I cant help feeling that the hype some of the orgers on here are giving it, is slightly unjust. I will confess straight away that Im not a good first time listener to any music, and it always takes me a while to like a song, but i didnt really hear anything on this album that reaches the standards Prince has previously set himself.

I LOVED TRC. It was exactly the kind of MUSIC I wanted Prince to be making at this time in his career. For years before, all we'd heard from Prince was lame attempts at radio friendly songs. Flimsy beats, weak melodies and naff lyrics. Emancipation was over produced, NPS was just poor, and Rave was completely inchoerent. For once Prince was chasing the pack. With The Rainbow Children he decided to go his own way (as he had throught the 80's). So I wasnt down with all the Jehovah witness stuff, and that voice over irked me, but I loved the sound and feel of the album. I loved One Night Alone - an album for the fans - and a finatastic tour to go with it.

Needless to say I was anticipating this album greatly, however on first listening, I cant help but feel that it is a step backwards towards Rave territory. Im not saying I disliked the album, there were some tracks I really enjoyed (particularly Cinamon Girl), and I didnt think there were any bad songs on it, but can anyone honestly say that there are any classics on there?

At least Rave had the beautiful I Love U But I Dont Trust U. I never doubt prince's brilliance, nor do I question his right to put out whatever the hell he likes, he's earned that much respect from us. Im glad he's finally seen sense to cut his albums down from 16 songs to just 12, and I know the more I listen to songs such as Call My Name and Dear Mr Man the more I will enjoy them, however I really DONT think this album will be a commercial success. It just doesnt have enough good songs on it, and you put it next to the likes of Outkast, it sounds like a 45 year old man playing catch up.

The main thing i noticed about this album however was his voice. To my ears it sounds out of shape. He doesnt seem to be able to sustain those high notes anymore.

Anyway, just to be clear, Im not hating on this album yet (ive only listened to it once), but to my mind the songs aren't good enough to support the hype of this comeback. I hope im wrong, and i reckon that with a full band supporting the tracks, they will sound fuller and more effective live.

I agree, on my first couple of listens I was not the most pleased, but I listened to it at work over and over and have fallen in love with some of the songs on there. Then again I just like music, I am not a person that will examine each album for content. I like it, or I don’t!.....not that there is anything wrong with that, that's just why my taste might be a little different than most on the Org.

Crozza I totally agree with everything U said.
My thoughts exactly.
Musicology is a fun album but by no means ground breaking nor does it contain any songs that I can see becoming a real hit and especially not in the category of 'Classics'.

Gotta agree with you. Musicology is fun but by no means a classic. It really does *feel* like another attempt at Rave - ie a concious effort to be commercial again. Nothing wrong in that of course and personally I would be happy to see Prince all over the charts/tv/radio again.

However, I really don't think THIS album will do it which is a shame.

The failure I believe is that Musicology doesn't contain a single CLASSIC track. It does contain a bunch of good trax but nothing standout (this is after about 10 listens).

I do like the album much in the same way I liked Rave but where are those kick ass tracks.

Almost every Prince album contains at least one track that could easily feature on my PERSONAL "very best of Prince" CD - even New Power Soul has "The One".

I'm gonna start another thread on why *I* think Prince has not quite hit the mark this time.

I'm like you, very rarely do I hear an album straight off and am immediately able to form an accurate oppinion - I was like that with Gold - in fact first listen, I thought it was just a bunch of cheese, but in retrospect, post NEWS/Xenophobia, post Emancipation, TRC etc., Gold to me feels almost nostalgic, classic 90's Prince. Anyway, this album is more or less exactly what I expected...a light affair that doesnt push or take risks, whos soles purpose is to play it safe with the public, in the hope of gaining news fan from singles such as Musicology in this current climate of easy-listening public appetite (Norah Jones etc.).

So yeah, after the first listen, I wasn't impressed as a fan, but I knew it would unlikely get the slating that Rave did. After the THIRD listen, I'm actually digging the 'obvious' standouts ALOT, On The Couch, Dear MrMan, The Marrying Kind (sorta, well almost diggin), and the one with Pimp in the title. If there was no Adore/Do Me Baby etc., I would consider On The Couch a great track - that's the sorta stuff I have to remind myself just so's I don't end up dissin' and then missing out on any real appreciation.

