It's all about context.

The reason Newpower Soul is an NPG album and not a Prince album is to put the album into context. Yes he sings lead, but it's clearly an extension of the NPG ethos, it takes it title from the unreleased earlier NPG album, and the title track uses prominent samples from Exodus' Big Fun.

Prince pointed out on numerous occasions during the promotion of Newpower Soul that it wasn't a new 'Prince' album, it was a 'band' effort. He knew he was gonna tour the album with Larry & Chaka, and felt it was pointless to have a 'ghost' lead vocalist for the album when he knew full well he was gonna perform the songs himself on tour. He trusted that the fans would recognize the distinction he was making by calling it an NPG album rather than a 'Prince' one.

I've rocked that one, and still will...

BorisFishpaw said:

well, that's how he intended it, but it's always going to be a Prince album because it's the only 1 of the 3 that he sings all lead vocals on. and the "band" appears less on this album than they do either of their other 2. in fact, they barely appear at all. he may not have wanted it to be considered a "Prince" (or ) album, but he should have known that's how it would be perceived.

plus... i don't know when the decision to make it an NPG album took place. perhaps at some point during the recording or mixing, or whatever, he realized that this was pretty bad (even for him, for that time) and decided he didn't want his name on the cover. or for it to be in the "Prince" section of the online stores.

BorisFishpaw said:

It's a good point but the album still had Prince's guidance as the driving force. What i think it demonstrates is that the NPS band, that whole 1996-1999 setup was the least talented bunch of musicians he had. What they may have possessed technically they completely lacked creatively.

WildheartXXX said:

Prince was the creative force, surely.

nothin is wrong with u lol new power soul like a lot of his 90's work got ignored cause he didnt do like everybody else he did his own thang as usual... thank u so much sly stone george clinton... thank u so much... i love "the one" its kinda like a sequel 2 friend mother sister lover wife only this time the newlyweds are a lil older and aged like fine wine

teller said:

Exactly, like I said in one of my other posts. It sound like he went and bought himself a Casio keyboard and just used the built in auto play features. Very cheezy sounding. I will always feel this is one of his worst efforts. I know alot of you don't agree but hey..

fairlite said:

Teller actually loves this album. This is what he said about

it earlier

Anji said:

Oops my bad in not explaning myself better. What I meant was by saying exactly was about the drums, the rest is just my opinion. Sorry
[This message was edited Thu Mar 6 10:18:58 PST 2003 by fairlite]

Hey Anji, you've got nothing to apoligize for, buddy!Everybody has a "Private Shame", oops, I mean, "Private Joy",made by Prince, which deep down they know might be utter shit, but kind of does it for them all the same!

Don't let public opinion get ya down! Good fer you for liking "NPS"! It's like that ugly puppy at the pet store noone is adopting but you think is sweet!

For me, I think "Grafitti Bridge" is one of his best albums, especially if you cut out "Round and Round" and the title track! This cd gets dissed because it's a product of a bad movie, but dissin' GB is throwing out the baby with the bathwater! Dig?

NPS CAN be appreciated by its bits & pieces & sound effects that make up the compositions. That makes NPS "parts" greater than it's "whole"- appreciated by those who like to dissect Prince's material, than those who just want a good song.

P.S.: any others out there in cyberland find it funny prince's liner notes about "Paper is only money, but a GOOD song never dies" ironic since there insn't a GOOD song "living" on Newpower Soul?Ironic, man!

A fun enjoyable diversion from the more introspective "solo" career, nothing wrong with that.

warning2all said:

I love the album, Grafitti Bridge, as a whole. I find it an incredibly angry, biting and soulful piece of work. It's definitely one of my favourites but I didn't always think this way.

teller said:

this is the kind of thing that happens when you give someone the illusion of free will

AaronUnlimited said:

Are you saying Prince released The Gold Experience as less 'free' than it could have been, because he wanted freedom on his own terms? Or that Newpower Soul was the result of a lack of quality control from Warners?

Anji said:

no. it was an inside joke with teller, over the alarming revelation that he likes NPS over TGE ()

AaronUnlimited said:

I prefer Newpower Soul to both Chaos & Disorder and Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic.

warning2all said:

AaronUnlimited said:

silly man! :LOL:

Funny to see all you secret NPS lovers coming out of the closet. Upon first listening I cringed, thought lil' man had totally lost it, but later I learned to appreciate a great deal of the album. I still don't like the ballads (too sweet) and the production (especially the drums), but there sure are some funky cuts on this album.

And for all the "Come On" lovers, try to find the Jay Leno performance of this song, that's a real funk bomb!

Newpower Soul has just taken control...