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Musicology vs. 3121: Track by Track  vs. 
Musicology and 3121 are clearly comparable to Diamonds and Pearls and  of the 90s: 2 commercial albums that are viewed as a "return to form" of Prince and are attempts to rekindle Prince's love affair with the mainstream. Which is the superior record?
Let's break it down track by track. For each comparison, list your favorite of the two songs and a reason why. Then tally the votes. 1. Musicology vs. 3121 2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you! | |
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1. Musicology vs. 3121 ("3121" annoys the batshit outta me)
2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita (tie--i like both songs) 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón (long story...) 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat (fun song, even funner video) 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles (even though local radio played the hell outta the song when it first came out, it's better than hearing The Coat Of Street Cred™ being worn like on "i & c") 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love (pass) 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied (it's teh hottness) 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury (eet rocks) 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word (pass) 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed (both tracks are nice to listen to, but "otc" is mo' betta...like butta) 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance (i barely remember either of these songs...) 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat (don't really wanna say a tie...) | |
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1. Musicology vs. 3121 - Easily.
2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita - The synth rules all. 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón - A different approach is nice. 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat - Easily, once again. 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles - Still has legs. 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love - Without a doubt. 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied - Hesistant on this, but I never really grew into the Musicology track. 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury - Simply. 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word - Not difficult at all. 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed - Had to think about this one. 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance - Wow, this was a very difficult one. 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat - Although I love a funky jam, this one's got a bit more substance. Ooh, little darlin' if you're
free 4 a couple of hours (Free 4 a couple of hours) If U ain't busy 4 the next 7 years (Next 7 years) Say, let's pretend we're married and go all night | |
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1. Musicology vs. 3121
2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word (hard one) 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat Keenmeister |
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1. Musicology vs. 3121
Both of these songs are perfect openers for their respective albums. "Musicology" sets the retrospective tone and chugs along with a serious side of funk, while "3121" revitalizes the heartbeat of "Days of Wild," the voice of "Dream Factory" and the spirit of 1999 in its quirky strut. Both songs are manifestos of sorts, the former being a call for the return of authentic music, the latter being a call to arms for a futuristic party. I love both tracks dearly. "Musicology": 10 "3121": 10 Edge: 3121 in a close one. 2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita Both of these tracks are probably the most clear attempt to recapture Prince's 80s glory with their synthesized funk. Both may be critiqued for their contemporary inklings and may sound like Prince trying to be "hip". Ultimately, the lyrics of "I, C, P & C" sound too forced to me (both their meaning and their enunciation) while "Lolita" has its fun in a less grating manner. "Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance": 6 "Lolita": 8 Edge: Lolita quite easily. 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón The first ballad on each album, these tracks have both divided Prince's fanbase. "A Million Days" recalls with its glossy production and epic grandeur, while "Te Amo Corazón" has just a touch of Parade in its Mediterranean breeze. For me, both songs succeed quite well. I'm a sucker for the era, so "A Million Days", complete with its slick production, is perfect for me. It's my favorite track on Musicology. "Te Amo Corazón" is much more subtle, and its intricate facets have just begun to open themselves up to my ears. I've grown to like the track quite a bit.
