I bought the NEWS album a couple of years ago and boy was I relieved when I listened to it.

NEWS could have very easily been a bunch of interludes smashed together. Thank goodness

it wasn't.

funkomatic said:

Interesting concept, but in the end a rather mediocre execution!

It's a very odd thing to say

The musicianship on there is awesome, particularly considering it was all recorded in a single day! I could understand someone not liking the artistic result because it doesn't fit their taste, but criticzing such a brilliant execution?

databank said:

funkomatic said:

Interesting concept, but in the end a rather mediocre execution!

It's a very odd thing to say

The musicianship on there is awesome, particularly considering it was all recorded in a single day! I could understand someone not liking the artistic result because it doesn't fit their taste, but criticzing such a brilliant execution?

Don't care if it was recorded in one day or 30 days. I'm all about the result.

- artificially stretched instrumentals

- too little highlights

- weak groove transitions

- unoriginal grooves

- rather weak thematic references

[Edited 1/30/14 14:35pm]

mikedelic said:

So, I put this album on repeat and just let it play while I'll sleep. Maybe that sounds like kind of an insult, considering some of the "criticisms" on here I've read about this album-- but I assure you, it is not.

That's a good way to get to KNOW an album, in my opinion. It's part of why I know Sign so well--I put it on for probably six months straight before I went to sleep when it first came out. And then the same happened with 8 when I was a senior in college--liking it was one of the few things my roommate and I had in common that year. So I can pretty much reproduce every second of those albums in my head now.

Aside from the digital Middle-Eastern sounds in East, I like the whole thing. I don't LOVE it, but I like it. Probably play it about once a year.

funkomatic said:

databank said:

It's a very odd thing to say

The musicianship on there is awesome, particularly considering it was all recorded in a single day! I could understand someone not liking the artistic result because it doesn't fit their taste, but criticzing such a brilliant execution?

Don't care if it was recorded in one day or 30 days. I'm all about the result.

- artificially stretched instrumentals

- too little highlights

- weak groove transitions

- unoriginal grooves

- rather weak thematic references

[Edited 1/30/14 14:35pm]

U forgot to add "in my opinion" ^^

For those who think this album has little to no highlights and weak groove transitions, don't try to measure it or control it just go with the flow~

Such organic and candid sound. So in the moment, so very Prince. I love this album very much =)

funkomatic said:

Interesting concept, but in the end a rather mediocre execution!

A older friend of mine is in to Jazz and little or no knowledge of Prince's music other than the big singles. On a road trip I played N.E.W.S. and asked her who this was and what did she think before I told her is was Prince - It is now in her collection.

databank said:

funkomatic said:

Don't care if it was recorded in one day or 30 days. I'm all about the result.

- artificially stretched instrumentals

- too little highlights

- weak groove transitions

- unoriginal grooves

- rather weak thematic references

[Edited 1/30/14 14:35pm]

U forgot to add "in my opinion" ^^

Deliberately! You want to argue?

IheartCali said:

funkomatic said:

databank said:

U forgot to add "in my opinion" ^^

Deliberately! You want to argue?

If u're delusional enough to believe that, of all the people in the world, you're the one whose appreciation of a work of art is an objective absolute and not a matter of opinion, I don't see the point in arguing

IheartCali said:

funkomatic said:

IheartCali said:

For those who think this album has little to no highlights and weak groove transitions, don't try to measure it or control it just go with the flow~

Such organic and candid sound. So in the moment, so very Prince. I love this album very much =)

Lol, next time I'll go with the flow and try to ignore all of the things I don't like. To my ears the recording sounds kinda flat, as if it was 2D instead of 3. Btw: I appreciate NEWS much more than the crap that came after (from Musicology up to 20ten)! Still think that it's far from being a masterpiece.

Got ya. thanks for sharing your views, have a great day=)

I liked it upon first listening, overplayed it and got kinda burned out on it for a while. Cut to me moving in with a new girl friend(who was mosdef NOT a Prince fan), and I was trying subtly trying to "influence" her knowledge of P by playing instrumental tracks. I put this album into a mix of stuff and she's like "oh my gosh, what was that stuff that you played, I really liked it!" I said, "It's Prince! Ha! Gotcha!" She grew to like him because of N.E.W.S. She didn't have to deal with the fame, or his look(which was a little much for her), or the baggage and could just enjoy the vibe of the music. It's not his best album, but I love it anyway.