A song by song breakdown with inspiration in mind.

Musicology: Nice bassline but not much else. Song builds slightly towards the end but without a bridge and a catchy hook this song never really takes off but wait no on second and third and now thirtieth listen this song like a lot of the grooves on this record sinks deep.

Illusion coma pimp and circumstance: The return of the Dirtymind. Older and without some of the edge this track still showcases the prince of the early 80’s – outrageous, funky, and fun. The new-retro sound of Musicology is more interestingly displayed here. Again like Musicology, this song resonates with JB/Sly inspired funk. Prince doing his freestyle/talking does not really bother me here.

A million days: The prince of TGE not one of my favorite records. Light guitar driven rock. This track is not bad but does not sound particularly inspired either. Placed between Illusion and Life gives this song a freshness and bounciness that I’m not sure it has alone.

Life o the party: Musicology’s Housequake. Except for the weak SexyMF like rap/rant towards the end, this song brings the funk. Nice hook, catchy bass, and prince sounds like he’s having fun. This track is significantly better than anything on New Power Soul. Don’t believe the –hype.

Call my name: A mix between Adore and Somebody’s Somebody. Heartfelt and masterfully crafted, this song is tour de force of this particular prince made genre.

Cinnamon girl: Recalls Around the World in a Day and TGE – a light airy Beetles sounding rock song. Decent melody but overall a weak song. This one is just not doing it for me. I’m somewhere between giving it another chance and wanting to skip it. Along with A Million Days the weakest on the record.

What do u want me 2 do: This song is real nice. Infectious Marvin Gaye sounding chorus – brings me back to early prince records like Prince with a little bit of What’s Going On for good measure. One of the best tracks on the record and potential classic status. The linn is working.

The marrying kind: On first listen I thought this was more overproduced metalesk garbage. But seriously folks think has got to be one of the best tracks on the record. Layered choruses, TGE heavy guitar, and a Dirty Mind bounce with distinctively Prince keyboards.

If i was the man in ur life: More Sly inspired funk with a serious twist of prince keyboards. Brings to mind Dirtymind, like Illusion Coma…this song recalls early prince with keyboards right off Prince and a structure off Dirtymind. However, this track seems slightly overproduced and somewhat inaccessible. Need more time with this track.

On the couch: Is Al Green in the house? Background round music for a good night. Seductive and raunchy, prince is on point with an international lover style booty call. This track is hot.

Dear mr man: This song sounds like a homage to late Cutris Mayfield and late Marvin Gaye. This song is hip shaking tight. But while there is no real innovation here and the lyrics verge on being too earnest (but that’s the template for this song) this song really grooves, one of the best tracks on the record.

Reflection: A nice song that rounds out the record and deepens the broad styles on the record and provides closure.

Like most prince records there are several strains of inspiration running throughout. In terms of Prince’s own influence on himself, this record repeatedly brings me back to Around the World in a Day, Dirtymind and the Gold Experience. I’m a big JB/Sly/Al Green fan and the rb/funk strain of this record (Illusion…, Life O, If I was the man, Dear Mr. Ma) strain uses these guys as a template for new sounds. The rock/pop strain (Cinnamon, What do u, Marrying Kind, Million Days) complements the Rb/funk strain very well providing a bit of guitar inspired levity for the bass heavy funk grooves. Musicology is the first record in a long, long, long ass time that is not glossed with over production or too heavy and too corny guitar riffs. While people are not reluctant to come out and kill this record, it sounds like people are wary of praising it too highly. It takes years to truly assess a record’s worth but I will say that Musicology is a return to the rb/pop strain that made prince the dominant force he was in the 80’s. While Musicology lacks the vitality, edge, and vision of the two or three classic Prince records, this record will be firmly lodged on the tier just beneath.

17ways69days said:

I agree with most of this review, very nicely done.

So come on yall, drop some wisdom on the most consciously derivative record Prince has ever recorded. Do you think that Prince’s self-conscious attempt to reach back to Jb, Sly, and his own early 80’s music detracts from the vision/coherence/innovation of Musicology?

17ways69days said:

Nice review, but dude look around this forum this has been being discussed around here all week.

Still nice review. and No to your question.

I think that he reaches more to himself (past work) than anyone else. as far as innovation. I am starting to wonder how much more can he do to innovate the sound of music than he has already done by fusing so many different genres together over a career span that has produced some of the most awe inspiring and just fuckin beautiful music in creation. (see "Starfish and Coffee", "Tangerine", "When Doves Cry", "Beautiful Ones", "Irresistable Bitch", "Gett Off", "777-9311", "Little Red Corvette", "Sexy Dancer", "Gotta Broken Heart", "Uptown", "Shy", "Dinner with Delores", "The Rainbow Children entire LP including voice", "I Will", "Had U", "Adore", "I Hate U", "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?", "Million Miles", "Cinnamon Girl", "So Far So Pleased", "All My Dreams", Old Friends 4 Sale", "200 Balloons", "Alphabet St.", "I Wish U Heaven", "17 Days", "Another Lonely X-mas", "Uneedanotherlover", "Sometimes It Snows..", ....damn it I can't type anymore

No doubt. Fans are breaking this record down left and right but I have yet to really hear people commenting on this record as a consciously derivative work and whether listening to it that way, from that perspective, deepens the record (cause it's the act of reaching back that unifies the record and gives it vision) or weakens the record because really Prince is not doing anything that he has not already done before (aside from reaching back so consciously). Ya dig?