"A Million Days": 10 "Te Amo Corazón": 8 Edge: A Million Days 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat After their ballad predecessors, both songs return to the party vibe with arguably the most contemporary sounding songs on the album. The much maligned "Life o' the Party" actually works decently in a live setting, but sounds stiff and desperate on the album. "Black Sweat", meanwhile, wades in more comfortable territory and benefits as a result. The video is fabulous! "Life o' the Party": 2 "Black Sweat": 9 Edge: Black Sweat by a landslide. 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles This is a bit of an odd pairing, as "Call My Name" is Prince's bread 'n butter soul ballad, while "Incense and Candles" features the Cherbot effect in its synthesized, jerky libido. I actually find "Call My Name" to be one of Prince's most overrated songs- it's a second rate "Adore", and I'm not that big of a fan of "Adore" in the first place. "Incense and Candles" is clearly capable of embarrassing, but I can't help but like it. "Call My Name": 5 "Incense and Candles": 7 Edge: Incense and Candles 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love Both of these songs seek to send a message in their pop glory. "Cinnamon Girl", complete with a hint of psychedelia right out 1985, highlights the plight of a bi-racial girl in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, while "Love" urges the listener to surrender all worry and doubt to the glory of love, whose nature is up to the individual. I adore both tracks and find them to be highlights on their parent albums. "Cinnamon Girl": 10 "Love": 10 Edge: Love by a hair. 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied Both of these songs deal with the temptations of physical intimacy. While Prince stays steadfast and loyal in "What Do U Want Me 2 Do", he at least offers a tease of what his love would be like in "Satisfied". "What Do U Want Me 2 Do" conjures Sign o' the Times in more ways than one, while "Satisfied" is another run o' the mill Prince come-on ballad in the same vein as "On the Couch". "What Do U Want Me 2 Do": 9 "Satisfied": 4 Edge: What Do U Want Me 2 Do in a wash. 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury Both of these tracks up the rock ante, with "Fury" reaching near legendary status after its Saturday Night Live. While "The Marrying Kind" extols the virtues of his beau, "Fury" finds Prince recoiling from her wrath. Both songs are good, but "Fury" wins in every way shape and form. "The Marrying Kind": 7 "Fury": 10 Edge: Fury 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word Another strange pairing, "If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life" is a stop-start sequel to "The Marrying Kind" in which Prince extols his own virtues (what else?) in an attempt to woo, while "The Word" urges its listeners to seek eternal happiness through the Gospel. Both songs are among the stranger tracks on their respective albums and as such, may be "growers". "If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life": 8 "The Word": 8 Edge: The Word in another close one. 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed In a bit of irony, Musicology's most libidinous track is paired with Prince's duet with Tamar. However, the songs couldn't be more different. "On the Couch" is a sly, pleading, humorous ballad, the likes of which we've seen many times before. Regardless, it can still warrant a smile. "Beautiful, Loved and Blessed", meanwhile, is a gospel-tinged R n B ode of gratitude to God for his role in shaping our lives. "On the Couch": 7 "Beautiful, Loved & Blessed": 8 Edge: Beautiful, Loved and Blessed by virtue of its stronger melody. 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance While both of these songs are arguably the most jaded, their subject matter differs widely. The funk-laden "Dear Mr. Man" incites the underrepresented black populace to strive for political change in spite of its ironic voice of apathy in terms of the power of the vote. "The Dance", however, is a Latin-tinged ballad concerning the woes of unrequited love. The vocal delivery escalates to his most passionate pleas by the end, transforming the former NPGMC orphan track to a proper album cut. "Dear Mr. Man": 10 "The Dance": 9 Edge: Dear Mr. Man 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat The album closers are both perfectly suited to their parent albums. "Reflection" is a stripped-down acoustic number whose whistful and mournful nostalgia end Musicology on a touching note, while "Get on the Boat" is a respelndent funk rave-up urging listeners aboard while borrowing greatly from James Brown, including Maceo Parker! "Reflection": 8 "Get on the Boat": 7 Edge: Reflection Tally: Musicology: 4 3121: 8 Average: Musicology: 7.67 3121: 8.17 I clearly favor 3121. I tried to view it as objectively as possible, because I know that I can overrate things in my initial impressions. It may be an entirely different story 6 months down the line, but for now, I'm definitely preferring the new.  [Edited 3/20/06 20:44pm] Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you! | |
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great thread idea!
