NewPower Soul

With Crystal Ball still rotating its way through my playlist, the word came out that a new album was due to drop. Credited as a New Power Generation release New Power Soul I was curious how much of it would be a group workout and how much of it would be pure .

Slotting the cd into my player, I loaded up New Power Soul. And as instructed the groove did make my head bop, up and down up and down. As if hypnotising me into the groove. While lacking the punch of some of the other album openers the bouncy vibe laid the work for the album – focused on dance grooves and fun rather than reinventing or pushing musical bounds.

Case in point, Mad Sex, a slithering little song that just kicks back in the groove of the track. Nothing overwhelming about it, the track quickly lost my attention and ended up being background music. Saved for the lyric book that tried to entice me back with every new verse.

With its ethereal vibe Until Your In My Arms Again is a song that shows off the artistry of song writing, of laying down on a page the truth, in all it’s painful glory. The longing is tangible, the pain real. The sadness ever present despite the beautiful arrangement and vocal.

When You Love Somebody to me always feels like it would have been more at home on emancipation. It has a Disc 1 vibe to it, sliding up next to somebody’s somebody. Now you know I love SS, so I was bound to fall for this track too. A playful track punctuated by horn stabs and carried by a hopeful though that you accept the good and the bad in relationships and a flip side to the whole “why do you put up with such $hit” line. What the final breakdown has to do with the song I don’t know, but it’s funky so I let it be. Lol.

When I first heard Shoo-bed-ooh I was hooked on the stripped back feel of the track, but now whatever appeal it had has overstayed its welcome. It just feels lightweight. Shame, cause I once really loved this song.

Unfortunately lightweight is how I would describe Push It Up! Unfortunately by referencing “Jam of the Year” it just highlights what the song isn’t, a kick a$$ funk jam. Instead it comes across undercooked and under baked.

Thankfully Freaks on This Side with its sample of “Now” does justice to the comparison. With a modern funkadelic feel, the track warbles along through the verses and hits with a hook in the chorus. A smile raiser.

From the first note of Come On I was there. The prancing beat, and slinking synth bass line had me. Then that playful melody danced across my speakers. So before a word was spoken I had bought it. Thankfully the chorus lived up to the catchiness of the groove. And was I ever so pleased it was the lead single with the remixes that came along with it.

The sex you up title has be awarded to The One. It had always been a hidden gem in the catalogue with its simmering seduction and enchanting arrangement. Lost on many during the 2003 live tour of Australia I for one was happy it was in the set. Reminiscent of The Question of U, it’s one of my favour ballads.

It’s a shame Funky Music follows it. This run of the mill funk groove did nothing to me back then and fails to move me today. Dressed up in all the production value it can muster, it just fails to impress.

Am I alone in thinking the most interesting track on the set is Wasted Kisses? I remember when I first listened to the album, Funky Music lost me and I pressed stop. It wasn’t until I played the album a second time later that night as I was drifting off to sleep that after a few minutes of silence I was jolted upright by the song. There is a great deal of sadness inherent in this track, and I think that is the appeal. Addressing the same issues as I Hate U, but done with a darker funkier edge it remains a favourite of mine.

In whole the album was a tad disappointing. I remember it not sticking around too long amongst the stuff I listened to that year. And to be honest it was the start of a sense of apathy that crept into my appreciation for Prince / . From here and the next few releases I would buy them religiously, listen to them find a gem or two and then kind of park the album. It was a time where if I wanted to really feel the funk I was delving back into the catalogue than relishing the new material. Even today as I relisten to the album I can’t help but think it is a tad disjointed, almost a rushed collection of individual songs than a cohesive set. Sure there are some wonderful songs on here, but as an album it just doesn’t sit right.

