Aerogram said:

databank said:

I have to admit I totally missed the concept here, I just don't see what P is really trying to say as a whole that couldn't have been said by the songs themselves, a bit like with though in that case I felt the album worked perfectly despiute the confusing promotion of it as a concept album (the 3 Chains O' Gold video didn't make the narrative any clearer to me BTW, it's just a mess, but the album stands as one of my favorites nonetheless).

I think a concept album (as a cohesive statement more than a mere collection of songs) works without segues or metatext in spoken word included in the songs themselves, it sure worked as hell with Lovesexy or, for that matter, most Prince albums (they're usually all more or less connected by both a "sound" and an overall theme/tone/sensibility).

One case where I felt the narrative text and concept album idea worked was TRC because there was enough narrative that we could actually understand the storytelling (I know the spoken parts are highly unpopular but they worked for me and I understand perfectly what P is trying to say there).

In the case of AOA I fail to see what P is really trying to say besides the independent songs' lyrics themselves, and how much of it is 1st and 2nd degree (AOC sounds like a parody for example but i'm not sure). I would actually be interested in you elaborating on the "playful parody" and your perception of the narrative and message, because you obviously have managed to grasp things that I haven't (not having the lyrics didn't help as I ain't no native English speaker). Maybe your insight could help me get the point and reconsider my overall perception of the album?

To me it's pretty obvious that the cage in question is both spiritual and musical -- musically the cage is represented by the various "modern" sounds in the track, sounds that Prince is treating like "what people think I claim I should be sounding like for success in the Art Official Age". Providing one prefab example after the other, he finally breaks the cage to be "defrosted" from suspended animation in Clouds.

It's like a musical "be careful what you wish for, here's what it would sound like if you got your wish" (of him trying to be a pop star again and to sound like the Black Eyed Peas here, another act there, all these by now templated styles of the Art Official Age). When he breaks into Clouds, it's more like "here's what the true me sounds like in the digital age, take it or leave it".

Now I know many fans don't want Prince to "chase trends" so I know the musical message of AOC is likely to fly over their heads, preaching to the converts as it is, but Prince has known for years that people would like him to collaborate with big name producers so the song is essentially him in that "cage" of templated styles.

I enjoy the song on that level, for the message it is -- and the purposedly contrived styles are fun too, once you realize why Prince is sounding like this. Like many people I enjoy a certain level of irony and love seeing stuff that is purposedly "bad" just for the pop culture fun experience.

There's a lot of humor in AOA, and if you listen to it at the first degree, you're going to miss the fun of Prince not taking himself as seriously as he's been prone to do on some albums. AOC, the lasers in Breakdown, the chipmunk voice in BCW are all examples of Prince having fun with his brand, his style(s) and our perceived expectations.

[Edited 6/25/15 4:17am]

Very interesting perspective, I never thought of it that way! Thx

Rebeljuice said:

Aerogram said:

To each is own, but when I see someone doesn't understand the playful parody of Art Official Cage, doesn't get The Breakdown is purposedly strangled AND thinks The Gold Standard is OK but should have been 10 minutes long, I have feeling that not many people get meta-musical communication as a concept. They want things to be first degree all the way, and just not what this album is about.

I get the playful parody of AOC. I just think it is a novelty that has worn thin and dont like listening to it anymore. I did enjoy it to start with, but the parody hasnt had any staying power.

Are you saying that the Breakdown was deliberately mastered horribly? I dont for one second buy that. There is depth and as you call it, meta musical communication, but saying the awful mastering on that song is by design in order to fit the concept of the album and convey some kind of deep message is stretching it somewhat.

Before I forget, Prince thinks these musical templates are indeed novelties that wear thin fast, so AOC is mostly enjoyable if you treat it as a first (tongue firmly in cheek) affirmation, or "That big anthemic first song you think I should come up with in every album that I'm not doing this time as what I really want to do this one time (can I?) is have fun at the expense of my so-called peers and myself, now excuse me and listen to it anyway, Clouds will sound even better once you get to it".

[Edited 6/25/15 6:33am]

Aerogram said:

databank said:

I have to admit I totally missed the concept here, I just don't see what P is really trying to say as a whole that couldn't have been said by the songs themselves, a bit like with though in that case I felt the album worked perfectly despiute the confusing promotion of it as a concept album (the 3 Chains O' Gold video didn't make the narrative any clearer to me BTW, it's just a mess, but the album stands as one of my favorites nonetheless).