1. Musicology vs. 3121 I adore 3121, but I have to go with Musicology on this one. It's a classic Prince single.... lean and mean funk. 2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita I like them both, but I have to go with ICP&C on this one. Both songs are cool, but ICP&C has a great beat and a funky sound to it that I really dig. 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón This one again, A Million Days. I'm surprised because I expected 3121 as an album to handily beat Musicology, but looking at it song by song so far, Musicology is edging it out. I'm thinking familiarity is probably a factor. 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat Easy - Black Sweat. Although I never understood the hate for "Life o' The Party." If you threw it on "SOTT" in place of (or in addition to) Housequake, people here would consider it a classic. 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles Again, Easy - Call My Name is a classic Prince ballad. 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love Cinnamon Girl is an important song, but "Love" really could be the highest point of the new CD. 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied I have to go with Satisfied here. What Do U Want Me 2 Do is nice, but I don't consider it a "major" song. It seems like something you might find on Chaos and Disorder... interesting, but kinda throwaway. Satisfied, on the other hand, is probably his most satisifying R&B number since "Dark" 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury Not really fair, since I really view The Marrying Kind/If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life as two parts to one track. Fury gets the edge. 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word The Word is a solid track, and taken alone, If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life seems kinda slight. 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed Both are stellar tracks; but i have to go with "BL&B." It's similar in spirit to "Diamonds & Pearls", and would be a massive hit had it been released in 1991 or 1992. 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance Dear Mr. Man is my least favorite Musicology track by a wide margin. The Dance by a mile. 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat I love Get on the Boat, but "Reflection" is special. It just seems so real and humble, and has more true emotion that alot of Prince material. I love the personal feeling of it. And seeing him play it live with Wendy was just a thrill. I will always love this song. OK< so the tally: Musicology 5 3121 7 So 3121 pulls it out after starting 0-3  What it really means is that I love both albums.  | |
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wait...doigottadomineovernow? | |
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Handclapsfingasnapz said: wait...doigottadomineovernow?
Why'sthat? Yoursisfine!  Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you! | |
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Moonbeam said: Handclapsfingasnapz said: wait...doigottadomineovernow?
Why'sthat? Yoursisfine! becauseyoursisalldetailedandstuff! | |
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Handclapsfingasnapz said: Moonbeam said: Why'sthat? Yoursisfine! becauseyoursisalldetailedandstuff! I'mjustafreaklikethat!  Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you! | |
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1. 3121
2. Lolita 3. A Million Days 4. Black Sweat 5. Call My Name 6. Love 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do 8. Fury 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life 10. On the Couch 11. The Dance 12. Reflection Some tough decisions had to be made, but there you go. Coincidently, it works out to be 6 tracks from each... I guess that means I like them equally! Toejam @ Peach & Black Podcast: http://peachandblack.podbean.com
Toejam's band "Cheap Fakes": http://cheapfakes.com.au, http://www.facebook.com/cheapfakes Toejam the solo artist: http://www.youtube.com/scottbignell | |
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Cool thread Eens. You put a lot of work into this. It's great having new Prince out to get folks talking and thinking about his music again. | |
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1) 3121
2) Lolita 3) Million Days 4) Black Sweat 5) Call My Name 6) Love 7) Satisfied 8) Fury 9) The Word 10) On The Couch 11) The Dance 12) Tie | |
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Byron said: 1) 3121
2) Lolita 3) Million Days 4) Black Sweat 5) Call My Name 6) Love 7) Satisfied 8) Fury 9) The Word 10) On The Couch 11) The Dance 12) Tie No explanation?  Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you! | |
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3121
Lolita Te Amo Corazón Black Sweat Call My Name Cinnamon Girl What Do U Want Me 2 Do The Marrying Kind If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life On the Couch The Dance Reflection | |
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Moonbeam said: Byron said: 1) 3121
2) Lolita 3) Million Days 4) Black Sweat 5) Call My Name 6) Love 7) Satisfied 8) Fury 9) The Word 10) On The Couch 11) The Dance 12) Tie No explanation?  
1) 3121, because it seems more experimental and has a darker funk... 2) Lolita, because it's just instantly infectious and catchy...much better beat.. 3) Million Days, because it's classic rock-pop,and has strong vocals 4) Black Sweat, because of the tension in the beat, as compared to the failed attempt at tension in "LOTP"... 5) Call My Name, because it's a beautiful melody and lyrics, drop-dead perfect vocals...and it's all "Prince". 6) Love, because that groove is pulsating and the chorus is possibly the catchiest one he's written in damn near 15 years... 7) Satisfied, but only by a hair, because he evokes a bluesy soul that is damn near impossible to do nowadays...WDUWMTD sounds more like a semi-successful Stevie Wonder attempt... 8) Fury, because it kicks and stomps like the best rockers of his past... 9) The Word, because it blends some great diverse sounds with an uptempo spirituality... 10) On The Couch, because it's funny and soulful and something only Prince could do... 11) The Dance, because it evokes such a dramatic sonic atmosphere to surround the simple human emotion of love, longing and insecurity... 12) Tie, because they both, in their own way, beautifully call back to a time when music truly was just expression and not product... | |
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1. 3121
2. Lolita 3. A Million Days 4. Black Sweat 5. Call My Name 6. love 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do 8. The Marrying Kind/If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life 9. The Word 10. Dear Mr. Man 11. The Dance 12. Reflection I cheated a bit and mixed a few around. This tracklist is great.....might just burn me a copy now  I just can't believe all the things people say ! |
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Byron said: Moonbeam said: No explanation?
