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3121 Image
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 84 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the purple one's second straight set of mainstream music, following 2004's 'Musicology,' which itself followed a string of more esoteric releases.

Top Track

Black Sweat
Workin', workin' up a black sweat {x4} I don't wanna take my clothes off, but I do I don't wanna turn nobody on 'less it's U, oh I don't wanna dance... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 31
  2. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. This is the Prince album we wanted Musicology to be.
  2. Uncut
    80
    A deeply enjoyable pop-funk record. [May 2006, p.114]
  3. Maybe he's no longer breaking new ground, but his eccentricities are now an attribute, not a curse, which goes a long way in making his trademark blend of funk, pop, soul, and rock sound nearly as dazzling as it did at his popular and creative peak in the '80s.
  4. Oh well, a third of a terrific Prince album is better than no terrific Prince album at all.
  5. But there's more to 3121 than the prickle of nostalgia: amid the title track's murky, unsettling groove and the grinding techno noise of Love, Prince sounds thrillingly alive, a veteran throwing down a cocky, confident challenge to any young pretenders.
  6. While the hooks don't reach out and grab you the way you long for them to, and though the lyrics aren't as smart as we've come to expect from a composer who once claimed to literally write songs in his sleep, 3121 is a wholly listenable and consistent(ly funky) addition to the catalog of one of music's pop pioneers.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    40
    [It] doesn't really sound like Prince at all. [25 Mar 2006, p.35]

See all 31 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 41
  2. Negative: 1 out of 41
  1. Sep 20, 2017
    10
    My introduction to Princeland. The best thing when it comes to music that happend to me ever. I thought that this album was an odd benchmarkMy introduction to Princeland. The best thing when it comes to music that happend to me ever. I thought that this album was an odd benchmark for his world, but boy my thoughts vanished when i heard the rest of his work. This is so well crafted and inspiring, the sweetest piece of work you could expect from Prince in one place. Expand
  2. rolfl
    Mar 23, 2006
    10
    classic and expiremental prince worthy songs on this album!!
  3. FrankC
    Mar 30, 2006
    10
    This is a awesome album. This album is for the die hard fans and the new fans and genertion
  4. AlejandroS
    Mar 24, 2006
    9
    Prince has made excellent, good and not so good albums. This album is far better than his latest comercial releases, Musicology (2004) & The Prince has made excellent, good and not so good albums. This album is far better than his latest comercial releases, Musicology (2004) & The Rainbow Children (2001), and I give the album 9 points out of 10 because of marvellous songs like 3121, Black Sweat, Satisfied, Fury, Lolita or Te Amo Corazon. Expand
  5. JamesF
    Mar 26, 2006
    9
    Prince hits a high point on this album... It may not be Purple Rain or the Sign O the Times, but it definitely is a well balanced and well Prince hits a high point on this album... It may not be Purple Rain or the Sign O the Times, but it definitely is a well balanced and well written album... This man continues to hold reign as the Pop Prince... Expand
  6. WPBeing
    Mar 31, 2006
    8
    This is a pop album. And as a pop album it is amazing in scope, style and joy. Is it a best for Prince? Absolutely not. Is it a best in pop This is a pop album. And as a pop album it is amazing in scope, style and joy. Is it a best for Prince? Absolutely not. Is it a best in pop music 2006? It certainly is. Love, 3121, Fury, Black Sweat are amongst his best dance tunes in many years. And, no obvious filler tracks, or tracks that need skipping. Although that vocoder or whatever it is called on Insence and candles ... Expand
  7. SamM
    Mar 26, 2006
    3
    This is such a disappointment when you consider how good the last two albums were. Rainbow Children and Musicology were his best albums since This is such a disappointment when you consider how good the last two albums were. Rainbow Children and Musicology were his best albums since Lovesexy in 1988. i thought 3121 was going to kill... it didn't. These songs wouldn't make an interesting bootleg, let alone a legit album. Lyrically immature, hooks that belong on Disney soundtrack and all around weak. The best song on this CD ,Beautiful Loved and Blessed, even looses its way with the stupid little rap and "Hey Hey Hey wave your hands in the air and say.." He's so much better than that . he needs to take the high road agin and challange us. 3121 has none of what makes him a great artist. He's allowe to go for the $$$, he should jsut warn us next time, thats all. Expand

See all 41 User Reviews