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Graffiti Bridge, the album really isn't that bad. Every once in a while, I'll throw on an old Prince album to see if my view of it has changed at all.
Listening to Graffiti Bridge today, it dawned on me that this is not a bad album in any way, shape, or form. Infact, it has a pretty jaw-dropping amount of incredible gems. Can't Stop This Feeling I Got is a really fun rock opener, New Power Generation works well as a pop song with consistent energy, The Question Of U is hauntingly powerful and has an amazing guitar solo, Joy In Repetition is a poetic work of art with beautiful lyrics and a wonderfully somber guitar solo, Elephants and Flowers has a unique, uplifting sound and is full of life, We Can Funk is a fun funk song, Thieves in the Temple is an incredibly unique pop song with a great Middle Eastern sound and multi-layered vocals, and Still Would Stand All Time is an incredibly powerful ballad with a rousing climax. Yeah, there's some filler, but that doesn't make the album bad. It just makes it less than great. The non-Prince songs are pretty "blah", and Graffiti Bridge is pure corny shit, but how can you call this album bad when there are so many good-classic songs from it to put on your iPOD? The album itself also flows pretty well and has a cohesiveness to it that was missing from the film. [Edited 3/5/06 13:06pm] The world is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.
"You still wanna take me to prison...just because I won't trade humanity for patriotism." | |
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i agree. i LOATHE the title song and 'round and round' gets old fast, but there are songs on most prince albums i don't like, so that shouldn't detract. i've gotten a lot of enjoyment from GB over the years. it made me wish i could like the movie more. | |
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Yes it is one of my favorite Prince albums! Actually one of my favorite albums period. I really kinda liked the New Jack Swing vibe of the cornier stuff and the ballads are haunting and beautiful. | |
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PurpleKnight said: Every once in a while, I'll throw on an old Prince album to see if my view of it has changed at all.
Listening to Graffiti Bridge today, it dawned on me that this is not a bad album in any way, shape, or form. Infact, it has a pretty jaw-dropping amount of incredible gems. Can't Stop This Feeling I Got is a really fun rock opener, New Power Generation works well as a pop song with consistent energy, The Question Of U is hauntingly powerful and has an amazing guitar solo, Joy In Repetition is a poetic work of art with beautiful lyrics and a wonderfully somber guitar solo, Elephants and Flowers has a unique, uplifting sound and is full of life, We Can Funk is a fun funk song, Thieves in the Temple is an incredibly unique pop song with a great Middle Eastern sound and multi-layered vocals, and Still Would Stand All Time is an incredibly powerful ballad with a rousing climax. Yeah, there's some filler, but that doesn't make the album bad. It just makes it less than great. The non-Prince songs are pretty "blah", and Graffiti Bridge is pure corny shit, but how can you call this album bad when there are so many good-classic songs from it to put on your iPOD? The album itself also flows pretty well and has a cohesiveness to it that was missing from the film. [Edited 3/5/06 13:06pm] I totally agree with you on this - I think 'Tick Tick Bang' is great - and I know all of the words to that song and have made many people laff (whilst extremely drunk) serenading thm with the lyrics (good times...!)    
'Ive never been 1 2 hide my feelings, Baby, u blow my mind I painted your face upon my ceiling, I stare at it all the time...'
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I agree with you.
The reason it is ridiculed is because of these two reasons: 1. The guest tracks, which make it less than a true "Prince" album. 2. Really, really crappy tracks like Graffiti Bridge and The Latest Fashion. If you trimmed it down to the tracks you mentioned as the good ones then it would be considered a really good Prince album. Of course, being connected to that excrement of a feature film doesn't help.  When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. | |
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bkw said: I agree with you.
The reason it is ridiculed is because of these two reasons: 1. The guest tracks, which make it less than a true "Prince" album. 2. Really, really crappy tracks like Graffiti Bridge and The Latest Fashion. If you trimmed it down to the tracks you mentioned as the good ones then it would be considered a really good Prince album. Of course, being connected to that excrement of a feature film doesn't help. Im still chuckling to myself about singing to a bunch of heavy metel heads 'tick tick bang' oh how small things please small minds eh? 
'Ive never been 1 2 hide my feelings, Baby, u blow my mind I painted your face upon my ceiling, I stare at it all the time...'
http://www.myspace.com/welshmess | |
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The album definately has highlights but I believe alot of the songwriting is not on par with the best Prince albums. Historically, it is where alot of Prince's instrumentation begins to get more conventional sounding and less "wierd."
