Unless I missed them, there haven't been any reviews of news yet - I'm not talking on here, but rather in the press. Any predictions on what kind of reviews N.E.W.S. will get when they start coming in? Will it get recognized for it's great music, or will it being an instrumental hurt the reviews? Will the reviewers listen to it enough times to really appreciate it? For me, it's an album that the longer I have it, the more I listen to it.

I didn't even know it had been given an official release date yet!

I don't know if it has either - but I assume that it will get released sometime in the next month or so and that it'll generate reviews when it does.

My guess is that it will get lousy reviews. I can see it... "elevator music", "unstructured", "should stick to funk and ballads". The critics aren't likely to play it enough times to appreciate it.

Hopefull good ones!

alandail said:

Most casual European critics will hold the album up as further proof that Prince "lost it" around "Sign O The Times", go on about how if he was with a major label he wouldn't be allowed to put the audio equivalent of sleeping pills and would still be churning out "accessible" music (rock-funk hybrids) blah blah blah.

I'm not much of a fan of NEWS. I think he should have released "Xpectation" instead. BUT I still respect him for putting the album out.

I actually think it will recieve positive reviews. Most European critics rated 'The Rainbow Children' very favourably and I consider 'NEWS' the next logical development of the music found on that release.

I'm sure there will be the odd, uninformed critic who is unfamiliar with Prince's prior instrumental work and is only familiar with his more popular material, but that is to be expected. Such review hold little credibility anyway.

I believe that 'NEWS' is a positive step because it finally shows Prince as a musician, first and foremost. It also finally proves that he is not looking for major commercial sucess with his releases.

Lastly, 'NEWS' is not 'elevator music'. Anyone who states that knows nothing about music.

Mr7 said:

Right you are. Elevator music is designed to be pleasing to the ear. The content of N.E.W.S. is just plain grating.

EVERYONE.

AND I MEAN, EVERYONE, IS CRAZY NOT TO SEE THIS.

THIS IS IN FACT P's FIRST EVER "CHILLOUT" CD.

YEAH THATS'S RIGHT. I SAID IT. IT'S "CHILLOUT" MUSIC AND I LOVE IT!!

I'M A BIG FAN OF CHILLOUT MUSIC ANYWAY. AND THIS IS PRINCE'S FUNKY GLOBAL CHILLOUT MUSIC...

PEACE...

I used to anticipate the "Q" rewies of Prince albums, but
lately they downsized reviews of major artists dramatically
to the point where annie lennox got a full 2, by 1 inch
column written about her first new studio album in years.

No doubt, they will print a 6 page review of an album by
some obscure indy band and print a glossy photo of them
in their skategear eating hotdogs and the caption will say

"WeenerTodSkatePunks enjoy a nice juicy hotdog whilst they
discuss the wind reverb on Prince's latest notsogood album
NEWS".

And that will be the review.

Never you mind, they will prince "REVIEW: PRINCE" in bold
letters on the cover, just to get you to buy the fucking
magazine.

let`s get it on. imagine it was just you and prince
and a stereo system and a listening session of the
new cd. who would have the guts to tell the
man it was elevator music? i mean...
while some people try to be creative with the music
... you mother§%&/ers can`t even be creative
in dissing the album. how stupid itself is the
term "elevator music". this really breaks my mind.

if you`re so well educated in music, then at least
bring up good arguments. or just say it`s boring
that`s okay. it`s okay not to like the music.


elevator music. elevator music. elevator music.
what the hell is that?

TonyWilliams said:

Yes, I'd have the guts to tell him that. And if he messes with me, I'll hit him over the head with my purse.

By the way, by dismissing the drivel that N.E.W.S. is as elevator music, which implies that it is dull, sleep-inducing, bland & unimaginative, we are already being more descriptive than your suggestion to just call it "boring."

doomboogie said:

you wouldn`t, and you know it.
once more - explain what it makes soooo dull etc..
[This message was edited Mon Jul 14 15:21:26 PDT 2003 by TonyWilliams]

I can't actually remember ever hearing music played in an elevator, except for maybe someones personal stereo.

Is it an American thing?

doomboogie said:

co-sign! and if he don't want the purse, he can always have a swift chuck to the booty.

as for what i think the reviews will be, i imagine they'll be an amalgam of 'mediocre' and 'just what the hell's he up to now?!?"

It should be slated , it is soulless "experimental Jazz" which basically means bollocks.

It may be great musicianship , but I can paint well if I paint by numbers.

It is most definitely not great "chill out".

It is self indulgent crap.

Chill out has soul and makes you feel good , think of a sunset in Ibiza or the mellow vibe of a really good spliff.

Experimental Jazz is such a crap concept.

Prince is the funkiest dude of the last couple of decades and a damn good musician - but for all you pretend sycophantic jazz dudes (who suddenly claim Weather Report etc.. are the biz.) cast your mind back to 1978 to 1984 the height of the Jazz Funk boom - I am taking a particularly British view here but I assume these artists were as big in the US as they were over here - how come Herbie Hancock can come up with Headhunters (I know it was much earlier `74 I think , but most of these guys made incredible jazz albums and then "sold out" by going funky) a ground breaking and revolutionary Jazz album and then a few years later come up with "Saturday Night" a funk classic about to blow up big time (again) via Al Kent`s sample , and think Rockit for sheer hip hop style , think "By all means" - Alphonse Mouzon , "Black is the Colour" - Wilbert Longmire , think Charles Earland , think Ahmed Jahmal , think loads of straight Jazz artists that made damn funky stuff - then listen to N.E.W.S - and you will hear technically brilliant but soulless bollocks.

A Jazz musician can do funk.
I have the proof.
A funk musician can only do jazz by numbers.

Yes he is free
Yes it is challenging
But no it isn`t good
And it bears no relation to The Rainbow Children.
That was a major step forward
This is at best an irrelevance.
If I was a rock critic I would call it a self indulgent wank fest.

It is the first Prince album that has left me cold

Is it even worth reviewing?

I find it interesting that people are saying TRC was better...I never listen to that album, EVER.

TheRainbowChild said:

the term "experimental jazz" is redundant and its use makes no sense to me. by definition, jazz is experimental.

i have not heard all of news but what i've heard so far, i've liked. is it jazz? only in the sense that it was an open session with no preconceived layout. from what i've heard it sounds more like "mood" music or something for ambiance at a cocktail party. thats cool though, its got its place. i won't have it on every day like some other albums of his, but it will still find its place in my stereo.

EvilWhiteMale said:

have u even heard the cd?

right?!

imnotsayinthisjust2bnasty said: