wow, I've walking around thinking how above average 20Ten is, and perhaps a step in the right direction etc. Then I put on Lovesexy for the first time in a looooooong time, played it from start to finish and I am just blown away. I don't need to repeat what has already been said about this killer CD but the man had such a vision on this project. The last few years have seen him record a bunch of tracks in quantity and then cobble them together to make a CD - basically 2004-present day.

It is clear that when he puts a CD together with a specific purpose he delivers the goods.

funkyhead said:

wow, I've walking around thinking how above average 20Ten is, and perhaps a step in the right direction etc. Then I put on Lovesexy for the first time in a looooooong time, played it from start to finish and I am just blown away. I don't need to repeat what has already been said about this killer CD but the man had such a vision on this project. The last few years have seen him record a bunch of tracks in quantity and then cobble them together to make a CD - basically 2004-present day.

It is clear that when he puts a CD together with a specific purpose he delivers the goods.

His last few years to me feel like a pick n mix really. It's as though he had a rock album, mpls sound album, ballad album, funk album and R&B album. But he wasn't brave enough to release them as is, so he just ripped them to bits, mixed them randomly about and what we got instead was Musicology - present.

I'd have loved to hear the original lotusflow3r sessions as was, just to hear how 3121 fit into the mix.

absolutely Lovesexy is fantastic, but i find it difficult to compare his albums, i only know what i like and what i dont.

Listening to it in sequence is all i've ever done. Same for all his 80's albums. I can't recall ever putting one of those albums on with the sole intent of listening to one track here and there.

Just my opinion, but Lovesexy is his creative peak. Then on it was downwards or gravy, depending on how i feel.

erik319 said:

I think his last concept album was "The Rainbow Children". The ones after that are decent mixes at best, random playlists at worst.

I agree, he delivers stock, lock & barrel when he conceptualizes his albums.

Personally, I do prefer concept albums. It doesn't have to tell a story, or even be all the same kind of music, but just that the album has a purpose and intent behind it is very gratifying, regardless of style.

You know, sticking a bunch of stuff together and calling it the year of release, really doesn't cut it for me in those terms.

I remember reading an interview once where Prince stated that, after Lovesexy he had nothing left to prove. That seems about right.

jwsullivan said:

purpledoveuk said:

jwsullivan said:

I remember reading an interview once where Prince stated that, after Lovesexy he had nothing left to prove. That seems about right.

Why on earth has he dragged his career on for twice as long again as it had already lasted when he made that claim then?!

Keeps him off the streets...

@ 1st i didnt like lovesexy

now i think its wonderful

yes you really have to listen to the tracks attentively because the lil stuff makes the album

PicklesMcMillan said:

@ 1st i didnt like lovesexy

now i think its wonderful

yes you really have to listen to the tracks attentively because the lil stuff makes the album

To be honest, I got really irritated with the sequenced tracklist at first. I never listen to albums fully at once, no matter how much I like them at first listen, I have to take them in small doses enough to appreciate them fully later.

Considering Prince' flair for hidden messages and small details, I had to give the album a thorough listen for the sake of finding them, and I'm not sorry I did

Honestly I don't think Lovesexy is his creativer peak, or even that successful. I do admire it's concept, but I think Black Album was a more successful solid album. Lovesexy sounds rushed and so ornate and often too silly in melody.

Plus, he fucked up what I think is his creative highest point sonically "The Ball" and converted it, in a mad rush, into "Eye No" which is inferior to my ears.

People complain about a "plastic sound" now, but I think Lovesexy suffers from a plastic attitude of melody and layering even if it's not the dry mix he likes now (which I like).

Don't get me wrong, I agree that conceptually it's great (and lyrically). And theart direction is GREAT.

But I definitely agree with the band members like Eric Leeds that were very disappointed but by how it came out vs how it sounded when they had recorded the bare bones tracks.

I suspect that the minimal dry production that he does now is what Eric heard when he was laying in his parts for Lovesexy, before Prince went hyperactive with keyboard embelishments, samples, counter melodies, and effects and reverb. Eric Leeds said he really thought it was a tough funky album before Prince frosted it with so many quick layers and a plastic knife.

