After a few listens to the d/l version of MUSICOLOGY does anyone else feel that the tracks have been heavily edited for some reason, I just get the feeling that they are missing some band work and have been 'choppped'

With Prince's recent pushing of real musicians etc I really thought that the band would be stretching 'their legs' on this album with lots of solos and / or great guitar work from Prince.

I think it is track 11 (Dr Mr. Man) that actually just fades out to nothing, and then I read a post this morning where the track time for reflection is listed at 4.14? and actually only runs for 3.03?

Could this be a case of Prince listening to his critics too much and started editing his songs way too much or do you think he is saving the full extended version for the CD release in April (I wish....)

Opinions anyone?

reflection is the same length as the one offered up for download on npgmc last may...

The tracks are all pop-song length aren't they.

I think a lot of the tracks may have been edited down (like a lot of stuff he records). Just seems like they're missing the usual solo's/breakdowns etc that you find on a track that's 5 or 6 minutes long.

I think the album flows more organically than most of his recent output. We're spared the annoying segues of TRC and we aren't jerked around for the arbitrary edits like we put up with on Emancipation, and it doesn't blather on and on like NEWS. It just sounds like a good pop album, and it clocks in at a perky 49 minutes.

And as we're all aware....the best thing about edited songs on a Prince album is the suggestion of extended versions.

Yeah, it's not a bad thing

Some of these songs end very abruptly, I agree...
I think we'll see the full versions on the store-bought ones.
Gotta give ya a reason to buy it...

I'm actually glad he's scaled back some of the songs' lengths.

IMO That's way better than good Prince songs that just go on way too long for no real reason.

thinks of Crystal Ball, Come, and Return of the Bump Squad immediately
[This message was edited Tue Mar 30 1:02:33 2004 by PurpleKnight]

My toughts exactly.

I don't think they've been edited too short though. They sound just fine, but to the trained "purple" ear, it is evident that some of the shifts and glitches are
just a little too abrupt. Just like some of the fade-outs seem to come in too
soon.

But that's only on 3 or 4 songs.

And do keep in mind that a lot of Prince compositions end very suddenly
and abruptly. Just think of the guillotine ending to "Life can be so Nice"
or the way "Into The Light" segues into "I Will" at breakneck pace.

Probably songs like "Dear Mr. Man" and "A Million Days" will have some
more solo's and stretch a bit longer on the official cd release. Plus,
no doubt, Prince will throw in one or two new and even cooler jams
to persuade people a little easier to buy the album as well as the download

But hey, if the album sounds this amazing in edited form [if indeed that might
prove to be the case], than I can't even begin to imagine what an ultracool
complete and limo-stretched version might sound like.

With just some minor, minor changes and an extra thumping funk tour de force
this album has the potential to be one of his best ever.

Anxiety said:

Well, there are two segues - after Musicology when Prince seems to be searching the radio and we hear some of his old hits, and after What Do You Want Me 2 Do? a segue of a child laughing and a female saying something in... Italian? Spanish? not sure. And sounds of a party.

I think since the album is only 49 minutes, a few more minutes of some of the songs wouldn't have hurt - it certainly feels like some are about to go into a solo and then bam! Next song. Dear Mr. Man fades out with new music and lyrics being played - surely there is a longer version to this. I do hope the official release has extended versions, it will give me added incentive to buy it!

PurpleKnight said:

You think Crystal Ball goes on too long? I think it's as near perfect as it could be. Ah well, all the more for me.

TheFrog said:

Haha yeah, I love the song, but my finger starts to hover over the skip button after a while.

Less is more sometimes.

PurpleKnight said:

starts sobbing

I try to tell the girls that, but they just won't listen.



damneditedit
[This message was edited Tue Mar 30 4:14:30 2004 by TheFrog]

Revolution said:

Got any evidence to back up your theory??