We should all come 2gether

2 the New Power Soul Review:

http://peachandblack.podb...ul-review/

[Edited 5/16/11 4:35am]

Nice.

This should be fun

nice ending to your show ..

its funny hearing the snippets of each song and how much better they are than his current output ... the production and some of the lyrics aren't up to par but this record has some of prince last good ideas on it .. come on and the one are both classics better than all of emancipation .. and there is some good funky tunes .. again the production takes away from the good ideas

^NPS better than his recent output? Nah, I'd take Lotusflow3r, 3121, Rainbow Children over NPS anyday, and *maybe* 20Ten, Planet Earth and Musicology on any other given day.

TrevorAyer said:

nice ending to your show ..

its funny hearing the snippets of each song and how much better they are than his current output ... the production and some of the lyrics aren't up to par but this record has some of prince last good ideas on it .. come on and the one are both classics better than all of emancipation .. and there is some good funky tunes .. again the production takes away from the good ideas

To each their own. For me, NPS is the biggest low point in Prince's career. It's not a complete disaster, I still like a few of the tracks but instrumental releases aside, I'd rather listen to anything post NPS than listen to that album. Musicology is the next lowest for me, but everything else is streets ahead.

"Who needs love when you've got protection, quote unquote your point of view."

It's preceeded by:

"U were the one lookin' 4 some action
I was just lookin' 4 U "

To me he's talking about someone who is saying they don't need to be in love to have sex. She's looking for casual sex, he's looking for love. She says you don't need love to have sex when you've got condoms.

That's my take anyway.

TheEnglishGent said:

"Who needs love when you've got protection, quote unquote your point of view."

It's preceeded by:

"U were the one lookin' 4 some action
I was just lookin' 4 U "

To me he's talking about someone who is saying they don't need to be in love to have sex. She's looking for casual sex, he's looking for love. She says you don't need love to have sex when you've got condoms.

That's my take anyway.

I agree. It's unmistakeable.
There are some very good lyrcis on this album

I usually look forward to these, but I'm going to have to take some time to work up a lot of enthusiasm to listen to this one

errant said:

I usually look forward to these, but I'm going to have to take some time to work up a lot of enthusiasm to listen to this one

Don't worry about the subject matter, the show is still entertaining.

toejam said:

^NPS better than his recent output? Nah, I'd take Lotusflow3r, 3121, Rainbow Children over NPS anyday, and *maybe* 20Ten, Planet Earth and Musicology on any other given day.

of the 6 albums you listed none have songs as good as the one or come on .. in fact, he's played the one A LOT in concert compared to pretty much nothing consistant from those 6 records .. and he should play come on more .. its his best groove since gett off .. i love both push it up and freaks on this side as live tunes and the groove to mad sex with that bass is awesome as is the opening track .. minus a few lame lyrics nps would have been a classic record .. and minus i like funky music too .. until your in my arms again could have been a lite pop standard if the production was better and it was promoted right .. lots of good ideas .. the six records you like better have a few mediocre high points but nothing that great .. the song musicology is rediculously boring .. rainbow children had maybe one listenable song on it .. planet earth has zero high points, same with 3121 and 2010 both marred by creepy lyrics, auto tune and canned production .. all in all my test is, can I put it on without cringing and nps holds up far better than those 6 ... even tho it does have a cringe factor .. i usually end up nodding my head and even looking forward to a few of the songs ..

lets compare the best .. what would end up on a post WB hits record from each record listed

NPS - the one, come on (2 classics)

MUSICOLOGY - musicology, call my name (both boring)

3121 - fury, lolita, 3121 (fury is ok but poorly recorded, lolita creepy, 3121 lame club ad)

PLANET EARTH - somwhere here on earth, future baby mama (boring ballads, he's done way better who cares)

RAINBOW CHILDREN - the work, the rainbow children (james brown rip off but ok and an ok jazz fusion, xeonophobia was the best song from that era and he left it off the record)

2010 - future soul song, laydown (some of his worst lyrics ever)

LOTUS - crimson and clover, no more candy 4 u, dance for me (the cover really sucks, candy really sucks, dance for me is pretty close to classic but not as good as the nps classics, he doesnt even play it live save 2 or 3 times, 'here' is the best off of lotus and he completely ignored it)

and as we know theres a lot of filler on all those records but nps has the least plus a couple of classics

TrevorAyer said:

toejam said:

