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Thread started 04/18/04 12:38pm

Aerogram

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Toronto Sun Musicology Review

Sun, April 18, 2004


We give Prince the royal welcome back

By JANE STEVENSON



Prince

Musicology


(NPG Records-Columbia-Sony)

***1/2 (out of five)

AFTER VARIOUS detours into jazz and instrumentals, Prince gets back to what he calls "the arts and craft of music" on his latest disc, in stores Tuesday.

All I can say is, it's about time.

When Prince is at the top of his funky, sexy, soulful game, he's the man to beat. As he sings in the standout opening title track, which name drops everyone from Earth, Wind and Fire to the late Jam Master Jay: "Keep the party movin', just like I told you / Kick the old-school joint, for the true funk soldiers."

Heck, he even brings back his old protege Sheila E. to play shaker on the slow groove-fest Dear Mr. Man. Also good is the sexy Life O' The Party, featuring his statuesque saxophonist Candy Dulfer on vocals, the slow, sultry ballads Call My Name and On The Couch, and the smooth mid-tempo numbers What Do U Want Me 2 Do? and Reflection.

And don't mistake his poppy political tale Cinnamon Girl for the Neil Young song of the same name.

"Cinnamon Girl of mixed heritage, never knew the meaning of colour lines," Prince sings. "9/11 turned that all around, when she got accused of this crime / So began the mass illusion, war on terror alibi / What's the use when the god of confusion / Keeps on telling the same lie?"

However, there are a few mis-steps here, such as the meandering Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance, The Marrying Kind and If Eye Was The Man In Ur Life and the weak ballad A Million Days.

Prince, who recorded part of this album at Metalworks studios in Toronto where he has a home, plays the Air Canada Centre on July 27.

Ron Sexsmith
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Reply #1 posted 04/18/04 1:19pm

calldapplwonde
ry83

Kind of interesting to see that many reviewers pick different songs as their favorite, respectively least favorite.
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Reply #2 posted 04/18/04 1:24pm

PurpleKnight

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However, there are a few mis-steps here, such as the meandering Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance, The Marrying Kind and If Eye Was The Man In Ur Life and the weak ballad A Million Days.


That's weird, they liked Life 'o' the Party but not these ones, which are some of my favourites on the album.
The world is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.

"You still wanna take me to prison...just because I won't trade humanity for patriotism."
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Reply #3 posted 04/18/04 3:19pm

funkyfine

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PurpleKnight said:

However, there are a few mis-steps here, such as the meandering Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance, The Marrying Kind and If Eye Was The Man In Ur Life and the weak ballad A Million Days.


[color=mediumpurple:777f610563]That's weird, they liked Life 'o' the Party but not these ones, which are some of my favourites on the album.[/color]



From all the reviews in papers so far, I reckon every track has now been named as BOTH a standout and letdown.
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