http://www.zwire.com/site...=461&rfi=9

By Steve Standridge , Staff Writer 05/06/2004

Hershey Chronicle


Rating: 8 out of 10



Twenty-five years after the release of his first album, Prince is still going strong. In fact, his new album, Musicology, could be his best work yet. The album features a stripped-down sound, with not a hint of overproduction. This is just Prince with great vocals and instrumentation.


The first single, "Musicology," is a funk jam on which Prince pays tribute to some of his influences, giving shout-outs to Earth Wind and Fire, James Brown, and Sly and the Family Stone.
The funk flows along into the second track "Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance." This is an amusing tale about a young man (male escort or boy toy?) and his older lady friend.
"A Million Days" is a ballad in the vein of "When Doves Cry." Wailing guitars and Prince's soulful upper range anchor this song.
After the brief break from the funk, Prince gets right back to it with "Life 'O' the Party." With horns and a heavy bass line, this one sounds like a cross between "1999" and "Gett Off."
In perhaps the best song on the album, Prince brings the soul back with "Call My Name." This is Prince at his soulful best, evoking Al Green with his vocals. The backing vocals are also superb.
"Cinnamon Girl" is an anti-racism anthem that speaks to the hate unearthed after the September 11 attack. "Cinnamon girl of mixed heritage/Never knew the meaning of color lines," Prince sings. "9/11 turned that all around/when she got accused of this crime."
The mood is once again lifted as Prince goes back to the funk with the popping bass of "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?"
The fuzz guitar and organ of "The Marrying Kind" begin a story about forbidden love. This flows right into "If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life," which continues the saga.
"On the Couch" is soulful and bluesy, with just the right amount of piano thrown in. This can only be described as mood music.
Prince goes back to the social conscience with "Dear Mr. Man." He pleads with the government to recognize the struggle of the black community, singing "Ain't no sense in voting,/ same song with a different name./ Might not be in the back of the bus,/ but it sho' feel just the same."
The album ends with the aptly-named "Reflection," which is classic Prince.
Overall, Musicology is Prince doing exactly what he does best. He shows off his songwriting talent, wide vocal range, and skill with any instrument he chooses to pick up. This is old-school funk and soul that will move the body and soothe the mind.

!!!

Mazerati said:

There is a hint of '1999' in there, isn't there? I never thought about that before.

Oh i'm sorry, but for me Life o the Party comparison to 1999 and Gett Off is like urinating on the altar. Sacrilege.

Similarly A Million Days and When Doves Cry. I like AMD, but it's heavily layered and produced, whereas WDC is minimal. What is this dude smoking?

TheFrog said:

I like doing that.

Cloudbuster said:

TheFrog said: