I'm amazed that so may fans hate this album (I know most of this is due to the lyrical content, which frankly, I've never understood). People have tolerated album after album filled with the most innane bathroom wall sexual innuendo, but when it comes to something like religion, people head for the hills... I've always been surprised at the shallowness of Prince fans when it comes to faith issues, but that's a conversation for another day...

Regardless of it's lyrical content, I think the album stands up musically to anything he's ever done; the production, the changes, the musicianship, the hooks... I think 1+1+1=3, The Everlasting Now, Family Name, She Loves Me 4 Me, and Last December will be looked at far more favorably as time goes by. Yes the seques are bizzare, and the lyrical content is quirky,(but again, are the lyrics to Prince albums really that strong?)

Again, I know there is much hatred for this album round these parts, but I think it's a classic that shows everything that makes Prince great. As much as lyrical comments can be left to the side, Id love to hear some analysis of TRC.

It's like my FAVORITE album. Bought 2 copies on cd. Play it ALWAYS... Don't know how Fans could Slam it. It's GREAT!!!!! In fact MASTERPIECE..It REALLY is.....Very Fun and UPLIFTING.....

If it weren't for the darth vader voice, I'd like the album much more.

I think the album will age well.

Asian..I Like that soooo Much....It's so COOL.....The album is Really FUN...

No way you are hearing Something NOT There. Ya know ya put it on and ya get Lost in it. Put ya Headphones on and it just is a DREAMY ALBUM....It takes me Out of Myself in an EXHAULTED,JOYOUS STATE..VERY FLOATY....I Find it So UPLIFTING.....EVERLASTING NOW.....And 1+1+1=3 is just the Best Ever... I would play it and it just would take all of my emotions Out. A New Age SPIRITUAL DOCTRINE.....DIG?

PurpleKnight said:

I TOTALLY agree. TRC is crippled with serious issues, imo.

All I'm saying is do not plan on operating any heavy machinery for at least 24 hours after listening to this record.

My favorite part is when the voiceover says, "Prince, I am your father."

it's okay , I guess

AsianBomb777 said:

PurpleKnight said:

good one dude! I love zalara, I remember begging her to let me put on a prince mask and get with her, she never responded. She's so kooky.

The segue voice needs to take a serious laxative and speed his ass up! It killed the album.

I dont really enjoy this album, but as they say "Music is a meaningless noise until it falls upon receptive ears"..... So maybe my ears ain't too receptive !!

TRC is the best Prince album of the last 10 years.

To me, GREAT music is delivered in trinity; good MUSIC, good VOCALS and good LYRICS. To me, that is what hooks me.

The lyrical contents of TRC is SO flawed and, dare I say, fucked up, that I was angered by the stupidity of it all the first time I heard the album, just like his rather one-sided portrayal of history in Avalanche's lyrics angered me. It's so easy to label history with modern tags, but it is just damn' convenient.

And even though jams like 1+1+1=3 musically ROCKS, no man will get me to hum along to lines "There's a new theocratic order". Just like he could not make me raise my hand after shouting "Raise your hand if you believe!". I don't. So I am not going to raise my hand to it, not even when drunk on his live performance.

"There's a new theocratic order now", now is there? Maybe in Prince's rather guarded universe, but not in mine.

bkw said:

Wow. That saddens me.

And explains why I still go potty over his 80's output. Is the album great because of his mostly unbelievable weak 90's output? And of the last 5 years?

HamsterHuey said:

Some time ago in Afghanistan,
Or today in Iran,
and even in the Vatican,
Theocracy is the master plan.

Fortunately, these places are exceptions.

D.

HamsterHuey said:

I like it because it has passion and BRILLIANT muscianship. I dont agree with alot of the stuff on it lyrically, but it is insanely inspired and I think he means well. He's just an ass at explaining it and I do believe it was the extreme of his new found views which have been watered down significantly since.

I find it more naive than offensive. People seem to overlook that it is a story.

If Spiritual Everafter and Everywhere are shit then I'm lost.

(btw: I'm agnostic)

I hear the passion, the rather sad, limited scope of his view just saddens me so much the mucic gets tainted to me.

demob said:

I do not think that's the theocracy Prince was refering to.

All to do with his conveniently rewritten gospel. The Rainbow Children to me sounds like Prince And The Jehovah Factory. Oompa loompa me, will ya.

7.5 out of 10

The music on the album is great! It has been a looong time since Prince made a piece of music that he put himself in it and not go under anybody's skin, imitating today's music. And words, well, we all know that Jhw's altered his way of thinking.. At least the music is atmospheric and original. I like it very much.

I love the album, certainly his best since a long long time. Although the lyrics are not really my cup of tea it was nice trying to analyze them.

It's classic because it shows the real musicianship in ALL the musicians not only Prince. Great music! ...When it comes to the lyrics and the songs, I have to give Prince alot of credit, much kudos. Love this album. I would take a TRC over TeAmo, any day.

I think it's brilliant. I also agree that it's classic Prince.
Whether you like it or not, it's inspired, provocative, thought provoking and controversial. The same description could be slapped onto any of Prince's firmly established classics.

HamsterHuey said:

Indeed.
I was just pointed out some examples of where theo-zealots, with whom P. was flirting with at that time, rule.

To reply to the original question of the thread, I like a lot "The Rainbow Children". In my opinion, it is the best album that P. has released in ages. But I must say that, when I listen to it, I make a mental effort to abstract the meaning of the lyrics.

D.
--

I have a hard time with some of the lyrics.

I don't listen to it often but when i do that think to myself I really should listen to this one more.


but I loved it live!!!!


that being said, yes it is classic P, even though it saddens me.

i really did'nt like this album to much, it had a few good songs but it would be far from a classic in my collection!!!