... He has embarked on a tour of America, in small imtimate venues, performing acoustic versions of the songs the audience request, but more importantly, he released a new album entitled ‘Musicology’. If I am honest, I did not have high expectations for the album, mainly because of the last 2 ... Read review
Musicology - Prince
Prince'sMusicology--his first major-label release for some time--doesn't disappoint. Most ... more
of the songs are produced, arranged, composed and "per4med" by the artist himself, with the occasional musician chipping in here and there.This complete control f...
Musicology - Prince
Prince's Musicology--his first major-label release for some time--doesn't disappoint. Most ... more
of the songs are produced, arranged, composed and "per4med" by the artist himself, with the occasional musician chipping in here and there. This complete contro...
A review by nicanddarrell on Musicology - Prince July 25th, 2004
Author's product rating:
Originality
Average
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
Value for Money
Advantages:
Prince doing what he does best
Disadvantages:
Only 1 poor track
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
When I first started full time work and received what I thought at the time was a very respectable wage packet, the very first thing I bought was Prince’s back catalogue on CD. I had all of the albums on tape, but with my new found means, I wanted to get bang up to date. I was a huge Prince fan, and one of the best concerts I have ever been to was when he played at Maine Road in 1992, and I still think ‘Purple Rain’ is one of the best songs ever written.
Then in the mid 1990’s, something happened inside Prince’s mind, and as most of you will know, he refused to acknowledge he had a name, and would only be referred to as a symbol, and was adamant that he was a slave to the record company. At this point, his music lost it’s edge too, and I wholly expected Prince to disappear into oblivion, and be remembered as someone who could have been so much more. Then, this year, he seems to have cleared his mind, or the more cynical amongst you may wonder if his bank accounts were looking less healthy. Whatever the reason, I for one am glad he is back. He has embarked on a tour of America, in small imtimate venues, performing acoustic versions of the songs the audience request, but more importantly, he released a new album entitled ‘Musicology’. If I am honest, I did not have high expectations for the album, mainly because of the last 2 albums which I thought were barely listenable.
Now before I go any further, I must point out that if this review makes you want to buy the album, then ensure you buy ‘Musicology’ and not ‘Musicality’ by Martine McCutcheon, as she sold more copies of her album in week Prince released this than she had in the previous 6 months!!! Anyway, the album, is it any good, well read on and make up your own mind. Opening track ‘Musicology’ is a brilliant way to open. It is a funky track, and reminds me of some of the songs from his ‘Diamonds & Pearls’ album, or James Brown at his strutting best. It is sensual and very very sexy, in fact it virtually throbs in places, which is what Prince always did best. Many critics have said that now he is in his mid 40’s, he has lost the edge in terms of sexual themes in his song, but I disagree, as I feel it is just more subtle on this album than anything else he has released. This theme is carried on with ‘Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance’.
The opening bars of ‘A Million Days’ remind me of the start of ‘Little Red Corvette’, although you couldn’t get two different songs. This is my absolute favourite on the album. It begins quite melancholy, with Prince longing for a love that is gone, and then from the chorus picks up the pace a little, whilst keeping the emotion right on the surface. This song, more than any on the album really reminded me just how much a force Prince actually is in the music world, and just how much I have missed his music.
Prince shows his humourous side with ‘Life O The Party’. Listen to the lyrics carefully, and you will hear him mocking other artists, especially Michael Jackson in relation to the transformation of the self proclaimed King Of Pop over the years. Many would think that Prince should not throw stones or make accusations based on his own past, but he does, and he pulls it off, because in truth he has chosen the only other star who could rival him in terms of weird actions, and mind boggling image changes.