I think a concept album (as a cohesive statement more than a mere collection of songs) works without segues or metatext in spoken word included in the songs themselves, it sure worked as hell with Lovesexy or, for that matter, most Prince albums (they're usually all more or less connected by both a "sound" and an overall theme/tone/sensibility).

One case where I felt the narrative text and concept album idea worked was TRC because there was enough narrative that we could actually understand the storytelling (I know the spoken parts are highly unpopular but they worked for me and I understand perfectly what P is trying to say there).

In the case of AOA I fail to see what P is really trying to say besides the independent songs' lyrics themselves, and how much of it is 1st and 2nd degree (AOC sounds like a parody for example but i'm not sure). I would actually be interested in you elaborating on the "playful parody" and your perception of the narrative and message, because you obviously have managed to grasp things that I haven't (not having the lyrics didn't help as I ain't no native English speaker). Maybe your insight could help me get the point and reconsider my overall perception of the album?

To me it's pretty obvious that the cage in question is both spiritual and musical -- musically the cage is represented by the various "modern" sounds in the track, sounds that Prince is treating like "what people think I claim I should be sounding like for success in the Art Official Age". Providing one prefab example after the other, he finally breaks the cage to be "defrosted" from suspended animation in Clouds.

It's like a musical "be careful what you wish for, here's what it would sound like if you got your wish" (of him trying to be a pop star again and to sound like the Black Eyed Peas here, another act there, all these by now templated styles of the Art Official Age). When he breaks into Clouds, it's more like "here's what the true me sounds like in the digital age, take it or leave it".

Now I know many fans don't want Prince to "chase trends" so I know the musical message of AOC is likely to fly over their heads, preaching to the converts as it is, but Prince has known for years that people would like him to collaborate with big name producers so the song is essentially him in that "cage" of templated styles.

I enjoy the song on that level, for the message it is -- and the purposedly contrived styles are fun too, once you realize why Prince is sounding like this. Like many people I enjoy a certain level of irony and love seeing stuff that is purposedly "bad" just for the pop culture fun experience.

There's a lot of humor in AOA, and if you listen to it at the first degree, you're going to miss the fun of Prince not taking himself as seriously as he's been prone to do on some albums. AOC, the lasers in Breakdown, the chipmunk voice in BCW are all examples of Prince having fun with his brand, his style(s) and our perceived expectations.

[Edited 6/25/15 4:17am]

Great theory. You convinced me. Agree on the humour, its great to have a bit in AOA, even tho its sometimes not so obvious like the semi hidden lyrics in This Could Be Us

KingSausage said:

I would like to be president of the Breakfast Can Wait fan club. I fucking love that song. It's possibly my favorite on the album. Sure, I would cut the "duck voice" if I could. But the song is funky as hell. And I love his vocals. Plus it makes me hungry for pancakes and bacon.

I didnt like BCW much when it was originally released as a single, I was a bit put off by the loud snare and the duck voice. But in the context of the AOA album I have started to like it much better. I have even come to enjoy the duck voice segment and the song is now one of my favorites of the album and -dare I say- of the last 10 years even.

Aerogram said:

Rebeljuice said:

I get the playful parody of AOC. I just think it is a novelty that has worn thin and dont like listening to it anymore. I did enjoy it to start with, but the parody hasnt had any staying power.

Are you saying that the Breakdown was deliberately mastered horribly? I dont for one second buy that. There is depth and as you call it, meta musical communication, but saying the awful mastering on that song is by design in order to fit the concept of the album and convey some kind of deep message is stretching it somewhat.

Before I forget, Prince thinks these musical templates are indeed novelties that wear thin fast, so AOC is mostly enjoyable if you treat it as a first (tongue firmly in cheek) affirmation, or "That big anthemic first song you think I should come up with in every album that I'm not doing this time as what I really want to do this one time (can I?) is have fun at the expense of my so-called peers and myself, now excuse me and listen to it anyway, Clouds will sound even better once you get to it".

[Edited 6/25/15 6:33am]

Incredible thing, I was just watching Barbarella on TCM when at abou the 25 minute mark, there was a song "Love Love Love Drags Me Down" and now the lasers make even more sense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyxv1HZni4k

Still cannot stand it. Maybe I'll try to give it another chance