It is uncharacteristically horrible. I think he must have been mad at someone and wanted to express his anger, because with a couple of exceptions (Come On, The One and Wasted Kisses- which deserves to be featured on a better album altogether and not "hidden" like it was) it sounded so cheap and tossed off.

JediMaster said:

You're right - it was '98...
But if he was out of his contractual obligation with Warners why did he wait so long to change his name back to Prince?
And how come they're allowed to release The Vault and The Very Best years later?
Because they still own the masters they can churn out the same greatest hits every year if they want to?

I've never fully understood the whole music contract thing with Warner's - it seemed to be clear right up until '95 with Come and Chaos & Disorder being the last two kiss off albums - but why'd be give them The Gold Experience with such great tracks on it? Obviously '96 brought his official "emancipation" from them...but he should have changed his name back then...

I am getting so sick of very best ofs - they're beyond saturation....eg. Bruce Springsteen's label releases a Best of, Greatest Hits or Essential Bruce every two years....and there's nothing worse than a group with two albums that release a Best Of like Savage Garden or Steps for example.... argh

warning2all said:

This was exactly the reaction I got from all the non-fans. My (now ex) wife never minded me playing Prince when she was in the car, unless it was NPS. In fact, she used to specifically request that I play anything but. She is a phenomenal musician in her own right, and tends to listen to everything with a very open mind. She never could undertand why Prince released something so beneath his abilities as a musician.

Likwise, almost every real music lover I know had an almost instantaneaous dislike for the disc. Its just isn't up to his usual standards.

JediMaster said:[quote]

warning2all said:

You know what? Asking a musician to dissect a Prince album is like asking a top chef with five Michelin stars to enjoy a toasted cheese sandwich.

The chef may be able to create the most orgasmic truffle-pate roulade with a drizzle of juniper and stem-ginger glaze - but sometimes you just want the toasted cheese sandwich.

This isn't a greta album and not one of Prince's best,but there are some really fun songs on there.I also remember that ,during that time,I went home for Christmas and everyone I knew there wasa rocking it in their car stereos.It reminded me of the old days.That really surprised me because alot of these people aren't "everyday prince fans".And I know that anyone I have played "come on" or "the one" to has fallen in love withe them.Not bad for a "crappy" album.Plus,you remember that positive rs review.

I think NPS just has a niche.It's not art.It's just for fun.It's mindless party music much like The Black album was desctribed as.If you go into it that way you will dig it.Exodus is the same way,to a lesser extent.It is more classically a "Prince" album,but mainly for fun and anger management(see "the exodus has begun".)

NewPowerSoul is the bomb funky funky funky

chinua said:

the one, come on, funky music. that's about it. the rest is not awful. let's put it this way...of all the tracks on newpowersoul, only those three will ever make it onto a mix disc of mine.

BinaryJustin said:[quote]

JediMaster said:

Fair enough, but I go to Prince's "restaraunt" for the "filet mignon". If I want "grilled cheese", I'd go to Britney & Justin's Diner. If we continue to use the food analogy, then Prince as a "chef" has served up a meal that could be cooked in the kitchen of anyone. Its beneath his abilities as a master chef.

NPS isn't even toasted cheese. It's more like a mayonaisse sandwhich. Hey, maybe you like mayonaisse sandwhich's, and there certainly is a place for less than fancy cuisine. Prince is on par with a world class chef, and when you dine at his place you come to expect a good, filling meal that leaves you wanting more. If I want to dine on a burger then I go down the road to Mickey D's. I'd sho nuff be upset if I went to Spago and got served a Big Mac!