well, bowie was in his mid-50s when he recorded 'heathen', and it's a freakin' brilliant album with songs many fans consider to be strong additions to his list of classics. paul mccartney's last album was gorgeous. the last albums of johnny cash's career were beautiful. it's possible to age gracefully as a musician and still create vital work.

and one day, i think prince will, too. he's just gotta figure some stuff out.

as a live performer, i don't think anyone can touch him. even when he's bored he's amazing.

his studio stuff? sorry, if it wasn't prince, i probably wouldn't be attracted to it. but it IS prince, and he's someone who, for a really long stretch of my life, challenged me and engaged me with his work. like i said in another thread, it's like the wild days are over and i look at him as an old friend who i like to keep in touch with, even though neither of us are who we used to be and what he's about now and what i'm about now aren't as copacetic as it used to be. it's cool. i like 'black sweat'. a lot. more than te amo, by a long stretch. do i think it's a prince classic? i dunno. probably not. but i enjoy it.