3121

Prince is as brilliantly funky as ever

Whether he's fronting the Revolution, the NPG, backing up a new protege, or going at it solo, a new Prince album is always an event. Last year saw the cultural icon command the mainstream music radar with a vengeance, releasing the critically and commercially acclaimed Musicology (the disc snagged two Grammys), being inducted to the Rock&Roll Hall Of Fame, and rolling out one of the most successful, talked about tours in music history, coinciding with the two-decade anniversary of his masterpiece Purple Rain. This year, announcing his new musical home, musical superstar Prince has signed an exclusive recording agreement with Universal Records. His first release on Universal Records, an album entitled 3121, debuts on March, 21. And if Black Sweat, the first single from 3121, is any indication, Prince is as brilliantly funky as ever. After several attempts at re-launching his career in recent years, this hour-long collection of pop, rock, Latin and funk tunes proves miniature maestro is back to the highs of Purple Rain and 1999. His shock conversion to become a Jehovah Witness and experiment with jazz-infused sounds left many long-term fans out in the cold, however 3121 thankfully shows Prince has definitely re-learnt how to write irresistibly catchy pop songs.

Many of the tracks on 3121 are vintage Prince

Prince had declined to explain the meaning of the album's title and said that the release date was chosen simply to coincide with it. 3121, which features guest appearances from new Prince protege Tamar as well as saxophonist Maceo Parker, preserves the artist's hybrid style, savvy instrumentation and flair for up-tempo jams. Many of the tracks are vintage Prince, with the expected splashes of rock, R&B and jazz. Sounding similar to Pharrell Williams, Black Sweat showcases minimalist funk alongside hip hop beats and brings back memories of 1986 hit Kiss and 1991's Gett Off. Another track worth mentioning is Te Amo Corazon with its slow and seductive Latino beats, which should definitely help you get smooching on the dance floor. It is also evident the LP showcases a return to the raunchy lyrics about sex and women that had dominated so many of his songs from Dirty Mind to The Black Album in the late 80s and early 90s. Beautiful, Loved & Blessed shows off the artist’s diverse vocal range to perfection. In the song he flits between deep tones and a very high feminine voice. A funky standout titled Lolita seems primed to be chosen as a single. Two tracks utilize special vocal effects similar to the Vocoder that Zapp's Roger Troutman popularized in the 1980s.

"One of the most daring and brilliant artists"

Prince's rise to fame was nothing short of meteoric, from a buzzed-about musician (with the release of his first album, 1979's For You) to arguably one of the most acclaimed and influential artist of the 20th century. USA Today has hailed him as "one of the most daring and brilliant artists," just one of the many accolades bestowed on Prince by both critics and peers throughout his career. Few musicians have created a body of work as rich and varied as Prince. During the '80s, he emerged as one of the most singular talents of the rock & roll era, capable of seamlessly tying together pop, funk, folk, and rock. Not only did he release a series of groundbreaking albums, he toured frequently, produced albums and wrote songs for many other artists, and recorded hundreds of songs that still lie unreleased in his vaults. With each album he has released, Prince has shown remarkable stylistic growth and musical diversity, constantly experimenting with different sounds, textures, and genres. Occasionally, his music can be maddeningly inconsistent because of this eclecticism, but his experiments frequently succeed; no other contemporary artist can blend so many diverse styles into a cohesive whole.