1) 3121, because it seems more experimental and has a darker funk... 2) Lolita, because it's just instantly infectious and catchy...much better beat.. 3) Million Days, because it's classic rock-pop,and has strong vocals 4) Black Sweat, because of the tension in the beat, as compared to the failed attempt at tension in "LOTP"... 5) Call My Name, because it's a beautiful melody and lyrics, drop-dead perfect vocals...and it's all "Prince". 6) Love, because that groove is pulsating and the chorus is possibly the catchiest one he's written in damn near 15 years... 7) Satisfied, but only by a hair, because he evokes a bluesy soul that is damn near impossible to do nowadays...WDUWMTD sounds more like a semi-successful Stevie Wonder attempt... 8) Fury, because it kicks and stomps like the best rockers of his past... 9) The Word, because it blends some great diverse sounds with an uptempo spirituality... 10) On The Couch, because it's funny and soulful and something only Prince could do... 11) The Dance, because it evokes such a dramatic sonic atmosphere to surround the simple human emotion of love, longing and insecurity... 12) Tie, because they both, in their own way, beautifully call back to a time when music truly was just expression and not product... Thanks!  Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you! | |
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This is a perfect thread, because it'll make people realize the good songwriting Musicology over 3121.
My votes: 1. 3121 2. ICPC 3. A Million Days 4. Black Sweat 5. Call My Name (Anyone who says otherwise is, um, a real Prince fan) 6. This is is the only toughy, but I'm going to have to give it to CG, for at least having some political content 7. WDYWM2D (no question) 8. Fury 9. Man in Your Life (again, no question) 10. On the Couch (and, wow, anyone who says different...) 11. The Dance (close call, but I do like this track a lot) 12. Reflection (soooo much more of a real song than Get on My Float) Score Musicology 8 3121: 4 Done! |
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01. 3121
02. Lolita 03. A Million Days 04. Black Sweat 05. Call My Name 06. Love 07. What Do U Want Me 2 Do 08. Fury 09. The Word 10. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed 11. Dear Mr. Man 12. Reflection 
that's as close to a perfect Prince album as it gets except i would take off BL&B and replace it with ehm Magnificent and stick on GlassCutter for a bit more of a Rock feel to the disc.  and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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Honestly I strongly prefer "3121" to "Musicology" (I think M is one of the few P albums that give me overall a "bored" feeling...)
The only tracks I would switch would be track 5 and 7, so here what it would looks: 01) 3121 02) Lolita 03) Te Amo Corazon 04) Black Sweat 05) Call My Name 06) Love 07) WDUWMTD 08) Fury 09) The Word 10) B,L & B 11) The Dance 12) Get On The Boat From "Musicology" I also like very much the title track, "Dear Mr.Man" and "Reflection" but having to choose beetwen... that's my choice! On a side note, I would add "S.S.T" to the tracklist. | |
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I would say that the ballads are much stronger on Musicology. Call My Name, On The Couch & Reflection are really strong songs, and beat Satisfied, The Dance & Beautiful Loved & Blessed (I didnt include Te Amo Corazon as I really enjoy that one.
