I was thinking about it th other day. I read the critics' articles about how he is settling into his role as the elder statesman and not the bold cutting edge maverick that he was 25 or 30 years ago. I have always dismissed this notion. But then I gave it some thought - inspired by a few artists who still have the courage and talent to be cutting edge in the last decade or so - people like Janelle Monet or maybe Van Hunt and Sandra St Victor. Then I wonder if Prince was in there among them or ahead of them as he was back in the day. I listened to something like "Laydown" - or the entire 20Ten album - and wondered if he finally found himself in a position of following instead of leading - or just being out ahead of the game.

[Edited 4/11/11 6:43am]

[Edited 4/11/11 6:44am]

beware of critics. lol. but seriously who's doing stuff like Here and Valentina. just two examples from the much maligned MPLSound that no one could do. same for Planet Earth (title track) Colonized mind while not "cutting edge" per se is just stellar and shows he hasn't stopped challenging himself instrumentally, guitar playing is on point! So if YOU think its cutting edge, let that suffice. Critics make a living by being subjective and speculative about somebody ELSE'S art. how sad

[Edited 4/11/11 7:38am]

purplenuts said:

I listened to something like "Laydown" - or the entire 20Ten album - and wondered if he finally found himself in a position of following instead of leading - or just being out ahead of the game.

I actually took your post seriously till I read this, now I know you're just trollin'.

I guess it's down to what you define as "cuting edge"? For me something like Black Sweat is quite different to what you hear on the radio in the UK. Does that make it cutting edge? Or do you define cutting edge as a lead for others to follow or is it merely daring to be different?

release 4 discs worth of new material in 1996 (emancipation, chaos and disorder)

or if u mean by album.....SOTT!!

I would ask this: In 2011 what/who is cutting edge?

You mentioned Janelle Monae, but I don't think she is doing things that haven't been done before.

Furthermore, if Prince had released Paranoid Android, I think people/critics would have been split as they usually are when it comes to Prince's new music. Meaning, would the album be viewed as lovingly as it is?

prince is so far beyond the cutting edge he's the "bleeding edge"

DJTricky said:

prince is so far beyond the cutting edge he's the "bleeding edge"

idk about "cutting edge"... but i think lotusflower was pretty brilliant. its in my top 3 favorite albums.

datdude said:

beware of critics. lol. but seriously who's doing stuff like Here and Valentina. just two examples from the much maligned MPLSound that no one could do. same for Planet Earth (title track) Colonized mind while not "cutting edge" per se is just stellar and shows he hasn't stopped challenging himself instrumentally, guitar playing is on point! So if YOU think its cutting edge, let that suffice. Critics make a living by being subjective and speculative about somebody ELSE'S art. how sad

[Edited 4/11/11 7:38am]

Excellent point

dyvrdown said:

DJTricky said:

prince is so far beyond the cutting edge he's the "bleeding edge"

idk about "cutting edge"... but i think lotusflower was pretty brilliant. its in my top 3 favorite albums.

agree about lotusflow3r.

i liked it anyway but it sounds even better after not listening 4 few months.. that futuristic sound is is cool princely vibe

in 2011 I don't think anyone can be edge cutting in music.

Film is another thing

TRC.

If there was any edge for him to cut in 2001 he really did it.

If by "cutting edge" meaning doing something never done before or creating a new "sound" then probably not since LoveSexy and doing it with success probably not since Parade.

And perhaps not even then as "cutting edge" to me means a bit more than "new." More like "new and entirely unexpected", you might have to go as far back as Dirty Mind/Controversy/1999 days for that. (Purple Rain being the eventural "pop" result of the those three records, not entirely "new").

Since 1990 or so he's been either mining his own sound (nothing wrong with that and I wish he had done it with more consistency) or trying to co-op the then current R&B/Hip Hop mainstream dribble (New Jack Swing, faux-rap) misguidingly thinking this helped him stay relevant or some faux-jazz (TRC), easy-listening stuff.

purplenuts said:

I was thinking about it the other day. I read the critics' articles about how he is settling into his role as the elder statesman and not the bold cutting edge maverick that he was 25 or 30 years ago. I have always dismissed this notion. But then I gave it some thought - inspired by a few artists who still have the courage and talent to be cutting edge in the last decade or so - people like Janelle Monet or maybe Van Hunt and Sandra St Victor. Then I wonder if Prince was in there among them or ahead of them as he was back in the day. I listened to something like "Laydown" - or the entire 20Ten album - and wondered if he finally found himself in a position of following instead of leading - or just being out ahead of the game.

Honestly, Janelle, Van Hunt and Sandra haven't done anything so 'cutting edge'. I personally feel the term 'cutting edge' or 'ground-breaking' is subjective. No one has to do that any longer, there's nothing NEW that can be taught or explained about the human experience that hasn't already been discussed or sang / sung about.

Prince 'was' a follower back when he was with a label. Now he writes what he feels and that's all that's important as an artist. He's an independent artist now and he didn't start out that way but, the journey has taken him there. He still writes the best ballads, funk numbers and some great SOUL music, not R&B but SOUL. & don't get me started on his Rock N' Roll or Hard Rock compositions. The brother can break you off with anything. One more thing: I could care less what a 'critic' thinks about Prince, if it has a positive spin on it, I'm cool, if not, I'm not interested ...

