I have had my downloaded copy of "The Chocolate Invasion" for quite awhile now, and I do like "Judas Smile" quite a bit, as well as a few other tracks.

I just downloaded "The Slaughterhouse" from NPGMC today and am listening to it as I write this.

Anybody have any strong feelings one way or the other for either of these internet releases or any of the songs in particular? My initial reaction is that they veer towards the dancy-programmed music and away from his current angle on his tour.

What songs do you like? Or do you love or hate both of these albums entirely?

Keith/Kacey

I freakin' ADORE The Chocolate Invasion - if that's considered to be a "proper" Prince album, then consider it part of my A-List of favorite Prince records.

Slaughterhouse is a little less gratifying to me - it's kinda programmed and cold and seems to hold the dregs of his whole disastrous relationship with hip-hop. Sometimes I can dig on it, but I have to either really be in the mood or else really jonesin' for some Prince stuff I don't usually listen to.

Anxiety,

That's EXACTLY how I'm feeling as I'm listening to THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE. It does seem a little to hip-hop-y. I do like THE CHOCOLATE INVASION too, though!

Stop sharing my brain! ha ha

Keith/kacey

I love The Chocolate Invasion, particulary...

Underneath The Cream (Beautiful ballad)

The Dance (and another, just as above)

The Title track (some strong social commentary, excellent bass bumpin drivin track)

SuperCute (a song that could've easily been heard on R&B stations during the time it was recorded)

The Slaughterhouse doesn't appeal to me as much, but it's still pretty funky. Prince is spoiling us

Keep it up Mr. Nelson!

CI IS A GREAT CD..... I LIKE IT BETTER THAN MUSICOLIGY!!!!!

Ditto!!!

I purchased both TCI and The Slaugherhouse from the club...mainly since some of the versions are different than the ones released during year 1 of the club. I guess I'm a bit indifferent on these "albums" since I had heard all the songs (save for "The Dance") for at least three years...they've just been re-packaged into a collection of tunes. I'm glad they're available at the club now for those not in the club from year 1, but as far as liking them as albums, it's just too hard to see them as anything other than single outtakes in my mind.

They r GREAT albums. 2 me they successed where Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic failed (mixing the old linn drum machine with modern sounds).

I LOVED these songs in 2001 (how many times have i listened 2 them @ the time...?) & still do.

My only regret is that a 3rd "npgmc classics" album could have been done with the 10 "outtakes" (i.e. My Medallion, Jukebox With A Heartbeat, Habibi, Van Gough, Instrumental, Cybersingle, When Will We B Paid, One Song, Funky Design & Mad). But i guess we can't have everything...

I don't c any reason not 2 consider these 2 (+ C-Note & Xpectation) as real albums. Not 2 b released on cd is not relevent now, there is no universal 4mat... Between cd, mp3, wma, dvd... the 4mat doesn't matter, it's still an album. & also r Rave Un2 The Year 2000 & Live At The Aladdin Las Vegas or any previous video release.

Yeah...that third cd you dream about would be cool, shaomi. As someone who didn't join the club right away, I missed all of those. And you're even forgetting "Madrid 2 Chicago" and "Ur Still the One" (Shania Twain cover). Those could go on there, too...

Keith/kacey

Kacey725 said:

I really like The Chocolate Invasion. Some EXCELLENT Prince songs are found there! I don't think it's as good as The Rainbow Children (the last Prince CD I absolutely LOVED), but it's right up there with Musicology (maybe even better!).

I haven't heard The Slaughterhouse. I plan on downloading it, but hope to get more opinions on the CD and would like to know if the version you download is "edited." I know the sample has a swear word blanked out. Could you answer that for me? Thanks!

Luv & Peace,
Alex
Clubbin' in Mpls/A Night w. Prince

[This message was edited Wed Jul 7 4:21:19 2004 by sloopydrew4u]

Almost all of The Chocolate invasion is great.

I like it as much as Musicology.

The Slaughterhouse has a few good tracks, particularly Y Should Eye Do That When Eye Can Do This - one of his TIGHTEST EVER HORN LINES.

mrdespues said:

Yes!

Wish I could agree. I only recently got hold of them, and listened to them endlessly for a few days, until I realized that I truly despised both albums. Generic, stale, and sometimes downright embarrassing. It's Prince trying to sound current, and when he does that, he fails miserably.

I'm glad that everyone likes them so much, but for me, there's thankfully a good reason he doesn't release certain material to the general public. He can make money off the die-hards and still preserve his public reputation, because albums like these would rank lower in his catalogue than... well, just about anything.

U Make My Sun Shine is lovely though, even if hopelessly generic.

But just to be fair, I'm putting "Chocolate" in right now to listen to...
[This message was edited Wed Jul 7 12:49:32 2004 by darmstro]

Both are really good. Gems abound in songs like WILMHOU, Judas Smile, Peace, Radical Man, Daisy Chain, WSIDTWICDT an In Silicon. I enjoy TCI better than the slaughterhouse, because as it's been stated, it's sort of cold and a bit too much on the hip hop side of things, but again. there are some songs on there that are essential IMO. I have a friend who feels the opposite and Likes SLaughterhouse A LOT.

