Having dismissed TRC after about 2 listens because of the Darth Vador narrative, and only slightly graspable concept, I decided to listen to it again after 2 years of collecting dust.
What struck me as interesting after chiming in on it with a fresh ear, and with no expectations—or even low expectations—was that TRC really is a work of genius, albeit imperfect. I have to hand it to Prince—no other musician could have conceived of that album and executed it the way he does without being high on cocaine or some other drug.
However, essentially when you strip it down, TRC is a gospel album, a clarion call to the higher pursuits in life, and rejection of epicurean idol whimsy—In fact it’s an album with extreme intent and goals, and Prince states his case elegantly in the music. The sad fact is that this message is discombobulated by the very narrative that seeks to guide you through it, and the story when narrated so ridiculously fights the thematic procession of the composition.

In contrast, LoveSexy is just as equally textured, complex in time signatures, chord progressions, and vocal treatments. It’s an album that also makes a case for the religious experience outside the mundane. LoveSexy succeeds, not because it’s concepts are less excursive, but because it is a heterodox supported by equally unconventional songwriting, bereft of pretentiousness—Something TRC was unable to avoid. This is clearly indicated by “a sticker stating the CONTROVERSIAL new album” that immediately detracts from the extemporaneous audacity that LoveSexy was able to achieve in it’s blend of the profane and the devine.
But TRC shows a musician who has finally willing to take on jazz greats, and establish his place in the halls of jazz, only hinted at with SOTT and LoveSexy. Where it fails in concept, it succeeds in musical craft.

So though, TRC pales in comparison to LoveSexy, it’s a flawed work of genius more so than a throwaway album, me thinks.

What are your thoughts?
Do you find them similar? Dramatically different? Or completely unrelated works and not meant to be compared?
And are any of the songs, in any way whatsoever, an admission of his homosexual curiosities?

AsianBomb777 said:

The Rainbow Children.

Its been well documented by myself how I feel about TRC. I think Lovesexy is true heartfelt genius and that TRC missed the mark. This has nothing to do with my religious or any other theological beliefs. I just did not feel the passion in TRC that I felt in Lovesexy. I felt the attempt to create another spiritual anthem, but didnt enjoy the finished product enough. Im sure Ill be attacked for this, but TRC is tha last CD that I would play in my entire Prince collection. Im glad to have it and will endeaver to appreciate with each spin I give it. I will spin it without bias every once and a while in hopes to feel the passion that I feel in and for Lovesexy.

Ugh, please don't mention TRC in the same sentence with the great Lovesexy.

AsianBomb777 said:

Yeahhh. The very fact that there have been multiple threads on this site, alt.music.Prince and Prince message boards, running the gamut from lively, to vehement, to downright heated threads among his fans since the release of TRC confirms that it is controversial. Outside of critics and Prince's most hardcore fans nobody else heard it, so what else is there to judge that by?

Whatever the initial reaction to it, Prince was there to see and hear it when he invited fans to Paisley Park to listen to it for the first time. He knew what he was doing. The very fact that 3 years later it's still the most controversial album topic on this site pretty much gives credence to it, and this thread will continue to.

It's funny to me that fans of Lovesexy always try to say that said album doesn't tout any specific religion. Last time I listened Prince clearly states "Save me Jesus, I've been a fool, how could I forget that you are the rule, you are my God, I am Your child..." as if Jesus being one's God doesn't point to a specific religion.

I don't consider Lovesexy one of his worst albums by any means, but I also don't consider it one of his best either. To my ears, gut, soul and everything else, TRC is far superior by a Shawshank mile, or three. It's just that Lovesexy has the benefit of not having the Jehovah Witness stigma attached to it. I don't care what the usual Lovesexy nazis say.

I guess this is the part where they come to flame me...careful now, Lovesexy-ites, I'm a lamb...

But TRC shows a musician who has finally willing to take on jazz greats, and establish his place in the halls of jazz, only hinted at with SOTT and LoveSexy.

You've got to be kidding me with that.

And are any of the songs, in any way whatsoever, an admission of his homosexual curiosities?

That's really the only thing you wanted to ask about it.


,
[Edited 9/6/04 23:50pm]

AsianBomb777 said:

Man... did you swallow a dictionary or something?

[quote]

AsianBomb777 said:

thats because he was ::in james brown slurred voice:: high offa gawd nuthin but gawd!

For me these are two of my favorite Prince albums. Not only did he seem to stretch himself musically on both but they are both spiritually uplifting albums. With what we have in todays music & video's, listening to both albums is a breath of fresh air. When u combine the fact that I was witness to both Tours: 88 (Madison Sq Garden) 2003 (Avery Fisher) and witnessed the man orate his messages to a live crowd, they make replaying the CD's more memorable for me. If I had to give an edge though I would take:

Lovesexy (You would have had to have seen P perform Anna Stesia Live at some point to
know what I'm talking about. Plus I really dug Cat.

However I'll go on record to say that the band he has now might be the best & tightest band of musicians he's ever worked with

Supernova said:

My thoughts exactly. I found TRC to be much more musically daring and inspirational. I've personally never understood the devotion folks have to Lovesexy, but that's what's great about art.
I also agree with the fact that TRC did prove to be controversial. Whether he attached a sticker to the album or not, the reaction that the album has gotten here alone proves that Prince was right with that thought.