The tempo slows right down with the sensuous ‘Call My Name’, which is a beautifully crafted love song about how the shortest time away from someone can seem life a lifetime. Never one to shy away from making strong statements, Prince uses ‘Cinnamon Girl’ as his post 9/11 rant, concentrating mostly on racism, but rather than drowning in political messages, the song stands up well in it’s own right. ‘What Do U Want Me 2 Do?’ is probably one of the weaker tracks on the album, but then surrounded by the tracks it is, it would be hard to shine. It is MOR, but in truth too much so, and it becomes forgettable, which when the subject matter was cheating on your partner, could have been much much more.
Prince has finally grown up with ‘The Marrying Kind’. Where he used to sing about having lots of non committal sex, he actually sings that if someone actually wanted lifelong commitment from him he wouldn’t run away. It is a rockier track than many on the album, which is a good choice, considering the subject matter would have made good ballad material., which is exactly what ‘If Eye Was The Man In Ur Life’ is, and the same goes for ‘On The Couch’. Anywhere else in the album, and it may have come across as bland, but with 2 songs to they give you the ideal opportunity to soak up the album.
‘Dear Mr Man’ is Prince’s anti-Bush statement, although it is far from being Michael Moore-esque in it’s sentiment. It leans very much on jazz funk as it’s influence, and will probably get the message across to many more people than if it had simply been a political rant. The final track ‘Reflection’ is the perfect choice to end the album with, and reinforces even more how much Prince has moved on. It is full of soul and full of feeling, and is something I can imagine Marvin Gaye releasing when he was at his height of fame. It just soothes over you. There is an underlying message in each song, but it is not forced onto you
Prince is back! This album is a collection of strong, well written, and well performed tracks, and harks back to the days when he was a force to be reckoned with. As with his best music in the past, he does not try to pigeonhole the album into a certain style, but mixes influences such as funk, R&B and good old pop music. I read in a review that it is remiscent of the magnificent ‘Sign O The Times’, but I will put my head on the block and say that it is actually better. Admittedly, it is nothing new and ground breaking, but that is not always what works. In case my view has not come across loud and clear, then I will reiterate that this is a tremendous album, and hopefully will draw back many of the old fans who, like me lost faith in him when he went off the rails. He is back to performing his music from the heart instead of trying to fit in with whatever is commercially successful at that given time.
Advantages: Funky, groovy and easy Disadvantages: not many
...some time. However, Musicology for me is an excellent album.
It's full of uplifting tracks, slow smoochers, and thoughtfulness. I'm not sure about some of the lyrics mind you. The opener 'Musicology' is a sort of look back to his past, and his childhood of listening to James Brown . It's an excellent track with a great repetitive beat and I suppose it's Prince setting down his musical influences and how it all started.
'Illusion, Coma, Pimp and ... ...(Little Red Corvette, Sign of the Times etc), and goes on to tell a story about a rich (ugly) white woman who has a younger man who teaches her another side of life and Prince' asks 'who's pimping who?'. It's not a bad tune but it's not the best on the album.
'A Million Days' is something I really like about Prince. His slow love songs. He's very good at this stuff. There are a number of stunningly good slow tracks on this album, about missing loved ...
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Advantages: short accessable songs Disadvantages: not all songs are actually that great
Musicology is Princes long-awaited return to the limelight since reclaiming his name after the 7 years of being a symbol.
The earlier albums under his own name again, One Nite Alone, The Rainbow Children and NEWS have alienated alot of fans and the critics have been fairly harsh in their opinion of them (although a few admit they are good albums, which they are).
However, ONA was a piano solo album only available to members of his music club, the ... ...Ry Cooder won instead) and Musicology is a return to short snappy pop songs that made Prince so beloved in the late 70s and throughout the 80s.
As usual most of the instruments are played by Prince, though a few times he takes jams from his NPG band and cuts them up using ProTools, then taking the credit as "All instruments and voices by Prince". One such track is the opening track and lead-off single, Musicology.
It's a fun song, and certainly ...
