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Stream New Prince "Black Sweat"
Check out a stream of the new Prince track "Black Sweat" that is taken from his upcoming new album "3121." Funky sound, but I'm not buying his whole James Brown impersonation. It is just a little too much and seems an easy rip off. But then again, the charismatic Prince has never had a real knack for innovation. Instead he has surrounded himself with quality musicians that have added a magic touch to his music, including Wendy & Lisa and Candy Dulfer. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to diss Prince. I believe he has a great command of classic soul, rock and funk, and has put together a bunch of top musicians in the past who have created some of the best music of the '80s and '90s. If you're interested in Prince's music-making process, I recommend you pick up this excellent biography by Alex Hahn. I do enjoy the peppy production of "Black Sweat" with the distorted beats and the electronic special effects (like those around the 0:27 second mark). Turn it up loud to hear.
Stream Prince "Black Sweat" [ra] [wma]
February 7, 2006 in Audio Streams | Permalink
Comments
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errrr... i know you said you aren't trying to diss PRINCE, but "the charismatic Prince has never had a real knack for innovation"...? you are kidding, right? while Wendy and Lisa, Candy Dulfer, and every other musician he has played with certainly contribute to the music this man makes, i would hardly say he doesnt have a knack for innovation. have you listened to DIRTY MIND? 1999? or even the Martika single he wrote, LOVE...THY WILL BE DONE? the man is nothing if NOT innovative, bridging the gap between rock/funk/pop/soul like no other artist before or since. time to stop listening to dance remixes of mary j. blige and take some classes in good old fashioned MUSIC.
Posted by: david at Feb 7, 2006 6:55:30 PM
A polemic from Arjan!!
I disagree heartily, though I'd say it's been years since he was innovative. Look at the song "Sign O' The Times" - when that came out, I don't think anyone thought it was good or a single. Now it's a classic that has never been imitated. Same with "When Doves Cry" - completely innovative in the era of "Ghostbusters". I could go on and on. Just listen to "New Position" on Parade. It's a cacophony of sound, with no instrument leading the song, yet it works.
The musicians around Prince are usually the best and, for the most part have added to his mystique, but ultimately he is in complete control.
I don't know what happened to that genius, but "Black Sweat" is just "Musicology" wedded to "Hot Thing". Another new song, "Fury" is much better.
Posted by: xolondon at Feb 7, 2006 10:30:49 PM
PS! I LOVE the Martika track, along with Sheena's "101" and "Elephant Box" from Ingrid Chavez.
Posted by: xolondon at Feb 7, 2006 10:33:41 PM
For once I totally disagree with you Arjan!
Where are you coming from Prince is and has always been an innovator!
This is possibly one of the best things to come from the purple palace in a long while - I am so happy to see Prince back on form.
Posted by: Trunk Guy at Feb 8, 2006 9:03:38 AM
Prince can absolutely slip into the derivative, but a writer that prolific will tend toward that from time to time.
To say that he's *never* been innovative is far from the truth, I'd say, as have others-"Doves Cry" is the most forward thinking and unique #1 single...ever.
Point taken Arjan, but perhaps some qualification is necessary ;-)
Posted by: vi at Feb 8, 2006 9:07:14 AM
I completely agree with the concept that collaboration made Prince's music more substantial.
Someone as brilliant as he needs a stone to sharpen his music with.
This reeks of too much time alone in a studio. It goes nowhere and offers nothing remotely engaging.
Posted by: Andy Nevercares at Feb 8, 2006 5:08:22 PM
I just gotta say: PURPLE!
www.acidconga.com
Posted by: enyel at Feb 8, 2006 7:09:46 PM
Um, Prince is known to have played all his own instruments in a wide variety of tracks, particularly from his earlier days.
So I disagree with you. Prince definitely is incredibly talented and, at one point, innovative.
Posted by: adam at Feb 9, 2006 3:13:51 PM
Arjan and others,
It seems to me that many of you who have negative comments about Prince's music ability/innovation have not tracked his albums since he dissed the music industry for independant distribution. So, let's stop living in the "Purple Rain" of the past and catch up to his cut "The Rainbow Children" and Musicology" which is far superior to his earlier works (to include current pop stars) and shows that he is always at the leading edge of real music. For thoughs of you who are trapped and/or comfortable with the music industries practice of recycled and repacked oldies (whether remix in hip-hop or country), I have one thing to say. You are not qualified to even judge this man's creativity. If you liked his earlier albums--When Doves Cry, 1999, Dirty Mind, Diamonds and Pearls and Sign of the times--grow up and expand your musical mind/taste. Prince did!!! Besides--there are no two Prince albums that are alike...and that's a fact. One last point, it is wonderful to see an artist who can sample his own works and still come out on top. The Everlasting Now...We Want Prince!!!!! :)
Posted by: CHUCK B at Feb 13, 2006 7:38:33 PM
quality through-n-through, puts all others that appeared with him on the brits 8 clouds down. happy happy, Talent is second 2 nun' will be classified as a Mozart of our time when most have fallen by the way side. peace 2 all who here :-)
Posted by: r. nelson at Feb 16, 2006 4:40:47 PM
i AGREE WITH THE MAJORITY...PRINCE IS NOT INNOVATIVE..I'M SURE THTA YOU COULD HAVE COME UP WITH WHEN DOVES CRY A FUNK JAM DEVOID OF A TRUE BASS LINE FUNKADELIC STYLINGS OF THE BLACK ALBUM...CHECK OUT BOB GEORGE OR " JOY IN REPETITION" ON THE GRAFITTI BRIDGE SOUNDTRACK OR G SPOT AN OUTTAKE FROM PURPLE RAIN...DON'T HATE
Posted by: darkman at Feb 16, 2006 6:05:09 PM
Oh and just alittle something I remember reading about "Sign O' The Times", it was written AND recorded in ONE day. Something he had read in the paper or show on the news, I forget which. But one day, I do not think anyone does from start to end in just one day. That I think is genius! Great now I have to go dig that cd out.
