Skip to main content

36. Prince - Musicology (2004)

As a devoted fan, this is what you dream about: your beloved artist, long considered past his/her prime, releases an album that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with their best work. Elton John did it a couple of years ago with Songs From The West Coast, but it's a very rare event.

So here we have Prince, who is not only content to release a good, consistent new record. No, he has mounted a full-on return to form accompanied by a performance at the Grammys, induction into the Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame, and an extensive tour. And he's getting more press than an elevator button (most recently and notably on the cover of Entertainment Weekly).

Of course Prince is saavy enough to know that without the critically lauded new album all of that is nothing but a nostalgia trip. So he has whipped up a seemingly effortless collection that's easily his best album in 9 years (The Gold Experience being the last, and some might argue with that). In those years Prince has followed his odd muse so doggedly (releasing some good music, but none of it without a caveat) that the first time I listened to Musicology, I kept waiting for something strange or annoying or off-putting to ruin the whole affair.

But that moment never came. This is a rock-solid record, a showcase of Prince's wide array of musical styles and abilities. Every song recalls something that you love about him, representing his best work without rehashing it. The title track and current single is modern Prince, jazzy and funky with keys that recall the 1999 era. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance is a story-song in the Gett Off / P-Control mold. A Million Days is a guitar-hero workout that could slot easily into The Gold Experience. It's all drama and missing-you histrionics. Life O' The Party is a Diamonds and Pearls - style celebration with deep bass and shared female vocals.

And so it goes. I'm sure the Prince faithful will have a field day coming up with comparisons and touchstones. But the beauty is that this isn't just for the diehard fans. Anyone who ever grooved to a Prince song (and that has to be a lot of people) will find lots to love here.

Even with all the similarities to his classic work, there are definite differences on this album too. For one, there's a distinct sense of unguarded openness. He name-drops movie titles and other musicians (most notably in the line "I'm gonna put her on the same diet Missy went on" from The Marrying Kind... I guess he's paying her back for the "Prince couldn't get me change my name" shout out in Work It). And he's funny too. Witness: As someone speculating on himself, "he don't play his hits no more plus I thought he was gay" (from Life O' The Party) or "boy I was fine back in the day!" (from Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance). We knew that he had that fun side, especially from Under The Cherry Moon, but never before has it been so evident on record.

Additionally, three of the 12 songs (Call My Name, Cinnamon Girl, and Dear Mr.Man) mention war, with the last of the three speaking most potently and directly about society's current problems. Outside of Sign O' The Times it's something we just haven't heard from Prince.

Finally, Prince's Jehovah's Witness status has led him to cut out the use of blue language (if not innuendo), making this the rare Prince album you can jam to even if sensitive ears are listening.

All of this has the cumulative effect of making him seem damn near, well, approachable. Can you believe it?

Amidst this pleased gushing, I have only one complaint: The packaging. It's a digipak-style with a little overlapping flap that does nothing to keep the larger flap secure. Then there's a large booklet (with much-appreciated lyrics and photos) that just sits inside, with nothing to secure it, so it falls out at the slightest movement. What's up with that?!

Of course it's not anywhere near enough to dampen this accomplishment for the Artist. When I listen to this record (especially the appropriately-titled final song, Reflection), I feel like the Detroit Tigers ballcap-wearing owner of First Avenue in Purple Rain, when he gets a little misty-eyed and amazed at the end. Just like that. The Kid has done it again.

Rating: A+
Fave Song: Cinnamon Girl, for now

Fun Fact: Did you know an overwhelming majority of Prince's albums are named after a song on said album?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Billy Joel: 1980 - 1977

When I decided to write about every single Billy Joel studio album I knew had a bit of a leg up in that I'd written reviews of a handful of his records already. What I didn't realize until just now was that those reviews were of albums that had been released consecutively between 1977 and 1980. As I reread those reviews - the most recent of which is 14 years old! - I found that I still stand by them. My writing style has mellowed a bit, and I no longer give grades to albums, but otherwise my opinions then are my opinions now. So here you go... Billy Joel: Glass Houses (1980) Billy Joel: 52nd Street (1978) Billy Joel: The Stranger   (1977)
Post a Comment
Read more

Stuck, or Obsession Cessastion

You may have noticed that things have slowed down around here. I had the summer off from teaching, and I spent it with my 7 month-old son. I gave myself permission to make this blog less of a priority. Well, "less of a priority" is putting it lightly. Initially, I considered an abrupt retirement. But then I reconsidered. Maybe the proximity to Brett Favre is causing this. If you're a long time reader, this is probably not all that surprising to you. Since 2007, it has become an annual ritual for me to soul-search about my waning interest in music. First I blamed an inability to express myself and a lack of quality music . Then in 2008 I cited new technology and the death of the album . Last year I wrote about how my changing life priorities hindered my ability to seek out new music. I've done a lot of thinking about it this summer and in truth I believe this was all just dancing around the issue, a slow realization of something I didn't want to admit to myse...
7 comments
Read more

Billy Joel: Greatest Hits, Volumes I and II (1985)

As you may know, I'm something of a connoisseur of compilations. I have three guidelines that I like my greatest hits to follow, though I am open to these rules being disregarded in certain cases. It's not an exact science. Billy Joel's 1985 Greatest Hits Volumes I and II (an odd title for a set that was never sold separately) is proof of that.  It mostly follows the rules. The songs are in chronological order. There are no remixes, just a couple of single edits; there are two live songs, but those were actually were the versions that charted. And there are two new songs - we'll get to them eventually - but both ended up in the Top 40, so in retrospect that was a good decision. My mom bought the double LP when it came out and then dubbed it to a tape that lived in her car for at least three years. It and An Innocent Man were part of the soundtrack of the second half of my first decade of life. So I have a hard time criticizing something so ingrained in my consciousne...
Post a Comment
Read more