The Rave album was by far a shot of adrenaline for his music. The 90's was a WEAK period for Prince, along with the NPG band he assembled. What a waste. However, I see Rave as a comeback of sorts. there are some songs on that cd I could toss away, but the better ones were, Rave, Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do", & Man O' War. I was really optimistic that he was getting back to cutting great albums again. One thing is for sure, the NPG shoulda been dismantled immediately after the 1992 Symbol album.....(Sigh), What I'd give to see the Revolution come back with Prince and do some serious schooling to today's music.....

Muziqkidd7 said:

don't call me hater, girl!
[Edited 1/12/05 16:09pm]

Rave is no more commercial than Musicology, and is a far superior album too.

Tracks like I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore, Greatest Romance, Strange But True, The Sun The Moon & Stars and Wherever U Go Whatever U Do are better than anything on Musicology IMO.

Commercial doesn't always equal crap. Some music snobs seem to just turn their noses up at anything remotely commercial, in spite of the fact that some of it is actually rather good.

MattyJam said:

That's not saying much.

Rave and Musicology are twins - both intentionally commercial records, just Prince did a better job of promoting Musicology, and the timing was better.

Both albums suck donkey balls.

Some of it is rather good (Prettyman / The Sun, The Moon & Stars / Baby Knows / I Love U, But I Don't Trust U Anymore), but the full album "realization" just didn't work, especially with all the horrid drum programming by Kirky J on the more "contemporary" sounding pieces. I love that pic of the lil' lamb! If there ever during that period was any proof that Prince might have been "having a comeback" it was the inclusion of that one single picture. It was so true Prince.

And don't let these people fool you into thinking "Baby Knows" sucks! It does not. It's every bit as good song as "Shockadelica" or any Camille -leftover.

Interesting - when I bought the record in 1999 I liked it and played it a few times, but it didn't really blow me away. Recently, I was thinking why I never really got into "Rave", maybe it just didn't feel very inspired to me - like Prince/ inviting a lot of guest stars (who don't play any significant role in the final production imo) into the studio and then trying to make some kind of "commercial comeback" album. It just hasn't the fire of TRC for example.

However, I recently put the album in the CD player again and, how can I say, it blew me away!!! So many excellent tracks, nice pop (Tangerine, The sun..., Wherever U go...), good R'n'B (Greatest romance, Man'O'war), some interesting experiments (Strange but true - his best electronic work?), the most heart-touching Prince/ song EVER (Eye love U...) and an ass-kicker at the end (Prettyman)!!! What really isn't good for the album are the first two tracks ("Rave" is a nice song, but it absolutely doesn't fit to the rest of the record, and "Undisputed" is CRAP - sounds like "Oh man, where can we include Chuck D on that album - nowhere? - o.k., let's do a quick tune without any songwriting for him, I want to go home, have my vegan lunch and then shag some chicks..."). So, after that opening disaster, there comes "The greatest romance...", nice song, but more relaxed, it just doesn't get you started. As a result, the whole record seems to start with "Hot with u", but then it gets off!

What could our man have done better? Some suggestions:
1) Additionally to the old version of "Rave" as the opener, put a new recorded 10 or 15 minute aftershow-like live version of it at the end of the record, including all the guest stars and some ass-kicking Prince/ guitar work
2) REMOVE "UNDISPUTED" and use its master tapes to clean his teeth, for example
3) instead of "Undisputed", add an ultra-strong catchy track to be used as first single (instead of "Greatest romance")
4) include "Prettyman" as a regular track (not hidden)
5) force the Arista guys to do some proper promotion
Maybe the result would have been a really ultra-hot record AND a huge commercial comeback for Prince/!

However, despite the fact that "Rave" wasn't that commercial comeback, it's still a good record he did with some things he could have done better to make it a real classic. I don't care about his record sales too much anyway as long as he continues to make and release music.

Hot Wit' U is one of the worst songs I've ever heard by anyone.

I hate that side of Prince - Poom Poom, Mr. Happy - Absolutely horrible crap music - No other way to describe.

The worst thing is, it sounds like the stuff in the charts now - People seriously listen to this drivel?

As with most of his 1996-2000 output (except for "The Truth")
this album would also make for a great 5 or 6 song EP. But as
is, it was just a flash in the pan. A lot of talk with very
little substance.