^NPS better than his recent output? Nah, I'd take Lotusflow3r, 3121, Rainbow Children over NPS anyday, and *maybe* 20Ten, Planet Earth and Musicology on any other given day.

of the 6 albums you listed none have songs as good as the one or come on .. in fact, he's played the one A LOT in concert compared to pretty much nothing consistant from those 6 records .. and he should play come on more .. its his best groove since gett off .. i love both push it up and freaks on this side as live tunes and the groove to mad sex with that bass is awesome as is the opening track .. minus a few lame lyrics nps would have been a classic record .. and minus i like funky music too .. until your in my arms again could have been a lite pop standard if the production was better and it was promoted right .. lots of good ideas .. the six records you like better have a few mediocre high points but nothing that great .. the song musicology is rediculously boring .. rainbow children had maybe one listenable song on it .. planet earth has zero high points, same with 3121 and 2010 both marred by creepy lyrics, auto tune and canned production .. all in all my test is, can I put it on without cringing and nps holds up far better than those 6 ... even tho it does have a cringe factor .. i usually end up nodding my head and even looking forward to a few of the songs ..

lets compare the best .. what would end up on a post WB hits record from each record listed

NPS - the one, come on (2 classics)

MUSICOLOGY - musicology, call my name (both boring)

3121 - fury, lolita, 3121 (fury is ok but poorly recorded, lolita creepy, 3121 lame club ad)

PLANET EARTH - somwhere here on earth, future baby mama (boring ballads, he's done way better who cares)

RAINBOW CHILDREN - the work, the rainbow children (james brown rip off but ok and an ok jazz fusion, xeonophobia was the best song from that era and he left it off the record)

2010 - future soul song, laydown (some of his worst lyrics ever)

LOTUS - crimson and clover, no more candy 4 u, dance for me (the cover really sucks, candy really sucks, dance for me is pretty close to classic but not as good as the nps classics, he doesnt even play it live save 2 or 3 times, 'here' is the best off of lotus and he completely ignored it)

and as we know theres a lot of filler on all those records but nps has the least plus a couple of classics

frankly, I find "The One" to be somewhat overrated. it's nice enough, but the quality of the rest of the album elevates it beyond its own merits.

Come On is great.

but I can name a couple dozen songs that I like better than both of those on the albums that came since.

but considering your comments on some of the songs you mention, I doubt there's much we'd agree on.

"Come on" is definitely overrated! It's just a groove!

laying phat claims to the booty

I still haven't listened yet. But I hope one of you made note of the horrendously embarrassing line "When you understand everything in every book, congratulations -- you're in the New Power Generation"

had a great time listening! Thanks for another fun episode.

errant said:

I still haven't listened yet. But I hope one of you made note of the horrendously embarrassing line "When you understand everything in every book, congratulations -- you're in the New Power Generation"

Aghhhhh I knew that line was in there and I had it down to say something about it but there were so many to choose from

Prince stranded the best track on the album on the end as a "hidden" track. I think that says a great deal about where his head was at during this era.

Most of the songs have elements that I like but very few of them work as complete songs and too many of them are just mediocre.

dnaplaya said:

We should all come 2gether

Yes I want this too! When I listen to the oz boy speak it is much stimulating! Would love to get funky down under with you four ruffian mens! All at once is best! Lay claim to Tibor's booty!

PS. Captain, if I was the King I would make you my Queen!

Oh, man, this will be an interesting review. You either love it or hate it.

I quite like it. I agree with Tom Moon that it is a decent party album--all it was meant to be.

They shouldn't be mad at MC since the others go to actually talk to P. Damn wankers..lol

This is not a Prince album. It's an NPG album. This is why I give it slack.

i dont think prince ever meant this album to be taken that seriously...thats why he released it as an npg album....its a throwaway party album for most of it...it is what it is....people take things way too seriously ....he said after it was released that he had fun making it...he just had a laugh in the studio with the npg..

....................remember this was not long after his tragedy...think he just wanted a lighthearted fun recording and thats what it is...

.

its far from his best work but it was never meant to be...and it still has...to my mind...3 very good songs....the one...come on and wastes kisses....

.

thats just my two pence worth...

Hey fellas,

I enjoyed the hell out of your review, almost as much as I enjoy listening to NPS itself. I think it’s a perfectly fine party album. I don’t see why every album has to be a dense, sprawling epic with complex composition and flawlessly crafted lyrics. Prince obviously knows how to craft some great grooves and many times I like to ride those grooves for as long as possible without being jarred out of the zone with unnecessary key and/or time changes. Is this the best party record Prince could make? Probably not. But, it’s damn good and I certainly prefer it to the contemporary releases you mentioned, such as those from Madonna and Outkast.

