A CELEBRATION: CHAOS & DISORDER

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Thread started 07/04/09 6:40pm

Swa

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A CELEBRATION: CHAOS & DISORDER

Continuing on with the one album a day discussion of Prince's music today we arrive at CHAOS & DISORDER.

With the Gold Experience behind us, and it not being as big an album as it potentially should have been, I was a big apprehensive when I heard Warner Bros were releasing a new prince CD. Obligation fillers generally don’t make for great artistic explorations so when Chaos and Disorder was released I was a little unsure what I would find, especially when the liner notes stated the material was “intended 4 private use only” and the disc featured the doors to the vault, you knew it was going to be a mix of past tracks and songs not intended for release.

But pressing play I was pleasantly surprised by the opening of Chaos and Disorder. With a rocking distorted guitar melody that out funk-rocked Lenny Kravitz, the song kicks a long with prince observing the changes in modern life. As he had done earlier on, he uses sound effects to punctuate the message of lyrics and provide a more thought provoking commentary – for instance the circus like melody that hits “he’s gay use to mean he’s happy” countered with the marching army boots that highlight the don’t ask don’t tell policy of the US forces “these days happy ain’t allowed”. With rocking verses, and a choppy approach to the chorus I found myself drawn into the track in a similar way I had been with Rock’n’Roll is Alive (and it lives in Minneapolis) [answering Lenny again with his claim Rock’n’ Roll is dead]. Powerfully anchored with Michael B’s playing the song was one of his freshest for a while.

I Like It There is a classic Prince rock song in the vein of When you were mine tinged with a bit more of the Britpop sound that had weaved it’s way in and out of his work from Around the World In a Day and more recently on Dolphin. While a pleasant enough song, it didn’t have the same kind of hook that his classic rock tracks had and listening to it again I find myself enjoying it more than I use to, but that may be more due to the fact that this is probably my least played Prince / prince albums.

Ok two questions. 1. What Prince thinking with Dinner with Delores? 2. What was Warners thinking releasing it as a single. I remember hearing this and thinking it was a fluffy 70s light rock song that Rod Stewart would still be churning out. And because of that whenever I hear this song I see tartan scarves, and run to press >>.

The Same December is a curious song for me as I find myself liking every second music phase of it, but finding the preceding moment a bit rock cliché. The chorus is again a bit 70s rock in the ilk of the Stones and Kiss, but then the build after it is all Prince and draws me back in. Like the ocean ebbs and flows, this song draws me in only to have me scramble back to the shore, until the blues breakdown hits and I dive back in. Like crunching a rock opera of musical styles into 3:24 the song hits and misses at the same time.

Right the wrong reminds me of the whole Parade era tinged with a bit of LoveSexy for some reason. Like a rockier take on Mountains. And thus, I adore it. The lyrics and vocal delivery are on point and the whole band feel fleshes out the song giving it a rich epic feel. One of the highlights on the album. And love that classic Prince Awwwoaaaa at 2:44.

Zannalee is classic blues-rock done the purple way. The perfect sister to The Ride, this is one of the most underrated songs in the catalogue I feel.

Where as Zannalee is Prince, I rock, therefore I am (and note the I not eye) is all NPG from the Diamonds and Pearls and prince era. I remember putting this on a mix tape at the time and loving when it popped up, but now the song seems to lack the same freshness that I felt it had at the time.

While I really wanted to love Into the Light, I found myself wanting more from it. It seems never to really reach it’s true potential, and while showing off Prince’s ability as a composer and arranger I keep waiting for it take flight and it seems to hover more than soar.

So whilst I was wanting more from Into the Light, I was immediately drawn into I Will. With its beautiful melody and vocal delivery this song deserved to be on a “real” release rather than hidden away on a reluctant release. It’s a haunting song that circles you in warmth and slowly moves in for an embrace. Too good to be overlooked, it should be considered for all self-made Prince compilations.

I can’t help but feel the tongue was firmly in the cheek when Dig You Better Dead was recorded. Was it a reference to the death of Prince, and the new offerings that were to come from the Artist? With it’s hip hop feel, the screeching guitar loop, and vocal hook it’s a song that held some intrigue for me, but now seems a bit throw away.

As has been noted many times before the start of the Warners relationship began with For You and ended with Had U. With its sweeping and somewhat teasing melody this was the big kiss off from an artist who had enough and was ready to create a new set of rules, and be free.

Like The Vault that would come later, Chaos and Disorder is a mixed bag. Songs like Had U, I will, and Right the Wrong make it an album that should get more airplay in the Prince catalogue that it receives. But when even the creator wants to distance himself from it, you know the heart isn’t in it. Thankfully his heart was in the epic release of Emancipation, the triple treat due for discussion tomorrow. But for today, hunt out your copy of Chaos and Disorder, relisten to it and see what you think. Then tell us.

Swa

"I'm not human I'm a dove, I'm ur conscience. I am love"

itsjustaroundt hecorner	i love chaos and disorder.. best songs (for me) are : i like it there zannalee the same december (so incredible when it rocks out) dig u better dead.. i love when P is angry!
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mzsadii	Not crazy about this album.If I had to pick a song it would be I Rock Therefore I Am but hate the rap part.
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jdcxc	Dinner With Delores is a brilliant pop song that has interesting lyrics, a metaphor about his decaying relationship with WB. I think the entire album is underrated. In their year end issue, Spin magazine voted it one of the year's best albums. I think it is uneven, but a throwaway in the fresh sense of the word- not overproduced.
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NpgSoldier	Man, it took years for me to get into C&D but nowadays I definitely love it, a pretty solid album indeed. I usually play it 2 or 3 times in a row, I really don't know why, maybe I'm a lil' bit fucked up in the head...
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