound to me seems dated and try hard and let's forget the other cd from the woman that we will never see or hear from again. It's a bit like a little bit of something beats a whole lot of nothing.
Sadly I now find myself just watching his tv performances and live shows on DVD instead of his new albums and I just wish he could put some of that energy and feeling that he has live on stage back in his studio albums.

Controversy said:

Just 2 be clear... I wrote what I did without personal tastes in mind.

There have been statements about 'Lotusflow3r' that R truly inaccurate...

Folks have said it is "light", when it is clearly not. Some folks R actually asking if Prince will release a more guitar driven album, when there is more guitar on this than any other release.

Now back 2 personal taste...

I personally don't ever listen 2 'The Gold Album'... it wore out on me, so 2 speak. Don't like most of the songs, and can't stand the "operator" inbetween nearly every song.

I'd take "Dance 4 Me", "Ol Skool Company", and "Chocolate Box" ANY DAY over "P-Control", "Now", and "319".

Personal taste... I love 'The Rainbow Children', musically, vocally... and the lowered voice (that he's been using 4 many years) doesn't bother me in the slightest. I like it. It works.

I'm an old schooler... since I was a kid in 1982.

'Controversy' album was one of my favorites.

I just don't compare past and present, because they R different... same artist, different style, evolved mind and skills. Love the old stuff, love the new.

skywalker said:[quote]

Sivad said:

I've said this before, and I am sure I'll say something like it again:

This has much more to do with you, your life and times, how you receive art/music, than it has to do with Prince.

More than anything, it sounds like you are talking about a bygone (pre interet) era and all that is different about it.
[Edited 2/8/10 11:11am]
[/q

Sorry this has more to do with Prince in that he has spun fans around too much with false dawns (forgive pun) music clubs, new websites and rehashing of old sounds and no this isnt about an old timer fan living in the past, it's possible for an artist to just continue to make music that feels organic (Bowie) and still remain friends with his fans...

I don't feel that excited when there is a new Prince realease anymore. The last realy great album 4 me was The Rainbow Children. The Lotusflow3r disc is the best since then. MPLSound is ok but only the ballads on it makes it not die completly and Brias disc I havent listen 2 in months now. Prince plays safe and have done that since Musicology. It makes him boring at the moment and thats why I don't feel that excited right now

I hear what your saying.

I was actually excited about getting LotusFlow3r, I love some songs on Minneapolis SOund(which is the cd I thought would B the cd) I prefer LotusFlower over it. But overall and in a few weeks I was actually done, and went back to my playlist creations. I did that with the new cd as well, i tried combining the 'remix' of In A Large Room with No Light. Just to feel the music now, I still like it, it just doesn't have something that I get when I play the Beautiful Ones. I can play that song over and over and never loose the feeling, and don't let me play one of the longer version of Computer Blue right after. I actually got others 2 by LotusFlower, I liked it enough.

But I've changed and Prince has changed.

Artistically I think Prince made some bad moves, played the blame game on WB, too many changes with bands looks styles,

Ummmm I must say the Princ of 4U-Lovesexy still had more than the music, there was a space Prince created via his music that was visual and it was a place Uptown-Minneapolis-1st Avenue it was real, the people for the most part weren't just musicians passing thru, there were protege bands that were an extension of the music via the Time, Sheila E Jill Jones 6 the Family Mazarati and it was just huge. after Lovesexy the changes really showed, some good music came out but not like before...

After Diamonds & Pearls I continued to follow Prince but it was too different, I jammed Get Off and the remix, Sexy MF, Money Don't Matter, but really lost touch until I heard I Hate U (I felt that spark) everytime the radio played it I had to listen, kept call the record store or running in to see if the album came. When it did, I like the guitar playing but over all it didn't have what I felt via I Hate U.

It was actually live shows and the Rainbow Children that pulled me back into the Camp.
I think he was on the right direction with reconnecting with some people that contributed to his earlier drive:Morris, Jerome, Wendy Sheila Lisa musically

I except the music 4 what it is, Prince is still my boy, but ....

funkomatic said:

Abso-fu*kin-lutely.

Prior to Lovesexy, if a Prince album had 10 songs, 8 were AWESOME and 2 were OK.

After Lovesexy, 2 would be AWESOME, 2 OK and 6 GARBAGE.

For me part of the problem is his complete disinterest in his projects - LotusFlow3r came and went in about a week, never to be heard about again, same with Planet Earth and 3121. At least 3121 had a video and some concerts... it's hard to get excited about his new music when even he seems bored with it.

I think it is mostly Prince has changed.

once he was free of WB.

suddenly, with no management and no one telling him no, the terrible business practices (crystal ball, npgmc, lf.com) started happening.

with no one to tell him he could only release a certain amount of music, he flooded the market. some of it is brilliant, but the amount of filler and crap has gone up slowly since those days.

so... his emancipation.
[Edited 2/8/10 18:19pm]

Giovanni777 said:

Love this post.

I don't see what has changed about Prince except for the fact he does not swear in his songs and sometimes talks about religion. I don't think he has changed that much.

Giovanni777 said:

Good points. They're all spoiled. What other popular artists are still producing interesting and creative music thirty years into their careers? To tell you the truth, I listen to his post-1990 output more than the first half. I would argue that you could easily edit 3 brilliant albums worth of post-2000 material that would kill anyone out there. His work should not be without criticism, but who is a more complete and complex artist (live and recorded) as a reference point?

Only Prince could have written "Boom" and "Wall of Berlin", but if they were released by U2, Radiohead or the White Stripes people would be hyperventilating with hyperbole.

Does anyone have the exact date he met Larry Graham??

thedance said:

that is exactly how I feel. this is where it just wasn't special anymore. I remember being excited to stumble across this set before the release date and it was just too much mediocrity. It just wasn't Prince anymore

HomeSquid said:

I understand what you are saying. I waited forever for Prince to get free and then to get 3 albums of songs and only like 3 songs was kinda "heartbreaking". Then again, if P himself hadn't hyped it up and said how great being "free" was gonna be, I may have dug the album more.

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