Hi y'all,

I've been reading comments about N.E.W.S on various threads and am surprised that nobody else has mentioned this so far so I have to ask - does it remind anyone of the old madhouse stuff ? Given that it's described as 'new directions in music' I think N.E.W.S is old news. I've only listened to it twice so far as I've only just bought it, but to me it sounds remarkably similar in style to the madhouse stuff he did in the eighties. Some parts even sound as if they were directly lifted from 8 and 16 and in general it is so similar to them that it should have been called 20 (although I believe there is also a madhouse album called 24 but have never been able to find it, if anyone can shed any light on the illusive 24 I'd greatly appreciate it).

Even though I've only listened to N.E.W.S twice and haven't listened to the madhouse stuff for years (must dust off my lp's and digitize them) I think closer scrutiny will reveal even more similarities than I have noticed so far. Even after two listens I cannot get over just how much this sounds like a madhouse album, which I think is a good thing as I love that lazy mellow jazz/funk sound, but it sounds as if it was recorded during the madhouse sessions, and not this year.

New directions in music ? For some of his fans maybe, and maybe for the current band who have not played this style with him before, but definitely not a new direction for Prince.

Anyone else notice the similarity or should I get my ears checked ?

It's been mentioned so many times that I'm sick of reading it.
C.R.A.P.

Where? I only mentioned it cause I've been doing practically little else but read these threads over the past few days and have so far seen nobody else make the comparison must've been looknig in the wrong ones.

It's mostly in the chat. C.R.A.P. has been compared to Madhouse numerous times there. Everyone knows it...everyone agrees on it.
Well...except me...but only cuz I call it C.R.A.P.

ahhh- thanks. Haven't been in the chat yet. So you're not a jazz fan then...

I think NEWS sounds a lot more mature than the Madhouse stuff, but by the same token, I think Madhouse was a lot more playful than NEWS. Either way, when you put Prince and Eric Leeds in a room together with the intent of recording an instrumental album, you're not really treading a rug that hasn't already been cut years ago. The way I see it, Prince has been waiting for the day when he could put out this kind of work without having to hide behind a mask or another band or have to sneak compositions on to protege albums...and now he has that day.

What kind of music did Daddy Nelson play? Could NEWS and the "new direction" (not to mention Madhouse and the like) be an attempt to follow in his father's footsteps stylistically?

AsylumUtopia said:

No, you are older news than N.E.W.S

Anxiety said:

'SNOOZE' aint even worthy of touching the hem of Madhouse's garments, sorry. Not that Madhouse were THAT inventive etc, but nope, not even close.

Stylistically, and dynamically it isnt a very good album, plain and simple - Xpectation was the stronger of the 2, and I would just LOVE 2 know why he decided 2 release one instead of the other Although I still stand by my statement that I think it's admirable that He released an album that would STILL confound fans, critics etc alike. Whether u like it or not is immaterial nowadays - gone are the days of where every album release was an 'event'. That will never happen again, and rarely happens with ANY artist anymore. So yeah, admirable move P - but that don't mean we want 2 be swamped by more of your Jazz-fusion noodlings thanku very much.

As 4 following in His father's footsteps stylistically, interesting therory - one I'd like 2 expound upon.

IF that is the case, (and I AM presuming here) maybe this is Prince paying his own personal pennance 4 how he may (or may not) have treated His father at certain points. Unfortunately, all the jazz noodlings in the world wont change a thing, u missed that boat P. But maybe u have learnt a lesson not 2 be such a jerk 2 people - as we all know u can be.

(N)othing
(E)xciting
(W)ithin
(S)ongs

(N)o
(E)ntertainment
(W)ith
(S)inging

(N)ow
(E)verybody
(W)ill
(S)nore

(N)ew
(E)xperiment
(W)ith
(S)hit

(N)othing
(E)ven
(W)orth
(S)elling

(N)ever
(E)ver
(W)ant
(S)equel

(N)ihilistic
(E)xperiment
(W)ith
(S)ound

SsssNnnnOoooZzzzE

finally,

No
Emotional
(W)
Shit

Good NEWS For Modern Man.

Never
Ending
Wanky guitar
Solos

Numbing
Elevator muzak
With
Synths

Not
Enough
Words
Sung

Hey come on y'all, If you don't wanna hear Prince play Jazz, then don't.