RODSERLING said:

This album is a joke, especially with the packaging, the title tracks, the clocking time, the constant fading in the end, etc. . I guess he needed an instrumental album to pass for a serious artist. Remember it was just before Musicology and its worldwide recognition.

There is nothing wrong with the whole concept and presentation of the album and I think the idea of the N.E.W.S. acronym (ie. North East West South) holds a deep relevance in today's world.

Musically speaking, I personally enjoy it, but it's ok if others don't. And if Prince wanted to do an instrumental album, then why not? He never refrained from experimenting with various musical styles and album formats. Sometimes there are things for which language won't suffice... And jazz is more 'free' in that respect.

Prince's interest in jazz is not new though, as we have seen from his early outputs such as the instrumental Loring Park Sessions, his legendary free style aftershows, etc. He then went on to becoming a notable guest at main jazz festivals, which comes as no surprise, since his father was also a jazz musician.

I love N.E.W.S..One of my personal favorites and I listen to it often.

RODSERLING said:

This album is a joke, especially with the packaging, the title tracks, the clocking time, the constant fading in the end, etc. . I guess he needed an instrumental album to pass for a serious artist. Remember it was just before Musicology and its worldwide recognition.

He was at a point in his career that he could do whatever he wanted, and he did. While it's not some people's taste (like mine), I can still recognize the musicianship and talent on the album. You act like you're some music snob who sneers at anything that isn't Purple Rain. Prince's packaging has always lent to the album's concept. Did you turn your nose up at things like Led Zeppelin's album made for customers to color in themselves? ELO's Out Of The Blue that looked like something from 2001 A Space Odyssey and had a cut out of a space ship? Michael Jackson's Thriller with his own hand drawn artwork on the sleeve?

Did you bitch as much about Emancipation's 60-minutes-per-disk "joke"? What about every word having a different font in Around The World In A Day? The scrapbook collage in Parade? The cock on the front of 1999? Did you scoff when C-NOTE came out, every song title spelling out the album title? I mean, my God the nerve of Prince, one of the greatest artists in a few generations, so actually do something creative and different. What a fucker!

Where is the proverbial line of "this is art" vs. "this is crap" for you? You sound incredibly hypocritical.

By the way, while you're having this public brain fart, let me refresh your angst on Prince's instrumental stuff:

The Flesh sessions: 1985/86

"Alexa De Paris" and "Venus De Milo": 1986
Madhouse 8: January 17, 1987

Madhouse 16: November 18, 1987

Xpectation: January 1, 2003

"Gamillah": April 14, 2001

N.E.W.S. - June 30, 2003 (NPGMC shipments)

C-Note: March 29, 2004 (Musicology was released 2 days before on March 27)

Plus all the instrumental music unreleased like "Junk Music", and the recently leaked (again) Can I Play With U? recordings, 99% instrumental, mostly recorded in the 80s.

Short answer: Prince didn't need anything... least of all an instrumental album........

TrivialPursuit said:

RODSERLING said:

This album is a joke, especially with the packaging, the title tracks, the clocking time, the constant fading in the end, etc. . I guess he needed an instrumental album to pass for a serious artist. Remember it was just before Musicology and its worldwide recognition.

He was at a point in his career that he could do whatever he wanted, and he did. While it's not some people's taste (like mine), I can still recognize the musicianship and talent on the album. You act like you're some music snob who sneers at anything that isn't Purple Rain. Prince's packaging has always lent to the album's concept. Did you turn your nose up at things like Led Zeppelin's album made for customers to color in themselves? ELO's Out Of The Blue that looked like something from 2001 A Space Odyssey and had a cut out of a space ship? Michael Jackson's Thriller with his own hand drawn artwork on the sleeve?

Did you bitch as much about Emancipation's 60-minutes-per-disk "joke"? What about every word having a different font in Around The World In A Day? The scrapbook collage in Parade? The cock on the front of 1999? Did you scoff when C-NOTE came out, every song title spelling out the album title? I mean, my God the nerve of Prince, one of the greatest artists in a few generations, so actually do something creative and different. What a fucker!

Where is the proverbial line of "this is art" vs. "this is crap" for you? You sound incredibly hypocritical.