These arguements go round and round, for each new album that was released since the org came into fashion, and the hard thing is to not be influenced by the strong oppinions that are expressed here, so it's great you got this attitude. I wouldn't go so far as to say Musicology is like catch-up to Outkast...THEY ARE VERY different kettles of fish. They DO NOT have ANY similarities in aims or purpose, styles (well maybe slightly in styles) or attitudes. Definitely not attitudes...Prince is grown up now and he aint catching up to noone...except for maybe The Darkness...realising that a 70's glam-rock revival can subsequently warrant a 70's FUNK revival LOL! It's all good.

Oh, and get hip to the ageing process! Mouths, ears, noses, fingers, all go down hill after a while. Lets hope in later years he turns out some classic gravely voiced blues or jazz. LOL

jaypotton said:

Yeah, I agree, I'm enjoying the album but I wouldn't call it a classic. Put it this way, which of these tracks will Prince still be playing in 5 to 10 years time? None, I think. But of course he does have a hell of a back catalogue to compare against! He has great songs, like 'The Most Beautiful Girl', number one around the world, and yet he never seems to bother playing it live.

You'd think at least in an acoustic or piano set, but no.

I am in agreement also. I've listened to it a few times and it does sound like some of the last previous CDs. I prefer TRC and N.E.W.S. because they represent something that I have always loved about Prince's music, something different, and innovative. Basically I like Musicology, but it sounds like it's a collection from the shelf. Gawd, to have the chance to raid that shelf.

Agreed 99%!

The album may grow on me but it doesn't sound half as good as TRC to me...
It somehow reminds me of some songs on Chaos & Disorder ou NPS...
So far I like Pimp..., A millions days, others may follow

Well, I know myself and I know I have to let the album grow on me. But yesterday I played it to some of my friends (some of 'm don't like him at all) and they were ALL very positive about it. I wasn't blown away by the title track, but it seems most people who know Prince only from Purple Rain and other radio hits dig it. I mean, they really like it. And let's not forget that what isn't a classic on the album could become a kick ass song live! There isn't much of Musicology on the playlist now, but trust me, playlists will evolve, depending on sales and radio airplay and most certainly when he takes it overseas. I live in Belgium and the ONA concert was sould out very fast here and seated 18.000 people. I really think this album will make a difference. That is, if Sony helps him to make it happen. Let's just take the time to let the album grow on us for a while, then we'll talk And when you say his voice seems out of shape...

This album is a excuse to tour. All the hype has people expecting way too much. I dont see this being a record breaking hit. Just my opinion.

CrozzaUK said:

I am liking this album more and more. Is it a classic? I don't feel that way. But the songs are quality. I would not call it backtracking though. Think about an album like '1999'. It was a great followup to Dirty Mind. Personally, I don't feel that 'Purple Rain' was a great followup to '1999'. Those songs grew on me and I like them a lot. Though I would not consider that a classic like many people do. It was the album he made to gain more commercial appeal. Now, the B-sides and extended versions to the songs on that album are classic. That is how I kind of consider 'Musicology'. Though I don't know if everyone is going to catch on this time around. Prince is in an interesting predicament. This album SHOULD be considered a better "comeback" album than something like Santana's 'Supernatural'. Though its still early, I don't think he will see anywhere near as much success as 'Supernatural'. Even with the right promotion, TRC would have never done the numbers it should have. I am really curious as to what kind of song Prince could make that the public would take to. I think to some extent, the direction he took with 'Musicology' was intentional. If Sony/Columbia does what he hired them to do, songs like Cinnamon Girl w/Call My Name as a b-side, and Marrying Kind w/Dear Mr. Man or If Eye Was The Man In Ur Life w/On The Couch could be made into pretty solid hits. Cinnamon Girl's lyrical content is particularly relevant as is the subject matter in Dear Mr. Man. Because Prince has always appealed to a diverse group of people...Sony should push different songs to different stations. To me, that only makes sense.

The record company should also ask Prince...'If you were ever open to a remix...are there any popular producers that you would consider?'.

As far as his voice concerned, Prince's voice is still in superb condition. Songs like 'On The Couch' were sang that way by choice. Its not the first time he has done that. Some people may not dig that, but I don't think he is losing his range just yet.
[This message was edited Thu Apr 1 13:14:25 2004 by dealodelandron]

This aint a classic but damn.. I cant stop listenin to it.. What does this mean?


Keepin me rockin and rollin...



She knew what fork to use...

metalorange said:

I could care less about the charts, as long as prince puts out a cd ayear im cool bcuz i know he still has the fire burning 2 create something new. None of his peers madonna, mj, or bruce or u2 have made any groundbreaking cd or songs that r iconclastic in the past 10 years. Prince already changed the face of music 1nce and that was in the 80's and just like the beatles or james brown or elvis they all did it 1 time. Nobody has changed the face of music more than 1nce. It is impossible 2 recreate that! Prince had his time just like steve wonder had his and jimi had his or queen. Stop expecting prince 2 do the impossible!