You also mentioned how “plastic” it sounded. Every release from Prince has a degree of “plasticity” to it, none more so than the music he recorded in the 80s. It’s not so much his fault as the eighties were plagued by cold, stale, sound production, particularly, but not limited to, music that utilized electronic instrumentation. Electronic drums and synthesizers from the 80s are lacking warmth and the bottom end is so weak and thin it’s pathetic. As kick ass a party record as The Black Album is, when I hear it I have to admit that the sparse, thin, plastic 80s sound production, particularly in the bass and percussion, makes me feel as if I’m being stabbed in the ear drums with cold, rusty ice picks. And all of his 80s albums suffer from these sound production deficiencies. NPS sounds warm, fat and yummy by comparison, as do all of his output in the 90s and 2000s.

As for the individual tracks on NPS, I think the title track is a great album opener that does exactly what it’s supposed to do: it gets me up out of my chair and right into booty shakin’ mode! It’s a great uplift that superbly kicks off the album.

“Mad Sex” is one of my favorite strip club tunes. It just “oozes” sex. That lyric “To dirty up another room” is so…well…filthy! The whole track makes me feel as if I need a long, hot shower after hearing it. And I like the fact that it meanders aimlessly for a little bit…it gives me a chance to enjoy the lap dance for that much longer (wink wink, nudge nudge).

I hated “Until U're In My Arms Again” when I first heard it. But I’ve come to realize that it’s just a vehicle for Prince to be sort of fruity and goofy, especially with the “pan fried” falsetto vocal. I think that had he approached something like this with a serious mind then what you end up with is something as wretched as “Arms of Orion.” Both are so saccharine and syrupy that it’s down right nauseating, but with “Until U're In My Arms Again” he gets away with it because it’s more of a goof. Still though, it’s my least favorite track on the album.

"When U Love Somebody" is good clean fun, but it’s probably my second least favorite track. I do, however, look forward to and enjoy that breakdown and jam at the end. And as one of you guys said during the review, this whole track has a very “punchy” sound production to it, which I sincerely appreciate and admire.

"Shoo-Bed-Ooh” is where the album takes a darker, moodier shift in tone. And whereas “Mad Sex” makes me feel like I need a hot shower after hearing it, the vile “Spittin' out the aftertaste” lyric in "Shoo-Bed-Ooh” has me lunging for my tooth brush.

Although the groove picks up with the dual “crowd chanting” assault of "Push It Up" and "Freaks on This Side," the album maintains it’s darker mood. But now the darkness has more of an edge to it and the chants give it a mild undercurrent of creepiness. The dark precedent he’s set here continues and deepens with the fan favorite “Come On.” The rhythm and bottom end is so warm, round, fat and punchy that, combined with the pitch shifted vocal, keyboard synth stabs and “neo-southern fried” guitar solo, this track damn near gives me eargasms!

While “Come On” launches me right into earth orbit, “The One” spares me the turbulent agony of reentry by gently lowering me through the clouds back down to earth. This is truly one of the most hypnotically seductive ballads Prince has ever recorded.

"(I Like) Funky Music" is the funky ray of hope pointing the way out of the darkness. It’s as if you’ve made it safely back down to earth and everyone’s throwing a party in your honor. The focus group called and they wanted their Hollywood-style, storybook happy ending, and Prince delivers the funky good time in force. The beat is simple, but it’s fat and smacks you in the face with each snare hit. The guitar licks are performed with childlike abandon and the vocals are tweaked with a mischievous delivery. The crowd chants are stripped of their aforementioned dark undercurrent and immerse the track with a frenetic, dizzying fervor. The horns penetrate and punctuate the madness with a celebratory, funk-styled call to arms, while the synthesizer weaves in and out of the phrasing with a slippery, psycho-delic taunt. THIS is indeed how a Prince album should end!

But the happy ending is just an illusion. The party fades off into the distance and you’re left alone amidst the bleak void of nothingness. After a brief expanse of time and being lulled into a false sense of complacency, “Wasted Kisses” taps you on the shoulder and tells you the “happy ending” was just a facade. No matter how hard you try, you will never be fully rid of the soul-crushing darkness the world relentlessly hurls in your direction.