Supernova said:

This thread isn't even worth a reply, but alas... I have been baited in.

First of all, let's get things right... it's not LoveSexy, Love Sexy, or any of the other monikers people have tagged to this great album. Please get it straight, it's just one word, plain and simple: Lovesexy.

I am a Lovesexy nazi, but that's only because I recognize the brilliance of the greatest album ever recorded.

It always seems silly to me to compare Prince's work to his own work, but I guess there really is no one else to compare him to. Like he said himself, his only competition is him in the past.

Say what you want about these 2 albums, but don't mistake Lovesexy as a "religious" album. Lovesexy is NOT, can I repeat it once again for the 1,000th time? IS NOT A "RELIGIOUS" ALBUM!

Just want to let people in on that fact.

LovesexyIsThe1 said:

Prince was interviewed a few years ago and asked if he'd ever record a gospel album.
He replied "I already have recorded gospel album -- LoveSexy."

AsianBomb777 said:

, but I hope you're not implying that a genre of music is equivalent to religion.

Just because someone labels something "gospel" doesn't mean it's "religious."

LovesexyIsThe1 said:

What that has to do with anything I said, I don't know.

I am a [color=blue]Lovesexy nazi, but that's only because I recognize the brilliance of the greatest album ever recorded.

'Tis your right to do so. I'm not here to try and sway you otherwise.

Say what you want about these 2 albums, but don't mistake Lovesexy as a "religious" album. Lovesexy is NOT, can I repeat it once again for the 1,000th time? IS NOT A "RELIGIOUS" ALBUM!

Just want to let people in on that fact.

Nobody, including me, in this thread said it was a "religious album." There's a difference between what I said, and saying it's a religious album. Get it right....unless you're talking about AsianBomb.


`
[Edited 9/7/04 11:53am]

LovesexyIsThe1 said:

No implications, or hints here--I"M BEING AS EXPLICITLY CANDID AS I CAN BE

LoveSexy is a Gospel Album. Gospel is a religous form of Music, an homage or hymm to God if you will.

So, I'm not saying religous music is religion---WHERE IN THE HELL DID YOU DERIVE THAT FROM MY STATEMENT?

My knowlege is profound. My execution of it is perfect.

Supernova said:[quote]

LovesexyIsThe1 said:

U go Girl.

All of you are missing the point. Does any of this mean that he is trying to "come out" and admit to being bisexual?

Supernova said:

Both albums as far as I'm concerned don't tout any specific religion to the naked ear. But for some reason, most here are willing to uphold the nuts of Lovesexy when musically, it is the inferior album.

insert a Lovesexy saved my life story here _____

AsianBomb777 said:

You're gonna hit Zelaira/Natasha status in no time

Supernova said:

As a fan of this album, it doesn't relate to any specific religion.


Sounds to me like you are saying it does point to a specific religion. If you didn't mean to imply that, you might want to re-phrase that statement.

This statement:

was aimed at the author of this thread for the misspelling of the name.

LovesexyIsThe1 said:

No rephrasing. I'm not saying it's a religious album, I'm saying a song on it refers to it. There have been countless examples on this site where people have said there is nothing whatsoever that refers to any religion on Lovesexy.

In the song (a song I actually think is the best one on the album) he specifically asks Jesus to save him, says he is a child of Jesus, Jesus is his God - that points to the Christian religion no matter how much someone may want to spin it, there is no rational denial of Prince's own clear cut lyrics. But I've seen a lot of irrational denial around here...tho, I'm in no way saying it's the first time he's done that on an album.

well it really doesn't...@least not to me...what was he supposed to say in anna stesia? save me allah? save me buddah? save me father? < i mean those really point to specific religions. what? jesus is the name he identifies that higher power with...and to me it doesn't point to a specific religion...its just what he chooses to call the man upstairs..and since i think its a spiritual album that doesn't tout a specific religion i think people of ALL religions can get the message..be then muslim..buddist...scientologists or whatever..and all they have to do is change the name...i'm a person who doesn't believe 100% n religion but jesus and god r names that i identify the higher power with...i mean what was he supposed to call him? save me unseen dude up in the sky?
[Edited 9/7/04 14:36pm]

Moonwalkbjrain said:

Thanks for the example of the spinning denial I was talking about.

Supernova said:

what? lol..i aint trynna spin nothing..thats just the way I c it...i've always associated jesus with the supreme power...and just because thats what i choose to call him to me doesn't really point to any religion..it points to i need somethin to call him and unseen dude up in the sky aint cuttin it!

Uh huh.

Supernova said:

C'mon Supernova, *takes your hand* you can go first...

They both suck!!

I'm gonna open a sock shop called 'Luv Socksy'

psykosoul said:

bigsexy said:

Setting the Jehovah's Witnesses references aside on "The Rainbow Children" and comparing it to "Lovesexy" strictly by the way the albums "sound", I would say I prefer "Lovesexy" by a longshot. I can listen to "Lovesexy" from start to finish but I can only get into "The Rainbow Children" starting with the track "1 + 1 + 1 is 3" until the end of the album. I don't care for the first few tracks because they sound too "jazzy" for my taste.