Dear Prince.org,

Which do you find the most satisfying Prince album during the freedom years (1996-2012) and what specifically is it about the artistry of that particular album that you love most?

1996 | Emancipation

1998 | The Truth

1999 | Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

2001 | The Rainbow Children

2002 | One Nite Alone (Piano)

2003 | N.E.W.S.

2004 | Musicology

2006 | 3121

2007 | Planet Earth

2009 | Lotus Flow3r

2010 | 2010

Personally, whilst I believe the 'best' album from Prince during the freedom years is The Rainbow Children, my personal favourite remains, perhaps surpringly (even to me) is | PLANET EARTH.

Planet Earth is an unusual choice, because whilst I understand many of the critiques justly levelled at what was a simple throwaway disc, the album just 'flows' musically in a bizarre, yet strangely, perfect way, for me. I love all the quirks, the lightness/heaviness/strangeness in the album (Planet Earth's epic 3 Chain's of Gold feel with the 'Could It Be Magic' interpolation by Barry Manilow; Guitar's pop appeal with its 'I Will Follow' wink to U2, the vinyl crackle intro to a jazz-tinged masterpiece of a song and, in my opinion, a true Prince classic, Somewhere Here On Earth, the rock/pop fun of The One U Wanna C' incl. the tongue-in-cheek "coming at you like thunder et al" lyrics , the sexy/funky solid fluidity of the RnB mid-section, held up admirably with the superlative vocals/melody of Future Baby Mama and the lazy summery flow that just works so well in Mr Goodnight (I love the throwaway lyrics, in particular, the Spanish man scenario, his "mind full of good intentions and a mouth full of raisenets" etc), another all-time Prince classic in the vein of the Dream Factory session's quirkiness, with All The Midnights In The World, a disco-light classic with an incredibly infectious rolling groove in Chelsea Rodgers, my own emotional favourite with the triumph that is Lion of Judah (the title alone should seal it, but the vulnerability/strength juxtapositions of the vocals/lyrics/music is incredible to me), finally ending with a definite guilty pleasure, the childish yet charming, Resolution).

Planet Earth shouldn't work and I am aware that it doesn't work for many Prince fans, but, for me, it somehow miraculously does, on almost every level. Unlike The Rainbow Children (which I also love, but for very different reasons), Planet Earth leaves me feeling like I have ironically been taken to 'another' planet, Prince's planet, a galaxy that is light years both ahead and behind its time, and yet strangely rejuvenating/healing, funky, sexy, magical, vulnerable, and childish. It certainly also leaves me wanting more, whereas by the time The Rainbow Children closes, I usually feel like I need a strong Indian head massage.

love,

Spirit

I'd say that of the albums there the most satisfying to me personally was LotusFlow3r. It just worked for me. I didn't like it at first but it's grown on me a lot over the years. The Morning After also makes for a cool bonus track . I totally get why you love Planet Earth, I actually like that album a lot too. The ballads on it are just awesome and it does strangely flow well. But in general any of the ballads released in the half of the "Freedom Years" are just in my opinion masterful. People might not agree with me here, but the second disc of Emancipation is easily one of my favorite collections of Prince's music, as well as the most played. Joint 2 Joint and was the only track that didn't belong on that particular disc in my opinion. Actually, I'll have to tie Emancipation with LotusFlow3r as my favorite "Freedom Era" track. Emancipation got played a lot when I first got it 2 years ago (I'm a newer Prince fan). Even though the album sounds plastic and horribly dated, I just love the songwriting on that album. Dreaming About U, Somebody's Somebody, Holy River, man that album was great. (Goes looking for it in CD collection)

The rainbow children and 20ten are up there with other prince classics form the eighties. If warners had released them in this peroid they would have been huge

Shouldn't you include Newpower Soul, Come 2 My House, GCS 2000, The War and Elixer? And the live releases? Unless u want only the "Prince" studio albums? And what about Crystal Ball? Too much older mterial?

