Customer Reviews

Sst / Brand New Orleans

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It is striking how easily composing, songwriting, and producing comes to Prince. With these two songs he shows he still has got the magic that characterised his most inspired recordings. Moved by the Katrina tragedy Prince immediately recorded S.S.T. and Brand New Orleans to help raise funds for the victims of the hurricane. The songs were allegedly recorded over one night. Prince played all instruments on both cuts, which in his case may not seem too spectacular but nonetheless it is still impressive in the light of the current popular musicianship. S.S.T. is a well-crafted pop joint with a memorable melody, grabbing hook, and astounding vocal harmonies. It sounds fresh and honest, and definitely nothing like half-hearted, attention-attracting efforts of other "stars" who wanted to benefit the victims of Katrina with their art. Brand New Orleans is an instrumental groove based on the upbeat finale of S.S.T., which leaves you completely awestruck with its vigour, tightness, energy, and musical structure.

On a personal note, SST/Brand New Orleans helped me get through the tough times that I endured during Hurricane Wilma. It put me in the mood to make the best of my situation. Thankfully, the aftermath wasn't as bad as for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This two tracks are very heartfelt musical compostions. SST has socially conscious lyrics and emphasizes the need for loving and helping one another instead of spreading hatred. Brand New Orleans starts where SST left off and builds an elaborate and intricate tapestry of rhythm and melody.

The instrumental is filled with so much funk that it stinks!!! Great little CD at a good price.

I bought this CD out of impulse one day in a music store (I later found out that it was the exact day that it was on shelves, which amused me I guess). I love Prince, and thought this would be a worthy buy, considering I have enjoyed all of Prince's EP's in the past. This, however, really doesn't even sound much like Prince. It's way too folkish, which I suppose was the intent, but nothing really clicks; I just don't feel the style. SST sounds very upbeat and light-hearted, thus clashing with the deeper meaning behind the EP. BNO is very similar to SST, almost to the point of calling the instrumental version (if it isn't already considered such). Needless to say I listen to this EP rarely. The song 'Planet Earth' is much more idealistic towards the lyrical goal I think. Even so, his album Planet Earth has only the title track for which it can rely on for said theme; it seems to me Prince is still too comfortable with his trademark funk to really get into anything really serious for long.

Brand New Orleans is one of the basic Prince songs, it reminds me to N.E.W.S., the only fault is not being longer.

None must miss this stuff.

For $3 bucks, this ain't a bad deal. Pretty good for the New Prince, but not like the Old Prince, SST is an above-average track for Prince that, if added to his recent album, would have been a highlight. Odd Sade reference notwithstanding, this track has a cool New Orleans-style melody hook, complex, gospel-style vocals, and a nice vibe. While the intrumental jam BRAND NEW ORLEANS has a sorta clever title, it's really just another throwaway Prince groove that should have kept in The Vaults. Still, SST ranks as one of Prince's better recent cuts that puts most of his last-decade work to shame. Let's he stays this focused and raw and self-contained on his next full-length effort...but I'm not gonna hold my breath.

I did not realize that this album was out. I was searching for the Prince CD's that I had lost and I found this one. Once again Prince does a GREAT job. He is never a disappointment.

anything by Prince is a must...you cant rate perfection :)

LUV LUV LUV my man Prince, so anything he does is always good stuff. Thanks

Cooking busy late Sixties Curtis Mayfield style funk groove. Curtis Mayfield style guitar cranking shyly humbly on time all around. Electric piano making noise. Retro electronic keyboards, including that busy little Miami Vice pitch bender (who was that guy, really big once upon a time). Kind of stuff you might here in the back of an old time blaxploitation film cranking all night long, during the car chase, during the house rent party. it cranks. and that is just the instrumental side. you know, that little man did all by himself, not a drop of sweat out of time. covers it well. get it. get on up, get it. get on up. get this thang today.

Out to be some residential candidate's theme song, like Obama if he's Black.

get it. get on up. get it.

Then play the lyrical side; hear the words. who keeps giving guns to the poorest of our nation's sons . . .

prince preaching
tell it

did you let them die in the rain?

this here ought to be some one's campaign theme song. never mind springstreen and the rest. p[lay this. remember katrina, remember our bodies floating bloating in the streets, while brownie did a heckuva job raising investment horses. remember katrina, our people imprisoned in a football stadium without food and water without bathrooms, dying in their wheelchairs and left there.

take a look at When the Levees Broke. play this get this get on up. get this. remember the dead. live the life.

a whole American and people, our richest cultural heritage, wiped out, no health care, all cash to hellibruton and blackwater, none to hold back the waters from our own people in their own old time homes. no hlep for our own people, our own military high calibre guns turned upon our own people, instead of a water bottle and help. just help your neighbor. get this. play it all night long. warm it up. get the house moving. bringin the neighbors open house party bring back the life we once had play this get this get on up.

this is it.
prince. preach little man. tell the truth one more time again. get on up. get this disk.

vote for life this time.