Prince already changed the face of music 1nce and that was in the 80's and just like the beatles or james brown or elvis they all did it 1 time. Nobody has changed the face of music more than 1nce. It is impossible 2 recreate that! Prince had his time just like steve wonder had his and jimi had his or queen. Stop expecting prince 2 do the impossible![/quote]

as far as popular music, i'd say you're right. though dr. dre could be a contender if you count n.w.a. and when he brought out 'the chronic'.

many people will tell you that miles davis has changed music at least 2 times with 'kind of blue', and 'bitches brew'.

but overall, i think there are many ways that prince's influence reaches greater than any other solo artist. perhaps not with 'musicology', but i personally think he is indeed capable of changing music again.

Memo to confused fans ----> THIS IS A POP ALBUM

Good lawd.

Sdldawn said:

Agreed.

Most Prince fans fall into 4 camps.

#1 Those that have been with him since "For You" and think his best work is pre-Purple Rain. Their favorite songs are stuff like "Let's Work", "Head" and "DMSR" Those fans tend to be more into R&B, Funk and Soul. We (I am in this group) aren't fans of C&D, we enjoyed Emancipation more than the Gold Experience and are digging Musicology more than TRC. I think this new album is more to our taste than those in group #2.

#2 Those who's cd collection at home is more than half non-soul, funk or r&b. They are fans of people like Bowie, Beck and U2. They think the Gold Experience is a good if not a great album, and dug cuts from C&D. Most of these fans enjoy the song cinnamon girl and a million days from the new album.

#3 The 'fam" who thinks Prince can do no wrong. Not much else needs to be said about this camp other than you can't trust any review from them.

#4 The pure music lover. This fan's cd collection has as much soul as rock and maybe even a little country and hip hop mixed in there. A lot of these fans enjoy Prince albums for all phases of his career. While this group may make up the biggest part of those here on the org or over an npgmc, they aren't the majority in the real world. Most people who own more than one Prince album, fall into camp #1 or #2.

So really what camp you fall into decides what albums you enjoy more than others. I just think it's important to understand what camp someone comes to better understand where they are coming from. No right or wrong here just different points of view from people of different backgrounds. It's speaks volumes about Prince's talent that he can call such a diverse group of people fans.

intha916 said:

wow, you hit it dead on. good post. i'm definitely in group #4


The point I would make about the Rave comparisons: I agree. That being said, I think Rave is an undervalued album. With a different track order, slicing off a few tracks, and adding Beautiful Strange... and a different cover.... Rave could have been the comeback that Musicology might now be. So the comparisons of Musicology to Rave don't really bother me. If anything, it just shows how good Rave is.

But I think the timing is better now w/ the R&R Hall of Fame thing. Problem is, Musicology doesn't have the goods to deliver a Santana-like comeback. It's a very very good album... just not a classic, and right now he needed a classic. It needed 2 or 3 more great songs. You know what would have fit perfectly on this album? She Love Me 4 Me. Put that out as a single in the current P-friendly climate, and it would be Top 5.

Prince's voice has deterriorated. I've got all his albums, recordings of shows from all his tours, and I am absolutely certain his voice has deteriorated in the last few years (particularly since the last tour). Im not saying its bad, I just couldnt see him being able to sing say The Most Beautiful Girl In The World like he did.

intha916 said:

I would have to admit that I'm definitely in group # 1,whcih means that I will probably like this new CD

bkw said:

This is the most insightful comment on the entire thread.

This album features the best POP songcraft since Sign. Production-wise, it isn't trying to copy any "flavor of the month" sounds of the moment (which Batman, D&P, Symbol, TGE, NPS and Rave TRIED to do but failed, resulting in dated cheesy feelings in certain spots). The "Musicology" album has a timeless organic sound that is uniquely Prince.

There are tasty POP SONGS on here with great POP new wave revival hooks (Cinnamon Girl), fun Ray Charles POP blues (On the Couch), real authentic POP soul (Call My Name), and "only Prince" Linn POP (What Do You Want Me 2 Do). And "ICPC" is the funkiest track in many years...it sounds like REAL funk...with the spaces in all the right funky places.

It's a Prince album for the public, and it's a great pop album.

DavidEye said:

YES DAVID U MOS DEF R IN GROUP #1 lol. I thought about you while writing this lol.