I've had a lot of time to reflect on this new album and all of the discussion - often heated - about whether the CDs given away at the concerts really ought to be counted as "sales". I just got back from 2 months out of the country and, not accidentally, I did not take Musicology with me. And I can honestly say that I didn't miss a damn thing. I'm not going to start a thread about the quality of this album.

Prince has been railing against the music industry and the no-talen lipsynch acts that parade around as talent, and I agree wholeheartedly with what he says about them and their so-called "music". I'm beginning to think that with this new album, perhaps Prince just set out to prove that an album need not be great to shoot up the charts; it only has to be promoted. I think Musicology is a fitting case in point. There's usually a certain euphoria that accompanies the release of a new album, and I have to say that I definitely experienced it when I got this one at the 29 March simulcast. I know that all musical taste is, by nature, subjective, but I just have to say that this album is quite bland and empty. Just this afternoon I was sitting here listening to "Billy's Glasses", an outtake or rehearsal track, and began to realize (or at least think) that Prince is still holding back some of his best stuff. Certainly it's not on Musicology.

Anyway, I'm beginning to think that Prince is showing consumers and the industry that, hey, an album doesn't have to be very good to sell. All you have to do is promote it. Seems to me that this is what's up with Musicology.

hey, i have no arguments with what you're saying at all. i really don't think there's anyone out there who could even come close to matching the totality of Prince's talents. He is definitely in a class by himself.

As far as my comments about the Musicology album, i was simply trying to say the Prince is proving a certain point very well (it remains to be seen whether he's doing so intentionally or not). I would hope that it is intentional on his part, but I guess we'll never know.

Maybe you've missed the point? Crap is on the radio now because the crap is selling and making money for the labels/radio stations; but it's selling because that's all you hear on the radio. A viscious cycle. However, Prince is showing that quality music and artists don't have to use the system as it is to get their music out. So in spite of the machine, good music is still getting out there.

That said, if Prince weren't participating in the promotion of Musicology, it wouldn't be doing anything. So while he is bucking the system, he still has to pander to it to break through the noise. Just touring with a strong show helps a lot with that, but his dozens of interviews and TV appearances helps put him back in the minds of the music buying public.

Octavius said:

Cool!

sbacon1999 said:

Amen!

Octavius said:

I don't think it is intentional because I personally think that Musicology is a good CD and that he genuinely released material he felt was among his recent best (even though some stuff sounds a little retro and might've come from the elusive "vault"). Reviews for Musicology have generally been very good and he is reaching a whole new generations of fans from this recent "come back." Some would argue that he intentionally released "crap" for contractual obligation reasons with Warners... but I truly believe that Musicology was a genuine effort on his part - whether people think it's his best work or not.

I think "Musicology" is a genuine effort. Some of the album has a retro feel like "Cinnamon Girl", the only track I liked when I first bought it, but on some of the tracks he is trying too hard to fit in with today's artists. With tracks like "Illusion, Coma, Pimp, and Circumstance" and "Life of the Party", he is throwing hip hop slang all over the place. He even mentions hip hop artists on the album like "I'm gonna put her on the same diet Missy went on" and "Dre's gonna be there", like they could ever be on his level. I eventually have warmed up to the album but it is DEFINITELY not one his best works and doesn't live up to the honor of being his "comeback" album. Prince needs to get back to doing his own thing like he used to do and stop trying to fit in with a no talent hip hop generation.

vainandy said:

Oh, I HIGHLY disagree. I think Musicology is far from a genuine effort. It's basically a showcase for Prince to get him back in favor with critics and the general public.

Call it what it is, he sold out. It doesn't have to be a bad thing. He's on the cover of magazines again. We get to see his videos on television again. We get to see him doing all sort of interviews to promote the album. All of this was something he wasn't doing in the past because he didn't have to. Freedom was a beautiful thing. Funny thing is, when Prince wasn't selling out, and trying to do everything independently, everybody was on him saying he was all about the dollar and being "#1 at the bank." Now that he actually is selling out, literally, no one is saying anything about it.

But, in a nutshell, I agree completely with this original post. Prince is VERY smart and VERY shrewd. He got everyone to jump on his dick with an album that isn't very close to his best work. It's good, and puts to shame work by most artists dominating the charts nowadays, but it's not essential Prince.