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RE: "Prince playing and singing every part" (long)

That's quite an indictment from a guy who admits that he can't even play ONE instrument worth a damn, let alone half a dozen of them really well. You realize there was no beat detective or auto-tune in 1978, I'm sure. To compare Prince to every pop music hack on the planet because he chose to play all the instruments here is silly. I agree the result of such efforts in USUALLY not very impressive--either because the skill on all instruments is too clearly rudimentary or because (more commonly) it's beyond most musicians to multitrack in this way and achieve a sound that feels like a real band that's very well locked-in. A whole band can't play with the exact same concept of time and achieve a good feel overall--it takes push and pull between the various members to make music that "feels" exciting and real. Efforts of this nature almost always sound like what they are--one guy playing everything through the same limited lens without deep understanding of the distinct roles each part really ought to play. But there is no hint of that on the Prince record. It sounds like a real band with a high level of playing--and more remarkably, interaction--across the board. You seem to be incapable of grasping this, deeming all such efforts equally valueless no matter what the actual outcome is.

In your silly two-step test above, you suggest that if music isn't "the best you ever heard", then it's shit that shouldn't be given a second thought. Here, we see you suggest that certain processes or style alone are enough to disqualify any music from ever being any good at all. These are among the ridiculous cornerstones of your belligerent, bigoted musical philosophy. Recently, you suggested that you're on a mission to educate the unwashed masses on this board but at least the moderator is a real musician. Well, a good number of the people here you are constantly at odds with are also degreed professional or former professional musicians, and that includes myself. Your prejudices force you to contradict yourself--and common sense--at every turn.

It may surprise you to learn that I have never really been a fan of Prince's music--at least I didn't think so. I too was distracted and offended by the non-musical parts of his total presentation--aspects that other "artists" have seized on without also having the actually musical stuff together. It bothered me that members of his band had to dance choreographed routines while they played--perhaps because I knew this could keep me out of such a band despite my playing ability. I still don't like the sound of most 80's vintage keyboards, so that has always been a minus for me too. With his passing, the whole array of his music is almost inescapable at the moment, and I now see a lot more to like in his music--and even his showmanship--than I ever have before. So I guess my own biases led to some losses for myself here.

Is the track I referred to in GEO's post here the best music I ever heard? No. Is it the best effort of it's kind I've ever heard? To date, I would have to say yes. I've never heard a "one-man record" that shows as much skill and total understanding of the various roles in a band that this first album from Prince shows. I would never have guessed this to be a one-man record if I hadn't been told. Add his age at the time and it's even more impressive. Your dismissive comments lead me to wonder if you've bothered to actually listen to the track even now. One thing I can say with the highest confidence--you don't know nearly as much about music as you think you do, and no amount of bluster and vitriol will ever manage to disguise that.






dh

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