The uptempo songs on 3121 however are far stronger. Musicology & ICP&C are really strong cuts, and Cinamon Girl almost makes the grade but they dont come close to 3121, Lolita, Black Sweat, love, Fury & Get On The Boat. Therefore Id just do a mish mash album as so: 3121 Lolita Illusion Coma Pimp & Circumstance Te Amo Corazon Musicology Black Sweat Call My Name Cinamon Girl Love What Do You Want Me 2 Do? Fury The Word On The Couch Get On The Boat Reflection So thats 7 to Musicology and 8 to 3121, 3121 just edges it then and id probably agree with that. | |
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1. Musicology vs. 3121 - I just love Musicology; my kinda music
2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita - can't stand the sound of Lolita 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón - its just classier... 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat - thinking about it... listening to it... I have 2 say I like Life better... 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles - CMN by miles! Beautiful song. 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love - I like Love, but CG is just more relaxed (plus I love the guitar on that track). 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied - already a classic prince ballad 2 me. 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury - neither 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word - Unlike 'If Eye was...', I don't get 'the word' at all... 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed - close call 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance - Mr. Man is like my fav. P-track since Cream! 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat - As I already said: my kinda music. Overall I like Musicology far better than 3121. | |
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ArtVandelay said: 1. Musicology vs. 3121 - I just love Musicology; my kinda music
2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita - can't stand the sound of Lolita 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón - its just classier... 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat - thinking about it... listening to it... I have 2 say I like Life better... 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles - CMN by miles! Beautiful song. 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love - I like Love, but CG is just more relaxed (plus I love the guitar on that track). 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied - already a classic prince ballad 2 me. 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury - neither 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word - Unlike 'If Eye was...', I don't get 'the word' at all... 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed - close call 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance - Mr. Man is like my fav. P-track since Cream! 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat - As I already said: my kinda music. Overall I like Musicology far better than 3121. I stopped reading after you said "Life O The Party" was better than "Black Sweat" (LOL)... | |
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ArtVandelay said: 1. Musicology vs. 3121 - I just love Musicology; my kinda music
2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita - can't stand the sound of Lolita 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón - its just classier... 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat - thinking about it... listening to it... I have 2 say I like Life better... 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles - CMN by miles! Beautiful song. 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love - I like Love, but CG is just more relaxed (plus I love the guitar on that track). 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied - already a classic prince ballad 2 me. 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury - neither 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word - Unlike 'If Eye was...', I don't get 'the word' at all... 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed - close call 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance - Mr. Man is like my fav. P-track since Cream! 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat - As I already said: my kinda music. Overall I like Musicology far better than 3121. Of course, no disrespect [Edited 3/21/06 6:32am] | |
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murph said: ArtVandelay said: 1. Musicology vs. 3121 - I just love Musicology; my kinda music
2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita - can't stand the sound of Lolita 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón - its just classier... 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat - thinking about it... listening to it... I have 2 say I like Life better... 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles - CMN by miles! Beautiful song. 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love - I like Love, but CG is just more relaxed (plus I love the guitar on that track). 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied - already a classic prince ballad 2 me. 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury - neither 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word - Unlike 'If Eye was...', I don't get 'the word' at all... 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed - close call 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance - Mr. Man is like my fav. P-track since Cream! 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat - As I already said: my kinda music. Overall I like Musicology far better than 3121. Of course, no disrespect [Edited 3/21/06 6:32am] In my defense: I think they're both weak. But maybe you're right, it sounds quite ridiculous picking LOTP over anything | |
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ArtVandelay said: murph said: Of course, no disrespect [Edited 3/21/06 6:32am] In my defense: I think they're both weak. But maybe you're right, it sounds quite ridiculous picking LOTP over anything Yeah...But I kinda like "Black Sweat"....I have nothing but disdain for "Life O The Party" (LOL)...To me the Org members bagging 3121 because of a lack of "real musicianship" or "real songwriting" are simply missing the point..The man is at his best when he's just having fun, being loose, and acting like, well, "Prince.." This is where Musicolgy and The Rainbow Children misses for me...He was at top peak form musician-wise, but he came off like a cantankerous old man who seemed more worried about shitting on the youngins instead of making some good music without all the pretentions...I'm humming some of the songs off 3121 like I was during the '80s and early '90s...That's something I haven't done in ages...And that's the difference...[Edited 3/21/06 6:58am] | |
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ArtVandelay said: 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat - thinking about it... listening to it... I have 2 say I like Life better...