Ah, good times! I love how NPS seduces me like this so that by the end of it I’m in a completely different place. But, hey…fuck it!!! It’s really just a shallow party album. So take a shot, hit a toke, flip some candy, and crank that NPS back up, ya’ll!

Sex, Peace and Chicken Grease!

[Edited 5/19/11 15:26pm]

[Edited 5/19/11 15:28pm]

[Edited 5/19/11 15:42pm]

Xodus said:

Hey fellas,

I enjoyed the hell out of your review, almost as much as I enjoy listening to NPS itself. I think it’s a perfectly fine party album. I don’t see why every album has to be a dense, sprawling epic with complex composition and flawlessly crafted lyrics. Prince obviously knows how to craft some great grooves and many times I like to ride those grooves for as long as possible without being jarred out of the zone with unnecessary key and/or time changes. Is this the best party record Prince could make? Probably not. But, it’s damn good and I certainly prefer it to the contemporary releases you mentioned, such as those from Madonna and Outkast.

You also mentioned how “plastic” it sounded. Every release from Prince has a degree of “plasticity” to it, none more so than the music he recorded in the 80s. It’s not so much his fault as the eighties were plagued by cold, stale, sound production, particularly, but not limited to, music that utilized electronic instrumentation. Electronic drums and synthesizers from the 80s are lacking warmth and the bottom end is so weak and thin it’s pathetic. As kick ass a party record as The Black Album is, when I hear it I have to admit that the sparse, thin, plastic 80s sound production, particularly in the bass and percussion, makes me feel as if I’m being stabbed in the ear drums with cold, rusty ice picks. And all of his 80s albums suffer from these sound production deficiencies. NPS sounds warm, fat and yummy by comparison, as do all of his output in the 90s and 2000s.

As for the individual tracks on NPS, I think the title track is a great album opener that does exactly what it’s supposed to do: it gets me up out of my chair and right into booty shakin’ mode! It’s a great uplift that superbly kicks off the album.

“Mad Sex” is one of my favorite strip club tunes. It just “oozes” sex. That lyric “To dirty up another room” is so…well…filthy! The whole track makes me feel as if I need a long, hot shower after hearing it. And I like the fact that it meanders aimlessly for a little bit…it gives me a chance to enjoy the lap dance for that much longer (wink wink, nudge nudge).

I hated “Until U're In My Arms Again” when I first heard it. But I’ve come to realize that it’s just a vehicle for Prince to be sort of fruity and goofy, especially with the “pan fried” falsetto vocal. I think that had he approached something like this with a serious mind then what you end up with is something as wretched as “Arms of Orion.” Both are so saccharine and syrupy that it’s down right nauseating, but with “Until U're In My Arms Again” he gets away with it because it’s more of a goof. Still though, it’s my least favorite track on the album.

"When U Love Somebody" is good clean fun, but it’s probably my second least favorite track. I do, however, look forward to and enjoy that breakdown and jam at the end. And as one of you guys said during the review, this whole track has a very “punchy” sound production to it, which I sincerely appreciate and admire.

"Shoo-Bed-Ooh” is where the album takes a darker, moodier shift in tone. And whereas “Mad Sex” makes me feel like I need a hot shower after hearing it, the vile “Spittin' out the aftertaste” lyric in "Shoo-Bed-Ooh” has me lunging for my tooth brush.

Although the groove picks up with the dual “crowd chanting” assault of "Push It Up" and "Freaks on This Side," the album maintains it’s darker mood. But now the darkness has more of an edge to it and the chants give it a mild undercurrent of creepiness. The dark precedent he’s set here continues and deepens with the fan favorite “Come On.” The rhythm and bottom end is so warm, round, fat and punchy that, combined with the pitch shifted vocal, keyboard synth stabs and “neo-southern fried” guitar solo, this track damn near gives me eargasms!

While “Come On” launches me right into earth orbit, “The One” spares me the turbulent agony of reentry by gently lowering me through the clouds back down to earth. This is truly one of the most hypnotically seductive ballads Prince has ever recorded.

