New Power Generation* – Newpower Soul

Chinese bootleg - ban please, seem to block other releases

Great late 90s “Prince” album. Not as good as NPGs previous album EXODUS but still a good album.

'Come On' is such a jam, 'Freaks On This Side' has the power, 'The One' has the message... the NPG releases got their own thing going on and my young self is so grateful to Prince and all the musicians involved for creating and releasing such an expansive library of music.

When I would speak about Prince to friends, and all they knew were the big hits, I knew it was special to be aware of all the 'other' planets and moons in the Paisley Park universe. This informed and expanded my ability to search out and find the rarities, b-sides, remixes, pseudonyms and associated projects in everything.

'When you understand everything in every book... congratulations, your in the New Power Generation'

I'm up for a vinyl version of this as soon as the Estate is ready to put one out. Same goes for all three of the New Power Generation albums...

My apologies....I skipped this one, so I had to go back...

"Newpower Soul" for some reason was released under the group name "New Power Generation"...I think I would have accepted "The Artist and the New Power Generation".....Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter, even though people like myself considered this an "Artist" album instead...

At this time, the "NPG" consist of, "Rhonda Smith" (Bass), "Mike Scott" (Guitar), "Kat Dyson" (also Guitar), "Kirk Johnson" (Drums), "Mr. (Morris) Hayes" (keyboards), "Marva King" (Vocals) and of course, "Mayte"...

The album starts off with the JUMPIN' "Title Track"....

"Mad Sex" sounds a little over done, but it's not that bad...

"Until U're In My Arms Again", along with "The NPG Orchestra", is a nice Slow Jam, even though it is not as good as his other Classic Slow Jams....

"When U Love Somebody" is an UNSUNG song, with BUMPIN' Drums, great Horns and a FANTASTIC Melody....

"Shoo-Bed-Ooh" is that goofy t...

"Push It Up" THROWS DOWN with help from "Mr. Larry Graham", "Mrs. Chaka Khan", the Human Beatbox himself, "Doug E. Fresh", with Scratches by "DJ Brother Jules"....

"Freaks On This Side" also has that GET DOWN on the floor vibe to it as well....

One of the Crown Jewels of the album in "Come On" (also featuring "Chaka Khan"), has a BUMPIN' track with Wicked Keyboards....

The other Crown Jewel in "The One" is a GREAT, GREAT, GREAT Slow Jam, no doubt for his Love for "Mayte"....

"(I Like) Funky Music" (also with "Doug E. Fresh"), rounds out the album nicely...

Now, I will say that I don't understand why the last Crown Jewel in "Wasted Kisses" is a hidden track, going all the way to track 49....That's crazy!!!!! It deserved to be part of the album!!!!

I agree with "Jazzybell ", the "Prince Estate" needs to stop playing around and put this on Vinyl!!!! With that being said, this album was pretty good, even though it didn't get a lot of attention......

Was this really made in Japan?
Says pressed by SONGPRESS, Hong Kong on obi

Onc of a LONG list of mediocre Prince albums, where he was in full on watered-down "Neo Soul" mode, and with weak songwriting & production to boot.

One Prince entered his "I need to be a follower instead of a leader" vibe, he lost it, IMO.

Underrated album. I love "Come On"...what a serious grove! Definitely buy or this one!

Track 10 is called ('eye' like) Funky Music, not just Funky Music

I personally don't think this album is worth ALL the negative hype it got. To be fair, this wasn't completely intended as a Prince album, but rather an NPG album, the difference being a slightly more mainstream-driven album (and in that regard, a less mainstream album it became). I think that, when approaching this record as an NPG release, my initial disappointment was less severe, and I slowly came to appreciate what Prince had in mind for it.

Very beat-driven, few really distinct melodies along with a few slow numbers, it's a rather predictable album, with lyrical content that doesn't do much justice. But even considering, there are some solid finds for me, like Mad Sex, Freaks On This Side, and the (hidden) track Wasted Kisses. Actually, these are really the only tracks that keep me interested in Newpower Soul. Again, not nearly his best, but still worth a listen.