OdysseyMiles said:

The big difference being that it'd mean something entirely DIFFERENT if I said anything like that about SOTT vs TRC given that I think his source of inspiration for the record is troubling and it's only provocative in an annoying sort of way, not in any arousing or feel good method. On top of that, it's really not thought provoking given the silliness of the lyrics. I can't take it seriously long enough to think about anything he's trying to say - except for the moments he steps forward with a few misogynistic and racist remarks.

Hell, The Vault is more inspired, provocative, thought provoking and controversial than TRC, imo, but for entirely different reasons - not all directly related to the music.

PurpleKnight said:

I understand why some people say this, but I also understand that many are putting their own spin on those lyrics.
Personally, I don't tune the lyrics out at all. I embrace them and accept them for what they are, just like the old lyrics that get heralded on this board day after day.

HamsterHuey said:

I like it. I think it's slightly better than Rave.

jtfolden said:

Would you care to elaborate this point?

D.
--

I immediately liked "She Loves Me 4 Me" and "Everywhere". The "voice" was very off-putting for me for a long time.
The album slowly grew on me over the course of about a year. I really enjoy it now. Even the preachy "voice" doesn't bother me anymore. The title track is just amazing. The Work is good, Last December is classic. Only Wedding Feast and the narritive part of Family Name are lemons to me.

His best album musically, hands down. Prince's best guitar and keyboard playing on an official release is on this album. Lyrically, yes, he may have been 'got to' by religious dogma/bigotry a little. Never thought I'd ever hear P sound even vaguely anti-semitic/racist or sexist. But these are only a handful of references on a 70 minute album. I'd rather they weren't there at all but ... TRC will be viewed in the future as a 'hidden classic' - too wierd for general consumption, but for those with minds open ...

He was on fire musically like he hadn't been since the '80s (in a different way), dropping fab stuff like 'One Nite Alone', 'Xpectation', 'C-Note' and ONA Live.

And man, was I disapointed when his 'big follow-up' to TRC was 'Musicology'. What the hell happened there?

demob said:

Well, to get too in depth would be worthy of starting a new topic but in a nutshell:

I think the Vault is an interesting testament to how low Prince would go to get out of a record contract and how easily WB would, finally, let him. On the one hand, Prince seems to have a total disregard for what this album would represent with the normal buying public. I mean, if this is an example of what's left in the musical vaults then George Michael was right - he doesn't need to record every little note that comes into his mind... It's not all 'bad' music but the collection as a whole is pretty generic and faceless. Secondly, a lot has been made about how the staff at WB felt like Prince was throwing crap/garbage at them in references to Come and Chaos & Disorder. IIRC, WB sent Come back to Prince a couple times before they finally accepted the contents. For their last record of new recordings, WHY would they accept The Vault as is? Seems to me I would have milked a desperate Prince for something a little more chart worthy, if I was them.

Miles said:

Interesting point, and you know what? Until you mentioned that I'd never thought of it that way, but now I come to think of it...

jtfolden said:

But how does this "generic and faceless" quality of The Vault make it "more inspired, provocative, thought provoking and controversial than TRC"?

Miles said:

I agree with this 100%. And what I find even more interesting is the complete division over this album, like no other. There are people that completely hate it, and then people that think it's probably the best thing he's ever done. I'm one of the latter people; I think it's arguably his best work. TRC and SOTT constantly switch places as my #1 Prince album of all time.

I believe there will be a point where it is considered one of his greatest albums. I think it is already. I was in love with it from first listen.

Universaluv said:

Note what I said to begin with... "but for entirely different reasons - not all directly related to the music." The Vault at least has an interesting back story, imo.

supportors of this awfull album have such low self esteem, always starting a thread to try and convice people it doesnt suck.

It's such a Great Album. I Can't believe you aren't feeling it. Are you an older fan or newer fan?

homeandmantel said:

How dare you make such a statement. Just because we like it and you don't doesn't mean you have to be an asshat.

