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Thread started 04/29/16 3:33am

KingSausage

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Emancipation is now INCREDIBLY hard to listen to

I listened to Emancipation yesterday and found it extremely difficult to take. (And no, I'm not talking about the terribleness of Mr. Happy.) It's just too raw and emotional. Prince pouring his heart out about his excitement over starting a family. His boy never had a chance. And now he's dead.

The Love We Make is like someone is cutting 20 onions right in my face.

The Holy River is like someone punching me in the nuts. Twice.

So many songs are too tough right now. Emancipation was his most personal album, IMO. Perhaps that's why. It's like reading the diary of a friend who just passed away. Hopes, dreams, fears, anger, wishes. And now that friend is gone.

LIKE TEARS IN THE RAIN
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #1 posted 04/29/16 3:48am

FunkiestOne

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KingSausage said:

I listened to Emancipation yesterday and found it extremely difficult to take. (And no, I'm not talking about the terribleness of Mr. Happy.) It's just too raw and emotional. Prince pouring his heart out about his excitement over starting a family. His boy never had a chance. And now he's dead. The Love We Make is like someone is cutting 20 onions right in my face. The Holy River is like someone punching me in the nuts. Twice. So many songs are too tough right now. Emancipation was his most personal album, IMO. Perhaps that's why. It's like reading the diary of a friend who just passed away. Hopes, dreams, fears, anger, wishes. And now that friend is gone. LIKE TEARS IN THE RAIN

That album is way underrated. Maybe every song is not perfect but maybe half of them are near perfect.

.

[Edited 4/29/16 3:48am]

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Reply #2 posted 04/29/16 5:53am

McD

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If Discs 1 and 3 were merged to make one 12 track CD (and personally I'd say 2/3rds should come from disc 3), I'd go as far as saying it would be equal to any other album he ever made. Disc 2 is perfect. But yeah, I guess listening to that disc right now (and parts of 3) would be an emotional rollercoaster.
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Reply #3 posted 04/29/16 6:36am

MattyJam

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Emancipation is an amazing record. In This Bed Eye Scream, New World, Face Down, The Holy River, The Love We Make, The Human Body, Soul Sanctuary, Joint 2 Joint.... all on one album? Fucking amazing achievement of a record imho.

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Reply #4 posted 04/29/16 6:38am

Musze

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Disc 2 I've always considered his perfect hour of music. The production on much of 1 and 3 is lacking... but it's the most vulnerable he EVER was.

I Love U, But I Don't Trust U Anymore...
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Reply #5 posted 04/29/16 6:39am

yvanehtnioj121
4

"The Holy River" is one of the first songs I listened to after I heard the news. It really cut me deep.

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Reply #6 posted 04/29/16 7:24am

terrig

I love that album and tried listening yesterday and couldnt do it.

sigh. still feeling so sad.

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Reply #7 posted 04/29/16 7:41am

NorthC

I find comfort in listening to The Love We Make and The Holy River. It's the songs about how happy he was with his upcoming baby, that I don't want to hear.
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Reply #8 posted 04/29/16 7:47am

KoolEaze

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I never disliked it as an album. There are a couple of songs on it that I can´t stand but the good stuff outweighs the few clunkers by far. The ones I dislike are We Gets Up, Courtin Time, Damned If I Do and Jam of the Year. The rest is pretty good musically and lyrically.

Most of the songs would have sounded much better if he had not fired his band. You can hear the big difference between the few songs with the NPG and the rest.

The NPG songs sound much fuller, almost bombastic, loud, dynamic , full of energy.

The non-NPG songs sound good, too,but not as heavy and strong as the ones without the band.

That combo of Sonny, Prince and Michael was truly a power trio.

Just listen to how great they sound on Betcha By Golly Wow.

Not exactly a great choice for a single but a great cover and great rendition.