The One is a classic moment on an otherwise HORRID CD. I mean there was nothing else worth a listen on this one. My least favorite of any Prince product

This album feels like Emancipation b-sides. It seemed too "easy" of a record for him to make, half of it is recycled stuff. I also hate many of the lyrics, it seemed he was trying too hard to turn a phrase or be clever ("Every while in a great once?" ugh.) You'll notice the songs from this CD that people often say are their favorites are the ones without the goofy wordplay.

I assume Boris Fishpaw or someone can shed more light on the creation of this album, but this was supposed to have a remix of The Good Life on it as well. Seems like this album has always kind of been a true throwaway ("Push It Up" evolving from a "Jam of the Year" remix, "Newpower Soul" sharing ideas/music from "Newpowersoul" and "Big Fun", the intended inclusion of the Big City remix of "The Good Life").

There's definitely some cool, one-off tracks on the album and eventually you see that the samey production of the songs is a nuanced aesthetic throughout. The album does sound like Emancipation Disc 4, or a sequel to that album. But this was the first bit of new material we'd gotten since Emancipation anyway so it made a nice transition from the sound of Emancipation to the sound of Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic.

Funnily enough, during this period he was borrowing heavily from his vault for each project rather than writing a brand new record ala Symbol, Come/Gold, etc.

His worst album.
After the first few listens I completely lost interest in him.

One of his worst, if not the worst. The first release where the bad songs far outweigh the good.

Wow, got to admit I am surprised how unpopular this album is with you all. I actually pulled this album out recently and have quite enjoyed listening to it again. Sure it has a few throw away tracks (Push it up, freaks on this side) but for the most part the tracks are solid.

*Until your in my arms again: underrated ballad with a strong hook

*The One: classic well produced ballad

*When You love Somebody: should have been a single

*Come On:another classic with some of my favorite lyrics

"You can play me if you want to but you better let me know

I don't need to play the good licks if there aint gonna be no show.

Better off sleeping with my guitar if you aint gonna sing

Strapped to the body, making love to the strings"

*Funky Music: Have to completely disagree with you on this one, absolutely love this jam!

This is a 70's style George Clinton funk tribute with all the old school instruments.

Still can't figure out what kind of bass pedal he uses to get that speaker shaking effect. Anyone know? I love this song just for that. Even the rap is tolerable, I'll take Doug E. Fresh with his beat boxing over Tony M any day.

*Wasted kisses: Great track just wish it was longer and a little more developed. Nice surprise though

Under rated IMO. Better than Graffiti Bridge, Emancipation, Musicology, Rainbow Children, Rave, Lotus, or 20ten.

Even the bad songs bounce along in an entertaining way. I far prefer Prince being funky and staying in his comfort zone than the strange experimental stuff he's been pooping out lately

Frankly, I think that it's a pile of shite!!

Funklov said:

Wow, got to admit I am surprised how unpopular this album is with you all. I actually pulled this album out recently and have quite enjoyed listening to it again. Sure it has a few throw away tracks (Push it up, freaks on this side) but for the most part the tracks are solid.

*Until your in my arms again: underrated ballad with a strong hook

*The One: classic well produced ballad

*When You love Somebody: should have been a single

*Come On:another classic with some of my favorite lyrics

"You can play me if you want to but you better let me know

I don't need to play the good licks if there aint gonna be no show.

Better off sleeping with my guitar if you aint gonna sing

Strapped to the body, making love to the strings"

*Funky Music: Have to completely disagree with you on this one, absolutely love this jam!

This is a 70's style George Clinton funk tribute with all the old school instruments.

Still can't figure out what kind of bass pedal he uses to get that speaker shaking effect. Anyone know? I love this song just for that. Even the rap is tolerable, I'll take Doug E. Fresh with his beat boxing over Tony M any day.

*Wasted kisses: Great track just wish it was longer and a little more developed. Nice surprise though

Aside from maybe 2 or 3 songs you listed above, can you honestly say you'd like this music if it came from someone else? Or are you preconditioned to like anything Prince puts out?

Se7en said:

Aside from maybe 2 or 3 songs you listed above, can you honestly say you'd like this music if it came from someone else? Or are you preconditioned to like anything Prince puts out?