Like someone previously stated....WHO is cutting edge in today's music?

No one.

But, we take Prince for granted...He has been so great for so long.

His voice is on point.

His concerts are untouchable.

He can play all instruments on every song on his albums....isn't that ALONE cutting edge?

He's the only one (worth listening to) who can do that.

There is no 'cutting edge' in music per se....the cutting edge in music is in the manipulation of technology...that manipulates the music.

Prince's years of mastery of his craft is, in and of itself....cutting edge....don't you think? The physical kinisthetic aspects of playing, singing and performing are intense, and it's extremely physically demanding. It's like an he's an olympic athlete setting a new record EVERY NIGHT. lololol

Other than the splits he used to do (Prince I can give ya those back, call me!), I can't think of anything he doesn't do as well now as he did 25 years ago....

When you can sing and play like PRINCE 'cutting edge' is his every day...just because he exists....no one else can do what he does....so imo his mere existance is kind of... the definition of cutting edge.

These days Prince's cutting edge is with how he's handling his music business. Not everyone likes it or understands it but he's without doubt not following anyones direction but his own.

As long as Prince goes with the usual music industry sound, he will not make anything "cutting edge" or "ground breaking" anymore. (which doesn't equal it being bad)

However, if he would spread his horizons further, if he would travel for a longer time and receive musical inspiration from all around the world, I am prettty sure he would be able to surprise us again with some truly ground breaking stuff.

He has it in him.

--

[Edited 4/12/11 18:42pm]

The distribution deals he's made are cutting edge.

The series of concerts he's put together in the last couple years also.

His layering and instrumentation continues to evolve.

xtechnical difficulties?

[Edited 4/12/11 19:10pm]

I agree with the people who have stated that no one is really that cutting edge on the current musical landscape. I just haven't heard much mainstream or indie that is new or different. Perhaps we have reached the point where it really has all been done before, who knows.

However, as much as Prince is maligned on this so-called fan site and by those who want to hear Purple Rain Part Infinity, I think he has done a great job at continuing to challenge himself and make interesting music. Throughout his career he has done a great job of mixing new and old, leading and following. He has had hits and misses, however the whole of the work is phenomenal and unparalleled.

Lotusflow3r had some great music on it to me. The actual Lotusflow3r disc displays some complex and interesting instrumentation. From the Lotus and Back 2 the Lotus just blow me away. I also LOVE the guitar on Colonized Mind. While I am not crazy about 77 Beverly Park, the song shows Prince challenging himself with a different guitar style. Dreamer just kills. The instrumentation on the album is top shelf. For example, Love Like Jazz has beautifully executed modulations and a sweet melody that are only matched by the skill at which they are executed. Again, I really haven't seen anyone put out an album as musically diverse and interesting as Lotusflow3r in recent years. That is cutting edge to me.

I don't know, I think creating a website that has people pay 77 bucks for 5 exclusive songs that they can't even download was kinda cutting edge... I mean when it comes to making bucks outta virtually nothing

...

[Edited 4/13/11 0:28am]

The last thing that was truly unique was "Batdance"

lezama said:

These days Prince's cutting edge is with how he's handling his music business. Not everyone likes it or understands it but he's without doubt not following anyones direction but his own.

*^*

this

I would say his latest concert series in the Carolinas, was in and of itself cutting edge. People are so used to the glitter, glam and fakeness behind a lot of current day artists...more image,

They were blown away by Prince's cutting edge live performances. Truly 1 of a kind, and a king in the arena of live performances.

bellanoche said:

Lotusflow3r had some great music on it to me. The actual Lotusflow3r disc displays some complex and interesting instrumentation. From the Lotus and Back 2 the Lotus just blow me away. I also LOVE the guitar on Colonized Mind. While I am not crazy about 77 Beverly Park, the song shows Prince challenging himself with a different guitar style. Dreamer just kills. The instrumentation on the album is top shelf. For example, Love Like Jazz has beautifully executed modulations and a sweet melody that are only matched by the skill at which they are executed. Again, I really haven't seen anyone put out an album as musically diverse and interesting as Lotusflow3r in recent years. That is cutting edge to me.

I fully agree. That album was criminally overlooked by the general public, of course also as a result of Prince's distribution strategy (Target only, no proper European release - wtf...?). If Janelle Monae had recorded that album, it would be praised to death now.

People have to remember that great album doesn't always = cutting edge

802 beat me to it!

not wanting to sound like a complete pro-tool, but Batdance was pretty cut-n-sampley - looking from a technology of the time perspective.

802 said:

People have to remember that great album doesn't always = cutting edge

i can just imagine P looking at the manual for the TB-303: "that does not play bass..."

datdude said:

beware of critics. lol. but seriously who's doing stuff like Here and Valentina. just two examples from the much maligned MPLSound that no one could do. same for Planet Earth (title track) Colonized mind while not "cutting edge" per se is just stellar and shows he hasn't stopped challenging himself instrumentally, guitar playing is on point! So if YOU think its cutting edge, let that suffice. Critics make a living by being subjective and speculative about somebody ELSE'S art. how sad

[Edited 4/11/11 7:38am]

I agree fully with every example you give here, and also your point. I would've written almost exactly this, if I hadn't read your post first! Nice.

~G