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.

the so called "mis-steps" are my fave trax

MashedPotatoKid said:

Haha, same here! "The Marrying Kind" is just kickin'...