Posted by: Tanner J at Feb 17, 2006 9:47:57 AM
Are u out of your mind, man???!! "It is just a little too much and seems an easy rip off. But then again, the charismatic Prince has never had a real knack for innovation. Instead he has surrounded himself with quality musicians" i seriously don't know what u do on this site, but reviewing music, u certainly should not. If u have ever REALLY listened to any music, u'd know that most of the new music guys like u listen to (Pharell, Missy, Kanye etc) all owe a shit load to this man. And lest u forget, this guy plays 27 instruments. How many do you play, other than your organ?
Posted by: Camille at Feb 21, 2006 4:07:07 PM
Prince never really had a knack for innovation...nor did Pink Floyd, Mozart, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Kraftwerk, Buddy Holly, Stevie Wonder, Kurt Cobain, the Clash...oh and John Cage...but then again, you're probably wondering who these people are anyway????
Posted by: wilbur watts at Feb 21, 2006 4:18:04 PM
How can your head be that far up your ass and you still not know that you are full of shit? Prince, the one that I'm thinking of, does not have a knack for innovation? I'm sorry, no I'm not that sorry, but he is a music god! How could you say something like that? He didn't surround himself with quality muscians, the muscians were good because they played his music. I'm sorry, I just can't wrap my mind around this, how could anyone say that. Rock and Funk just died a little bit when you said that.
Posted by: Brittany Jackson at Feb 22, 2006 10:24:15 PM
Love the song. A return to form.
Posted by: omit at Feb 23, 2006 1:39:14 AM
WOW. You should lose your reviewing license for even suggesting Prince "has never had a real knack for innovation". That's kind of what his entire career has been about...Sure, that also means some of his albums missed (mostly the 90's), but that comes with the territory when you're trying to do something different with each album. Real artists GROW...the rest just get old.
Posted by: Scott at Feb 23, 2006 3:18:50 PM
PS - I do like "Black Sweat", but I agree it's not the most impressive song. Does it remind me of his 80's stuff? Sure, but when did that become a bad thing? Long live the LINN drum machine!!
Posted by: Scott at Feb 23, 2006 3:20:36 PM
Hahaha... man.. I was gonna say something and then I read the comments and realized you got pretty dorked already.
I'm just glad prince woke up one day and started makin' love to ... I dunno... his Sega Genesis or something..
This song is what I've been waiting for. The old boy has realized that alot of groups are using his sound and he's decided to show up and let everyone know he still has that magic.
I think he fell asleep on a drum machine and woke up with a boner... Then recorded this song.
Posted by: SirCoffigus at Feb 25, 2006 6:52:29 AM
That last remark was funny...and point on!! I love it! If only peop get some taste, this could be a hit again..
Posted by: Whistler at Feb 26, 2006 5:09:52 AM
I agree his musicians are brilliant but prince brings it out of them with his music!
Posted by: Leah at Feb 27, 2006 3:31:23 PM
I've stopped reading anything related to prince's personal life ages ago. This also goes for people who mean they have some clearer sight on the man's abilities and his ever recurring evil spell he seems to put his bandmembers under.
Poor bandmembers.
I have no idea what has been written in all these posts and I don't wanna know. I just have a good idea about people who start sentences with "I don't want to diss X, but..."
Yea, freedom of speech is a nice thing, but world is filled with cretins.
Regards.
Posted by: u know at Mar 2, 2006 3:42:26 PM
though I like the prince of lovesexy and sign o the times alot...I must say, ok hes got top musicians bringing on extra sparkles to his music...but...think of...how long hes in the biz, how many songs he did, I think you may hate him or dislike him its a private point of view...but hey who if not prince may take some JB stuff ...So many very popular names out there they are always doing the same type of music for years and without their musicians they would be helpless, too...
so ok we could say prince got less provocative but that would be all
really dude think again
Posted by: chris at Mar 3, 2006 11:12:47 AM
Adam...
ure on 2 something-->totaly agree with U..
Bring on the New Power Funk !
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