Well I've just heard musicology and I think it the worst material Prince has written to date. I don't what the guy's up to but I'm sure he's finished. I've been a big fan of his music for over a decade now, but I just think this album is the last straw for me, in a long line of worse and worse material.

I'm so dissappointed, esp after all this hype about a comeback. Sounds like he's gone away to me. Not even sure whether i want to see him play this rubbish in concert, even if he does play a few classics.

newbies.

Bewdy said:

gooooodbye!

Bewdy said:

So you join a Prince fansite just to announce that you hate his new CD and that,in your view,he is "finished"? What's wrong with this picture?

Well, since you've been a fan the past decade I assume it's the 90's and early 00's material that got you hooked. If that's the case, then it's understandable that you're put off by Musicology since it's different from the likes of...erm...Emancipation and New Power Soul. For the rest of us ancient fans, Musicology is - if not a return to form - at least a pleasant glimpse through the time portal back to the 70's and 80's. Not only style-wise or instrumentation-wise, but also in terms of quality and the overall feel of the music.

You know what's a pity? this guy signed up to the org about a week ago, you can't post for five days or so. So he's sat there for those five days stewing and twiddling his thumbs - and this is what he comes up with for his first post. What a loser!

Vibrator said:

Indeed on the highlight.
Indeed on the post.

poor yous.

You ain't got to go home, but you got to get the hell out of here.

It's absolutely dreadful to use the words "absolutely dreadful" in this Age of Simon.

Oh relax, it served a purpose, its a neat recap of his classic sound, the one that the masses fell in love with. Yes its rehashes but after a while you willl get to like a lot of the stuff. Anyway dont most of the haters want him to go back to his old sound!. So do you think that Prince doing ground breaking sounds that no one has heard before which will satisfy the c10 haters he has will sell?. Wake up , its a means to end and a plan that is working incredibly well. Hes back in the mainstream which will give him confidence in putting out more challenging material.

It's certainly odd that he's raving about "real songwriting" while releasing a single with no melody.

Don't worry.. he is not playing much of the "rubbish" as you call it in concert. If he did, he would have to give away free tickets to the concerts with the cd and hope for the best.

Whatever.

Musicology is one of Prince's best albums.

You have no taste.

Your all being very harsh on this person. Frankly I was so far from impressed on my first few listens of Musicology , but it has slowly grown on me. Definately not one of his best, pales compared to Prince, SOTT, PR, AWINAD, PARADE and 1999 and many others, but I am really enjoying Life of the Party and Illusion Coma Pimp and Circumstance, and Reflection. Give it time.

Hell, it took SOTT 3 weeks to grow on me .

I agree. I wasn't that impressed on first listen, I was like: "Is that it?".
But I must have listened to it over 100 times since and I just keeps getting better, the subtle guitar and vocal arrangements start to jump out and they are fantastic - It not full of songs that immediately jump out and say "Hit" but they are solid songs that grow over time and hopefully will last. The real emotion in Million Days and Call My Name stand out to me as pure classic Prince, whereas Illusion and Life are excellent examples of Prince's Dance sound that are also very contemporary. The tracklist flows really nicely into each song and this helps to create a nice "short" album that is easily digestably in one sitting/listen.

muleFunk said:

Exactly! Personally I've gone through all the 80's listening to Prince, and initially I thought ATWIAD was crap, Parade was awful, SOTT patchy at best, and Lovesexy terrible! YES, I even thought Anna Stesia was a pile of poo!!!! But after a few listens the tunes start to get into your head and before long you can't stop playin em, and find it hard to believe how you didn't like em. Now how many times have you heard a song and thought it was fantastic on the first listen but after a few weeks you hate it?

I'm not saying it's a 'classic', but In my opinion Musicology has given me the same feeling as all the old classics. Initial discontent, two weeks later, loving it!

Hey--go easy on this guy. I wouldn't go so far as to say "Musicology" is dreadful, but as a longtime diehard Prince fan I do think it's one of his dullest, least inspiring releases. So dull I can't believe he has released it. As I've said before, everything on this album sounds like something he's done before, only he's done it much, much better than this. And I'm not going to give into the hype and say what a masterpiece it is, because it's just NOT compared to his other work.

With most Prince albums, I can usually skip over one track to get to the next killer song that gets my juices going. On "Musicology" the only song I play over and over is the title track because it's so funky. Beyond that, there is nothing on the album I truly look forward to hearing. It's not that there aren't some good songs, like "Call My Name", --it's just that he's done that type of thing OVER and OVER.

