AoA and 20TEN for me, musically, and The Rainbow Children due to the theme and lyrical content.

FragileUndertow said:

Indigo nights!!!

ok, I'm going to change my opinion and demote 20Ten to his second worst album.

Indigo nights was, indeed, the wrost. The very worst.

Yes, I would call 'Kamasutra' bad. Even if I have it on as a background CD, I want to go over and switch it if.

Not necessarily 'bad', but I get very little enjoyment out of 'Prince' and 'Controversy' ... Some good songs, without any doubt (the song 'Controversy' is one of my all time favourites, and 'Let's Work' is quite good too), but as albums they feel bland, uneventful, sometimes downright silly, and (most of all) their sound is extremely flat and even muffled. There is no excitement in the sound.

Rimshottbob said:

REALLY don't understand the hate for The Rainbow Children and NEWS... two of his finest examples of the 21st Century.... the musicianship on them both is outstanding, Prince sounds INSPIRED on them far more than he was the few years before these.

And I've really never understood why the subject matter is a problem for people... "waaah, he's singing about a philospohy I don't agree with!" Yeah? Get over it. In any music I listen to, I don't have to agree with what they're saying/stating/singing, I just have to feel the passion with which they're expressing it, and that's all over The Rainbow Children.

And while NEWS isn't close to being jazz, it has that jazz sensibility of extended instrumental pieces with recurring themes and extended improvisation. When the musicianship is this good, I don't understand how people can complain. These two records SOUND good as well... I wish Prince's stuff (not counting the two new records, which I generally like) was half as inspired-sounding as NEWS and The Rainbow Children... Xpectation isn't as strong but it's still a good record.

For this reason, inspiration, I have to count Planet Earth and 3121 as far and away his worst records. It has nothing to do with them sounding modern or current, Prince just sounds like a shadow of his former self on these records. 3121 has the title track and Black Sweat on which he sounds engaged but on the rest of it he just sounds tired and burned out. (This was the case with some of Musicology, but most of it was good.)

And then we arrive at his least inspired effort, Planet Earth, which basically has no redeeming features. THere are literally thousands of albums it's always worth reaching for instead. he doesn't know whether to try and sound current or to exploit his funk/soul roots, doesn't know whether to sing about being a JW or about sex, doesn't have any clear vision for the album, the title is meaningless and everything on it is derivative of something else, done better elsewhere.

If it wasn't for the glimmer of hope provided by Lotusflow3r/MPLSound it would be easy to think that Prince was pretty much done. Lotus worked for the most part, MPLSound was another mishmash which half worked, but at least Prince sounded a bit more like he cared again, though now he was languishing in trying to recapture something classic. He went full tilt on the 'recapturing classic' sound on 20Ten, which is why, despite some fun moments, the record feels minor, throwaway. If it was a bonus disc with a 'proper' album it would feel more satisfying.

Clearly Prince sensed he needed a change of direction, a 'regroup' and creative rethink, and wisely he took his time doing it.

The resulting albums, Art Official Age and Plectrum Electrum aren't 100% successful, but damn - he's TRYING again... Art Official Age sounds fresh and inventive for the most part. At the very least he's created something that can divide opinion... better the fans and wider public be gushing about it and embracing it or feeling they have to speak out about how bad it is... so much better than just a 'new Prince album? Huh' collective shrug that he was getting prior to these.

So, in answer to the question (did I ramble on a little?) Planet Earth is the worst record, closely followed by 3121. I believe Prince realises this himself as he seems to have taken steps to avoid sounding that tired and uninspired again.

I say again that The Rainbow Children was not a "Madhouse" project. The music was great BUT there are lyrics and there were "Jehovah" (God) awful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hard choice. I can't decide which is worse, "New Power Shit" or "Fart Official Age". Both are pretty horrible though.

nigel1013 said:

Rimshottbob said:

REALLY don't understand the hate for The Rainbow Children and NEWS... two of his finest examples of the 21st Century.... the musicianship on them both is outstanding, Prince sounds INSPIRED on them far more than he was the few years before these.

And I've really never understood why the subject matter is a problem for people... "waaah, he's singing about a philospohy I don't agree with!" Yeah? Get over it. In any music I listen to, I don't have to agree with what they're saying/stating/singing, I just have to feel the passion with which they're expressing it, and that's all over The Rainbow Children.

And while NEWS isn't close to being jazz, it has that jazz sensibility of extended instrumental pieces with recurring themes and extended improvisation. When the musicianship is this good, I don't understand how people can complain. These two records SOUND good as well... I wish Prince's stuff (not counting the two new records, which I generally like) was half as inspired-sounding as NEWS and The Rainbow Children... Xpectation isn't as strong but it's still a good record.

For this reason, inspiration, I have to count Planet Earth and 3121 as far and away his worst records. It has nothing to do with them sounding modern or current, Prince just sounds like a shadow of his former self on these records. 3121 has the title track and Black Sweat on which he sounds engaged but on the rest of it he just sounds tired and burned out. (This was the case with some of Musicology, but most of it was good.)

And then we arrive at his least inspired effort, Planet Earth, which basically has no redeeming features. THere are literally thousands of albums it's always worth reaching for instead. he doesn't know whether to try and sound current or to exploit his funk/soul roots, doesn't know whether to sing about being a JW or about sex, doesn't have any clear vision for the album, the title is meaningless and everything on it is derivative of something else, done better elsewhere.

If it wasn't for the glimmer of hope provided by Lotusflow3r/MPLSound it would be easy to think that Prince was pretty much done. Lotus worked for the most part, MPLSound was another mishmash which half worked, but at least Prince sounded a bit more like he cared again, though now he was languishing in trying to recapture something classic. He went full tilt on the 'recapturing classic' sound on 20Ten, which is why, despite some fun moments, the record feels minor, throwaway. If it was a bonus disc with a 'proper' album it would feel more satisfying.

Clearly Prince sensed he needed a change of direction, a 'regroup' and creative rethink, and wisely he took his time doing it.

The resulting albums, Art Official Age and Plectrum Electrum aren't 100% successful, but damn - he's TRYING again... Art Official Age sounds fresh and inventive for the most part. At the very least he's created something that can divide opinion... better the fans and wider public be gushing about it and embracing it or feeling they have to speak out about how bad it is... so much better than just a 'new Prince album? Huh' collective shrug that he was getting prior to these.

So, in answer to the question (did I ramble on a little?) Planet Earth is the worst record, closely followed by 3121. I believe Prince realises this himself as he seems to have taken steps to avoid sounding that tired and uninspired again.

I say again that The Rainbow Children was not a "Madhouse" project. The music was great BUT there are lyrics and there were "Jehovah" (God) awful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually it's so mixed with Egyptology Princeology and touches of Jehovahs Witness, I can overlook any lyrical issues. Because like I said ^^^ automatically changes it into a fantasy album

His best album in the 2000s

The ones I listen to the least are NEWS and Planet Earth. NEWS because I'm not that into jazz and this isn't even really jazz anyway, Planet Earth because it's the first Prince album I've heard that had suck weak song writing. I was shocked. Everything was so meandering and unfocused. Nothing got stuck in my head from any of it.

.

Twenty10 and NPS get a bad rap to a point. I bet I could combine the two into one pretty decent album. Come On, The One, Wasted Kisses, Sticky Like Glue, Begining Endlessly, Laydown , Mad Sex, Lavaux, Push It Up, New Power Soul...not great but but not terrible.

.

So I'm going with Planet Earth. At least NEWS I can put on a dinner party or something and no one will object, so it has value in that regard.

Apart of the fact that every P album has his strong moments, to me musically the word "worst" mean "what doesn't attract my attention from time to time". The less I listen to it, the worst it is.

In this way, to be honest the "worst" is "Musicology".

I really like the title track and "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?", but all others sounds uninteresting and uninspired.

My least listened to Prince album is definitely NEWS...Why does everyone hate Rave? Is it because Larry Graham says the word God on one of the tracks? Or is it Prince's braids on the cover?

[Edited 11/13/14 10:13am]

jasminejoey said:

My least listened to Prince album is definitely NEWS...Why does everyone hate Rave? Is it because Larry Graham says the word God on one of the tracks? Or is it Prince's braids on the cover?

[Edited 11/13/14 10:13am]

I know everyone has their opinions here so I can't convince people or what not... But I always judge an album as a whole and how it flows as an album.

