I wrote this last night while playing the new Prince CD "Musicology" for the first time. I've been a huge Prince fan since 78-79 but have been very disappointed at his over-all out put in the last 15 years. That said, he's my "real-time" review.


OK I've just burned the Musicology CD and plan on playing it all the way through on the first listen. I've done this with every Prince album since Dirty Mind but this time I wanted to write down my thoughts as I listen. Thought it would be interesting to go back read a few years down the road and see if my first impression held up over the long run. I go into my listening experience no knowing what to expect. I've been reading reviews from fans all day ranging from "It Sucks" to the usual ravings of "It's The greatest album since..." from the "fams". The few times I've heard snippets of Musicology, "The Vegas Style Funk" did little to excite me. I don't hate the song but it just isn't the type of track that makes you want to run out and buy an album.

OK here we go. Track # 1 Musicology. Not much to say so far. I've heard this before and my opinion hasn't really changed. I'm waiting for about 1:30 in. That's when they cut the video off on the Tavis Smiley Show. OK break down at a little over two minutes in. Kinda funky when it's stripped down like this. Some vintage Prince keyboards added. Song is a little funkier during the second half than it is during the first. That saved this track. While it still seems like a odd first single, it's a decent track. Musicology is over but it's still track 1. This little interlude has some of his past hits streaming like they playing on the radio. The way Musicology finished with those keys I'm getting a little excited. Maybe he's gonna kick some old school Prince sounding shit. What's coming next? Some shit like Lady Cab Driver? Kiss? Doves?

I had read a lot of people saying track #2 "Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance" is the bomb so I'm ready. Damn what a let down. Ok track at best. This is some "New Power Soul" sounding shit. Prince trying to be "gangsta" Fuck I hate when he does this. Thought he left this shit back in the 90's. Rhythm guitar is the only redeeming thing about this song. I want to hit next but I resist. It's finally over. Thank the lord!

Track # 3 "A Million Days" OK song. The type of song most of us "old school" Prince fans don't dig but many of the younger (22-32) ones do. I can live with a track or two like this on the album. He's playing to a certain segment of his fan base with this one, it just doesn't happen to be me. Sounds like something off of Chaos and Disorder (my least favorite Prince CD)

Up next, "Life O The Party" Everyone talking about how this song is hot garbage so I don't expect too much. Song not as bad as some say (it's not Jughead or Now) but not good either. I put it in the same category as track #2 ICPC. Gets a little funky at the end but still comes off as a wasted track. I again resist hitting the "next" button. I anxiously await track # 5 "Call My Name". People saying this is cut. LOTP is over. OK here we go.

Oh yea. This is a classic Prince slow jam. Adore meets Insatiable. Nothing really new here but this one will make the next slow jam disk I burn for sure. I'd play this again if I wasn't listening all the way through the album. Ok I hope album is back on track after 2 wasted tracks and a pop-rock cut I don't feel.

Track #6 Cinnamon Girl. Some Prince fans calling this a great single along the lines of "Cream". Well I didn't like Cream so I don't expect much. Good thing I didn't because I didn't get much. Another pop-rock bland track. I've read a few people compare this to "So Far, So Pleased" from Rave. I liked that track even though that's not my usual style but this is nothing like that cut. Oh god the chorus and bridge on this is horrible! Some good guitar work but not enough to save this track. OK, now I'm worried. I'm 6 tracks in and only found 2 songs I like. With only 6 tracks left, one of which I have already heard (Reflection) and think it's ok at best, things look bleak. I'm start to except the fact that Prince really might be done.

Just as these thoughts go through my head, I hear it. Is that? Could it be? Yes it is! A Linn Drum beat! The opening to track # 7, "What Do U Want Me 2 Do" It's a slow beat some-what like "If I Was Your Girlfriend" OK he's going to come with some Camille sounding voice right. Wait, what's that? Some jazzy guitar and a laid back Prince singing in a natural voice. The bass is poppin'! Man this shit is kinda tight! 2 minutes in now and this track is as solid as they come. Perfect mix between the "old" Prince sound and his new jazzy vibe. If only the whole album had gone this direction. Song ends. I resist the temptation to play it again and let track # 8 "The Marrying Kind" start.

Track #8 has a rock beat and guitar. A little "Time sounding" keyboard in the background. Not bad, pretty good actually. Vocals are in classic Prince style. Damn this song is short. Under 3 minutes. Track #9 is supposed to kick right in but due to the 2 second gap between tracks the flow is ruined. Fuck WMP 9 and WMA files!

Been so pissed about that fact that I haven't noticed this cut is jammin! "If I Was The Man In UR Life" is the cut! More "old school" keys on this one. Prince has some real energy on this track and it is coming off naturally. Some great lyrics in this shit. "He like the Lakers but the Sixers on when he came" huh? Don't know what he is talking about but that shit sounded cool. Nice jazzy break down at the end too. I really want to play this again and catch all the words. My favorite song of the album so far.

OK the album has just turned the corner. For $7.77 I just needed 5 playable tracks to make it a worth while buy. Not a great album but at least it's no "New Power Soul" or "C&D.

Track #10 "On The Couch". Another song who's flow is ruined by those 2 second gaps. They really did sequence this last half of this album well. I'll have to pick up the 'store" copy on April 20th to get the real flow. This is another slow jam. Intro reminding me of "How Does It Feel". Prince fans been posting today about how this track is weaker than "Call My Name" 30 seconds in and I can tell they are dead wrong! This is the slow jam of the album right here! Prince is bringing it vocally here! Fuck what the rest of y'all say! Damn the arrangements are tight on this one! Another track I have to resist playing again. That's 3 of them! When was the last Prince album that had 3 tracks I wanted to play again after first listen? Let me think..... can't count Emancipation cause it was 3 disks and I'm not even sure there was 3 there. Thinking, thinking..... Damn I think it was Sign O The Times! OK now I got a chill. Maybe my man is back!

Track #11 "Dear Mr. Man" Nice vibe. Almost a little Maxwell-ish. Horns a nice touch. OK the brother is trying to say something on this cut. Here comes the JW shit. 3 Minutes in and I'm wrong. No JW messages here and he isn't coming across "preachy". Shit this is another solid cut! Jazzy R&B cut that's damn well produced and arranged if you ask me. I'd play that one again too if I wasn't listening all the way through. 4 replays on one Prince album! I'm not even going to think about the last time I had one of those. Don't want to start sounding like those crazy "fams".

Last track, "Reflection". I already know this track but I listen any way. Nothing new. Sounds a little better than I remember it but that might just be because Prince has just hooked me with the last 5 tracks. It's cool though. Would rather have tracks like this than 2,3,4, & 6. OK albums over.

I don't mind only 12 tracks but the songs are a little shorter than I woud like. 5 top-notch tracks and 3 others that I would rate better than average. I'll be listening to 2/3's of this album. That's good even for a $13.99 album. After first listen I'd rate it a 7 out of 10. Usually Prince albums grow on me with each play so it might even rate higher two weeks from now. When I look back at his entire catalog, right now it would rank #9 on my list of all time best Prince albums behind 1999, Dirty Mind, Controversy, Parade, SOTT, Prince, Purple Rain and Parade. After first listen I like it much better than albums like Lovesexy, Diamonds & Pearls and TRC. Anytime I can get a top 10 album out of a mid 40's star from the 80's I'll take it.

So is Prince back? If you mean the cat who wore the g string aand go go boots who came with some raw ass shit. No. But if you mean the musician who can still write a good hook and give you something to groove to on your long commute to work then hell yea! Welcome back little man. I've missed ya.

Well written and nice read.. Thanks