Listen to how epic and imaginative the production and mix of "The Ball" is! Yet it all works together in with a lot of layers. That's because I think he took his time.

ufoclub said:

Honestly I don't think Lovesexy is his creativer peak, or even that successful. I do admire it's concept, but I think Black Album was a more successful solid album. Lovesexy sounds rushed and so ornate and often too silly in melody.

Plus, he fucked up what I think is his creative highest point sonically "The Ball" and converted it, in a mad rush, into "Eye No" which is inferior to my ears.

People complain about a "plastic sound" now, but I think Lovesexy suffers from a plastic attitude of melody and layering even if it's not the dry mix he likes now (which I like).

Don't get me wrong, I agree that conceptually it's great (and lyrically). And theart direction is GREAT.

But I definitely agree with the band members like Eric Leeds that were very disappointed but by how it came out vs how it sounded when they had recorded the bare bones tracks.

I suspect that the minimal dry production that he does now is what Eric heard when he was laying in his parts for Lovesexy, before Prince went hyperactive with keyboard embelishments, samples, counter melodies, and effects and reverb. Eric Leeds said he really thought it was a tough funky album before Prince frosted it with so many quick layers and a plastic knife.

Listen to how epic and imaginative the production and mix of "The Ball" is! Yet it all works together in with a lot of layers. That's because I think he took his time.

one thing that i adore about the so called classic albums is that when you listent to them on your headphones you always hear something new, or different - it may be the slightest thing but always interesting. Have to say that Lovesexy is an explosion of that!, maybe too many things but also 20Ten has , for me brought some of that quality back.

funkyhead said:

The last few years have seen him record a bunch of tracks in quantity and then cobble them together to make a CD - basically 2004-present day.

Actually, that's been the case with many of his albums earlier as well. SOTT is perhaps the best example - different songs went through many different configurations and title concepts ("Dream Factory", "Crystal Ball", "Camille", "The Dawn", etc) before it became the SOTT album.

RealMusician said:

funkyhead said:

The last few years have seen him record a bunch of tracks in quantity and then cobble them together to make a CD - basically 2004-present day.

Actually, that's been the case with many of his albums earlier as well. SOTT is perhaps the best example - different songs went through many different configurations and title concepts ("Dream Factory", "Crystal Ball", "Camille", "The Dawn", etc) before it became the SOTT album.

True, but let's not forget that that was essentially a honing down process, removing the less commercial sounding tracks and creating a 'best of' collection from, franky, 4 amazing albums.

I agree Lovesexy is a masterpiece from start to finish.

the thing about Lovesexy (and other more experimental Prince music) is that it is over the top with ideas and energy.

On paper it's actually kind of a mess, there is too much going on, and his recent music makes more sense. But in reality, Lovesexy is far more brilliant because it is on the verge of being out of control and perhaps even crosses the line at times.

It is this same quality that made TRC such an an interesting listen, if not quite as brilliant as his 80's work. His 2000's music is cool, under control, and not as exciting or original because of it.

RealMusician said:

funkyhead said:

The last few years have seen him record a bunch of tracks in quantity and then cobble them together to make a CD - basically 2004-present day.

Actually, that's been the case with many of his albums earlier as well. SOTT is perhaps the best example - different songs went through many different configurations and title concepts ("Dream Factory", "Crystal Ball", "Camille", "The Dawn", etc) before it became the SOTT album.

and it sounded like it to back in 1987 when I put on the record. The best sequence was the A side of record 1, with the wham bam of SOTT, Play, and the GREAT SURPRISE Housequake, and Dorothy Parker. At the the time none of the other sides of the record gelled for me. they seemed patched together, and the songsmanship seemed poor or uninteresting on many tracks.

funkyhead said:

wow, I've walking around thinking how above average 20Ten is, and perhaps a step in the right direction etc. Then I put on Lovesexy for the first time in a looooooong time, played it from start to finish and I am just blown away. I don't need to repeat what has already been said about this killer CD but the man had such a vision on this project. The last few years have seen him record a bunch of tracks in quantity and then cobble them together to make a CD - basically 2004-present day.