And the movie was a travesty. It's the reason why he should never be allowed behind a camera again. | |
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PurpleKnight said: Every once in a while, I'll throw on an old Prince album to see if my view of it has changed at all.
Listening to Graffiti Bridge today, it dawned on me that this is not a bad album in any way, shape, or form. Infact, it has a pretty jaw-dropping amount of incredible gems. Can't Stop This Feeling I Got is a really fun rock opener, New Power Generation works well as a pop song with consistent energy, The Question Of U is hauntingly powerful and has an amazing guitar solo, Joy In Repetition is a poetic work of art with beautiful lyrics and a wonderfully somber guitar solo, Elephants and Flowers has a unique, uplifting sound and is full of life, We Can Funk is a fun funk song, Thieves in the Temple is an incredibly unique pop song with a great Middle Eastern sound and multi-layered vocals, and Still Would Stand All Time is an incredibly powerful ballad with a rousing climax. Yeah, there's some filler, but that doesn't make the album bad. It just makes it less than great. The non-Prince songs are pretty "blah", and Graffiti Bridge is pure corny shit, but how can you call this album bad when there are so many good-classic songs from it to put on your iPOD? The album itself also flows pretty well and has a cohesiveness to it that was missing from the film. [Edited 3/5/06 13:06pm] You right PurpleKnight. Sometimes when it comes to a Prince album, it takes several listenings it but now the album is just okay. [Edited 3/5/06 14:51pm] | |
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jdcxc said: The album definately has highlights but I believe alot of the songwriting is not on par with the best Prince albums. Historically, it is where alot of Prince's instrumentation begins to get more conventional sounding and less "wierd."
And the movie was a travesty. It's the reason why he should never be allowed behind a camera again. No one said it was on par with the best Prince albums. That doesn't make it a bad album. The world is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.
"You still wanna take me to prison...just because I won't trade humanity for patriotism." | |
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PurpleKnight said: jdcxc said: The album definately has highlights but I believe alot of the songwriting is not on par with the best Prince albums. Historically, it is where alot of Prince's instrumentation begins to get more conventional sounding and less "wierd."
And the movie was a travesty. It's the reason why he should never be allowed behind a camera again. No one said it was on par with the best Prince albums. That doesn't make it a bad album. I should've said that GB is a dramatic drop-off from the 10 years of recordings that came before it. I wouldn't rank it in the top 10 P Albums. The highlights that you mention don't save it from the bad taste that the weaker tracks leave. It was the first Prince album where I was extremely disappointed and felt worried about the future. When all is said and done, this album will be viewed as the point in his career where he took a definitive creative downturn. Where PR felt organic, instinctively wierd, genre defying and hyper-creative this sequel mirrored alot of his bad 90's choices (overproduction, weak soulless ballads, bad editing, simple drum programming, poor rap attempts, begging for the market, unconfident instincts and genre chasing.) | |
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It's the sound of Jimi Hendrix collaborating with MC Hammer, produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, featuring Daphne & Celeste....
In other words, the main problem is that the album is a mess. It's an idea that was clung onto for far too long, switch, changed, incorporated with other ideas and projects, and the end result is a soundtrack that houses brilliance slap-bang next to mediocrity. Like Parade, the greatness in the music has always been overlooked because of the bad movie. // [Edited 3/5/06 14:47pm] | |
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NouveauDance said: It's the sound of Jimi Hendrix collaborating with MC Hammer, produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, featuring Daphne & Celeste...
Yes, good description. Plus the opening track is the weakest of any Prince album. Can't Stop the Feeling I got -- I like it marginally, now don't get me wrong. I sing along 
But it's a bit too happy and cheesy. | |
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I have nothing bad to say about Thieves in the Temple and Joy in Reptition .... those gems don't deserve to be on that album. | |
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I like about half the songs.
I can listen to the songs individually, but it's really diificult to listen thru as an album. Incredibly innconsistent. | |
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I think it would have made a much better single disc, without the other involvement of the Time, et al. Try listening to just these songs:
Can't Stop This Feeling I Got New Power Generation The Question Of U Elephants & Flowers Joy In Repetition Tick Tick Bang Thieves In the Temple Still Would Stand All Time Grafitti Bridge New Power Generation pt. 2 | |
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I like Question of U, Elephants & Flowers, Joy in Rep, Thieves (especially the extended version), and Still Would STand all Time.