Even in that case, thee is absolutely no justification for your list to exclude Xpectation, The Chocolate Invasion and The Slaughterhouse.

Oh... and why did you shout "Planet Earth"? My ears are still ringing :s

SpiritOtter said:

databank said:

Shouldn't you include The War

The War was released as a single. http://www.princevault.co...hp/The_War

no "newpowersoul" on that list? 3 great cuts come from that album

Come on, The One, Wasted Kisses

1996 | Emancipation 1 vote

1998 | The Truth

1999 | Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

2001 | The Rainbow Children 2 votes

2002 | One Nite Alone (Piano)

2003 | N.E.W.S.

2004 | Musicology

2006 | 3121

2007 | Planet Earth 1 vote

2009 | Lotus Flow3r 1 vote

2010 | 2010 1 vote

love,

Spirit

MPLSound needs to be on that list.

Isn't it odd that he sounded much more free during the NON-Freedom Years?

I think The Rainbow Children is the one from the Freedom Years where he sounded the most free. If not free, then at least inspired. I like that it tells a story. I like that he sounds passionate. I like that he toured behind it and included half of the record in the set list. I love the "I don't give a fuck if you don't like it" quality to the album as well. He had to have known it would be divisive, if not for the musical content, then for the lyrics.

To me, that's the spirit of Prince. In his truest artistic form, he does not pander. He creates music that means something to him first. I can't say he did that quite as often during the Freedom Years. At least, it doesn't sound that way to me. That said, I still found plenty to enjoy during this period.

databank said:

Shouldn't you include Newpower Soul, Come 2 My House, GCS 2000, The War and Elixer? And the live releases? Unless u want only the "Prince" studio albums? And what about Crystal Ball? Too much older mterial?

Even in that case, thee is absolutely no justification for your list to exclude Xpectation, The Chocolate Invasion and The Slaughterhouse.

Oh... and why did you shout "Planet Earth"? My ears are still ringing :s

databank,

Are you sure there is "absolutely no justification" to exclude Xpectation, The Chocolate Invasion and The Slaughterhouse?

love,

Spirit

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Isn't it odd that he sounded much more free during the NON-Freedom Years?

I think The Rainbow Children is the one from the Freedom Years where he sounded the most free. If not free, then at least inspired. I like that it tells a story. I like that he sounds passionate. I like that he toured behind it and included half of the record in the set list. I love the "I don't give a fuck if you don't like it" quality to the album as well. He had to have known it would be divisive, if not for the musical content, then for the lyrics.

To me, that's the spirit of Prince. In his truest artistic form, he does not pander. He creates music that means something to him first. I can't say he did that quite as often during the Freedom Years. At least, it doesn't sound that way to me. That said, I still found plenty to enjoy during this period.

Schlomo,

Great points.

I agree regarding the phenomental artistry of The Rainbow Children and, also, regarding the ironic reward/cost of freedom, which Prince certainly struggled to reconcile himself with, for at least a decade.

When he was 'free' (1996 onwards), it appears that he was required to learn a truer value of cost, which is perhaps why some of the album-era themes became less distinct and less profound compared to the WB years. Ultimately, it would appear WB funded the Prince machinery, heavily, but not without their cut of course.

Nonetheless, at this particular phase of his career, and for some time, it would appear that Prince certainly made the right decision to fight for his independence, if for no other reason than financial.

So, is The Rainbow Children your favourite album from this time period, too? I look forward to hearing your critical analysis of this time period, as I have noticed you always tend to make numerous valid points.

love,

Spirit

I don't like that 96-12 division

96-00 (best album, Rave)

01-03 (best album, Rainbow Children)

04-08 (best album: 3121)

09-... (best album, Lotus)

[Edited 8/6/12 7:03am]

2001 | The Rainbow Children

2006 | 3121

2009 | Lotus Flow3r

rdhull said:

2001 | The Rainbow Children

2006 | 3121

2009 | Lotus Flow3r

rd,

Do you think, Prince delivered as strong a three albums in the 80's or 90's? I know that, as fans, we have become more critical over the years, because the bar was set high and we are now niche, knowledgeable and expert (rather than novice) consumers.