It is clear that when he puts a CD together with a specific purpose he delivers the goods.

Hate to say it, but Lovesexy is totally cobbled together. Take a look at the actual history of the tracks on that record. The opening track is a remake of an older song, and the whole thing is really just the cobbled together bits that he found acceptable after his little spiritual crisis with Ingrid Chavez. This is the mish mash he came up with to substitute the Black Album.

Don't get me wrong. I think Lovesexy is a fantastic record, but to say it was put recorded as a cohesive set of songs or that there was any kind of direction before he got around to actually picking the tracks to be included is just totally wrong.

funkyhead said:

ufoclub said:

Honestly I don't think Lovesexy is his creativer peak, or even that successful. I do admire it's concept, but I think Black Album was a more successful solid album. Lovesexy sounds rushed and so ornate and often too silly in melody.

Plus, he fucked up what I think is his creative highest point sonically "The Ball" and converted it, in a mad rush, into "Eye No" which is inferior to my ears.

People complain about a "plastic sound" now, but I think Lovesexy suffers from a plastic attitude of melody and layering even if it's not the dry mix he likes now (which I like).

Don't get me wrong, I agree that conceptually it's great (and lyrically). And theart direction is GREAT.

But I definitely agree with the band members like Eric Leeds that were very disappointed but by how it came out vs how it sounded when they had recorded the bare bones tracks.

I suspect that the minimal dry production that he does now is what Eric heard when he was laying in his parts for Lovesexy, before Prince went hyperactive with keyboard embelishments, samples, counter melodies, and effects and reverb. Eric Leeds said he really thought it was a tough funky album before Prince frosted it with so many quick layers and a plastic knife.

Listen to how epic and imaginative the production and mix of "The Ball" is! Yet it all works together in with a lot of layers. That's because I think he took his time.

one thing that i adore about the so called classic albums is that when you listent to them on your headphones you always hear something new, or different - it may be the slightest thing but always interesting. Have to say that Lovesexy is an explosion of that!, maybe too many things but also 20Ten has , for me brought some of that quality back.

I was JUST thinking the same thing yesterday as I was listening to "Future Soul Song" - i heard some instrumentation I didn't hear before - and I was reminded of how great it was to hear old tracks and suddenly for the first time catch some thing you never did before

funkyhead said:

wow, I've walking around thinking how above average 20Ten is, and perhaps a step in the right direction etc. Then I put on Lovesexy for the first time in a looooooong time, played it from start to finish and I am just blown away. I don't need to repeat what has already been said about this killer CD but the man had such a vision on this project. The last few years have seen him record a bunch of tracks in quantity and then cobble them together to make a CD - basically 2004-present day.

It is clear that when he puts a CD together with a specific purpose he delivers the goods.

gamera said:

funkyhead said:

wow, I've walking around thinking how above average 20Ten is, and perhaps a step in the right direction etc. Then I put on Lovesexy for the first time in a looooooong time, played it from start to finish and I am just blown away. I don't need to repeat what has already been said about this killer CD but the man had such a vision on this project. The last few years have seen him record a bunch of tracks in quantity and then cobble them together to make a CD - basically 2004-present day.

It is clear that when he puts a CD together with a specific purpose he delivers the goods.

Hate to say it, but Lovesexy is totally cobbled together. Take a look at the actual history of the tracks on that record. The opening track is a remake of an older song, and the whole thing is really just the cobbled together bits that he found acceptable after his little spiritual crisis with Ingrid Chavez. This is the mish mash he came up with to substitute the Black Album.

Don't get me wrong. I think Lovesexy is a fantastic record, but to say it was put recorded as a cohesive set of songs or that there was any kind of direction before he got around to actually picking the tracks to be included is just totally wrong.

True. And it sounds like it! Glam Slam has nothing to do with what comes before it in tone, it even quickly fades up. That's the most unsequential part of the album for me. When 2 R in Love was pulled of Black Album

gamera said:

funkyhead said:

wow, I've walking around thinking how above average 20Ten is, and perhaps a step in the right direction etc. Then I put on Lovesexy for the first time in a looooooong time, played it from start to finish and I am just blown away. I don't need to repeat what has already been said about this killer CD but the man had such a vision on this project. The last few years have seen him record a bunch of tracks in quantity and then cobble them together to make a CD - basically 2004-present day.

