lifted from the Rasputin Music website:
http://www.rasputinmusic...._number=11


Prince -- Musicology
NPG/Sony

Following a long string of curious, self-indulgent albums, Prince is back with major label support and his best collection of tunes in nearly 15 years. In fact, Musicology could have been the follow-up to 1991's Diamond & Pearls with no one being the wiser. Coming in at a tight 47 minutes, Musicology is focused, self-assured and exactly the album everyone was hoping for, following his breathtaking performances at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame awards show and Grammy telecast.

Opening with the title track - a page lifted directly from the James Brown songbook, Prince reaffirms his role as master of the funk and the jungle groove. "Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance" gets down and dirty with the story of a rich, older woman, a younger gigolo, silver whips, Cristal and a marriage of convenience, propelled by a succession of tasty bass riffs and guitar flourishes, electronic handclaps and some deft turntable scratching. Returning to his role as the consummate one-man band, Prince handles each part with confidence and ease, as he does throughout the album.

"A Million Days" sports melody lines that could have been co-written by Todd Rundgren for the soundtrack of Purple Rain. "Life Of The Party" rocks hard in a funky place with synthesized horns, Vanity 6-like backing vocals from Candy and Chance and a bottom end that's significant for it's lack of bass, a la "When Doves Cry." Of course there are ballads and love songs, such as the gospel-tinged "Call My Name" and the introspection of "Looking Back," psychedelic pop tunes ("Cinnamon Girl") and crunchy rock ("The Marrying Kind"). Lyrically, there is plenty of sensuality, but none of the overtly kinky sex that dominated his earlier work and there remains a sense of social consciousness and distaste for "the man" that spices up the mostly good-timey vibes of the disc.

Musicology is thrilling to listen to, not only due to the excellent choice of songs and arrangements, but because it demonstrates how timeless Prince's music is. Many of the songs may echo his former hits, but sound completely contemporary - never lazy or outdated. Musicology goes on my list for one of the best albums of 2004. --David Bassin, Basement Manager


*****

But wtf is "Looking Back"?? For a minute I thought they listed Reflection under a different title - oh David

CalhounSq said:

i totally agree here

I'm not sure how right on all his references are but you can tell this dude is a fan w/ the Rockhard reference



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[This message was edited Fri May 21 0:14:41 2004 by CalhounSq]