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Diamonds & Pearls SDE VAULT Tracks Review 1 - Number23 Vault tracks
School Yard
Is it Ace’s battered high school car spluttering into life? Or Prince’s libido? A stuttering staccato new-jacky drum machine jerks into action, spitting out attitude and spunky brashness … yet these introductory two seconds of Schoolyard sound somewhat distant, low-fi, a machine sparking up on 20 watts.
The vibe now darkens with a brutally synthetic, heavily processed bassline (maybe he is suggesting that this memory is not organic/true?) that layers an ominous, sinister vibe on top of a spastic yet somehow rigid big beat - it’s a deeply in-the-pocket, heavy yet jittery, a jarring adult cartoon groove. The foundation has been laid, but you’ve been fooled - any darkness suggested by this skeletal beat awaiting its flesh is a red herring.
[Edited 9/14/23 3:34am] [Edited 9/14/23 5:18am] [Edited 9/25/23 17:29pm] [Edited 9/25/23 17:30pm] [Edited 9/26/23 3:35am] [Edited 9/26/23 3:35am] | |
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Whatever the reason, Schooyard is a classic Prince joint and i'm really glad the Estate included it on the D&P set in its full lenght glory. [Edited 9/14/23 0:39am] | |
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I'd be more interested in reading short and to the point descriptions, not an overblown analysis of a track. I mean, it's not even that great a song. Formerly TheDigitalGardener etc. | |
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Me too, mate. | |
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mb71 said: I'd be more interested in reading short and to the point descriptions, not an overblown analysis of a track. I mean, it's not even that great a song. ![]() Something BIG Is Coming. | |
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Enjoyed reading that. Thanks I hope we get one for each track Something BIG Is Coming. | |
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some would say the Gary Glitter mention is apt for this track. | |
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I am trying not to respond to unnecessary comments but, I was messaging Mr Number23 over and over asking if he was going to review this set. I recall his amazing SOTT SDE Vault songs and was hoping he/she would do it again and, I'm so glad he has begun.
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Landonfunkmonkey...did you ever read his review of the SOTT SDE? | |
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so, I read MrNumber23's intro about the ''sputtering into life" (or his libido:) and I listen to the start of the song and ...I get it!!! I know this isn't a review of Num23's reviews but....he is really able to visualize and describe the music so so well.
Prince was so clever/funny with his lyrics when he wanted to be..and...so so nasty
What I also get is that the version I have is 4:27 and what Num23 is describing, would make me think the song is actually double. I never gaave this one a real chance, dismissing it as a juvenile throwaway. It sort of is but for the music. Sometimes with the LoFi bootlegs, you don't pay attention to the instrumentation but from what Num23 describes and what I am hearing on the boot (and my imagination), I can hear that this is a very funky track and when I get it on my stereo, I'm going to really appreciate it.
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JoeyCococo said:
Landonfunkmonkey...did you ever read his review of the SOTT SDE? Yes I did. It was great. It got me even more excited for the release Something BIG Is Coming. | |
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Not my cup of tea as far as musical/lyrical criticsm goes, so to speak, but I appreciate the effort and quality of the writing! Well done. | |
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Me either tbh. But it is Prince's origin story so thought it was a worthwhile exercise to actually try and figure out what he wa trying to convey musically. It's a fail though, mainly because I wrote it on my phone and the spellchecker has fucked up so much of it. Needs a good sub, undoubtedly. My Tender Heart next, strap yourself in ...
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Strapped baby | |
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Schoolyard is sort of an incredible song. Pulsates with life and energy and obviously deeply personal to Prince. I think it’s a masterpiece. Next level stuff. | |
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ExTAFKASoladeo1 said: Schoolyard is sort of an incredible song. Pulsates with life and energy and obviously deeply personal to Prince. I think it’s a masterpiece. Next level stuff. Definitely more interesting than I had thought… | |
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Thanks a lot, Number23. Your work is really appreciated! I like your writing style/humor. | |
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Nice review. Thanks for sharing. I still think the song is rubbish though. I can't imagine a situation where I'd ever want to listen to it. | |
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Love the writing
I see it less as a critic writing than just a kind of imaginative descriptio of/response to the song I doubt i could get that much mileage out of just one song, esp schoolyard, so kudos! [Edited 9/15/23 23:43pm] | |
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Sorry it's taken so long but I'll get the My Tender Heart blurb posted tonight then try to do one a day afterwards until the release date. Or maybe more regularly than that, will see how it goes.
They'll appear in the same sequence as the discs so it means there's still a few weeks to wait until 'I Pledge My Allegience 2 Ur Love' which is worth the price of admission alone imo.
I've been posting a lot more about the tracks and my thoughts about how cohesive/authoritative the set is on Discord and leaving the stream of consciousness mind dumps to the org. I know it's not to everyone/anyone's taste but vomit-writing while listening intently and intensely is how I like to study music, particularly artists like Prince who paint with sound.
You psychos who only get fulfilment from direct raw data and feel queasy digging through the flowery pish will get your gratification too, fear not. | |
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Look forward to other reviews.
Also, Can anyone join the discord channel? [Edited 9/17/23 6:13am] | |
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Cheers - not my decision who joins these groups as I'm not an administrator but hopefully someone with that power will see this and send you an orgnote. Nothing has leaked yet however so don't get too excited - it's just me answering questions people have. | |
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Looking forward to the stream of consciousness reviews! What is the discord channel? Would love to read about your thoughts on the set. | |
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I'd also love to join this discord channel if anyone is feeling generous with invites... [Edited 9/17/23 11:25am] | |
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ok, My Tender Heart ready to go - but can anyone tell me how to post with spaces between paragraphs? Is it shift and return? [Edited 9/17/23 13:02pm] | |
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