3121 - Prince
3121 Image
Metascore
69 out of 100

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

User Score
9.0 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 61 Ratings

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  • 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.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
    91
    It could be argued that music this masterful waives all claim to the sound of surprise--until you pay attention.
  2. Drowned In Sound
    80
    Like many of his records, it's more of a collection of songs than a 'play from beginning to end' affair.
  3. Mojo
    60
    It's difficult to judge on one listen. [May 2006, p.104]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Pitchfork
    60
    3121 does a bit better than [Musicology], coming up with a handful of infectious songs-- it's his best since the symbol record, although certainly there remains a massive chasm between it and his masterpieces.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 40
  3. Negative: 1 out of 40
  1. Vanessa
    10
    Prince combines old and new styles in this album. It is full of energy and as usual the songs are very different. This album is worth having (as are most of his albums)!… Collapse
  2. MCJC
    8
    great album. no touching 'Black Sweat'.
  3. MikeL
    7
    It took awhile to grow on me, but this is arguably Prince's best album since "The Truth" (released in 1996 with "Crystal Ball" and unfortunately OOP). Pretty solid stuff, 8 of 12 tracks are keepers. 4 just plain suck, and they're mainly the slow ones. Of the ballads, only "Satisfied" is worth returning to - it's classic, slow-burning Prince.… Expand
  4. SamM
    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 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 40 User Reviews

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