It is clear that when he puts a CD together with a specific purpose he delivers the goods.

Hate to say it, but Lovesexy is totally cobbled together. Take a look at the actual history of the tracks on that record. The opening track is a remake of an older song, and the whole thing is really just the cobbled together bits that he found acceptable after his little spiritual crisis with Ingrid Chavez. This is the mish mash he came up with to substitute the Black Album.

Don't get me wrong. I think Lovesexy is a fantastic record, but to say it was put recorded as a cohesive set of songs or that there was any kind of direction before he got around to actually picking the tracks to be included is just totally wrong.

you are right, and it is not as much of a band effort as I had thought originally so it's uneven in that sense, too.

But the point is, it sounds inspired. Most albums are not conceived as one thing, they are collections of songs. But the best ones are a good mix of inspired songs.

NDRU said:

gamera said:

Hate to say it, but Lovesexy is totally cobbled together. Take a look at the actual history of the tracks on that record. The opening track is a remake of an older song, and the whole thing is really just the cobbled together bits that he found acceptable after his little spiritual crisis with Ingrid Chavez. This is the mish mash he came up with to substitute the Black Album.

Don't get me wrong. I think Lovesexy is a fantastic record, but to say it was put recorded as a cohesive set of songs or that there was any kind of direction before he got around to actually picking the tracks to be included is just totally wrong.

you are right, and it is not as much of a band effort as I had thought originally so it's uneven in that sense, too.

But the point is, it sounds inspired. Most albums are not conceived as one thing, they are collections of songs. But the best ones are a good mix of inspired songs.

I agree. The album does sound inspired, and no one will argue that Prince himself seems to be particularly inspired.

gamera said:

NDRU said:

you are right, and it is not as much of a band effort as I had thought originally so it's uneven in that sense, too.

But the point is, it sounds inspired. Most albums are not conceived as one thing, they are collections of songs. But the best ones are a good mix of inspired songs.

I agree. The album does sound inspired, and no one will argue that Prince himself seems to be particularly inspired.

You right. Lovesexy is inspired. But in the long run that doesn't matter to me. In the short run, yeah, it's exciting when an album has a vibe that sounds current to the artist's activities and life and energy. But I do think all of Prince's albums save something like The Vault (is that what it was called?) or Choas and Disorder all sound inspired. I think Rainbow Children is even more cohesively inspired than Lovesexy, but not as scifi/futuristic. It was more conservative in song construction and followed his more particular retro musicianship band vibe at the time.

just listened to Lovesexy all the way through the other day. the more time passes, the less I like it. the sound is overly cluttered while simultaneously sounding lightweight. especially on the heels of SOTT and the Black Album. Paisley Park really did ruin his sound.

Yes and no. SOTT is possibly the most hodgepodge album he's ever released and it's considered a classic album, even by non-Prince fans.

I'll give you that Lovesexy is better than anything released since 2004. I don't think there's a logical argument against that.

I realize that a lot of people don't agree, but I really think he was trying with Musicology. It's the same band as TRC, so it's got that live funk band vibe. And if you play if from start to finish (something I don't think a lot of people do) it's got a CLEAR flow to the way the tracks were sequenced. They're all different, but they work next to each other; much like SOTT. I think he tried with Lotusflow3r and MPLSound, too, but not as succesfully. 20ten even less so. 3121 and PE, totally just songs tossed at his audience. ESPECIALLY Planet Earth.

[Edited 7/28/10 18:40pm]

errant said:

just listened to Lovesexy all the way through the other day. the more time passes, the less I like it. the sound is overly cluttered while simultaneously sounding lightweight. especially on the heels of SOTT and the Black Album. Paisley Park really did ruin his sound.

That's exactly why it failed to hit, or even be popular with some of his old time fans in the states.

For a very long time Lovesexy was #1 for me, but over the years it has fallen back to the pack a bit for me. I still love it, but I rarely listen to it. I just played it so many times, and the production hasn't aged well. It's better on vinyl for sure.