You've just had your Prince fan license revoked... | |
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Moonbeam said: 1. Musicology vs. 3121
Both of these songs are perfect openers for their respective albums. "Musicology" sets the retrospective tone and chugs along with a serious side of funk, while "3121" revitalizes the heartbeat of "Days of Wild," the voice of "Dream Factory" and the spirit of 1999 in its quirky strut. Both songs are manifestos of sorts, the former being a call for the return of authentic music, the latter being a call to arms for a futuristic party. I love both tracks dearly. "Musicology": 10 "3121": 10 Edge: 3121 in a close one. 2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita Both of these tracks are probably the most clear attempt to recapture Prince's 80s glory with their synthesized funk. Both may be critiqued for their contemporary inklings and may sound like Prince trying to be "hip". Ultimately, the lyrics of "I, C, P & C" sound too forced to me (both their meaning and their enunciation) while "Lolita" has its fun in a less grating manner. "Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance": 6 "Lolita": 8 Edge: Lolita quite easily. 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón The first ballad on each album, these tracks have both divided Prince's fanbase. "A Million Days" recalls with its glossy production and epic grandeur, while "Te Amo Corazón" has just a touch of Parade in its Mediterranean breeze. For me, both songs succeed quite well. I'm a sucker for the era, so "A Million Days", complete with its slick production, is perfect for me. It's my favorite track on Musicology. "Te Amo Corazón" is much more subtle, and its intricate facets have just begun to open themselves up to my ears. I've grown to like the track quite a bit.
"A Million Days": 10 "Te Amo Corazón": 8 Edge: A Million Days 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat After their ballad predecessors, both songs return to the party vibe with arguably the most contemporary sounding songs on the album. The much maligned "Life o' the Party" actually works decently in a live setting, but sounds stiff and desperate on the album. "Black Sweat", meanwhile, wades in more comfortable territory and benefits as a result. The video is fabulous! "Life o' the Party": 2 "Black Sweat": 9 Edge: Black Sweat by a landslide. 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles This is a bit of an odd pairing, as "Call My Name" is Prince's bread 'n butter soul ballad, while "Incense and Candles" features the Cherbot effect in its synthesized, jerky libido. I actually find "Call My Name" to be one of Prince's most overrated songs- it's a second rate "Adore", and I'm not that big of a fan of "Adore" in the first place. "Incense and Candles" is clearly capable of embarrassing, but I can't help but like it. "Call My Name": 5 "Incense and Candles": 7 Edge: Incense and Candles 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love Both of these songs seek to send a message in their pop glory. "Cinnamon Girl", complete with a hint of psychedelia right out 1985, highlights the plight of a bi-racial girl in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, while "Love" urges the listener to surrender all worry and doubt to the glory of love, whose nature is up to the individual. I adore both tracks and find them to be highlights on their parent albums. "Cinnamon Girl": 10 "Love": 10 Edge: Love by a hair. 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied Both of these songs deal with the temptations of physical intimacy. While Prince stays steadfast and loyal in "What Do U Want Me 2 Do", he at least offers a tease of what his love would be like in "Satisfied". "What Do U Want Me 2 Do" conjures Sign o' the Times in more ways than one, while "Satisfied" is another run o' the mill Prince come-on ballad in the same vein as "On the Couch". "What Do U Want Me 2 Do": 9 "Satisfied": 4 Edge: What Do U Want Me 2 Do in a wash. 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury Both of these tracks up the rock ante, with "Fury" reaching near legendary status after its Saturday Night Live. While "The Marrying Kind" extols the virtues of his beau, "Fury" finds Prince recoiling from her wrath. Both songs are good, but "Fury" wins in every way shape and form. "The Marrying Kind": 7 "Fury": 10 Edge: Fury 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word Another strange pairing, "If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life" is a stop-start sequel to "The Marrying Kind" in which Prince extols his own virtues (what else?) in an attempt to woo, while "The Word" urges its listeners to seek eternal happiness through the Gospel. Both songs are among the stranger tracks on their respective albums and as such, may be "growers". "If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life": 8 "The Word": 8 Edge: The Word in another close one. 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed In a bit of irony, Musicology's most libidinous track is paired with Prince's duet with Tamar. However, the songs couldn't be more different. "On the Couch" is a sly, pleading, humorous ballad, the likes of which we've seen many times before. Regardless, it can still warrant a smile. "Beautiful, Loved and Blessed", meanwhile, is a gospel-tinged R n B ode of gratitude to God for his role in shaping our lives. "On the Couch": 7 "Beautiful, Loved & Blessed": 8 Edge: Beautiful, Loved and Blessed by virtue of its stronger melody. 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance While both of these songs are arguably the most jaded, their subject matter differs widely. The funk-laden "Dear Mr. Man" incites the underrepresented black populace to strive for political change in spite of its ironic voice of apathy in terms of the power of the vote. "The Dance", however, is a Latin-tinged ballad concerning the woes of unrequited love. The vocal delivery escalates to his most passionate pleas by the end, transforming the former NPGMC orphan track to a proper album cut. "Dear Mr. Man": 10 "The Dance": 9 Edge: Dear Mr. Man 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat The album closers are both perfectly suited to their parent albums. "Reflection" is a stripped-down acoustic number whose whistful and mournful nostalgia end Musicology on a touching note, while "Get on the Boat" is a respelndent funk rave-up urging listeners aboard while borrowing greatly from James Brown, including Maceo Parker! "Reflection": 8 "Get on the Boat": 7 Edge: Reflection Tally: Musicology: 4 3121: 8 Average: Musicology: 7.67 3121: 8.17 I clearly favor 3121. I tried to view it as objectively as possible, because I know that I can overrate things in my initial impressions. It may be an entirely different story 6 months down the line, but for now, I'm definitely preferring the new.
