Prince
3121

THE REVIEW

Resurrection! After fifteen years of extreme confusion, some good products (the religious funk of "Rainbow children" above all), poorly exploited ideas (the lengthy "Emancipation"), and many missteps, Prince can legitimately reclaim the title that was his throughout the '80s: that of a genius. 3121 is not JUST Prince's most beautiful album in many years, but it is ALSO one of the best albums in Prince's career.

This is not one of the many comeback albums of bloated stars passed off as masterpieces (which happens predictably with every new release by Springsteen, Gabriel, and here with De Gregori). No, this is 100% Prince, starting with the title track, an electronic funk dominated by keyboards (it feels like listening to Dr. Fink of Dirty Mind) where Camille's high-pitched voice returns (remember "If I Was Your Girlfriend"?). The up-tempo of "Lolita" is a catchy and addictive pop tune, but there are three tracks that make the difference: "Satisfied," an old-school R&B sung in falsetto and supported by a killer horn section; the atypical funk of "Love" where the beautiful synth line meets the rhythm guitar; "Get on The Boat," a funk piece that derails into a jam session, embellished by Maceo Parker's sax and Sheila E.'s percussion.

The rest of the package is far above what the musical convent offers today (I'm obviously talking about mainstream). The lyrics are a bit weak, but this is part of the self-imposed censorship by Prince: for someone who has thrived on art and provocation, adhering to the dictates of Jehovah's Witnesses is quite a sacrifice, and the results "in terms of writing" are noticeable. Luckily in Italy, almost no one understands English, so this flaw seems secondary! The album is stunningly performed, and the production is impeccable, it's a pity that the guitar solos (as in the live One Nite Alone where Carlos Santana's influence is felt) are reduced to a minimum: instead, the keyboards and vocal treatment dominate, which at moments, especially when vocoder is used, seems a bit dated. But let's say retro, which is more chic.