By the way, while you're having this public brain fart, let me refresh your angst on Prince's instrumental stuff:

The Flesh sessions: 1985/86

"Alexa De Paris" and "Venus De Milo": 1986
Madhouse 8: January 17, 1987

Madhouse 16: November 18, 1987

Xpectation: January 1, 2003

"Gamillah": April 14, 2001

N.E.W.S. - June 30, 2003 (NPGMC shipments)

C-Note: March 29, 2004 (Musicology was released 2 days before on March 27)

Plus all the instrumental music unreleased like "Junk Music", and the recently leaked (again) Can I Play With U? recordings, 99% instrumental, mostly recorded in the 80s.

Short answer: Prince didn't need anything... least of all an instrumental album........

@ 'public brain fart'

It's funny, I was going to include that same list to my response earlier, but after asking myself if that kind of post was worthy of my (or anyone's) precious time, I decided not to.

Joke aside, what is a 'serious artist' anyway?

TrivialPursuit said:

RODSERLING said:

This album is a joke, especially with the packaging, the title tracks, the clocking time, the constant fading in the end, etc. . I guess he needed an instrumental album to pass for a serious artist. Remember it was just before Musicology and its worldwide recognition.

He was at a point in his career that he could do whatever he wanted, and he did. While it's not some people's taste (like mine), I can still recognize the musicianship and talent on the album. You act like you're some music snob who sneers at anything that isn't Purple Rain. Prince's packaging has always lent to the album's concept. Did you turn your nose up at things like Led Zeppelin's album made for customers to color in themselves? ELO's Out Of The Blue that looked like something from 2001 A Space Odyssey and had a cut out of a space ship? Michael Jackson's Thriller with his own hand drawn artwork on the sleeve?

Did you bitch as much about Emancipation's 60-minutes-per-disk "joke"? What about every word having a different font in Around The World In A Day? The scrapbook collage in Parade? The cock on the front of 1999? Did you scoff when C-NOTE came out, every song title spelling out the album title? I mean, my God the nerve of Prince, one of the greatest artists in a few generations, so actually do something creative and different. What a fucker!

Where is the proverbial line of "this is art" vs. "this is crap" for you? You sound incredibly hypocritical.

By the way, while you're having this public brain fart, let me refresh your angst on Prince's instrumental stuff:

The Flesh sessions: 1985/86

"Alexa De Paris" and "Venus De Milo": 1986
Madhouse 8: January 17, 1987

Madhouse 16: November 18, 1987

Xpectation: January 1, 2003

"Gamillah": April 14, 2001

N.E.W.S. - June 30, 2003 (NPGMC shipments)

C-Note: March 29, 2004 (Musicology was released 2 days before on March 27)

Plus all the instrumental music unreleased like "Junk Music", and the recently leaked (again) Can I Play With U? recordings, 99% instrumental, mostly recorded in the 80s.

Short answer: Prince didn't need anything... least of all an instrumental album........

Well done - but you forgot the spectacular instrumental version of God and Father's Song, plus all the amazing instrumental codas going all the way back to his first album. (Just As Long As We're Together, anyone?)

There's Princetramental music as far as the eye can see.

Genesia said:

Well done - but you forgot the spectacular instrumental version of God and Father's Song, plus all the amazing instrumental codas going all the way back to his first album. (Just As Long As We're Together, anyone?)

There's Princetramental music as far as the eye can see.

Definitely plenty that I missed. I was on only a half-cup of coffee when I wrote that.

Imagine me at full caffeine intake! haha

RJOrion said:

"I guess he needed an instrumental album to pass for a serious artist." ^ one of the most assinine quotes ever presented at prince.org

Consider the source.

Genesia said:

Well done - but you forgot the spectacular instrumental version of God and Father's Song, plus all the amazing instrumental codas going all the way back to his first album. (Just As Long As We're Together, anyone?)

There's Princetramental music as far as the eye can see.

Jelly Jam's my jam

And let's not forget the beautiful 'Arboretum' on the One Night Alone album.

I've heard N.E.W.S. and Xpectation once through each. Not my cup of tea. I still have never listened to C-NOTE.

There are only about 6 instrumental tracks from Prince that I like or love:

God (Love it!)

Father's Song (Love it!)

Alexa de Paris (Love it!)

The Sensual Everafter (Like it)

Arboretum (Love it!)

Disco Jellyfish (Like it)

PlectrumElectrum (Love it! Yes, I know Donna Grantis wrote it, but it's on a Prince album, so I include it.)

Overall, I'm not a big fan of instrumental music, not even stuff like Madhouse.

bluefish said:

I've heard N.E.W.S. and Xpectation once through each. Not my cup of tea. I still have never listened to C-NOTE.