[Edited 3/20/06 20:44pm] You picked the exact same songs that I would have. Creepy...I'm the first mammal to wear pants. | |
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I just bought 3121 about 2 hours ago, so these are very early thoughts:
1. Musicology vs. 3121 Michael and Sonny make me miss the old days, especially with the Days Of Wild beat - I hope this turns into a long funk-jam in live shows, just like DOW. 2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance vs. Lolita I,C,P&C has bolder, funkier production, complete with chicken-scratch guitar. Lolita sounds too insular for my tastes (one of those cases where Prince would have benefitted from an outside musician adding some touches). 3. A Million Days vs. Te Amo Corazón Both great tracks, and TAC adds something new to the Prince canon, whereas A Million Days is fairly simple Prince rehash (Dolphin meets Empty Room), but I'm in a mood for AMD more than TAC. Actually, this may be a tie. 4. Life o' the Party vs. Black Sweat Fortunately 3121 doesn't have any track anything like as embarrassing as LOTP. 5. Call My Name vs. Incense and Candles Again, this is just an initial thought - although I&C is lyrically Prince rehash, so is Call My Name, and I&C has new production elements I haven't heard in Prince's work before. 6. Cinnamon Girl vs. Love Prince does Madonna! Actually, this could be a tie at the moment - I just haven't listened to Love enough, and Cinnamon Girl has some great qualities - I love that he sung about 9/11 explicitly - it's rare that Prince sounds like a real person. 7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do vs. Satisfied At the moment, WDUWM2D wins out - took me a long time to take to this track, but it has a unique Prince quality that Satisfied doesn't have (or, at least, that Satisfied hasn't taken from many other Prince songs). 8. The Marrying Kind vs. Fury I love the bold sound of The Marrying Kind - this is close to a tie, as Fury is a song I love, and I'm glad he's trying a sound like Endorphinmachine again - but it's nothing we haven't heard from him before, whereas TMK sounds 'new'. 9. If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life vs. The Word The Word is my initial favorite from the new album - I love almost everything about it. IEWTMIUL is wonderful too, so this is a tight one, but The Word wins out. 10. On the Couch vs. Beautiful, Loved and Blessed On The Couch has a 'real soul' sound that Prince rarely uses, and I love it, and I have mixed feelings about BLAB being on 3121 since it's more a Tamar song, but I love the affirming lyrics and message. Nice to hear a song that talks about how God sees each of us individually (I almost used this in a talk I gave at my church a few weeks back). 11. Dear Mr. Man vs. The Dance I just love everything about DMM (except the line about voting), so even though the new version of The Dance seems like a Moulin Rouge take on the original (and I only mean that in a good way), DMM easily wins. 12. Reflection vs. Get on the Boat After only one listen to GOTB (I'm on my second listen of the album right now, and I'm at The Dance), I know GOTB will be a song I'll love for a long time, and one which could be a great closing track in concerts. Similar to The Everlasting Now in production, I love it. The studio version of Reflection has never been a favorite of mine, so this isn't a really fair fight... Overall, 5 wins for Musicology, and 7 for 3121. Not bad for two listens... | |
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