We're not supporters; we're enjoyers. We enjoy life and don't let things like music albums piss us off.

TheBigBang said:

who's pissed off, i find you guys comical

TRC is the most controversial album from Prince. Half fans love it or hate it.

Musically, it´s probably the best work he´s ever done. Lyrically, I understand why some people hate it (although I share some of his beliefs).

TRC is the only Prince album i can't listen to and i've been there since the early 80's....i dont like any songs off it and the cd label is UGLY

homeandmantel said:

Whatever. I just have a problem with someone insulting me because I like something that they don't. I say let people like what they want. It shouldn't affect you either way.

ok,..... so if you forget about the message,.... dumb lyrics,.....corny darth vader voice over...the uninspired music, .....squint youre eyes,.. stand on one foot,..... then my friend, you'll hear what great musicanship sounds like!
A Masterpeice!
Now i get it.
[Edited 12/30/05 6:41am]

Here is the one thing that amazes me about this CD....The negative response that it usually gets.This negative response is based on Prince's decision to try something different from what he normally does. Keep in mind, that he "normal" material is usually different from everyone else anyway. Just because he touches on the subject of religion, people go nuts. Even if you are an athesis and don't believe in a "Higher Power", your belief or disbelief, in this case, comes from what u read, heard, and were taught. Hopefully,while you were being taught, you asked questions on the material that u were given. This is so you could form your own conclusion. One cannot come to a conclusion about anything, unless he has looked at the pros and cons on the subject and asked questions about both.

Everybody has a message in their music, Rappers, Rockers,etc. Some of their messages are more violent than the one that Prince, yet nobody really says a word about that. Yet Princes message, is one of peace and harmony and what can happen if those things are taken for granted.

I look at The Rainbow Children as the most inspired recording Prince has done since Lovesexy. The flow is incredibly perfect. Those who understand, hear, and feel it will get it, and those who let the lyrics offend them will not. Personally, I understand the lyrics, love the segues, and enjoy the story the way Prince tells it. No one minded the lowered pitched voice when Prince was expressing the Spooky Electric side, but when it's about God, they can't take it. Musically, it's jazz-fusion-funk is on par with anything recorded in the '70s. Sonically, it sounds like it was recorded on 2 inch tape. The warmth and depth R beautiful. I had 2 thank Femi Jiya for the way The Rainbow Children was mixed, when I was working with him on Stevie Wonder's recording setup for the recording of Time 2 Love.

Peace.

G.
[Edited 12/30/05 7:23am]

the music is FANTASTIc, the lyrics and "story" are crap, and the freaking voice over makes my spine shudder, it's so bad. i only understand every fifth word of it, and it sounds like mysarage bunga garfunkel rainbow children mushugana wop-wop feast"

and wedding feast is painfully awful, segue or not.

Giovanni777 said:

- I don´t enjoy the segues and the storyline as a whole...but musically it really flows. The sounds of the instruments is very cool too, opposite to the plastic drum machines of 96-2000...it´s a trip

Went to my highstreet wreckastow to buy it when it came out and it was like £16.99($30),so i put it back,but dont think im missing much though.
From what ive heard since then its sounds

The Banished Ones don't seem all that threatening or evil. After all, they claimed they just came to dance (not evil) and they would only kick your PANTS (not threatening). Doesn't seem like such a dangerous, balls to wall, Good vs. Evil epic to me. The album has great stuff on it. The voice ruins the opeings of songs. Rainbow, the song, without the voice over is -awesome. Intro to 1+1+1, ruined by the voice.
Anyway, get out there and get yo ass, uh, pants to work!
[Edited 12/30/05 9:26am]

GustavoRibas said:

...and opposite to the engineering of Hans Buff from those years. Femi has shown a few different styles within his career. A Time 2 Love sounds absolutely fantastic.

setyrmindphree said:

That's because they're not. They're just not JW's, which is a sin now to Prince that gets you "lost on the other side", and no longer alive on "Armageddon" day.

I love this album more and more as time goes by.