"(I Like) Funky Music" is the funky ray of hope pointing the way out of the darkness. It’s as if you’ve made it safely back down to earth and everyone’s throwing a party in your honor. The focus group called and they wanted their Hollywood-style, storybook happy ending, and Prince delivers the funky good time in force. The beat is simple, but it’s fat and smacks you in the face with each snare hit. The guitar licks are performed with childlike abandon and the vocals are tweaked with a mischievous delivery. The crowd chants are stripped of their aforementioned dark undercurrent and immerse the track with a frenetic, dizzying fervor. The horns penetrate and punctuate the madness with a celebratory, funk-styled call to arms, while the synthesizer weaves in and out of the phrasing with a slippery, psycho-delic taunt. THIS is indeed how a Prince album should end!

But the happy ending is just an illusion. The party fades off into the distance and you’re left alone amidst the bleak void of nothingness. After a brief expanse of time and being lulled into a false sense of complacency, “Wasted Kisses” taps you on the shoulder and tells you the “happy ending” was just a facade. No matter how hard you try, you will never be fully rid of the soul-crushing darkness the world relentlessly hurls in your direction.

Ah, good times! I love how NPS seduces me like this so that by the end of it I’m in a completely different place. But, hey…fuck it!!! It’s really just a shallow party album. So take a shot, hit a toke, flip some candy, and crank that NPS back up, ya’ll!

Sex, Peace and Chicken Grease!

[Edited 5/19/11 15:26pm]

[Edited 5/19/11 15:28pm]

[Edited 5/19/11 15:42pm]

FunkyStrange said:

errant said:

I still haven't listened yet. But I hope one of you made note of the horrendously embarrassing line "When you understand everything in every book, congratulations -- you're in the New Power Generation"

Aghhhhh I knew that line was in there and I had it down to say something about it but there were so many to choose from

I've always kinda liked that line...it's not as cringe-worthy as other "gems" from NPS.

TrevorAyer said:

toejam said:

^NPS better than his recent output? Nah, I'd take Lotusflow3r, 3121, Rainbow Children over NPS anyday, and *maybe* 20Ten, Planet Earth and Musicology on any other given day.

of the 6 albums you listed none have songs as good as the one or come on .. in fact, he's played the one A LOT in concert compared to pretty much nothing consistant from those 6 records .. and he should play come on more .. its his best groove since gett off .. i love both push it up and freaks on this side as live tunes and the groove to mad sex with that bass is awesome as is the opening track .. minus a few lame lyrics nps would have been a classic record .. and minus i like funky music too .. until your in my arms again could have been a lite pop standard if the production was better and it was promoted right .. lots of good ideas .. the six records you like better have a few mediocre high points but nothing that great .. the song musicology is rediculously boring .. rainbow children had maybe one listenable song on it .. planet earth has zero high points, same with 3121 and 2010 both marred by creepy lyrics, auto tune and canned production .. all in all my test is, can I put it on without cringing and nps holds up far better than those 6 ... even tho it does have a cringe factor .. i usually end up nodding my head and even looking forward to a few of the songs ..

lets compare the best .. what would end up on a post WB hits record from each record listed

NPS - the one, come on (2 classics)

MUSICOLOGY - musicology, call my name (both boring)

3121 - fury, lolita, 3121 (fury is ok but poorly recorded, lolita creepy, 3121 lame club ad)

PLANET EARTH - somwhere here on earth, future baby mama (boring ballads, he's done way better who cares)

RAINBOW CHILDREN - the work, the rainbow children (james brown rip off but ok and an ok jazz fusion, xeonophobia was the best song from that era and he left it off the record)

2010 - future soul song, laydown (some of his worst lyrics ever)

LOTUS - crimson and clover, no more candy 4 u, dance for me (the cover really sucks, candy really sucks, dance for me is pretty close to classic but not as good as the nps classics, he doesnt even play it live save 2 or 3 times, 'here' is the best off of lotus and he completely ignored it)

and as we know theres a lot of filler on all those records but nps has the least plus a couple of classics

Seriously...y'all need to get off of Musicology's dick. It's a solid record. In fact, I would dare say that the second half is brilliant.

Xodus said:

Hey fellas,

I enjoyed the hell out of your review, almost as much as I enjoy listening to NPS itself.

Thanks Xodus, I won't quote all your post again LOL

Even though we put it off a few times in favour of other things, it was actually fun to do

FunkyStrange said:

Xodus said:

Hey fellas,

I enjoyed the hell out of your review, almost as much as I enjoy listening to NPS itself.

Thanks Xodus, I won't quote all your post again LOL

Even though we put it off a few times in favour of other things, it was actually fun to do

Don't you find the "bad" albums fun to review? Seems like they would give you guys more to talk about.