There are some people saying AOA is terrible, it's not... It's not a great album, it's not a bad album, however it does flow together well. Are there a lot of strong songs on that album or a song that stands out? To me only Clouds and U Know appeal to me, Way Back Home for the message and lyrical content, however it is stale to me as a song...

But like I said, I always judge albums as a whole. To me Rave wasn't strong as an album, it wasn't horrible, but it wasn't good. It had some songs I liked such as Hot Wit U, The Greatest Romance, Man O War. Same with NPS it has some good tracks like The One, Come On, Wasted Kisses... But overall it's not a strong album.

In terms of worst in my opinion I think it's Planet Earth, it's so supbar below his standards, there's nothing that stands out. Even his "BAD" albums have at least 1 or 2 stand out songs on them.

As far as N.E.W.S Kamasutra, I don't consider them an album, I consider then instrumental albums, EXODUS, GOLD NIGGA, the same, those are more side projects...

Planet Earth. Hands down.

chookalana said:

Planet Earth. Hands down.

Honestly... It really is. It's really bad.

20Ten

Kamasutra

[Edited 11/13/14 10:38am]

Really don't get why folks keep ragging on Planet Earth, which to me, is one of his better recent albums.

Admittedly, Mr Goodnight and Future Baby Mama are a bit bleh, but the rest of the record is solid imo. Perhaps some people don't appreciate the pop/rock sensibilities of songs like One U Wanna C, Guitar and the title track, but these are top drawer compositions to my ears.

MattyJam said:

Really don't get why folks keep ragging on Planet Earth, which to me, is one of his better recent albums.

Admittedly, Mr Goodnight and Future Baby Mama are a bit bleh, but the rest of the record is solid imo. Perhaps some people don't appreciate the pop/rock sensibilities of songs like One U Wanna C, Guitar and the title track, but these are top drawer compositions to my ears.

It's solid... But no substance... It's a consistant solid album of being below average and very supbar and mediocre.

Like I stated, even his "bad" albums have "good" songs, NPS, The One, Wasted Kisses, Rave, The Greatest Romance... But not one song stands out on Planet Earth. Every Prince album there is a new sound but Planet Eart seems so stale and redundant.

Emancipation, New Power Soul, 20Ten

MattyJam said:

Really don't get why folks keep ragging on Planet Earth, which to me, is one of his better recent albums.

Bland song writing. No funk. No rock. No spark. No fire. Nothing experimental or weird or challenging. Bad production. There's nothing engaging about it. It just sort of sits there. Like I said, nothing gets stuck in your head, for better or for worse.

feeluupp said:

MattyJam said:

Really don't get why folks keep ragging on Planet Earth, which to me, is one of his better recent albums.

Admittedly, Mr Goodnight and Future Baby Mama are a bit bleh, but the rest of the record is solid imo. Perhaps some people don't appreciate the pop/rock sensibilities of songs like One U Wanna C, Guitar and the title track, but these are top drawer compositions to my ears.

It's solid... But no substance... It's a consistant solid album of being below average and very supbar and mediocre.

Like I stated, even his "bad" albums have "good" songs, NPS, The One, Wasted Kisses, Rave, The Greatest Romance... But not one song stands out on Planet Earth. Every Prince album there is a new sound but Planet Eart seems so stale and redundant.

Pretty much this. It's an album of consistent but really boring songs. I'd rather have a record with 2 or 3 stand outs, 2 or 3 mid range tracks and let the others be clunkers.

[Edited 11/13/14 15:46pm]

...does not compute, don't not compute...

.

.

.

Maybe Graffiti Bridge, but there's still music on there I love... oh it's so hard to pick something I don't like.

.

.

.

I changed my mind. PLECTRUMELECRUM. I wanted to like this so much, but I only like a few songs, but mostly only the title track really does it for me. Everthing else seems like filler.

I think this would've been a more cohesive sounding album, but I sill woudn't love it.