Go back and listen to "The Rainbow Children"---that album is true freedom, true 'musicology' because the musicianship is astounding and inspired. The songs are beautiful and it flows wonderfully--darth vader voice and all.

Nah, it's aiiight.
The album is meant for commercial success and I think he's done a damn fine job in keeping it good for the hardcore fans such as I and many more. We can enjoy it without feeling like we've lost him again to the masses of public destruction.





Did I say all of that without sounding too "fam"-ish?

Newbies with attitude!!!

I think just to defend my comments for a moment. Firstly I don't see why being a long term member of this list makes ones opinions any more valid. Having said that I have been a memember of the org for a couple of months. But this is my first post.

As I see it, this is a disucssion forum for prince fans, and I am a long term fan of his music, having said that anyone who calls such a mediocre piece of work "genius" or "inspired" must be fanaticle or have no ears. ;o)

There is no way Musicology can even stand up against a masterpiece such as parade or graffitti bridge even, either from a song writing or production angle. Other albums in the past have inspired me to write music of my own more than any other artist, but this album is unfortunately bland, lack lustre and devoid of anything original. Which is a further departure from the prince I admire.

I think someone hit the nail on the head when they said, how can prince be accusing the music industry of providing nothing new and fresh when he is just as guillty himself.

Thanks for your interesting comments anyway.

Haven't listened to Musicology in about a month, and I don't feel like I'm really missing anything. I have returned to my boots and other stuff. The album is a real disappointment to me, but hey, it's cool. i agree with the previous post that it was probably intended for commercial consumption and not for the fans. But even for commercial consumption, this is incredibly weak.

Bewdy said:

Last straw? you are about 3 or 4 cds too late. The last straw was pulled in 1998.

"Musicology" is excellent! I've played it nearly every day since receiving a copy at the satellite broadcast and I haven't grown the least bit tired of it -- on the contrary, I love it more.

I wish those who insist the album is "dreadful" would explain why so many lapsed fans (like my own sister) are listening to it and saying, "This is the Prince I remember and didn't think we'd ever see again. Welcome back."

Oh, wait, don't tell me... It's a fiendish plot by the fams. We've created a giant mental ray and are controlling the public's mind -- making them think that this sh*tty album is a return to form. I mean, it's not like they could ever think that "Musicology" is a great album of their own accord. Why that's just crazy talk!

Peace, David

Bewdy said:

Musicology aint all that bad. TRC, NEWS, Xpectation are all much worse. My only gripe with Musicology is that it's sterile, but it's a consciously derivative pop record so that's aight. Just wish Prince was not Prince's biggest influence. Anyway, if you should start listing reasons for your hardcore opinions otherwise you get no repect.

Bewdy said:

No, it's not that. It's that Prince is back in the limelight and being appreciated that has most of the hardcores setting aside their true feelings about Musicology.

Now, don't get me wrong. Musicology is inspired. But the inspiration is cash money.

It's hard to admit to yourself that the guy you stood behind for all of those years, who was fighting against the machine, decided to record an album of very simple, media-friendly music and then pimped it HARD in order to become popular again with the masses. Face it. Why do interviews now? Why do all of this promotion now? Why tour and sing the hits now? (Really, now I can get my Purple Rain on? I'm in the right house now?) You know the answer. It's to make the big bucks. Musicology was clearly conceived to be a comeback. And it worked.

Is Musicology the must-have album that virtually every music critic says it is? Not really, but it is good. It's not a masterpiece, for sure, but it is enjoyable...if you accept it for what it is.

Bewdy said:

I feel so sorry for you. Thankfully, I'm not in your position HA HA HA.

livewire said:

I think you're right and state it beautifully! Bottom line: Musicology won't appeal to people who are looking for a Purple Rain or SOTT. It also won't appeal to people [fans and haters alike] who are looking something innovative and groundbreaking.

I think that most people are missing the mark. Musicology is purposely supposed to be a pop album, stripped down, simple...PURPOSELY non-imaginative. Why can't people get that. Sure, it's not the best album...but is that what P was trying to prove?

Some of ya'll act like the man is going to retire and we'll not hear from him again...

Give the guy a freakin' break!

17 days 69ways said:




come off it, surely you mean are all much better?