Prince — Musicology

Don't be mistaken — Prince is a genius. The man can put on an amazing show, his voice is one-of-a-kind, he's a master guitar player and he's still a sexy motherfucker. These are all great reasons to go see him live, but sadly, not enough to make his new album, Musicology (which is free at all Prince concerts), worth picking up on its own. While Prince is still Prince and his mere presence makes even his most abysmal albums slightly worthwhile, Musicology is not the total return to form that Purple Rain fans have been praying for. The funk is there and the sex is there, but that special sense of edge and the all-important cool factor are missing. While a few of Musicology's songs hint at Prince's past greatness, the rest of the album drips with cheesiness — in the lyrics, the production, the arrangements and the basic songs. Prince continues to be interesting, but the respect that he still commands is the only thing that makes Musicology anything more than a throwaway album.