I've always liked 3121 better than Musicology and still do. Musicology isn't bad but only the last two songs are really good. 3121 contains five songs that are really good: Lolita, Te Amo Corazón, Incense And Candles, Love and Satisifed.

V10LETBLUES said:

3121 has held up pretty good. It's a new classic Prince album. Love and Lolita are horrible tracks. They sound like he was targeting those two tracks to kids under 12. Retarded kids under 12, but the rest of the tracks are pretty great. Te Amo Corazon is a new classic. The title track, Fury, Black Sweat, and Get On the Boat are fantastic too. Musicology I never did like. [Edited 9/11/12 21:58pm]

Making fun of retarded children is always a pretty cool way to critique an album, dude.

I still love The Marrying Kind from Musicology and The Word and The Dance from 3121 but I pretty much loved those songs from the first time I heard them. They've held up pretty well to me.

V10LETBLUES said:

Its not the retarded kids I was making fun of.

I think "Love" is fantastic - a true classic. So am I retard or a child? Or a retarded child? Under 12.

NouveauDance said:

Bland and nondescript are the words that come to mind, tried real hard to get into these albums at the time, but now i can't even get through them. Probably the lowest point in Prince's catalogue.

Musicology holds up really well, I'd say. Actually, I like it considerably better these days than I did when it was released back in '04. ICP&C, A Million Days, Call My Name, Dear Mr. Man, Reflection... lots to like in a low-key sort of way.

3121 just felt like, as many have mentioned, a "tick all the boxes" album. The variety of styles is good, but few of them really achieve lift-off. That said, I do love the title track, Black Sweat and The Dance. Lolita is really dreadful though.

Of the two, I think Musicology has aged much, much better and will continue to do so as time goes on.

jackmitz said:

I respect that you dislike the albums, but you're speculating as to why people went to the shows. My crew and I saw three Musicology shows, and we were bummed by the lack of new material.

Fair enough. But you're probably a) in the minority and more importantly, b) on here - you're a fan enough to be on a fan forum, which is a lot more fan than the people I was talking about - casual concert goers, people that have a best of and a dusty copy of Purple Rain or Diamonds & Pearls.

NouveauDance said:

I was indifferent to them then, and still am.

If critics were sucking Prince's dick at the time of Musicology it was because of his touring and increased profile - it was his time for that little comeback and Prince made hay whilst the sun shined, good on him. Those albums are not remembered, they contained no classic material, and the closest things they did contain to a hit - Prince did nothing to capitalize on them. People enjoyed the shows and still do, but they didn't go to hear On The Couch or Get On The Boat, they wen't to hear LRC and Kiss. They might've gone to hear Black Sweat too if he'd promoted it some.

Musicology and 3121 are no better or worse than most of the other catch-all plastic pop albums he's released since Emancipation. I don't see any difference between Musicology, 3121, 20Ten, MPLSound, Rave, NPS, and even Lotusflower and PE (although I do personally like the latter two). Just another dozen tracks ticking all the usual 'Prince does it all' boxes.

The usual IMO stuff applies, nach.

Had these been Prince's first and second albums and had done no others-what would your thoughts be on them? Just curious?

3121 is a waaaay better album than musicology. I remember when I first heard musicology everyone was calling it "Prince's comeback" and I was like "huh?" while it was definitely a comeback for him financially, it was not a comeback for him musically. When I first heard 3121 I was like "PRINCE IS BACK BABY!!!" and today...I still love 3121

kewlschool said:

Had these been Prince's first and second albums and had done no others-what would your thoughts be on them? Just curious?

I don't understand this kind of question, these albums are coming from a middle-aged guy in the business 30~ years - In this 'what if' are these albums coming out in 1978/9 from a 20 year old, or 2004/5 from a 50 year old?

Either way, they wouldn't even register on my radar. The only reason I'd give albums like this a fair hearing is that I'm a fan of the artist who put them out.

I like a few tracks on both they're not completely without merit, but that's 'like' as in a cut price, store-brand rich tea biscuits, not 'like' as in delicious homebaked vanilla and coconut macaroons smothered in dark chocolate.