On a different note, it is interesting that Prince chose to release the 3121 sessions as he did, spreading the songs on 3121, Planet Earth and, likely even Lotus Flow3r. In some ways, it is a similar method to how he spread the songs from the Dream Factory sessions, for Camille, Crystal Ball and Sign 'O' The Times, or The Dawn sessions for Come, The Gold Experience and Chaos & Disorder.

love,

Spirit

SpiritOtter said:

SpiritOtter said:

rdhull said:

rd,

Do you think, Prince delivered as strong a three albums in the 80's or 90's?

Hell yeah (in the 80's). DM, Controversy, and 1999.

The 90's were actually a bunch of bullshit in reality. Gawd..Come, C&D, Emancpation, Symbol, NPS, Rave. His mojo was really struggling there even with all the experience and showmanship/musicianship he had perfected from the 80's. He only gained his rep back in the 00's imo.

Im not saying TRC, LF, and 3121 compare to any of the 80's material either. But for where we are now they are good to great.

sausage/rd,

Are they stronger because most of the public, including his fans, had never heard of Prince before and, therefore, each musical era brought new delights? By the 90's and certainly the 00's, we knew what Prince was made of. By the law of dminishing returns, it would have been even more trying to impress his audience, or himself, after his initial era of creative musical genius, no?

love,

Spirit

SpiritOtter said:

databank said:

Shouldn't you include Newpower Soul, Come 2 My House, GCS 2000, The War and Elixer? And the live releases? Unless u want only the "Prince" studio albums? And what about Crystal Ball? Too much older mterial?

Even in that case, thee is absolutely no justification for your list to exclude Xpectation, The Chocolate Invasion and The Slaughterhouse.

Oh... and why did you shout "Planet Earth"? My ears are still ringing :s

databank,

Are you sure there is "absolutely no justification" to exclude Xpectation, The Chocolate Invasion and The Slaughterhouse?

love,

Spirit

If u're gonna arbitrarily exclude digital releases just because u have decided they are not "real", then I decide that vinyls are not real either, and therefore that all the albums that were released before CD's and never reissued simply... don't exist... so bad for James Brown and Sun Ra, huh?

And also some guy said once that 20ten wasn't "real" because it was sold with magazines, so we should exclude it as well

databank,

I can see why I might concede; you've made a good point.

love,

Spirit

Yay, more PE love.

Sure it's uneven as hell, but what album from the "freedom" years isn't, other than TRC.

SpiritOtter said:

databank,

I can see why I might concede; you've made a good point.

love,

Spirit

Love my dear

NouveauDance said:

Yay, more PE love.

Sure it's uneven as hell, but what album from the "freedom" years isn't, other than TRC.

Nouveau,

It is probably stretching it, but for me, Planet Earth and 20Ten remind me of the phases in Prince's musical trajectory, where he hasn't quite mastered a groundbreaking record, but is a mere one or two steps away, such as Controversy and Parade (two personal favourites of mine). I guess I find strong glimpses of light/dark, spirituality/sexuality, emotional/rational Prince recordings, sometimes more enticing, revealing and rewarding, than the perfect creations (such as 1999, Purple Rain, Sign O The Times, The Rainbow Children, which are almost always too 'much' for want of a better word); that's not to say that I don't love them, too. Perhaps, I have more fun with the imperfection of genius; it's just more human.

love,

Spirit

SpiritOtter said:

sausage/rd,

Are they stronger because most of the public, including his fans, had never heard of Prince before and, therefore, each musical era brought new delights? By the 90's and certainly the 00's, we knew what Prince was made of. By the law of dminishing returns, it would have been even more trying to impress his audience, or himself, after his initial era of creative musical genius, no?

love,

Spirit

Yes to some extent, the 80's material being from somoene who was a growing artist does play a part of the music being romanticized yet we all know the music was more adventurous. I mean that's with any artist. Hell, by ATWIAD we already knew what Prince was made of. After Rain, there was never anywhere to go but down. I don't know about 'diminishing returns" but the rollercoaster of loops, dips, and heights are expected. And to his credit, after the one two three four punch of DM, Contorversy, 1999, and Rain, the loops and heights are a credit to his (or any other long time artist's) creativity.

