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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Musicology
by Prince


8.3

based on 24 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 21 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Official Artist Site

The 45-year-old former squiggle makes a return to form with his first release in three years.

LABEL:	NPG / Sony
RELEASE DATE:	20 April 2004
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Pop, Rock, Urban

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

New York Magazine

Musicology is a thrilling, electric statement by an artist who just might be building toward another creative peak.

Dot Music

It’s a phenomenal album. And best of all, it’s unmistakably Prince.

E! Online

With Musicology, the doctor of sexual funk puts the self-indulgence on hold and digs back into the enticing grooves and towering melodies of his glory years.

Drowned In Sound

As a whole, it’s a 3 [out of 5], but the first two tracks are worth the extra point.

Q Magazine

His best work in many a long year. [Jun 2004, p.105]

Rolling Stone

As appealing, focused and straight-up satisfying an album as Prince has made since who can remember when.

The Guardian

Musicology strongly suggests Prince has finally roused himself from a decade-long self-indulgent torpor.

Launch.com

These dozen songs, which swing with the organic, old-school funk Prince began embracing in the late-’80s, also avoid his ‘90s excesses, combining rock and soul as effortlessly and succinctly as he ever has.

Logo

A collection of frisky funk, slinky soul, raucous R&B and heated rock ‘n’ roll based on real songs, rather than the doodles and sketches that have recently become the norm.

All Music Guide

Make no mistake, this isn't the second coming of Purple Rain or Sign 'o' the Times or even Parade -- in other words, it's not a masterpiece, more like a more confident and consistent Diamonds and Pearls without the hip-hop fixation -- but it's a strong album, one that impresses on the first listen and gets better with repeated plays.

Amazon.com

The Purple One has reconnected with that deep vein of funk after experimenting with his splendid and messy excesses since the cusp of the nineties, and turned out his best album since 1987's "Sign of the Times."

Village Voice

Musicology is noticeably spare and controlled. This development gratifies its admirers, and rightly so.

PopMatters

It's so obvious that he's having fun again, and that infectious feeling is what comes through loud and clear throughout the entire album.

Playlouder

At least 'Musicology' reunites us with that trademark Prince sound, that regal sparkle that’s influenced many and been matched by none.

Billboard

While this album does not break new ground, it focuses on a fun and playful Prince whose turn of phrase and instrumental dexterity call to mind why we embraced him in the first place--and still do.

Entertainment Weekly

The retro-leaning Musicology... sounds as if Prince is less interested in fighting Mr. Man than in giving in to him. [30 Apr 2004, p.160]

Mojo

Brilliantly produced and performed, rather than astoundingly well written. [Jun 2004, p.112]

New Musical Express

Ultimately, 'Musicology' is a kind of flawed redemption, neither inspired enough to be a true classic, nor insipid enough to make it unworthy of your attention.

Uncut

Might be a primer for his various selves, so redolent are individual tracks of previous songs. [Jun 2004, p.92]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Musicology is never bad, and though it does get bogged down in indistinguishable ballads, it usually finds a way to recover. [28 Apr 2004]

Pitchfork

Music that, while often pleasant, lacks the power of not only his best work, but also most of his successors' stuff.

Blender

Less of the recent Jesus-jazz, more funk minimalism--so far so good.... But the once-and-future Prince doesn't seem to be rooting around in the rich melodies of "Raspberry Beret" or the frenetic nu-wave soul of "Uptown." [#27, p.144]

The New York Times

A casual exhibition of Princeliness, stocked with a handful of old tricks but no new ones.

Stylus Magazine

Not only is the product musically conservative, chocked full of soul ballads and tame funk workouts, there's nary a trace of the devilish sense of risk that has permeated even his worst material.

The average user rating for this album is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Joe G gave it a5:
Average at best. There are some boring stretches here, some lite jazz noodling, and the songwriting isn't the greatest, but this is probably his best album since 1996. That's not saying much, but at least it's well-produced, usually well-played (there may be noodling, but there's some great guitar here and there), well-sung...some of this feels pretty conventional, almost meat & potatoes, but it still has its charm, and Prince's sense of humor shines through a couple of songs.

Andrew M gave it an8:
Musicology is pure funk from the soul. I can listen to this CD over and over again, and it still rates up there with anything I listen to. And I listen to a wide variety. True though, its highest point is by far the title track. Now can make songs this immortal anymore, for me its one of the greatest songs there is. True!! Nuff Said!!

Jason C gave it a6:
Doesn't live up to the hype, but it's not bad. A decent Prince album, like "Diamonds & Pearls" or "Controversy," but not a great one. There are a few boring tracks, and even though most of the tracks are good, they feel a bit too safe, like Prince is going back to old, proven formulas - he does them well, though. The title track, "Illusion, Coma...," "Life 'O' The Party," "Cinnamon Girl," "On The Couch," and "Reflection" are solid, the best tracks. Worth getting if you're Prince fan, but still over-hyped.

Mak16 Mak gave it a10:
Icreadibel! Prince Is Back! lwts celabrate!

max d gave it a 10:
the best!!!!!!!!

scott s gave it a 3:
It is insulting to even charge people for a cd like this....Really really horrible.

Bill S gave it an 8:
For old fans, it's a new sound for Prince. One that works, albeit less edgy than his earlier recordings. That said, it rocks no less convincingly than anything else he's ever done. True, it's not groundbreaking, but Prince came with an ready made excuse since the title song suggests this is a funky n' soul history lesson. Listen and learn. It's worth your time.

Musicology by Prince

Musicology
by Prince