I know lots of you have spoken about this already but I wanted to see what as many ppl as possible thought about N.E.W.S.
I bought it from my local music shop on Saturday & took it back today, swapping it for the Nappy Roots - Wooden Leather CD. I thought N.E.W.S. was awful & I think it is OK to say so even though I am a huge Prince fan & have been for many years but come on, how boring is that album.
I could go on but there seems little point, I just hope that we get a new Prince & The Revolution/NPG album soon that tells us all why we love Prince.

Jolajeph

Oh, it's okay. I'd never return a Prince album even if I didn't like it, because somewhere down the road it helps put other, subsequent music into perspective and I often wind up appreciating albums I didn't like at first (prime example: it took me years to warm up to the Come album, but now it's one of my faves).

My only exception thus far is NPS - I still own it, but other than maybe one or two songs, I really can't stand it.

NEWS is okay. It's not good or bad in my opinion. It's just kinda allright to me.

jolajeph said:

are you on crack?

jolajeph said:

NEWS = SNOOZE. You did the right thing taking it back.

jolajeph said:

... Get hold of "Xpectation" instead. Now THAT is what SNOOZE wasn't, i.e: good.

Good Album. And much better than Xpectation.

With each wave of listening 2 NEWS it gets better and better. Some music needs 2 b heard a few times b4 it hits U.

I'm really feelin' NEWS. Particularly, East and West. To me, it's just like getting a new Madhouse album. Which brings me to the one thing that I would change about it. If he's gonna put out Madhouse type music, he's gotta put baby girl on the cover. What's her name, Monica or Maneca or something like that. NEWS is damned good. Just keep listening people.

I've been listening it for four days in a row and I dislike it. Yesterday I felt good about it, but today having compared it to "acid jazz remixes" and "Jazz:the most relaxing music in the world", I changed my mind. These two CDs are truly relaxing and soothing even though they don't have that extra little something that previous Prince albums have. Threre are two things that annoy me about NEWS:
1. Each track begins and ends with slow and barely audible instrumentation.
2. Some instruments don't play longer than 3 secs.
I guess I was expecting to feel that high that some people have been reporting. The magic is gone.

I'm starting to absolutely adore NEWS.

At first, when I heard that it was going to be four 14minute instrumentals, I was a little disappointed. I didn't take to Xpectation (and still don't) and so wasn't expecting an awful lot from this latest offering.

However, I've been putting the CD on a lot in the background whilst I've been doing other things (washing-up, playing video games, having sex, etc. etc.) and I have to say that it's growing on me big time. It's just so fascinating, probably the most fascinating album P has ever put out. Sure, there's nothing there that grabs you instantly, but give it a few listens and you'll start to pick up on small sections of the album. Then, you start to appreciate other, more subtle sections that you didn't notice before and then, before you know it, the whole album suddenly becomes just as addictive as any other Prince album.

Like I said, at first I was a little disappointed at the prospect of it but now, I'm so glad that I took the time to try and appreciate it properly.

Irish9 said:

Fully agree with you Irish about the Madhouse Hotty! Let's start a campaign at NPGMC to bring her back to the cover of ALL of Prince's albums!

BlurredEye said:

Maneca Lightner was the inspiration behind Prince's sartorial polka-dot phase.

Not even Miles was immune from it. He was wearing polka-dots until just before he passed away.

.

N.E.W.S. IS GREAT!
I can't understand why people don't like NEWS ?
This album has great instrumentation, good concept, wonderful direction for an artist who's still progressing.
Much love to Prince for still creating and exploring .
Carmy.

carmy said:

It's certainly very advanced music, which takes a number of listens in order to digest.

Ultimately, it is a very rewarding experience.

.

i will admit it sounds a lot better 2 me after a few days of checking it out. maybe our ears are virgins 2 real musicanship and i play piano and i still felt like something was missing. just some complicated changs that takes u on a trip that losses some of us. not the best shit he's done but its cool. give me some singing funk .

carmy said:

I agree.

Cloudbuster said:

You bastard!

It's very rare that I post on the Prince: Music and More forum, but now I know never to do it again. You've intimidated me into not posting here ever again.

You're a hater and your journey with Prince is over so please allow others to continue their journey with P.

Haystack said:

Fancy another shag?

Cloudbuster said:

Oh go on then, seeing as it's you.

Good.

I think it's a good album. Not a great one. Makes for nice background music.

I think it is the worst most effortless crap he has ever released in his whole career."Oh well, it'll sell'.

Another thought on this, Why should he make more of an effort when he can make loads of money on crap like NEWS?
He could burp and fart into a microphone and than try to make people believe how 'magical' a burp and fart are, and than it would sell.

gyro34 said:

Those aren't jazz albums, lazybones. Go and buy a John Coltrane or Miles Davis "album", not some TV-advertised compilation for dummies.

By the way, I think NEWS is a good album. It's interesting.

newpowersoul said:

amen vince!


TRC took me 12 months.
Lovesexy & The Truth took me 2 years.

thankfully right now i can appreciate great music without saying "i want another PurpleRain or ".

its up there with TRC,Lovesexy,PR,Truth & Gold 4 me

C.R.A.P.
'Nuff said

Bringing back a cd?

jolajeph said:

The real question is how many fusion jazz albums do you own? Prince does several different types of music. If you are not into all of them, you wont appreciate all of his work. Prince appeals to the pop/rock audience which - for the most part - has not knowledge or appreciation for jazz in any form. This album is not for the fan who is longing for the next Prince and the Revolution (which has been gone damn near 20 years so get over it). This is easily the best group of musicians that Prince has ever surrounded himself with and also his most prolific work ever. That is not going to translate to universal popularity. In fact, it guarantees the opposite.

VERY GOOD!