KingSausage said:

SpiritOtter said:

Dear Prince.org,

the freedom years (1996-2012)

You spelled "shit" wrong.

ha ha ha ha ha ha

Classic

rd,

Nice reflection. I would largely agree with you.

So, on a separate note, do you really not dig 20Ten?

Listen to the lyrics, musicality and sequencing of Act of God/Laveaux/Walk in Sand/Sea of Everything and tell me this Prince doesn't still make you tap your toes?

And I don't believe I am romanticising these songs, especially not the vocals of Walk In Sand/Sea of Everything. Okay, maybe I am a little. I guess I might find it difficult to let go and face a cold Minneapolis reality. Then again, without our dreams, what else is left - Purple and Gold?

Still, Prince was/is a musical genius.

His was/is a Gift of GOD.

love,

Spirit

I can't be the only one who really dislikes 3121 and Planet Earth?

The "Slave years" were so much more interesting than "the freedom years".

No need to talk about the Warner years, they were superb.

Now, these days.. boring. The Prince albums since 1996 sucks (most of them).

SpiritOtter said:

rd,

Nice reflection. I would largely agree with you.

So, on a separate note, do you really not dig 20Ten?

Oh I really do like it. Because it wasnt given a proper release in the states, Im always leaving it out for some reason. Future Soul Song is a great enough song by itself to warrant the release imo.

thedance,

Artistic struggle, especially with a genius like Prince, is likely to result in examples of musical brilliance, such as Space, Days of Wild and Shhh!

Of the two albums you mentioned, what is it about 3121 that you really dislike?

You don't like Michael B's resurgence on the dark Camille-eque inspired 3121, the humour/honesty of Princes lolita tendencies with that more restrained funk beat (as a lovely 1-2 combo after 3121), the quiet contemplative latin influence and new musical stylings of Te Amo Corazon, the ridiculous Bob George-esque beat of Black Sweat (even if the Dre-inspired synths were more appropriate for dogs), the euphoric and inspiring turnaround of Love (especially the chorus), the old soul timeless classic groove of Satisfied (especially with the drawn out twisted humour within the extended live versions), the classic pop-funk of Fury borrowing equally from Jimi, Sly and his own back catalogue with the synths, 1999, not to mention when he tears it up live with electric, the pop appeal of The Word even with its religious overtones, the gorgeous and energy giving Beautiful, Loved and Blessed (especially when Prince comes on with those vocals, and the funky breakdown, Hey, Hey, Hey), the schmaltzy I Hate U-esque rendition of The Dance (overshadowing the seriously vulnerable lyrics a la the Old Friends 4 Sale's remake), and what a finale, possiby one of Prince's greatest funk-soul-pop workouts, Get On The Beat.

I mean, really, what is there not to like? Unless, you don't like black music; 3121 was a black musician's album. I think it's good, although I prefer Planet Earth and 20Ten, as the music seems more fluid, in terms of sequencing, vocal delivery and that sense of Prince seemingly not caring too much about the exact sound/note, which ironically sounds more inspired than his more laboured efforts (it's the difference between The Beautiful Experience live and the released The Gold Experience).

love,

Spirit

JoeTyler said:

I don't like that 96-12 division

96-00 (best album, Rave)

01-03 (best album, Rainbow Children)

04-08 (best album: 3121)

09-... (best album, Lotus)

[Edited 8/6/12 7:03am]

Joe,

What you don't like about the 1996-2012 division? And of those albums you listed above, which is your current favourite and why?

love,

Spirit