independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > 3121 is Criminally Underrated
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Page 1 of 3 123>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 11/09/18 9:17am

jdcxc

3121 is Criminally Underrated

I have been relistening to some of Prince’s “lesser work” under a new lens following his death. The album 3121 is brilliant. An amazing potpourri of sensual jams, funky beats and great musical songwriting. At the time of its release, myself and a lot of the Org, unfairly highlighted a few criticisms (lyrics, production, single choices) that overshadowed the strengths.

3121, Black Sweat, Love, Fury, Satisfied, Get on The Boat, The Dance are all Grade A Prince material.

This album is criminally underrated...your thoughts?
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 11/09/18 9:23am

langebleu

avatar

moderator

The impression I formed around the time was that lots of people here (and elsewhere) thought it was a very strong album.

ALT+PLS+RTN: Pure as a pane of ice. It's a gift.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 11/09/18 9:37am

Empress

I have always loved this album, especially The Dance!

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 11/09/18 9:52am

PURPLEIZED3121

can't beleive I hated this album when it 1st came out!

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 11/09/18 9:52am

pinkcashmere23

Great album! I was obsessed with it when it first came out and I still love it!

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 11/09/18 10:16am

jdcxc

langebleu said:

The impression I formed around the time was that lots of people here (and elsewhere) thought it was a very strong album.



I recall heavy criticism of the album versions of Fury, Love and The Dance which disappointed fans who had heard other versions. The choice of Te Amo as the first single bothered the Org. And for some reason, the Org hated Get on the Boat...I always loved this jam and have been looking for the live Brooklyn version he suprised a Maceo concert crowd with.

After such a long relationship with Prince, in his later career, The Org began to overemphasized the criticisms (some valid) and held back on the genuis...imho
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 11/09/18 12:52pm

StrangeButTrue

avatar

Love the drums on Lolita cool great press play album from the later years, I prefer this to Lotusflow3r though they kinda work well together.

if it was just a dream, call me a dreamer 2
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 11/09/18 1:05pm

onlyforaminute

avatar

Loved it.

Time keeps on slipping into the future...


This moment is all there is...
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 11/09/18 1:30pm

TKO

avatar

Sorry that title goes to 20TEN.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 11/09/18 1:35pm

TrevorAyer

pass .. that one is ruff

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 11/09/18 1:56pm

Dalia11

Great album. Those numbers add to 7 signifying spirituality. His birthday was 7. One of his songs was titled 7.
People with a #7 birthday are: critical, perfectionistic, like to make their own decisions, fond of learning, are enigmatic, aloof, idealistic, honest, psychic, scientific minded, rational, reflective, can be ruthless.
[Edited 11/9/18 14:31pm]
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 11/09/18 4:05pm

kingricefan

Loved it when I first heard it, love it now. It's a great album.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 11/09/18 4:19pm

Whiskas31

I think it's Prince's last great Prince like album (in terms of sound and structure). With the exception of a few great songs here and there, the subsequent albums felt like Prince had run out of steam.

Despite the excellent songwriting, I think 3121 falls short in its "soft" production, Fury being a notable example. The amazing guitar playing in that song just seemed to disappear on the album version, where it stood out in live versions.

[Edited 11/9/18 16:20pm]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 11/09/18 4:22pm

rayfeb09

3121 is one of my favorites, one of the top 7.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 11/09/18 6:08pm

bonatoc

avatar

TKO said:

Sorry that title goes to 20TEN.


Absolutamentamundo.

3121 has always been held in high esteem.
20Ten has been totally overlooked, but that's the trouble with putting out an album a year. Or distributing an album through a newspaper: the buzz was apparently more interesting than the album's content.

It's a keeper, no doubt. If only for this gem.

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 11/09/18 6:35pm

Dalia11

rayfeb09 said:

3121 is one of my favorites, one of the top 7.


Amen!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 11/09/18 7:16pm

darlingnikkkki

I’m guilty as charged then as I never cared for the album other than the song Black Sweat.
"I want to be the only one you come for...."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 11/09/18 7:26pm

rdhull

avatar

It’s not and has never been underrated
"Climb in my fur."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 11/10/18 1:19am

dodger

I recall it being fairly well received on here.

Biggest complaints seemed to be the choice of Te Amo Corazon as the first single. And the album version of Fury not being as good as the SNL version.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 11/10/18 2:07am

TheFreakerFant
astic

avatar

Massively overrated IMO, apart from the odd good tracks it was really an example of him following rather than setting trends. It just had more publicity and promotion but content wise it was a let down, I also didn't like the 'airless' plasticy production that dogged some of his late 90s to mid 00's work. For example the live versions of Black Sweat and Fury that he later performed are a million times better sounding than what was on this album. Fury on the album sounds dull and lifeless in comparison.

Love' was ruined by the repeptitive sitar sound, he was just trying to fit in with RnB trends for many songs.

I personally think Planet Earth, Loutusflow3r and MPLSound were much, much better in terms of originality, sound quality and content.

[Edited 11/10/18 2:22am]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 11/10/18 4:00am

MattyJam

avatar

Meh, it was really rather ordinary. Considering the backlash he received for Rave back in 99, it was actually rather strange to see fans glowing about 3121, which is an infinitely inferior record when you compare the two.

Eye Love U But Eye Don't Trust U Anymore, The Greatest Romance, Wherever U Go Whatever U Do and Man O War >> Anything on 3121.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #21 posted 11/10/18 1:19pm

RJOrion

i play this lp less than any Prince lp other than Planet Earth...and Chelsea Rogers is better than anything on 3121...
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #22 posted 11/10/18 1:40pm

babynoz

I loved 3121 immediately and it's still in my top 5. I recall a lot of critics here on the org who panned the album and dragged Prince for doing a Vegas residency during the 3121 era so I'm not sure where all of this revisionism is coming from. It was better received by the public generally than by people on this site.

I'm glad that people here are giving themselves a chance to rediscover some really brilliant work. Sadly, I think it happens a lot when an artist passes. I wish the estate would release the videos from that era instead of stuff that most of us already have, *sigh*.

Nice to see Langebleu. cool

[Edited 11/10/18 13:46pm]

Prince, in you I found a kindred spirit...Rest In Paradise.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #23 posted 11/10/18 1:42pm

bonatoc

avatar

MattyJam said:

Meh, it was really rather ordinary. Considering the backlash he received for Rave back in 99, it was actually rather strange to see fans glowing about 3121, which is an infinitely inferior record when you compare the two.

Eye Love U But Eye Don't Trust U Anymore, The Greatest Romance, Wherever U Go Whatever U Do and Man O War >> Anything on 3121.

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #24 posted 11/10/18 1:49pm

pandemoniun6

Love this album though some songs suffer from the usual prince overproduction tendency. The acoustic version of love is amazing as well.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #25 posted 11/10/18 2:44pm

bonatoc

avatar

pandemoniun6 said:

Love this album though some songs suffer from the usual prince overproduction tendency. The acoustic version of love is amazing as well.


Overproduction my ass.
Get yourself a GOOD audio system and give it a full spin, start to finish, no cheating.
It's overdubs galore buried in the mix.

There's more to life than 1986, you demon.

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #26 posted 11/10/18 2:44pm

thedance

avatar

3121 I never liked this album sad

Musicology is a lot better imho... cool

At least this album had some strong single releases.

Ok Black Sweat is strong as well, but ??? Te Amo what a.... crappy song for a lead single, and Fury is also weak and formulaic imho..


No name calling please lets agree to disagree.. Musicology is not a masterpiece, but ok and solid imho: 7/10


3121 gets 4 or 5/ 10, and that is even being too kind, maybe -- 4/10 is too high a score..

Prince 4Ever. heart
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #27 posted 11/10/18 2:46pm

thedance

avatar

wow people are really sensitive, above.. - I am gonna get spanked now, because I don't like this album at all.. sad

Prince 4Ever. heart
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #28 posted 11/10/18 2:48pm

bonatoc

avatar

thedance said:

wow people are really sensitive, above.. - I am gonna get spanked now, because I don't like this album at all.. sad


Get your tushy over here, My Dear.

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #29 posted 11/10/18 2:51pm

bonatoc

avatar

thedance said:

3121 I never liked this album sad

Musicology is a lot better imho... cool

At least this album had some strong single releases.

Ok Black Sweat is strong as well, but ??? Te Amo what a.... crappy song for a lead single, and Fury is also weak and formulaic imho..


No name calling please lets agree to disagree.. Musicology is not a masterpiece, but ok and solid imho: 7/10


3121 gets 4 or 5/ 10, and that is even being too kind, maybe -- 4/10 is too high a score..




Weak?



The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Page 1 of 3 123>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > 3121 is Criminally Underrated