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #9 posted 04/29/16 7:48am

KoolEaze

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And yes, it is almost unlistenable due to the highly personal and, in hindsight, very sad lyrics. neutral

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #10 posted 04/29/16 7:56am

KingSausage

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KoolEaze said:

And yes, it is almost unlistenable due to the highly personal and, in hindsight, very sad lyrics. neutral




I'm actually mad at myself for listening to it. It was painful. I might even not listen to it again for months. Can't take it.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #11 posted 04/29/16 8:02am

BanishedBrian

KoolEaze said:

I never disliked it as an album. There are a couple of songs on it that I can´t stand but the good stuff outweighs the few clunkers by far. The ones I dislike are We Gets Up, Courtin Time, Damned If I Do and Jam of the Year. The rest is pretty good musically and lyrically.

Most of the songs would have sounded much better if he had not fired his band. You can hear the big difference between the few songs with the NPG and the rest.

The NPG songs sound much fuller, almost bombastic, loud, dynamic , full of energy.

The non-NPG songs sound good, too,but not as heavy and strong as the ones without the band.

That combo of Sonny, Prince and Michael was truly a power trio.

Just listen to how great they sound on Betcha By Golly Wow.

Not exactly a great choice for a single but a great cover and great rendition.

I agree 100% with every point you made here.

No Candy 4 Me
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Reply #12 posted 04/29/16 8:55am

TKO

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Emancipation is probably one of his most underrated records.

It's a trip.

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Reply #13 posted 04/29/16 9:02am

Doozer

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I've avoided "milestone" albums for this reason. Emanciptation was a brand new chapter in Prince's life. Despite the critique of its "plastic" sound, it's a fresh start in Prince's life, full of new energy, which of course looking back on a week after his death is difficult.

.

I've been milling around less monumental albums instead, like The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale, Come — albums Prince would have told you at the time were sort of throwaway because he had moved on from them by the time they were released. Way easier.

.

Gotta go easy on the Prince albums...so much emotion and heart in so much of his work, it can be upsetting to hear now. Give it time. As Prince would say, "Pace yourself."

Check out The Mountains and the Sea, a Prince podcast by yours truly and my wife. More info at https://www.facebook.com/TMATSPodcast/
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Reply #14 posted 04/29/16 9:55am

jtfolden

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Oddly, Emanciaption and Crystal Ball were the first two albums I listened to last Saturday.

Whatever happened after the fact, he sounded so happy and like he was having fun making them... "this is what freedom sounds like" indeed.

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Reply #15 posted 04/29/16 10:38am

MattyJam

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KoolEaze said:

I never disliked it as an album. There are a couple of songs on it that I can´t stand but the good stuff outweighs the few clunkers by far. The ones I dislike are We Gets Up, Courtin Time, Damned If I Do and Jam of the Year. The rest is pretty good musically and lyrically.

Most of the songs would have sounded much better if he had not fired his band. You can hear the big difference between the few songs with the NPG and the rest.

The NPG songs sound much fuller, almost bombastic, loud, dynamic , full of energy.

The non-NPG songs sound good, too,but not as heavy and strong as the ones without the band.

That combo of Sonny, Prince and Michael was truly a power trio.

Just listen to how great they sound on Betcha By Golly Wow.

Not exactly a great choice for a single but a great cover and great rendition.


Which songs on Emancipation have the full band?

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Reply #16 posted 04/29/16 11:31am

Angelsoncrack

KingSausage said:

Prince pouring his heart out about his excitement over starting a family. His boy never had a chance.

I always found Emancipation a challenging listen in areas due to this simple fact. Even before his death. Oddly enough, I feel the complete opposite as you about it now. It's EASIER for me to listen to because I feel now he has passed he is reunited with his son.

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Reply #17 posted 04/29/16 12:57pm

KingSausage

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Angelsoncrack said:



KingSausage said:


Prince pouring his heart out about his excitement over starting a family. His boy never had a chance.

I always found Emancipation a challenging listen in areas due to this simple fact. Even before his death. Oddly enough, I feel the complete opposite as you about it now. It's EASIER for me to listen to because I feel now he has passed he is reunited with his son.




That's a great comment. I'm going to try looking at it like that.

