I like the sound... Of funky music!

Impromptue Musique Revue:

Prince - "Musicology"

Someone once said that "writing about music is like dancing about architecture". And that always reminds me
of a track by Underworld called "Mmm... Skyscraper I Love You". So I'm gonna try my best to dance!

No matter how you might feel about the Purple One, you have to admit that he is one HELL of a musican, period.
The guy eats, drinks, breathes, heck he IS music! And this new one is FUN-KY! Fun and funky!
He writes some good shit, music AND lyrics-wise. He had his goofy period, but he's all better now.
So let's check it out!

1. Musicology
Funky! James Brown style! Good god!
2. Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance
Another funky one, pure Prince style. A little bit like Bootsy Collins. Niiiiice...
3. A Million Days
This one is a love ballad, with some electric guitar thrown in. A little something for fans of '80s rock ballads.
4. Life O'The Party
Percussion-heavy funky tune, with a little bit of horns, yeah, George Clinton would approve.
5. Call My Name
Holy R&B Batman!! Also, kids, know that Prince invented IM-speak as we know it! Look at these lyrics!
"Eye just can't stop writing songs about U, Eye love U so much, Eye just can't wait 2 get my arms around U
And feel Ur touch, If eye don't c U real soon baby girl." He was writing shit like this in the '80s!!
6. Cinammon Girl
Okay, this is basically Prince's version of "China Girl" (David Bowie)/"Island Girl" (Elton John), except it's about,
you guessed it, a Middle-Eastern girl (Iraqi to be precise). Hey, you got agit-prop in my peanut butter!
7. What Do U Want Me 2 Do?
Typical Prince stuff. Kinda pop-y, some nice guitar work.
8. The Marrying Kind
This one reminds me a bit of "Living Colour" (the band). Good stuff! And it segues nicely into...
9. If Eye Was The Man In UR Life
Another R&B number. I normally hate R&B, but you know, it's Prince, so he makes it interesting.
10. On The Couch
This one's a slow, bluesy, late-night number. It's funny too! "Don't make me sleep on the couch, tonight, baby..."
11. Dear Mr. Man
Yer basic "what's wrong with the world today" song. Damn that Mr. Man, keepin' us down. Word.
12. Reflection
Little introspective tune, thinking about stuff, hanging out at home, reminiscing. A good album closer.

I do not actually own this album. No, I didn't download it. I listened to it via the miracle of networked iTunes.
But after listening to it, I would definitely consider getting it.
I only own 2 Prince albums, and they're both soundtracks: "Purple Rain", and "Batman".
My brother, the DJ, has a crapload of Prince vinyl, so I never felt the need to bolster my Prince collection.
And I didn't really dig his goofy shit, like "Parade" and "Under The Cherry Moon".

That reminds me of a funny story.
My brother and a French friend of his went to see "Under The Cherry Moon" when it came out in theaters in 1986.
They were the only white people in the room. And everybody else was watching the movie stone-faced.
The sibling and his buddy couldn't help it and laughed at one point. They thought they were going to get killed!
I mean, if you've seen the movie (I haven't), Prince isn't exactly at his manliest at certain points.
The two Frenchies made it out of the theater alive somehow. Maybe because of their foreigness...

This review was made possible by doldrums' iTunes folder. Thanks doldrums, whomever you are in this building!