I have nearly completed my prince collection although there are a few albums i have yet to get. Not due to not wanting them but due to the fact i have found them hard to get.

Can i just ask everyones opinions on these following albums. The most i have really heard is sound bites from them


CHAOS AND DISODER

NEW POWER SOUL

THE BLACK ALBUM

what does everyone think of these?

lagantest said:

there really good, but eveyone else will tell you the 1st 2 are terrible

chaos was very down 2 earth with some hard rock touches. it sounds like he recorded most of it with a fuck u attitude.

musically most of the songs chords are quite simple overall, but its all driven by great guitar sounds. what i also meant by "down 2 earth" is that the arrangement is not as precise as on emancipation or TGE, but it just fits the style of the whole album. i dig it very much indeed.

new power soul is very funky at times and has some decent songs on it. some people love it and even say its their favourite, other say its his worst. but after some time ull get so obsessed with prince u feel like u HAVE 2 get it.

the black album is one of my favourites. its also very funky, although this is a different kind of "funk" than what u hear on new power soul. it sounds a bit more aggressive and daring. musically its good, but not the best, its just the hipe about the black album (because it used 2 b a boot) so it still has some kind of magic for fans. u should get that one.
[Edited 9/3/08 6:15am]

lagantest said:

Chaos and Disorder is a simple but fun little album.
The Black Album is a must have.

NPS is utter and complete crap. Avoid it at all costs.

I am someone that believes that if you are a fan of Prince, collecting everything would allow you the freedom to play it twice or not.

lagantest said:

See section 4 on http://prince.org/msg/7/145050 for the rest of the list.

The Black Album seems like 'must have', but is overrated.

New Power Soul is and remains a disaster: plastic dance/funk on 'autopilot'.

Chaos and Disorder might surprise you in a positive way: at least, if you like vivid, sparkling, almost live-sounding rockmusic and a great backing band. Just dont forget to skip the two closing songs: they are just filler.

the black album is a must 2 have however since it was in "limited release" it may b harder 2 track down


choas and disorder takes repeated listenings 2 fully get in2, but once ur there..its a cool album. the last 2 tracks r NOT filler material especially dig u better dead. once u understand what the lyrics r about.


new power soul 1st off is NOT a prince album despite what a lot of folks around here will say (his picture is on the cover, he sings all the leads blah blah blah)...i would suggest u get EXODUS 1st then new power soul and then u might understand y it's not the most liked album on this site

Dig U better dead is filler in terms of songwriting IMO, and next to that the style of the song doesnt fit in with the rest of the album.

Prince could have made a nice, compact rock-EP with Chaos and Disorder, but the last two songs just sound like they were put there to reach at least 40 minutes of music.

And, yes, New Power Soul is a Prince album, just like the first three Time albums are, or Sheila E's first two albums, or the Family album.

Its rather cheap to say: hey, New Power Soul isnt a Prince album, like it sucks less that way.
[Edited 9/3/08 10:42am]

Riverpoet31 said:

had u is the perfect 2 warner bros imaginable

but the bolded statement i very much agree with u about in those terms. if people r going 2 jump up and down screaming that nps is a prince album, then by all means, all of the protege albums r his as well

All three are good in my opinion. However, the sound quality on The Black Album is horribly tinny. Some of the boots I heard before its official release sounded way better.

lagantest said:

I like them all.

Chaos And Disorder.
Seems to me that it's been widely underestimated. Songs like "I Like It There" and "The Same December" are top notch songs.

New Power Soul
Not one of his finest moments. However, there's a great hidden track and I really dig "Freaks On This Side", "Come On" and "The One". And how many albums have four great songs?

The Black Album
Again, not one of his finest moments, but again, there are a few exceptions. His parody of rap music in "Dead On It" is great and I really like the first track "Le Grind". It's so funky.

I dont like #1
I don't like #3
I Love #2

but never listen to others opinions.