[Edited 9/13/12 19:38pm]

NouveauDance said:

kewlschool said:

Had these been Prince's first and second albums and had done no others-what would your thoughts be on them? Just curious?

I don't understand this kind of question, these albums are coming from a middle-aged guy in the business 30~ years - In this 'what if' are these albums coming out in 1978/9 from a 20 year old, or 2004/5 from a 50 year old?

Either way, they wouldn't even register on my radar. The only reason I'd give albums like this a fair hearing is that I'm a fan of the artist who put them out.

I like a few tracks on both they're not completely without merit, but that's 'like' as in a cut price, store-brand rich tea biscuits, not 'like' as in delicious homebaked vanilla and coconut macaroons smothered in dark chocolate.

[Edited 9/13/12 19:38pm]

My thinking behind this question is that sometimes we judge Prince's work more harshly do to the vast body of work.

Musicology was the last album that proverbially stated that he could make an accessible album anytime he wanted.. especially after TRC (which musically at least, is definitely up there for ol' P.)...

It's still a great accessible album.

As for 3121 - I still think "Get On The Boat" should've swapped places with "Chelsea Rodgers"... the latter is P.E's barely saving grace (except maybe S.H.O.E)...

Personally I prefer Musicology as a musician and a Prince 'fan'... as a DJ, I can probably play more songs from 3121 in a club today (just about)...

'dre

I really love these albums.

Musicology was a solid "comeback" album, didn´t expect 2 much after TRC

(I only like some songs, 1+1+1=3 and She loves me are great)

so I was pleased with this album.

It seems I´m the only 1 who prefers the FIRST 5 songs and NOT the last 5!

Musicology-ICPC-A million days-Life O´the party-Call my name are all great.

But then I start 2 skip; Cinnamon Girl, The marrying kind & If I was the man in ur life (I can understand why fans of TRC and Lotus like this) I just hate 2 listen 2.

What do U want me 2 do, Dear mr man, Reflection are great Prince songs, On the couch is ok.

3121 was an instand pleasure 2 listen 2. This album is one of my favourite Prince albums.

Title song was a grower and I love it, Lolita, Te amo corazon (played this at my wedding ceremony ), I&C,

are very good. Love is one of my fav and I´m 44y old! , The Word, The Dance, Fury, Satisfied

are just great imo, Black Sweat is good but don´t like the synth. BLB and Get on the beat I can do without.

Maybe Musicology will age better because the music is more timeless but I still prefer 3121...both albums are better than a lot of 90´s stuff...Yes they are!!

[Edited 9/14/12 0:20am]

kewlschool said:

My thinking behind this question is that sometimes we judge Prince's work more harshly do to the vast body of work.

Well that's the yardstick isn't it - his past body of work.

Of course we judge a new offering against the yardstick of the old. Each album is it's own thing, but it exists within a larger frame of work. He set the bar so freaking high. I don't expect that bar to bettered particularly (that old discussion about middle-aged artists vs their young selves - who has ever topped their earlier work? etc) - but then I'm not giving him a free ride due to age either.

Prince's work has shown a shocking lack of maturity - he still has the ability, but still trying to put out plastic dancepop and cheesy teenage bedroom ballads - he has the life experience and musical prodigy to create something vastly superior. I think as fans, we'd be the ones to point that out since we're the only ones who do see the diamonds in the rough these past few years, no one else is paying attention to these newer records.

I'm just answering the OP honestly, if you think these albums are the bees knees, then great.

Wouldn't it be a hoot if Bria sang on stage in Chi-town with Prince? The woman does have a nice voice and is quite lovely, IMO. Kinda miss her. As for Musicology and 3121, it took some really hip cats and kitty cats, pretty girls, and pretty smiles all decked out in the lastest styles...to come out with those funky grooves. Ahh, those were the dayz my friends.

I dig em both. In my opinion 3121 is the best prince album in the past 16 years. The songs i really dig on 3121 are Lolita, Fury, The Word, Beautiful, 3121 and especially The Dance. Couldn't get into Black Sweat though.

[Edited 9/18/12 22:05pm]