I've started trying to chew on this big mutha once again, I left it playing straight through as I did housework.

There are some thin thin tracks on this.I can't even believe he let them be released, so much of this album should be session track only.

Due to the size of it, I've not played it for ages and thats a shame because there are some corkers on it.

Also, due to the tragic loss of gregory, some of the songs sting a bit.

if you could edit it to one 'best of emancipation' cd what would be on that?

do you think theres enough for a double cd?

I think that Emancipation 1 disc threads seem to be about the most common ones on the org! Everyone has a different view which is what makes Emancipation so good. It's defiantely got something for everyone.

TheEnglishGent said:

I apologise, I'm new to the party, and it appears somewhat late.
When i read peoples threads it sparks me off listening to things I'd previously dismissed.

move along, nothing to see here. Tedious repeat thread

I prefer my single album version to the whole thing.

Heres the disc a regularly spin.

Jam of the year (edit)
Right back here in my arms
Darned if I do
In this bed I scream
Soul sanctuary
Curious child
Dreamin' about U
Joint 2 joint
Holy River
Saviour
Slave
New world
Face down (edit)
Style (edit)
Sleep around
My computer
Love we make

I agree with the EnglishGent, the album has something for everyone, looking at the '1 Disc Emancipation' threads shows how many different configurations of a 1 disc version fans come up with.

But overall, it is a rather bloated affair - The main problem isn't necessarily the length of the album, it is the overall blanket of similar production, that and it seems to slump in the middle due to the 2nd disc's concentration of ballads.

To make a triple album interesting, it has to be varied, and whilst there are ballads, dance tracks, pop tracks, and such on the album, it's overall sound is too generic throughout the 3 discs.


//
[Edited 4/11/06 3:20am]

This is ironic because was I playing Emancipation this weekend. I mean, with a triple album like this, you have to think about how he produced this album. I think he just loses control as a producer and arranger and stretches the length of most of these tracks because it's a three-hour package altogther and I think he doesn't want to lose the listener's attention, but he does with a repetitive tune like "Get Ya Groove On". There is enough material on here that will make the listener's jaw drop in awe, but some of it is like, "Ok, what is going on here". It is overlong, but it is a varied and interesting record. The production sounds plastic and generic, but we can blame that on the synthesizers and drum machines. It's still a good album and it was one of the best he made in the 90's alone! The second disc stands out the most, though.
[Edited 4/11/06 4:04am]

Still love Emancipation big time! There's always a new song to dicover, it's amazing I really can't understand how so many can think it's bad or boring, really not!... Yeah, it's got something for everyone! It's just too bad that the album is so connected with tragic happenings, Mayte and the baby:(
Newly discovered favs are

Betcha By Golly Wow
One Kiss At A Time
Let's Have A Baby

Soon I'll be diggin' them all (except for two-three ones I don't think I'll ever enjoy)

silverchild said:

See, I like Get Ya Groove On! It's the beaty of the album, if he had released 1 disc we'd probably all have disliked 5 or 6 of the songs and maybe never even got to hear some that we now love.

yes lots of filler but still the last good "honest" album.

NPS, Rave, Musicology, 3121 are a bit too-cynical attempts to make a "hit." They also seemed rushed and thrown together.TRC is offensive in a few spots which ruins the whole album for me. The Truth and One Nite Alone were never intended to be "real" releases but are at least genuine.

I tried last week as I had not heard it in awhile.

I got to song 4 on disc 1...even tried to listen to In this bed I scream...couldn't do it. I have yet to hear that disc in it's eniterty. I couldn't even tell ya the names of the songs... Really: gun to head...Brains on Walls.

Then was Dick 2...a litlle more palateable. My partner liked Curious Child. I like a few of the songs on htat disc more than 1

Then I listened to Disc 3 and stopped after song 5 or 6.

NouveauDance said:

The evidence is in the first song Jam of the Year. I like it...but it is a very weak track...and it sets the tone for the entire thing.

superspaceboy said:

wheres your mind at today?

"In this bed I scream" is my absolute favorite from Emancipation. Killer. One of my fave 90s cuts, too. I'm glad it's rather long.

sosgemini said:

in the gutter where it always is

Does almost everyone listen to all 3 discs of Emancipation in 1 go then ?
I love 70% of the album but I've never listened to it all in 1 go , I've always
treated it as 3 seperate albums really , maybe its more digestible and enjoyable like that , I dunno

moonshine said:

Sometimes I listen to just one of the cds, sometimes I just listen to some songs, from all three cds. Depends on what mood I'm in.

moonshine said:

I've never listend to it any other way. Matter of fact, I listen to all his records all the way through each time. Even Crystal Ball.

Jestyr said:

I agree with you totally because I have traveled cross the states for 16 hrs at a time a few times and found that I will listen to the entire cd and then go to the next one and so on.

Its the most baffling and long winded thing he put out, and yes its a testament to how much filler you can simultaneously force on your supportive fans at once. Still my dream disc would have

1. Right back her in my arms
2. Betcha by Golly wow
3. Eye cant make u love me
4. In this bed eye scream
5. One Kiss at a time
6. The Holy River
7. Saviour
8. Sleep around
9. One of Us
10. Sex in the Summer
11. My computer
12. Soul Sancutary
13. Emancipation

Bonus filler tracks four tour editions

14. The Love we make
15. We gets up
16. Jam of the year
14. The Love we make.

wonderful cd. last great piece of art. as a collective whole, it stands out as a highlight of the past 10 years. It has its fillers, but one man's filler is another man's highlight, and vice versa. From Sign O, to Emancipation, when Prince flys solo (per se) he brings the best of his best together for something special, and it shows.

tane1976 said:

That would have been one great album!