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Prince has indeed returned with one of his strongest collections of songs in some time. Although firmly wedded to a Funk groove, he doesn't ignore a wide range of other influences. Musicology is not on par with classics such as Purple Rain and Sign O' the Times, but it is abundant proof of the relevance and worthiness of new music by Prince 25 years after his first appearance on the national music scene. Opening the album Prince calls out a list of past Funk highlights that form key elements of the science of music or Musicology. The Funk becomes skeletal on the humorous storytelling of Illusion, Coma, Pimp and Circumstance. Just when you imagine the entire album will be a Funk workout the gorgeous midtempo Pop melody of A Million Days sails on and from here on out it's the Prince style blender we've come to expect. Among the highlights are the sexy balladry of Call My Name, jazzy hook of What Do You Want Me 2 Do? (originally released online last fall), and pleading falsetto blues of On the Couch. Cinnamon Girl and Dear Mr. Man, the pair of true keepers on Musicology, are the most overtly political in lyrical content. Cinnamon Girl, the tale of a woman of cinnamon color in a post-9/11 world, possesses an irresistible syncopated dancefloor stomp. Rock guitars and unashamed Bubblegum melody will make you smile in spite of the serious words. That kick-drum on the 2 and 4 suits Prince just fine. Dear Mr. Man plays like Marvin Gaye's classic What's Going On? filtered through Sly Stone's There's a Riot Goin' On. Commentary on the social, political, and environmental state of the world set to a grinding Funk backbeat. Prince's precedent for this type of overt commentary on the federal government lies clear back on Controversy's Ronnie Talk To Russia. This time Prince's religious commitment invokes the property-sharing principle of the Jubilee alongside quotations from the 14th amendment. The closing statement 'We wish to close this letter with three words - We tired ay'all' speaks volumes for those alienated by the current U.S. political establishment. The combination of Prince's induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, the Musicology album, and his current concert tour, are ample proof that he deserves a place among the greats of Dance, Rock, and Soul music. Musicology proves he is an artist whose recordings are still worth listening to and looking forward to in the future. |