In 1990, upon hearing the album I DID like Love Machine -- until I found out that was Morris instead of Prince. What a waste, that so should have been Prince's song. It's so fun, and so him. I like the lyrics and attitude. Shall we say we're in Paris? Shall we say we're in Rome? Shall we imagine a menage a trois? Shall we imagine we're alone? Shall we dream of each other naked? Shall we get undress right here? She we do this thing by the book? Shall we give into our biggest fears? Are you going to dance with me? Are you goign to let me spin you around? Are you going to kiss me quietly? Are we going to make love with sound? Are you playing the part of a shy one? or are you inhibitions gone? Are u afraid of the love machine or will you let it DRINK YOU TILL DAWN.  | |
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Was this album also the end of the true B sides? | |
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jdcxc said: Was this album also the end of the true B sides?
Well yeah... But don't blame GB for that. The 12" was in the throws of death by this time, 1990 - It was the start of the CD era, end of the 9 track album, death to the b-side, the cremation of the 12" mix. | |
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NouveauDance said: jdcxc said: Was this album also the end of the true B sides?
Well yeah... But don't blame GB for that. The 12" was in the throws of death by this time, 1990 - It was the start of the CD era, end of the 9 track album, death to the b-side, the cremation of the 12" mix. I understand the technological changes but it seems as though I own alot of weak cd singles with additional radio edits and generic remixes starting from this album. | |
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jdcxc said: NouveauDance said: Well yeah... But don't blame GB for that. The 12" was in the throws of death by this time, 1990 - It was the start of the CD era, end of the 9 track album, death to the b-side, the cremation of the 12" mix. I understand the technological changes but it seems as though I own alot of weak cd singles with additional radio edits and generic remixes starting from this album. Yeah, but it's just not the same.....  I've gone to find myself. If I should return before I get back, keep me here. | |
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PurpleKnight said: Every once in a while, I'll throw on an old Prince album to see if my view of it has changed at all.
Listening to Graffiti Bridge today, it dawned on me that this is not a bad album in any way, shape, or form. Infact, it has a pretty jaw-dropping amount of incredible gems. Can't Stop This Feeling I Got is a really fun rock opener, New Power Generation works well as a pop song with consistent energy, The Question Of U is hauntingly powerful and has an amazing guitar solo, Joy In Repetition is a poetic work of art with beautiful lyrics and a wonderfully somber guitar solo, Elephants and Flowers has a unique, uplifting sound and is full of life, We Can Funk is a fun funk song, Thieves in the Temple is an incredibly unique pop song with a great Middle Eastern sound and multi-layered vocals, and Still Would Stand All Time is an incredibly powerful ballad with a rousing climax. Yeah, there's some filler, but that doesn't make the album bad. It just makes it less than great. The non-Prince songs are pretty "blah", and Graffiti Bridge is pure corny shit, but how can you call this album bad when there are so many good-classic songs from it to put on your iPOD? The album itself also flows pretty well and has a cohesiveness to it that was missing from the film. [Edited 3/5/06 13:06pm] the album smells like feet!!! Yeah tick tick bang...OMG I think i am going to get ill!!! Joy in repetion is a CLASSIC!!! | |
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...i didn't read anyones posts... but here is my claim
Joy in Repetition... it just blows me We Can Funk... makes me horny as hell and Still would stand all time... makes me cry and Thieves in the temple - WHO CARES DID U SEE THE VIDEO.... ahh yeah the GOOD years!!! ~Live Free ... Be Wyld~AlwaysOnlyMakeBelieve - LiveUrLyfe... laissez le bon temps rouler...vivre sans être sauvage...हमेशा ही बना विश्वास ~Change and do so CONSTANTLY... |
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i agree 'Graffiti Bridge' has some real gems. What i did just burned a version w/ just thep price songs. an 11 track kick ass album. | |
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1. "Can't Stop This Feeling I Got" (4:25)
2. "New Power Generation" (3:39) 3. "Release It" (performed by The Time) (3:54) 4. "The Question of U" (4:00) 5. "Elephants and Flowers" (3:54) 6. "Round and Round" (performed by Tevin Campbell) (3:56) 7. "We Can Funk" (performed by George Clinton and Prince) (5:28) 8. "Joy In Repetition" (4:54) 9. "Love Machine" (performed by The Time) (3:35) 10."Tick, Tick, Bang!" (3:31) 11. "Thieves In The Temple" (3:20) 12. "Still Would Stand All Time" (5:24) + bonus tracks not appearing in the movie but considered for inclusion: 13. My Tree 14. A Positive Place 15. Get Off 16. The Lubricated Lady 17. Loveleft, Loveright 18. The Grand Progression The above are the best tracks from the era in my opinion. The Grand Progression, My Tree and A Positive Place are bootlegs, the other bonuses are from the New Power Generation Maxi-Single. 