That's just it though, this music couldn't come from anyone else.

Though not 100% classic, New Power Soul has Prince's stank all over it. Sure, someone else could do a song like "come on" but it would be a totally different animal...unrecognizable perhaps. Prince has his way of doing things.

Ultimately, I think that's what divides many Prince fans.

You , somewhat insultingly, ask someone if they are "preconditioned to like anything Prince puts out." Some people just prefer one baker over another. Prince is my favorite baker when it comes to music. I prefer how he does it. It's not better vs worse. It's not a matter of having taste, or not. It's a matter of having different tastes and respecting that.

this album sucks...i threw it out my car window...

this is my rating of the album....

apart from maybe "Until Your in my arms again"... it's just more evidence that Kirky J. was doing more harm than good.... long before P. started to, well, take the P.

'dre

It's one of Prince's FUNKIEST records EVER!!!

U whiteys should go back listening 2 ur Radiohead records and quit bothering us with all ur bullshit!

(& b4 someone starts 2 claim i'm a racist, let it be known that i'm a whitey as well... physically at least )

I really enjoy this album!

I'm surprised at the negativity surrounding it as well, but I kinda agree with the comment that it sounds like Emancipation - The B-Sides.

Even still, I think it's a VERY good album, and even though I don't pop it in too often, I enjoy it thoroughly when I do.

The only cuts I usually skip are Funky Music and Wasted Kisses.

Other than that, I think it's clever and smooth.

I love the title cut, Mad Sex is decent... I really like Until U're in My Arms Again... Shoo bee Dooh is a good listen... Push it Up and Freaks on this Side are fun to listen to, and The One is a cool mellow jam!

Not sure why so many dump on this CD. I wouldn't rank it in my top 10, but I don't think I'd rank it in my bottom 10 either.

... and by the way... I think that Until U're in My Arms Again is my favorite cut on the CD. That's just the "romantic" in me.

STOP THE HATE! lol This is NOT a bad CD!

I actually like this album, with the excepton of push it up etc...

its not bad...

I liked it better than Chaos.

Mad Sex is just too funky

"Bushy head mullato breakdown, have your lips got wet today"

I'm sorry I like my Prince

Filthy

Very under appreciated project.

I really DIG it.

EmbattledWarrior said:

I actually like this album, with the excepton of push it up etc...

its not bad...

I liked it better than Chaos.

Mad Sex is just too funky

"Bushy head mullato breakdown, have your lips got wet today"

I'm sorry I like my Prince

Filthy

I personally think "Chaos.." is an underrated album and is overshadowed by its "release-to-be-released" stigma

'dre

It sure ain't my fav album, maybe better than C&D but that album is one of his worst.

I always liked NPS, The ONe and Funky Music(!) but the rest???

U know what...NOW I love the songs I mentioned but those days we just were expecting so much more from Prince, ok,we had a few dissapointments with C&D and maybe Come but we also

got Emancipation & TGE (!). And the Hits were just a few years behind us.

So this was the second time I thought; now it's over (first time with C&D).

And that's why I love this last decade; since MUsicology Prince is back and he embraces his past...something he refused 2 do the second half of the 90's.

So...not a good album, but did I mention that I looove the long version of Come On?

skywalker said:

Se7en said:

Aside from maybe 2 or 3 songs you listed above, can you honestly say you'd like this music if it came from someone else? Or are you preconditioned to like anything Prince puts out?

That's just it though, this music couldn't come from anyone else.

Though not 100% classic, New Power Soul has Prince's stank all over it. Sure, someone else could do a song like "come on" but it would be a totally different animal...unrecognizable perhaps. Prince has his way of doing things.

Ultimately, I think that's what divides many Prince fans.