Also, dammit. Quit cutting onions.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #18 posted 04/29/16 1:38pm

pandemoniun6

Emancipation is a fantastic album but I haven't listened to it in ages. Always thought Jam of the Year was one of the worst for the plastic production sound. Did it sound better live?
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Reply #19 posted 04/29/16 1:55pm

MendesCity

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It's actually one of the few that isn't holding up for me. Was never a huge fan, but so much of it just sounds so flat to me. Really think it's the bad drum programming that does most of it for me.

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Reply #20 posted 04/29/16 2:00pm

Nasalhair

For me it was one of his worst albums. I liked maybe one or two tracks on it. Sorry.
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Reply #21 posted 04/29/16 2:11pm

funkaholic1972

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Don't want to piss on anyone's parade, but I agree with Mendescity and Nasalhair. Emancipation is as incredibly hard to listen to today as it was in 1996. I just hate the production. And I don't pay much attention to lyrics in general. It is the music and production that is lacking on this album for me.

RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time...
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Reply #22 posted 04/29/16 2:12pm

teezee

TKO said:

Emancipation is probably one of his most underrated records.

It's a trip.

Listened to it this week and agreed. It's a trip.

Funny how Prince was still smoking every other singer in the 90s. You can't sit around and tell me P wasn't pouring his heart out on this 3 LP package

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Reply #23 posted 04/29/16 2:18pm

mrwiggles

The whole thang is badd. Right Back Here gets me up like nobody's bizzness. When I hear that I just feel good all over. When I got it, I think it was just too much music for me to digest and it actually sat on the shelf for about a year before I got waaaaay into it. I tried to turn mugs on to Emancipation but they could handle it not. Not ready for it.

You have to pace yourself on it but when you do its treasures and pleasures shall be released upon thy earhole.
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Reply #24 posted 04/29/16 2:20pm

TryWhistlingTh
is

This is an album i've been meaning to add to my collection for a little while and I just happened to order a copy last night. Not only did Prince's passing finally motivate me to get the album, but discovering the song Face Down on YouTube the other day (see, sharing can help to sell music) for the very first time. I've never heard the song or seen the video. It sold me. The last time I considered buying Imancipation was when I was choosing between that and Chaos. I chose the latter because I didn't think i'd have the time for a triple album.

Best of all, my money didn't go toward an opportunist. I was going to buy this earlier yesterday but the cheapest price on Amazon was $60.00 (U.S). I then logged on later last night tonight to buy a copy and found a version described as being in "very good condition" for $5.50 (U.K). I went out of my way to thank the seller for being so generous when they easily could have made a bigger profit. Looking forward to it.

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Reply #25 posted 04/29/16 2:21pm

tollyc

for me the songs I cannot deal with right now are...

WAY BACK HOME

JUNE

Listening to those lyrics I feel as though he knew his time was limited.

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Reply #26 posted 04/29/16 2:48pm

MarquessMarq

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Just THINKING of listening to songs like Somebody's Somebody, Sex in the Summer, White Mansion, and Holy River makes my soul swell. sad

When I can muster up the strength, I think listening to this album will be very cathartic for me.

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Reply #27 posted 04/29/16 4:08pm

KingSausage

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Okay, people. This thread is about the following things: Emancipation being an emotionally challenging listen after Prince's death. This thread is NOT about the following things: ANYTHING ELSE.

Proceed.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #28 posted 04/29/16 5:40pm

SanDiegoFunkDa
ddy

when you look at the CD booklet Mayte is the only one still alive

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Reply #29 posted 04/29/16 5:48pm

bashraka

"Emancipation" was a musical chronicle of his freedom as a recording artist from Warner Bros. and his vision of a family life that never came to pass. I actually love "Emancipation" and find comfort in many of the songs, including "The Love We Make", "Holy River" and "Savior". Prince's music is spiritual and secular and the songs contained on the record celebrate life, which is what his legacy represents to me. Even "Face Down" I can listen to because it's a reminded of the displeasure he had for the music industry that now is falling over themselves to lavish praise on a man no longer here to receive them.

3121 #1 THIS YEAR
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