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This album is superb!!!! Sitting back chilling and chatting with friends with this music playing in the background is a great way to spend any night. Its relaxed, and you just get the impression that he isnt trying too hard to make the audience like his music. Its like, Hey this is the sort of music I like doing, like it or leave it. And for the most part it is definitely like it!!! Some of the songs, Call my Name, Cinamon Girl and of course the ... ...but this album leaves me with a smile on my face every time I listen to it. In the car, at home, in the office. The music seems to adapt to any situation and actually leaves me dreading the moment I get home and turn off the key,
For those who like relaxed, chilled, funky soul music, then this would definitely be up your street. Reminds me personally of a lot of Jamiroquai's early stuff in that it has a certain sound that for some reason, just sounds ...
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Advantages: A Return to form, Accessable Disadvantages: Not much of a progression from his previous work
The best thing about this album is that unlike every Prince album for the past decade or so it doesn't sound like Prince is trying to prove some point or other. Instead he is relaxing and doing what he does best, entertaining! The lyrics are his usual. Love, bragging and dippy philosophy!
He also mentions the War On Terror but his take on it is to encourage fairly vague peace and love vibes and unlikely to offend one way or the other.
The album ... ...peaks. Highlights include "Cinnamon Girl", the stately "A Million Days" and the funky title track. Although he has become a Jehovah's Witness he proves that being religious doesn't mean you cant be sexy. Especially on the track "On The Couch"
Prince plays and produces everything himself and the album's main weakness is that he doesn't seem to have absorbed any current musical trends and ideas, relying instead on his own trademark sound. That sound ...
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Advantages: prince is back to his best form Disadvantages: none
This album is for everyone who enjoyed Prince when they were teenagers (early 80s). The first song on the album made me stand up in my own living room and move those hips that have been static for way too long! I have kept moving around the room throughout the all 12 songs. Afterwards, I listened to it again, this time paying attention to the lyrics. I was moved by the words of ‘Cinnamon Girl’ and laughed to the words of ‘On the couch’. Over the ... ...of name, change of religion, change of his record label, and I have to admit I did loose an interest in his songs, and for a long time didn’t want to buy any of his music. For anyone who liked Prince’s old stuff (remember ‘Purple Rain’ or ‘Kiss’?) but couldn’t listened to some of his other songs, this album is for you, funky yet elegant, classic Prince. My only problem is with sleeves for the CD, not well designed, the box uses flaps to keep things ...
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Advantages: Great music; inspired writing; kept up with the times nicely Disadvantages: Couple of stinking ballads - he didn't wanna do that!
...WHO'S THIS THEN?
-----------------------------
It's Prince, born Prince Rogers Nelson, in Minneapolis 46 years ago is a very talented singer/multi-instrumentalist (with the emphasis on "mentalist"). A master of rock, funk, pop and soul, his most famous record is probably "Kiss".
Between 1983 and 1993 he released one album every year until his record company took more control of his work and asked him to slow down his work-rate and spend more time on promotion.
He responded by changing his name to an unintelligible symbol, writing the word "slave" on his cheek and actively not promoting his work.
He returned this year with the fine Musicology album.
WHAT'S THIS ALBUM ALL ABOUT?
-------------------------------------------------
This was released in 1992 at the beginning of Prince's decline. As above, he'd released one...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Diverse styles; features "Kiss" Disadvantages: Slightly too psychadelic in parts
...SO WHO'S PRINCE?
------------------------------
Prince, born Prince Rogers Nelson, in Minneapolis 46 years ago is a very talented singer/multi-instrumentalist (with the emphasis on "mentalist"). Between 1983 and 1993 he released one album every year until his record company took more control of his work and asked him to slow down his work-rate and spend more time on promotion.
He responded by changing his name to an unintelligible symbol, writing the word "slave" on his cheek and actively not promoting his work.
He returned this year with the apparently fine Musicology album.
WHAT DOES HE SOUND LIKE?
---------------------------------------------
It depends what mood he's in. When he's soulful, it's somewhere between James Brown and Rick James. When he rocks out, you're lookng at the 80's answer to Jimi Hendrix and can...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
16.10.2004
15.09.2004