You , somewhat insultingly, ask someone if they are "preconditioned to like anything Prince puts out." Some people just prefer one baker over another. Prince is my favorite baker when it comes to music. I prefer how he does it. It's not better vs worse. It's not a matter of having taste, or not. It's a matter of having different tastes and respecting that.

I did not mean to insult, just was asking a legitimate question. There are many fans/fams who literally love every single song that Prince puts outs for no other reason than it's Prince. That is preconditioning.

skywalker said:

Se7en said:

Aside from maybe 2 or 3 songs you listed above, can you honestly say you'd like this music if it came from someone else? Or are you preconditioned to like anything Prince puts out?

That's just it though, this music couldn't come from anyone else.

Though not 100% classic, New Power Soul has Prince's stank all over it. Sure, someone else could do a song like "come on" but it would be a totally different animal...unrecognizable perhaps. Prince has his way of doing things.

Ultimately, I think that's what divides many Prince fans.

You , somewhat insultingly, ask someone if they are "preconditioned to like anything Prince puts out." Some people just prefer one baker over another. Prince is my favorite baker when it comes to music. I prefer how he does it. It's not better vs worse. It's not a matter of having taste, or not. It's a matter of having different tastes and respecting that.

Thank you! I don't believe Prince songs would sound better by other artists so why would I judge his songs other than them being a Prince experience. Only he can pull them off but that is why I am a Prince fan. I dont know about you Se7en. I don't like a lot of Prince songs or Prince albums but I do think NPS is enjoyable and has more good songs than bad.

I did not like it when I first got it. I listened to it recently and I am not a musical expert, but the album as a whole doesn't play that well as an album. I just don't like the way it flows together but it isn't as bad as I thought it was at first. I deffinately would not list it among his best works. I disagree that it is better than Emancipation that is for sure!

Come On and When You Love Somebody are great songs, and New Power Soul has some fantastic horns in it, the rest is almost unlistenable.

Great to see that someone's writing about this beautiful album - but to call your little essay a "celebration" is just a bit hilarious to me.

BeautifulExperience said:

Great to see that someone's writing about this beautiful album - but to call your little essay a "celebration" is just a bit hilarious to me.

Point taken on the Celebration part - but this is just one part of the whole discography celebration.

You can check out the other albums discussed here: A celebration master list

Putting it all in context you might appreciate that it was a celebration of the musical journey - some highs some lows. And good to see whilst it might not be a fave album of mine - others find it, as you say, beautiful.

[Edited 11/3/10 0:15am]

Swa said:

BeautifulExperience said:

Great to see that someone's writing about this beautiful album - but to call your little essay a "celebration" is just a bit hilarious to me.

Point taken on the Celebration part - but this is just one part of the whole discography celebration.

You can check out the other albums discussed here: A celebration master list

Putting it all in context you might appreciate that it was a celebration of the musical journey - some highs some lows. And good to see whilst it might not be a fave album of mine - others find it, as you say, beautiful.

[Edited 11/3/10 0:15am]

Okay, so as part of your concept as a whole I understand your intention. Thank you for your fast answer.

I heart Mad Sex.

Mad Sex has a great sound and a different sound for him... and it has wicked sex lyrics "bloody holes" "lips got wet today"

Come On and The One are incredible

The hidden track is cool...

That's four keepers... that's perhaps the average number of "hits" I feel are on every Prince album, throwing out hindsight nostalgia and unrelated surrounding life/pop circumstances for each album.

The One, The One, The One, The One, The One, The One

All I needed to hear was this song and had to go get the cd! And I must say, I do enjoy the ablum! Wasted Kisses is probably my 2nd favorite....It isn't the best Prince, and it isn't better than anything he;s put out in this decade, but it is better than a couple of his albums (a 1980s ablum comes to mind )

A turkey, it was his worst work at that point (if we dismiss Kamasutra and other NPG albums). The only good song is the title-track, which is really, really good. The rest is crap or OVERRATED stuff (Mad Sex, Wasted Kisses, Come On, The One, which are just ok, at best)

Skip this turkey.