There are only about 6 instrumental tracks from Prince that I like or love:

God (Love it!)

Father's Song (Love it!)

Alexa de Paris (Love it!)

The Sensual Everafter (Like it)

Arboretum (Love it!)

Disco Jellyfish (Like it)

PlectrumElectrum (Love it! Yes, I know Donna Grantis wrote it, but it's on a Prince album, so I include it.)

Overall, I'm not a big fan of instrumental music, not even stuff like Madhouse.

Whenever I need to immerse myself back into the Prince aftershows atmosphere, I put C-Note on and I'm there!
Although I understand that it may take some getting used to for those who have never experienced a live aftershow...

In any case, you should give it a try, if only for the spectacular version of Empty Room at the end.

[Edited 8/21/19 0:38am]

RODSERLING said:

rdhull said:

RODSERLING said:

This album is a joke, especially with the packaging, the title tracks, the clocking time, the constant fading in the end, etc. . I guess he needed an instrumental album to pass for a serious artist. Remember it was just before Musicology and its worldwide recognition.

Log off.. I will pay you.

I miss you when you're not around.

rdhull said:

RODSERLING said:

This album is a joke, especially with the packaging, the title tracks, the clocking time, the constant fading in the end, etc. . I guess he needed an instrumental album to pass for a serious artist. Remember it was just before Musicology and its worldwide recognition.

Log off.. I will pay you.

these comments belong in the org hall of fame

I like all of NEWS - it was kind of the closing chapter to his "reclusion" that started with The Rainbow Children and ended with Musicology when he was back in the mainstream.

I also think Call My Name = West with lyrics.

Doozer said:

I like all of NEWS - it was kind of the closing chapter to his "reclusion" that started with The Rainbow Children and ended with Musicology when he was back in the mainstream.

I also think Call My Name = West with lyrics.

You're right, the first part of West is very close to Call My Name. West was recorded in February 2003 while CMN is thought to have been recorded later that year or possibly in early 2004. I wonder if CMN was a deliberate rework of West.

Listen to it once. Never played it again. I love his one night alone live better.

Rimshottbob said:

RODSERLING said:

This album is a joke, especially with the packaging, the title tracks, the clocking time, the constant fading in the end, etc. . I guess he needed an instrumental album to pass for a serious artist. Remember it was just before Musicology and its worldwide recognition.

The album wasn't a joke. I love it. It's very 'lite' on teh jazz front, and doesn't match up to 'proper' fusion albums from the masters of the genre, but it's extremely good on its own terms.

I enjoy it every time I play it which is with an occasional regularity....

It just wasn't a commercial album. And it wasn't supposed to be.

It's not like Prince was watching the charts going 'damn - why isn't NEWS a hit like Little Red Corvette?'

God forbid someone should doing something artistic/creative without caring about/keeping an eye on the commercial aspect of it....

Personally, though I like Musicology, I find NEWS far more rewrding.

For me, NEWS came out right around the time I started getting into MMW, Scofield, Soulive, Galactic, and so many more. This was a special surprise for me that it came out when it did. I was so excited! Still one of my favorite instrumental albums to put on when I need to be productive.

I had always hoped he'd have a follow up for this, but it never happened. Who knows what the future holds.

Until then, there's so many funk jam bands that are out there to listen to. My latest are Cycles and Litz. They are crazy.

nosajd said:

i just haven't listened to it very much, i listened last night, it was ok, I guess but I'd still need to listen to it more. His normal albums i always tried to listen to even if i didn't like them, the lotus flower project was just boring to me, i could never get into that one, probably one of his worst efforts and I know i'm in the minority on that one. Chaos and Disorder I like more than most people, I have never listened to plectrum electrum in whole simpley because I don't like the songs that I've heard one bit.

Genesia said:

I listen to N.E.W.S all the time. And I mean ... all.the.time. It is my absolute favorite album if I have a lot of writing to do at work because a) I like it, b) it drowns out co-worker noise and c) does it wordlessly. (I can't have words coming into my brain if I need words to be coming out of it.)

It is also my favorite album to listen to on an airplane. I have a little flight anxiety (nothing to do with the actual flying, it's all about feeling claustrophobic and hating to be trapped with all those people), so if I settle in and get N.E.W.S playing before we even take off, I do a lot better. Sometimes I just leave it on loop and listen to it two or three times, then segue to C-Note. That and a double Jack Daniels and Diet Coke will keep me calm from Minneapolis or Atlanta to Tucson.

TheEnglishGent said: