B-SIDES

Let's put it in this perspective, shall we?

If "Sexme?sexmenot" was the flip side to, let's say,
"Illusion, Pimp, Coma, Circumstance"

what would everyone think then?

"Sexme..." was already released in it's edited and extended forms, and...

I dunno, I guess what my point would be, if I had one, would be that, although 'The Chocolate Invasion' was released as an "album," I believe that these compilations (along with 'The Slaughterhouse") were put out there for the non-npgmc members who may have not caught these songs the first time around. We still bought the shit, didn't we?

Judas Smile
When Eye Lay My Hands On U
Vavoom (extended version)
U Make My Sunshine (extended version) <-was waiting 4 that!
& last but not least...
Sexme?sexmenot (extended version) <-badass!!!


Some turds in there, yes, mrdespues, but we have that with most releases, even 'Musicology' (ie. "cinimmonemeon girl")

"Dance on the funk!"

thnx for the tracklist post:-)

[b] I just finished download C.I. and I agree great jams, why wasn't this combinded with Musicology ala 1999, what a great 2 cd set it would make!

Chololate is hot stuff.. always been since 01.. but its quality doesnt compare to musicology...

Oh poo!

Call it... call my name...

I cannot beleive that I am the only one feeling High (except Anxiety and a few others). The blood in my veins boils when after the first few seconds of just the drums and his vocals, he drops the guitar, and BAM! I got the music that will get you high again, i got the beat that wil make you act like a hooligan, got the rhyme that will make you tell a friend... The chorus is SLAMMING! THE BEAT THAT WILL MAKE YOU ACT LIKE A HOOLIGAN! Get the fuck outta here! And if that wasn't enough, he breaks out the crazy flasetto as he declares ALL I WANT TO DO IS GET YOU HIGH HIGH HIGH!!!! Man, I dig it. And if that wasn't enough, he adds a piano solo at the end with the bass--I can't believe y'all aren't bouncing in your cars down the highway when you hear this! But I think my favorite track is "When I lay My Hands on You." It just keeps on growing and growing on me...Like Europa in the hands of Santana as he blisters into a guitar solo better than any guitar playing on Musicology! I mean, c'mon, the biggest draw back to Musicology is the Prince is a virtuoso on the guitar, and you would never know that listening to Musicology. That's why when he plays Musicology live, it never has the potential to be mind blowing live because it's already reached its peak on the album (unless of course Prince drops guitar lines not in the original songs). In response to the fact that Musicology has "Zero weak tracks", I say true. But it doesn't have a track that blows you away (aka Judas). Musicology doesn't have the "choice nugget" that Chocolate Invasion does. So my two questions are this:
(1) Is it better to have a Prince album that from start to finish is strong, but doesn't have one song that blows you away?
(2) Or is it better to have an album that is strong, maybe has 1-2 songs you don't dig, but has 1-2 songs you flip for? (ie Judas, Sex me baby, When I lay my hands on you in my opinion)

Thanks in advnace for your time and response.
-phunk

High got old quick with me.. didnt take long at all


throw away..

mrdespues said:

easy to agree.
Chocolate invasion is not bad, but not nearly as good as Musicology. Still, its FAR better than Slaughterhouse. Thats total crap.

I agree that with all the downloads that prince issued since 2000/2001 there was definitely an album to be made out of them. I like the idea of single downloads, but id rather he limit that to old or unwanted material. Id rather he kept his new stuff for proper album releases, and listening to the Chocolate invasion, it justifies a lot of that material far better than each song does by its own merrits.

I like most of the album, althgough whoever thinks that Sex Me Sex Me not could be a hit is clearly out of touch with modern music - its the worst track on the album (along with High and Judas Smile). Underneath the Cream does sound like a poor mans Pink Cashmere, but Id rather have that than a poor mans "Jughead" or "New Power Soul". When I lay my ahnds on U and U make My Sun SHine are the standouts for me.

The Slaughterhouse is throwaway. Most of it is crap. I quite like Northside and The Daisy Chain, but I've never managed to listen to this album through and I never will. If he'd released this it would officially be the worst prince album ever.

Musicology however is streets ahead of these two. I agree with whoever said that it doesnt showcase princes talents as a musician as well as it could do (unlike The Rainbow Children), however i think this is the first album in a long while that finds the right BALANCE. Before there was always too much of this too little of that, now he seems to satisfy all angles. There's not a song i dont like, however there aren't really any i think are classics. Definitely his best commercial album since Gold Experience ( although The Truth, Rainbow Children & One Night Alone are better albums).

Im glad he's not releasing the Chocolate Invasion. It sounds like a collection of afterthoughts, because thats what it is. Prince's head was in other places when he was recording these, however since The Rainbow Children his recordings have been a lot more focused. Long may he keep it up.

Phunk said:

To me, it's option number two. Although I love Illusion, Coma.....and Reflection off the new album, neither of those tracks do it for me like the one-two punch of When Eye Lay My Hands On U and Judas Smile.

And I love High, too.

Wow I am gonna have to make time to listen to CI, I think Musicology does have some tracks that do blow me away like Illsuion, coma and a miilion days. The thing with me is that I get hooked on one cd and I'll listen to it for months and thne i will move on.

Anxiety and Phunk, guess we are a club of three. I don't care, I love "High". Yeah the drum programming sounds a bit dated, but the lyrics just move me, and WORD on that crazy falsetto part- gives me chills. He does get me high. His confidence that he's still got it is infectious. After "My Medallion" and "When I Lay My Hands On U" it's the best track to come out of NPGMC IMHO.

Then again my opinions have never lined up with a majority of the fan community. I like at least half of C&D.

I'd have to say Musicology is a much more enjoyable and fun album than N.E.W.S and Xpectation... but thats about it.

freakebear said:

Or club of four (if there's room)

I'm sure that there were threads on the Org like "Put the NPGMC trax onto one album...what are your choices". I still have not heard slaughterhouse...but if CI is any indication, then I probably will.

Phunk: I would choose option 2. I need a P gem or 2 on a disc in order for me to really love it. I'll like it otherwise...but it won't get repeated listens over and over.

I still don't get the hate that Judas smile gets. From it's opening, to I tried 2 change it up with temptation (With temptation) to the switch it does in the middle, the Chorus pt 2 (many multi layered vocals), the shifts in the music and of course....Step right up 2 the minstrel show, Starts in about 5 minutes. I think it is a quinisential P song. Very serious song. Very purple sounding.

And High is good to...though I think it's infection is on the beat.

The Dance...is good too. Sounds like What do u want me 2 do from Musicology.

I don't really find Musicology to be a particularly a fun album either..where as CI certainly has it's moments like Vavoom and Sex me Sex me not (prince gonna wet yo pants).

I actually like TCI - alot. I think overall the production on Musicology is superior.

Musicology would have been THE BOMB if it had included the 3 top songs from TCI:

When I Lay My Hands on U (amazing vocal arrangements)
Judas Smile (tight and funky.... love it)
Underneath the Cream (beautiful ballad).

I actually like all the tracks, although Supercute is a bit trite, and so is High. Musicology is stronger from start to finish, but not my much. TCI is definitely a top-notch P album. The Slaughterhouse is a few notches behind, but I love it as well.


The vocal arrangement on U Make My Sun Shine is just suberb

I just wanted to thank everyone for their time and responses. Some of you really brought up some good points that I never thought about. And I'm glad I'm not hte only one (although I am in the minority) who prefers The Chocolate Invasion over Musicology. Long live "When I Lay My Hands On You" as one of the greatest songs never released on an officially pressed Prince album.
-phunk

I prefer Musicology as an album, but I think the high points on TCI might actually be more impressive than Musicology's. U Make My Sunshine, for example, is simply an amazing composition. I have always thought it was sorely overlooked, and now with the extended ending, it is just about as perfect as a ballad can get.

I love "The Dance" as well.

freakebear said:

boring
like
church

um... I didn't say that!

JonSnow said:

When Emancipation came out.. I loved every minute of the 3 hours he laid out on the major release.

Today if i'm going to hip someone to some rad rides i'd lay the burn out like this...

Musicology
U Make My SunShine
SMGroove
Illusion, Coma Pimp & Circumstance
Call My Name
The Daisy Chain
Vavoom
Peace
On The Couch
Radical Man
Northside

Hidden Track * Underneath the Cream