Don't get me wrong, I like Musicology. It's an enjoyable album, but overall the musicianship is lacking. Musically The Rainbow Children blows Musicology out of the water in demonstrating what real music is supposed to sound like. The use of the band on that album is what makes it an easy listen, even when one has issues with some of the lyrical content and spirit in which that album was born.

I just kinda thought it was odd that this tour seeks to show people that real musicians can make real music.....well why not do that on the CD as well? He certainly has the band for it. Prince went totally safe with Musicology. It's easily digestible and not very challenging. Hopefully the next gig won't be so safe. I really want Prince to grab both balls in his hand and go for it.

As Prince once said....Testicles 1-2. Get those balls back baby!

.
[This message was edited Fri May 21 10:27:10 2004 by SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy]

Actually, I'd describe the musicianship on Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic as lacking...it was bland, boring and nothing about it musically remained in my mind after playing it. While Musicology is no Rainbow Children musically, I agree, I do find myself replaying musical moments in my head often...

I totally agree with you. This CD was very poorly done.....I would go as far as to say it is just as bad as the "Black album"
I also think that the Rainbow Children was some of his best work ever.
[This message was edited Fri May 21 10:32:46 2004 by strawberrydreams]

MonaLuvsYou said:

Excuse me, I have my own stock of Old English 800 & Valium

Go back and listen to the musicianship on "Everywhere" from Rainbow Children. Nothing on Musicology comes even close to touching the outstanding musicianship in that song.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

LOL, maybe we should listen to the CD's before we get smashed?

Y'know I asked the same question on here a few months back...I agree, it seems funny that on the tour, he's stressing " Real Music by Real Musicians, while the Musicology album is mostly DIY Prince, with minimal band input -not A bad album, but it's definitely the kind of thing he can do in his sleep...

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Or "Family Name"...that buzzed-out guitar finish still blows me away...and the drumming is superb.

paligap said:

Well... even though the album is mostly Prince himself... isn't HE a real musician making REAL music? And the tour supports and interprets the Musicology ideal very well.... he's got a very talented crew - all REAL musicians!

TOTALLY AGREE.

I popped TRC in yesterday for the first time and
remembered that The Work, 1+1+1, Family Name
and Everlasting Now are a billion times more FUNKY
and musically interesting than Musicology.

The same question should be asked about the song "Y Should eye do That WHen eye can Do This"

DiminutiveRocker said:

Well, that's my point...why Not bring the band into the studio for more than a few tracks...It definitely would've helped flesh out a lot of the songs...

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Yeah, I agree with you on this..Overall, I also like Musicology a lot but it was not the album you, or at least I, expected with all the promoting of real musicians etc… Had the same problems with TRC as a lot of us here have, but it was a challenge as a music direction.. A cd that you play that makes you say, HUH?! And later that can turn out to be positive or negative…For me the songs of TRC played live sounded great and gave a positive turn to the partially ruined Darth George/Bob Vader album…From what I have heard and seen, my feelings are also that the ONA tour excited me a bit more than the Musicology tour (nevertheless they always sound great, and yes he and the NPG are amazing performers)…But that might also be due to the fact that I haven’t been at Musicology concert yet…So that still remains to be seen and looking forward to that.. SO HURRY WITH THOSE EUROPEAN DATES!!

lovemachine said:

Does it? Y Should eye is still more musically complex than stuff off Musicology....

I think the general consensus is that everyone knows Prince will put it down live. There were plenty of legendary musicians who thought Prince contributed to ruining music with electronics rather than pioneering it in the 80s. His saving grace was that he could still play the shit out of his songs live. I think he's doing the right thing: practically a one man band on record...a kick ass band in concert.

lovemachine said:

I've always thought the same thing. The premise is
that he's totally badass and can do incredibly
groundbreaking *NEW* work, and "Y Can Eye..." just
ain't all that!

madartista said:

But you can't knock that funky ass drum riff!

madartista said:

And I did put this song on one of my Frankenfunk Rock Show. You told me you liked those discs

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Ahh yes, but a funky ass drum riff does not a
song make!!!

You know what? You guys are right. Prince has no idea what he is doing....

madartista said:

Well....when you're so busy riding the riff it's hard to tell

skywalker said:

has anyone on this thread said anything to that effect?

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Yes!!! He did

You can clearly hear his own musical influences throughout this album. I hear reminders of Dolphin, Judas Smile, 3 Chains of Gold to name a few.

There are 2 distinct avenues you can go with this in mind.

1-Prince knew that he'd have a huge wave to ride on this album. Inducted into the hall of fame, a concert to highlight that fact, touring with the hits for the last time. I have thought that perhaps Prince peppered this disc with sounds we are familiar with so that he could kind of give the "average" listener, one who might have lost touch with him during the symbol years, a taste of what they had missed. This album is an easy listen. Not a lot of complexity. Which is what the casual listening fan needs. Just look at the music market, full of trash. That's just what people are used to.

2-Prince was lazy and put minimal effort into this album. Prince could create this album in his sleep. Easily.

It is hard 2 get sumthing as funky live on studio CD.
[This message was edited Fri May 21 13:24:36 2004 by andykeen]

andykeen said:

This is the same concept Wilco was dealing with.. so they recorded their new album in the studio.. went back and recorded it live (in the studio)

its beautiful by the way.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I DO LIKE THE DISCS!!! AND -- honestly -- it was only in the arrangement of that disc that I listen to "Y Can Eye blah blah blah..." in it's entirety. For that matter, I do like the song, I just don't think it proves the point of the song. Ya know?

andykeen said:

No it's not.....can anyone say Sign O' The Xs?!

madartista said:

So you do like what I did with the song on that disc!!!

I agree, the music doesn't back up the title. Even moreso I feel that way about I Rock Therefore I Am. The music on that song seriously fails to deliver based on the title.

'Tis very true indeed, but he murders that bass on "What do U want me 2 Do?" I challenge anyone to listen to that bass and say it doesn't rock!!! Turn down your treble, open your heart, open your mind, and crank up that bass!! JEEEESUUUUUSSSSS! He destroys it!