An album that made painfully obvious once again why he only
plays his old material at the live shows.


The Greatest Romance Ever $old
Pretty Man
Beautiful Strange
Tangerine
I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore
Strange But True


The rest was filler, at best.

IstenSzek said:

Sorry, but I don't agree with dividing records (in general) into best/good and less good/worse material. Either an album gives you something as a whole when listening to it or it doesn't, but you could use your technique ("make an EP of the best") for almost every record in pop history (even "Purple Rain"). If there are really really good songs on an album, it is only natural that there are others that can not fully keep up with the best. Of course, if the "less good" material is really bad (like "Undisputed"...) you are right when calling it "filler, at best".

Besides that, I admit that "Rave" didn't give me that something for a long time, but, strange enough, it's changing now.

This album is never played in my player. I've haven't played in over 2 years easy. "Where ever you go..." is the only track I like. Pitty Prince was just not up to par on this album just like NPS.

Funny how so may people like Wherever You Go. I think that's about the worst song on the album, I don't care if it's got a Linn on it. He ripped it off from Richard Marx for god's sake!

It's a pretty good album, just a bit long, and it was a disapointment when we all hoped he'd do something big for 1999.

Also, the title is a complete misnomer. The album's basically a downer.

The only thing I didn't apprecieate about the album was the fact that they took an entire track for the sole purpose of plugging NPG merchandising, and 1-800-NewFunk. That didn't seem like the right thing to do.

IstenSzek said:

They're the same ones I like. Altho' I have to say that Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do is a pretty nice song, too.

IstenSzek said:

Totally agree. This album isn't awful, just mediocre. Coming on the heels of a crap-fest like NPS, we were craving some real Prince music. Unfortunately, we got a half-baked album that COULD have been good.

I second that, Rave does have some good songs on it, but the overall 'feel'
of the album is average and the sequencing seems really clunky. The album
just doesn't flow very well. Plus, just like NPS, one of the best tracks is
tacked on the end as a hidden bonus! It's interesting to note that the
original version of Rave submitted to Arista was a shorter punchier 'rock/pop'
orientated album. Most of the more 'r&b' material was added later after
complaints that it wasn't 'black' enough.

BorisFishpaw said:

Sorry, I don't have the latest books and haven't really kept myself updated on these matters over the past two years or so. What was that tracklisting again? It was on a other thread, but could it be posted here as well?

Some ok songs, some crappy songs. But my biggest pet peeve with this album is that the studio version of "Rave Un 2 The joy Fanstastic" song pales in comparison to the live version played on the Samll Club boot from 1988.

andyman91 said:

Yeah man, you are so right about the Richard Marx thing, man that track is sappy as hell, I hate it!

IstenSzek said:

These are my favorites too, I would like to add Man'O'War and delete Tangerine. I think Man'O'War could have been a truly great song if it was performed with a live band.

dont care if its good or bad. i just never listen 2 it. never feel like.

funkaholic1972 said:

Oh man, I friggin' LOATHE that song! It couldn't be a more average, boring, middle-of-the-road, unimaginative R&B tune. Totally generic. My least favorite on this album.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

The live version was so freaking great!

Novabreaker said:

I'd like to know as well!

JediMaster said:

Co-sign!

I rarely listen to this album, but I like some of the songs. Somebody mentioned that it doesn't really get started until Hot Wit U. I agree. Rave, Undisputed, and the Greatest Romance are bad songs for various reasons. I prefer the much-maligned Everyday is A Winding Road to these songs.

I forgot to mention that to blame anybody but Prince for the quality of this album is ridiculous. I'm sure Clive didn't ask Prince for terrible songs to put on the album. He might have wanted a certain type of song, sure. As for Kirk's drumming. Last time I checked Prince was calling the shots in terms of the songs. He could have changed it if he wanted but he didn't.
[Edited 1/17/05 11:59am]

Awful album.

how anybody can say they like this and go criticize other artists music in the Non-Prince music forum is beyond me.

Complete shit.

GottaLetitgo said:

Well, atleast you're fashion sense is still in tact.

Marrk said:

at least its not as bad as new power soul. thats the worst piece of shit ive ever heard from prince.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

Agreed, but the original 1989 studio version (which is, I think, very close to the official version, but longer) is pretty good too.