The song sucks and Prince continues to churn out the same watered-down funk and rock. I'll giving "Pause & Reject" one big yawn.

[if you are a Prince "fam" and don't wanna read a negative reply, don't read this post then]

IstenSzek said:

I don't think he's referring to his past work, just past misdeeds. He does say that "he wouldn't change a thing" - I don't think he looks at his past work as sinful but, perhaps, some of the things he's done....just like any of us, of course.

The song is explaining where he is at - and its that he's no longer the superstar, he's grown up. But, the way that is put across seems like he feels he should have learned that sooner in life. And, after all this reflection, we get a verse telling us to be more positive etc etc so that we have fewer regrets when we all, eventually, grow up. Its a mature song, fitting for its subject matter.
[Edited 2/26/10 6:48am]

Identity said:

Pause & Reject....priceless!

Mindflux said:

well don't count out cora yet. i know a lot of people think she ain't
that good but she held herself up well enough at a lot of the O2 gigs
and her work on the few lotusflower tracks she was on was very good.

she might have stepped up a notch, you know how prince manages to get
everyone playing beyond what they did before.

He's done better songs in the past.

The song is called "Cause and Effect," and it's a rocker - filled with virtuosic guitar work, explosive drum breaks, a poppy chorus, trademark shrieks and whoops, some intriguing lyrics

Sounds more like something you'd read on the backside of a B-movie you found on the lower shelf at your local video store.

It's not a recommendation, it's a warning!!!

All these people hating Prince´s work for years and still immediately listen to every new song from him. What a bunch of incredible losers

IstenSzek said:

Quite right - for a moment, I had forgotten about Cora!

She killed it at the O2 and aftershows

All these people hating Prince´s work for years and still immediately listen to every new song from him. What a bunch of incredible losers

It's too bad his recording engineer and the people that work for him can't tell Prince is something is hot or not. They probably fear for their jobs.

All these people hating Prince´s work for years and still immediately listen to every new song from him. What a bunch of incredible losers

The song is called "Cause and Effect," and it's a rocker - filled with virtuosic guitar work, explosive drum breaks, a poppy chorus, trademark shrieks and whoops, some intriguing lyrics

Sounds more like something you'd read on the backside of a B-movie you found on the lower shelf at your local video store.

It's not a recommendation, it's a warning!!!

CallMeCarrie said:

rwn said:

Because despite the long years of drought we all hope Prince can rediscover his songwriting form.

Alas that appears ever more remote as the years pass.

Review of the song "Cause and Effect"

The first half minute or so is interesting, I like the poppy breaks here and there. But the longer it went on, the less I liked it. It has the problem a lot of later era Prince songs have... it just rambles on and on with no pure structure at all. A song like I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man has a beautiful structure... hook... chorus... and real lyrics you can understand. That's why it's a great song and will be loved and remembered forever.

But Cause and Effect doesn't have any of that. It just rambles on, sort of like Rock 'n Roll is Alive and Cybersingle. At the end Prince throws in a token guitar solo but that can't save this song at all. There's no real structure, hook, chorus, and the lyrics are too self centered and preachy to ever be a hit or a fan favorite.

It was definitely embarrassing to hear so many great songs on The Current (Sloop John B!) and then hear this dreck from Prince, a rock 'n roll hall of famer. Listening to Cause and Effect, you'd never know Prince was a great musician. He should be writing songs that are meaningful... at the very least, songs that are well structured and enjoyable, especially after so many years of making music. I think he's spending too much time reading the Bible and hanging out alone at Paisley Park. It's time for Prince to make some music that touches people... and not in ways they'd rather not be touched.

I'm gonna go listen to Pet Sounds now.

Final Grade for Cause and Effect: D-
Final Grade for Sloop John B: A+
[Edited 2/26/10 6:16am]

Mindflux said:

i love love love her skills on that ROCK aftershow

All these people hating Prince´s work for years and still immediately listen to every new song from him. What a bunch of incredible losers

I wonder what Prince thinks when he reads threads in response to his new tracks... Purple and Gold (lol) and now this one.

Does he sit there and think "They don't know what they're talking about... this song rules!", "I've lost it... I don't have the magic touch anymore.", or "I'm not going to release any vault songs until everyone agrees my new music is as good as my old music!" Or maybe he just doesn't care. But from listening to some of his music, it's clear Prince reads opinions on himself and his music that people post on the various threads. So I'd say he's a little hurt when his true fans don't like his new music.

But I can't get down on Prince's music too much. He just gave the wrong track to the radio station. For every bad song he records, there have to be great ones, he probably just can't tell the difference. That's what Randy Newman said about him... that Prince doesn't know what songs of his are good and which are bad. It's too bad his recording engineer and the people that work for him can't tell Prince is something is hot or not. They probably fear for their jobs. But then again maybe Prince is putting the song out there to see what people think about it. That's why I gave specific reasons why I don't like the song instead of just saying "it sucks."

Prince, tell us what you think!

cause and effect - cool song title - bad song!

sad to say the more i hear new prince music the less of a fan i become - and ive been a fan since 1984 with Lotus flower being the first Prince record i didnt buy becuase it contained poorly written / produced songs with substance that sounded like "cause and effect"

the only thing i can count on from Prince for lately is releasing out of touch dated sounding music - strange but true

I am here. Where are you?

Well I'm obviously not where you are! 'Cause if I was, I'd probably understand better what the heck you are trying to Effect with your music lately! I'm just saying!

So anyway...

Lyrically - not great! Music wise - pretty good! Could have definitely done without the audience noise! If I want live (or live like) I'll go to a concert.

Honestly though I think it's time for Prince to do a 'just music' album(s) like Joe Satriani or something (with LOTS of guitar) but without being heavy on the jazzy feel.

Just my 2 cents!

However one thing is true without a doubt and that is Cause & Effect is 100% freakin' better than the 'fight' song for the Vikings. Of course after that song there was nowhere else to go but up or retirement.

Peace!

rwn said:

That's because he has done also hundreds of mindblowingly good songs. Talent doesn't really disappear. Ability to focus on your output however does.