This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
“Don’t U miss the feeling music gave ya back in tha day?” asks Prince on the title cut of this CD. Happily, His Purple Majesty does — and better still, he’s decided to address the situation.
Musicology, his umpteenth album and first major-label effort since 2001’s Rainbow Children, is the comeback disc we’ve all been waiting years to hear. Concise, clear and confident, these dozen cuts are a welcome return to the old-school R&B, sensual soul, funk-rock and paisley-pop of Prince’s glory days. Hooks and choruses come fast and furious on cuts like Life ’O’ the Party, Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance and Cinnamon Girl (no, not that Cinnamon Girl), with the self-indulgent noodling restricted to a few cuts that allow Prince to showcase his versatility and virtuousity without diluting the disc’s impact. No, it’s not gonna replace 1999 or Purple Rain. But there’s no denying that Prince is back. And it’s about freaking time.