. [Edited 3/5/06 19:50pm] | |
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NouveauDance said: Like Parade, the greatness in the music has always been overlooked because of the bad movie.
// [Edited 3/5/06 14:47pm] except not everyone will agree with you that UTCM was a bad movie. I have a few friends who aren't big Prince fans who love that movie. Lots of less Princey people think it's really funny and the closest thing to a "film" Prince ever made. Don't sling it in the trash pile with the GB movie! | |
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PurpleKnight said: [color=mediumpurple]
Listening to Graffiti Bridge today, it dawned on me that this is not a bad album in any way, shape, or form. Infact, it has a pretty jaw-dropping amount of incredible gems. Can't Stop This Feeling I Got is a really fun rock opener, New Power Generation works well as a pop song with consistent energy, The Question Of U is hauntingly powerful and has an amazing guitar solo, Joy In Repetition is a poetic work of art with beautiful lyrics and a wonderfully somber guitar solo, Elephants and Flowers has a unique, uplifting sound and is full of life, We Can Funk is a fun funk song, Thieves in the Temple is an incredibly unique pop song with a great Middle Eastern sound and multi-layered vocals, and Still Would Stand All Time is an incredibly powerful ballad with a rousing climax. Yeah, there's some filler, but that doesn't make the album bad.[Edited 3/5/06 13:06pm][/b] "GRAFITTI BRIDGE", the album, takes WAY too much flack because the feature-film was such a ameturish disaster. The film was so indefensible that it's easier for fans to throw out the baby with the bathwater, because they're embarassed by GB. The GB album has more individual high points musically to me than "Lovesexy"; only "Lovesexy" has a unifying,positive theme/vibe which saves the day and makes it great. ("Lovesexy" with A-Hole lyrics would be called "The Black Album".) "GRAFITTI BRIDGE" is unique because it is the only true "Prince & Friends" album in his catalog. I love Mavis Staples' intro into "Melody Cool". "The Question of U" is a masterpiece. I agree with your takes on other tracks. The bottom line, is that "Grafitti Bridge" is just a plain FUN listen that doesn't make demands of the listener. Leave that to "Rainbow Children", "NEWS", "Lovesexy", & others. GB is in my top 10 Prince albums. | |
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warning2all said: ("Lovesexy" with A-Hole lyrics would be called "The Black Album".)
it's such a cliche to paint the Black album as reflecting Prince's darker side ...partially true but what exactly is "A-Hole"-ish about the lyrics? 
. [Edited 3/5/06 21:38pm] | |
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Man PurpleKnight this is spot-on. Do you have AIM cause? I love reading your opinions on prince songs (even if I don't agree) and would love to talk to you.
I love (most of) Graffiti Bridge. | |
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Graffiti Bridge is a great album, but like warning2all said, the film makes everyone forget what a great album it is. At the time it was released, the album scored a 5 star review from Rolling Stone, and an A+ from Entertainment Weekly and, while reviews don't necessarily mean anything, these reviews were printed BEFORE the film was released. It was based solely on the music, with all of the songs taken out of context from the film, which is the way it should be.
I jammed to this album 16 years ago, and I still jam to it today. It's got some true Prince classics on it. |
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E&P is my shit. I only bought the album for that song. But now I like that, Joy In Repitition, We Can Funk, Tick Tick Bang is catchy as hell, other than that.... One of Dansa's org hornies 
Supa is my gay messiah and he eats homeless dandruff sammitches on the bus.  HULK NEED LAID, HULK SMASH!!
The reigning queen of GD. All bitches step down. Prince.org: Where's Mani? | |
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