Personally, I feel that these two were for the true fans and Musicology was for the casual fan. I have given more spins to these two over Musicology. I think most round here would like to have it on CD that downloaded.

Okay, I just finished listening to "Va Va Voom", and I'm feeling a throbbing headache coming on in the base of my skull.

The next song - High - might be even worse. "Prince gonna get you high!". Gimme a break. And the production is maddening.

underneath the cream and supercute is pretty smart 2

I like both cd's as well as Musicology. Some1 posted earlier that Musicology was 4 the casual fans which i totally agree with and CI&SH was 4 the NPGMC core members!!

darmstro said:

High is so so so awful. God I hate it. Just really unfunky and yeah that lyric is baaaaad.
But I kinda like Vavoom. Silly fun.

ELBOOGY said:

I have to disagree with this statement on a purely philosophical level, and it doesn't only apply to Prince. The idea that certain music is geared towards "core" members as opposed to casual fans doesn't fly with me. I think good music is good music, and a casual fan will be drawn in further by a proliferation of that music. By the same token, crappy music prevents a growing fan from hunting down more music. I used to be a huge Lenny fan, but two shitty albums in a row kept me from buying "Baptism".

To argue something is just for "core" fans is to suggest that people who define themselves in that way will simply drink, swallow and enjoy anything that an artist creates, as opposed to sifting through good and bad. The other side of this is the unspoken suggestion that the "casual" fan will be turned off by this music "made for" or "directed towards" those self-appointed core members.

I am a huge Martin Scorsese fan, but that doesn't change the fact that "The Gangs of New York" is a bloated, dreadful misfire of a movie, and I'm supposed to be in that "core" audience. I've been a huge Prince fan for over 20 years, but I can't agree that CI&SH were made for "core" members. I am a core member, if you define it by being a big 'old enthusiastic fan. But these albums are tossed-off, artistic trifles that are given this false protection via the notion that, by solely selling them to exclusive members, it is directed towards a different audience who are worthy of, or capable of, understanding and appreciating it.

I don't buy it. Rather, I believe, that Prince knows the music isn't worthy of legitimate release, but he's a savvy enough businessman to know that there's still money to be made off it. But to defend it artistically as simply being for different groups of people is fallacious. If Musicology was only released via his website, it would still be superior music, and if Slaughter House was selling at Tower, Prince would be even more forgotten than he was in the late '90s. It's purely a financial consideration on his part, because to release dreck publicly and receive the accompanying criticism, will diminish interest in his catalogue as a whole.

This is why I disagree with the "rumor" that people are spreading that Prince's next album will be "for the fans". With the careful calculation and management of his 2004 career, it would be pointless suicide to release an album promoted in this way. It would be giving up all the ground he's fought so hard to obtain this year, and he'd be right back where he was when "Rainbow Children" came out - forgotten, ignored and derided (even though TRC deserved much more credit).

The ultimate issue isn't whether music is made "for true fans" or "casual fans", but rather, is it good music?

ELBOOGY said:

I'm the culprit...I know some folks who are casual fans and are excited about Musicology..I just don't see them getting into the other 2...a bit too wierd. I like wierd. Prince made me into a wiedro and a freak

I'm all about "When I Lay My Hands On U", his sexiest track in years. Oh, the things that song does to me.

I was really happy with Chocolate Invasion. High is a favorite...VaVaVoom..they're fun Prince. Underneath the Cream...I love UMMSS...whereas I don't like many cuts from Slaughterhouse.
Chocolate Invasion is like the anti-musicology.

TCI is awesome.
The Dance is a personal favorite. Reminds me a little of Soul Sanctuary.
Vavoom and Judas Smile are also great.
The Slaughterhouse is material to fill up albums. But Im still greatful to have it

darmstro said:[quote]

ELBOOGY said:

WHAT?!!? Dude, u're crazy!!! "Gangs of New York" is one of the top ten BEST movies I've ever seen!!!! If u think that movie's bad, I'm almost afraid 2 ask what films u consider 2 b GOOD...*shudder*

"When Eye Lay My Hands On U"

love4oneanother said:[quote]

darmstro said:

When it comes to Scorsese, "Taxi Driver", "Goodfellas", "The Age of Innocence", "Life Lessons", "Mean Streets", "Raging Bull", "After Hours", "The Last Temptation of Christ". All of these are far, far superior to "Gangs of New York". Hell, I'll even say that "Casino" was more bearable than "Gangs", which I've seen three times and doesn't improve on subsequent viewings. However, I will say that Daniel Day Lewis is remarkable in the movie; he's about the only good thing in it, aside from the opening sequence. Kind of like "U Make My Sun Shine" being one of the only good things on Chocolate Invasion.

And I'm curious what your other top ten films would be... after all, if there's something we can agree on when it comes to personal preference, it's that no one can agree on anything.
[This message was edited Wed Jul 7 23:09:47 2004 by darmstro]