EvilWhiteMale said:

Look who's talking?

TheBluePrince said:

The difference is that I never start beef. And I have tried to continue the issue with org notes, but they're not as ballsy without their audience and moral support.

PurpleKnight said:

only on this site would you find rave being given a rating like that!

Look, this new album seems to be almost a love/hate thing within these forums. As a fan from 1984 on I can honestly say that I WANT to hear this new release. Not to convince myself I think it's great 'cause its P. Which in retrospect I found myself doing. I listen to Musicology 'cause it's quite simply a great album! Any "true" admirer will agree. Great songs. Great perfomances, Great feeling! It don't feel contrived to me. Loved TRC, ONA, C-NOTE, N.E.W.S., he's on a roll.

I agree, although I think it is AS GOOD as Lovesexy and The Gold Experience. Musicology is a fine piece of work. Four stars! ****

Well, I know I'll be the target of much abuse for saying this, but I really don't rate "Musicology" at all. I've been a fan now since 1983, bought every album (barring "New Power Soul") and have put up with the silliness and output of massively varying quality since "Batman" came along. Sure, there have been some absolute gems dotted throughout all of the albums, and I really liked "The Rainbow Children" if I ignored the lyrics, but this?

This, you must understand, is my opinion, and I am entitled to it. We all have our own opinions but just because you disagree with that of another doesn't mean they're stupid, or deserving of hatred or ridicule. I'm a passionate Prince fan, and I treasure my memories of the times I've seen him in concert, but this album is depressing me.

Do I like any of it? Yes. "Musicology" is pleasant, if unremarkable funk that goes nowhere at all over the course of its four-and-a-half minutes. "ICPC" is horrible, unlistenable stuff, with an awful vocal performance. "A Million Days" is good - I like this one, even though it is rather saccharine. "Life O The Party" really isn't what its name implies at all. "Call My Name" is good stuff, if a bit of a Prince ballad-by-numbers. "Cinnamon Girl" is radio-friendly in a Fleetwood Mac way, and that's not a good thing for a Prince song in my book. "WDYWMTD" is horrible again, with another awful vocal. "The Marrying Kind" and "If I Was The Man In Your Life" merge together into one big mess. "On The Couch" and "Dear Mr Man" bore me I'm sorry to say. Finally, "Reflection" is a good song, with good lyrics, but is ruined by its over-production - this would have been so much better if it had been more in the same style as the version performed on the Tavis show, but as it is it just sounds naff.

What do I think this album lacks? It lacks magic, that special X factor that always made Prince albums unique. They were always different, always a sidestep from the rest of the music out at the time, and always made you prick up your ears and listen. I remember hearing the likes of "SOTT", "ATWIAD", "Lovesexy", "Gold", "The Rainbow Children" for the first time and stopping doing whatever I was doing at the time, turning to face the speakers with my mouth open, the hair on the back of my neck standing up, mouth saying "wow..." "Musicology" took me three attempts to listen to all the way through in a single sitting because it bored me, and coming from such a long-time fan that's surely not a good thing.

Will it sell? Yes, but it won't be a massive hit. Will it get good reviews? I don't think so (out of five I'd maybe give it two, possibly three.) Will it bring new fans? No - I doubt it. But I know that many of you are happy with it and feel it is the best thing he's ever released, and if you're in this group then great, I'm happy for you and I'm pleased you like it. We can't, however, all like everything - if we did it would be a very boring world in which we'd live.