WOW

PRETZELBODYLOGIC

AINTTURINAROUND

PLECTRUMELECTRUM

FIXURLIFEUP

ANOTHERLOVE

BOYTROUBLE

MARZ
FUNKNROLL

[Edited 11/13/14 18:18pm]

the worst songs of Emancipation

Kamasutra

The Truth

New Power Soul

NEWS

Xpectation / C-Note

Chocolate Invasion-Slaughterhouse

Indigo Nights

MPLSound

[Edited 11/13/14 18:31pm]

Chaos And Disorder---to me,this sounds like a very weak Lenny Kravitz album

OldFriends4Sale said:

nigel1013 said:

I say again that The Rainbow Children was not a "Madhouse" project. The music was great BUT there are lyrics and there were "Jehovah" (God) awful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually it's so mixed with Egyptology Princeology and touches of Jehovahs Witness, I can overlook any lyrical issues. Because like I said ^^^ automatically changes it into a fantasy album

His best album in the 2000s

I will say for the last time you cannot separate the music and the lyrics on The Rainbow Children. The lyrics overpower the music.

SoulAlive said:

Chaos And Disorder---to me,this sounds like a very weak Lenny Kravitz album

Is there such a thing as a strong Lenny Kravitz album?

Some of the answers here are just surprising to say the least. Planet Earth, 20Ten I mean really, okay they are not great but they are decent. None of his past decade even comes close to the worst album ever.

.

To me, the worst album of his comes in 3 fronts for me and they are.

.

WORST in GENERAL - Kamasutra, but it is all instrumental and dull ballet type music, the fact none of it is very good does not help. - 26/100

.

WORST in Regards to TALENT and MUSICALITY on Prince's behalf

New PowerSoul, lots of weak barely there jams, little musical or instrumental construction, bland themes of sex and parttying, no real thinking or statement songs. But yet it does have 3 fairly good tracks - Come On, The One and Wasted Kisses, the rest is fun, but very slight dance music. - 42/100

.

WORST for SUBJECT MATTER and LYRICS

The Rainbow Children, dogmatic kiss up to the Jehovahs Witness hate cult, lyrics peppered with sexist nonsense (Muse to the Pharoah). Antisemitism (Familyname) and silly Darth Vader Voices, this is just a mess, but some beautiful singing, excellent jazz playing and some fantastic ballads save it from being the worst and even elevate it to be a passable album overall. Basically what I am saying is the concept is godawful, but the actual music for the most part is brilliant and on par from what we expect from Prince. - 59/100

.

WORST LIVE ALBUM

I know there is only one official one, but Indigo Nights is very weak, flat musically and some very average versions of songs. Compared to the numerous concert bootlegs of all periods of his music, this official album fails badly if he wanted people to listen to official concert albums rather than a quadrillion superior bootlegs. (Compare this to say - Monarchy 2007). - 34/100

.

OVERALL - Kamasutra is the worst album he has ever done, but if you want words, it is Newpower soul.

[Edited 11/14/14 0:58am]

kygermo said:

FragileUndertow said:

Indigo nights!!!

Hey to each their own, but there's some stuff on Indigo Nights that I think is super-dope. I love the "Girls & Boys/Song of the Heart/Delirious" medley, and the version of my beloved "Alphabet St." on there is fire too. Shelby's "Misty Blue" sucks out loud though. He should have done the right thing and released the show he did with just Josh, CC & himself as the power trio. Thats a great bootleg.

While I agree 100% about Misty Blue and the power trio show, you have to remember the power trio show had Shelby singing Baby Love. I usually skip it and I think it kind of tends to be forgotten given the awesomeness of the rest of the shows but she sets a new personal best for, put your hands up's on this one, with a full 10 of them in the space of 20 seconds. She could have made it more but did a couple of put your, put your, put your, put your, put your's to leave space to maybe beat this record one day. I guess she didn't want to peak too soon and have nothing left to achieve later.

I didn't want to put my hands up when I was at the show, I certainly ain't gonna put them up when I'm listening to it while I'm driving my car because I'd crash. And if I'm walking down the street listening on my phone and put my hands up I'd look like a bit of a mental. I don't think she thought it through.

MattyJam said:

For me, Batman is a load of utter wank. I like the first two songs and then the rest of it is just.... well, shit. [Edited 11/13/14 7:21am]

I fogot about Batman

It was a real missed opportunity to put out something that was really stellar.

But, instead he put out crap. Arms of Orion alone was enough to make that

CD unlistenable to me.

Scooch87 said:

New Power Soul

Yeah, this one