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Elly Roberts reviews
Universal
- Cat.no: 9852072
- Released: March 2006
- Rating: 4/10
When Prince Rogers Nelson formed his own label NPG, it gave him artistic licence like hed never experienced before.
It also gave him licence to be a tad self-indulgent. He even invented newmonikers like The Artist Formerly Know As Prince and Symbol. Prior to thathe rolled out some great singles – When Doves Cry, Little Red Corvette,1999, Kiss, Cream and his anthemic Purple Rain.That was his commercial purple patch. Theres been a fair share of hitand miss albums too.
So, after 25 years of pouting and posing, is his number up? Well, 3121has some of the best and worst of his expansive repertoire. For this, thepurple one decided to play most of the instruments, with a helping hand hereand there, written all the songs, and produced it.
The worst bits include the bump and grind of the title track, a mish-mashjam that grates at almost every level, so does the first UK single BlackSweat, a crunchy R&B blast that wanders aimlessly. Also off the commercialradar are Incense And Candles, the dire Love, and lacklustreThe Word, with Satisfied proving nothing more than a filler.
Back on traditional form, Fury is a welcomed arrival; with an almostaccessible dance beat (complete with rasping guitar solos): the first realpop song, which harks back to better days of the ’80s. Further on,Beautiful is a silky smooth delight, featuring a gorgeous duet withrising star Tamar.
In the same classy mould is the divine neuvo-jazzy monster The Dance,despite some over-stretched singing by Prince. Getting on the good foot,he rounds it off with a James Brown sassy-brassy assault as he Gets On The Boatin style: and edited version would make a brilliant single.
Its a great end to a less than impressive album.
Weblink:NPG Music Club.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. 3121
2. Lolita
3. Te Amo Corazon
4. Black Sweat
5. Incense And Candles
6. Love
7. Satisfied
8. Fury
9. The Word
10. Beautiful, Loved And Blessed
11. The Dance
12. Get On The Boat
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.