So after all the negative talk about the Rainbow Children, I generally avoided this album. I did a quick pass through it five years ago and that was it. After spending more time on the org and realizing that there is quite a divide between fans who dig Prince's soulful side and those who dig his rock side, as well as those who are open to his new music and those who are cemented in the past,I had to question some of the negative comments on the album. So I decided to listen to it with an open mind.

I played it all last weekend. My final thought is that this album is no way deserved the negative feeback that it garnered. It is actually a solid effort from an artist who is not afraid to take chances. I dig that P is still experimenting with sounds and concepts after all these years. There is some excellent instrumentation/composition on TRC. There are several wonderful songs that have probably only been trashed because they were on TRC.

I particularly like:
TRC
Muse 2 the Pharoah
Mellow
The Sensual Everafter
Everywhere
1+1+1 is 3
She Loves Me for Me
Last December
Digital Garden
Family Name

Maybe I was not mature enough to receive TRC five years ago. Maybe I was stuck in the quicksand mentality of "why doesn't he play like he used to" after reading comments about the album. Who knows. Now that I have removed myself from beneath the cloak of those who constantly seek the Prince of the 1980s, I am able to enjoy much of his output this decade. Prince has evolved/matured and so have I. All I can say is keep it coming P!!

I've always said that TRC will be heralded as a great classic in years to come.

I agree 100%!!!!

I only bought it because I was surprised to see it for sale at Best Buy couple of months ago. When i listened to it, I was blown away. TRC is a masterpiece and really showcased Prince's abilities as a true musician. TRC is one of my top favorites, and I was also surprised because I bought it intended to hate it and it had the complete opposite on me big time.

bellanoche said:

bellanoche said:

Out of 14 tracks you like 10. Pretty high ratio.
The tracks you didn't like so much were:

deconstruction
wedding feast

In my opinion these two tracks are basically interludes - not exactly songs.
Easy to understand why these didn't make the list.

the work pt.1
the everlasting now

What is it about these 2 songs that doesn't grab you like the others do?

Musically, the album is amazing. Very organic funk-jazz with great vocal performances from Prince.

However, the lyrics to the majority of the songs are fucking annoying and it ruins the experience for most people.

Spinlight said:

Oh so you speak on behalf of "most people"? Funny, I don't remember voting on that.

i remember a ton of threads about the lyrics, five years ago when The Rainbow Children came out.

i'd never seen prince lyrics that enraged SO many people before that time.

She loves me for me is really my favorite but the whole thing is great, it takes a real thinking person to get into what Prince is putting down here, some people are not deep enough to understand this.
[Edited 10/31/06 11:43am]

skywalker said:

Well, I didn't ask your opinion. That might be why you didn't vote.

However, the truth is that most of us dislike the lyrics. I'm sorry you don't agree.

There was alot of bitching about the lyrics when it first came out & also the narration drives a lot of people away.

I love the cd - since I can listen to whatever I want at work I listened to it pretty much everyday for about 2 years. It was in heavy rotation. The lyrics don't bother me but then I don't think about the lyrics - I just hear words. And the narration was Prince doing one of his funny voices again.

XxAxX said:

It's his most controversial release imho. TRC should have been called Controversy

Spinlight said:

you can not say that with any degree of certainty.
all you can be certain about is YOU dislike the lyrics...and that's perfectly legit...you don't need others to validate your feelings. They are just as important on their own.

Spinlight said:

Who is "us"?

Shorty said:

I don't understand why you are over-analyzing the situation.

iconsweat said:

Clearly not you.

Still don't like this record.

The lyrics don't bother me at all really. I figured out a long time ago that Prince can be controversial. This is just controversial in a different way.

Has nothing to do with a prejudiced view of his music, the songs on this record just don't do it for me. ymmv.

Spinlight said:

Can you answer the question besides what you just said? Who is this "us" you seem to be speaking for.

Spinlight said:

Set yourself as some kinda spokesman around here and you're bound to get called on it.

iconsweat said:

i'd like to know too, who is "us".

ElCapitan said:

The TRC-heads seem to corral when something slightly bad about it is said. Like a pack of hyenas, almost.

ever since first hearing trc at the listening party out at paisley park, i've never really had a hatred for the album. like most of prince's newer works i didn't really mind it one way or the other. to me, it's pretty so-so at best. i've noticed that when it comes to this album, a lotta folks 'round here tend to get into hissy fits about it.

"omgz, it's too preachy! that damned narrator's voice needs to die already! and why add 'wedding feast' on there, it's stupid!!!!1111onezorz!"

preachiness, weird narration and silly-assed ditties about vats of chittlins aside, trc is really not that bad. might not be right up my alley, but it ain't bad at all.






unless it edits
[Edited 10/31/06 12:56pm]

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Co-sign.

Spinlight said:

now: who's this "us" you're referring to, because i certainly am not part of it. i received no memo.

Spinlight said:

Nevermind sidetracking. Explain who"us" is. You came here speaking of "us" Do you mean this website? Do you mean 2 of your friends? Who is "us"?

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

GOOD LORD. We need an exorcism in this thread.

Yes. I'm one who was guilty of disliking this cd. Purchased it when it first came out. I remember the record store being all lite up with the display of the TRC.. Being totally hyped, I couldnt wait 2 hear this cd. When I played it, I was so disappointed I never played it again. I kept hearing people here on the org. talking about 1+1+1 is 3 and wanted 2 know which cd it was from. Once I found out it was on the TRC's cd I had 2 take it out. So while walking a few months ago I played this cd and can't stop listening 2 it. Yes its one of my favorites. The music is so beautiful and amazing that I don't trip the lyrics. It makes me feel good and positive about life when I listen 2 this cd. I love Prince so much. He is such a gifted person and totally blessed with musical talent among many other things

Spinlight said:

well, next time you should really take care not to lump people in to groups you know full-well that they'll object to, now dont'cha?

Spinlight said:

Name-calling aside, the issue has more to do with presuming to speak for "us" rather than criticizing TRC.

I also said I don't like TRC. But I don't presume to speak for "most of us" whoever that "us" may be (the fans, the org, me and my cousin Earl, etc...).

I wouldn't have thrown that claim out there about what "most of us" think, but you did. Whether or not you can back that up is your deal, but if you've got the cojones to make that claim, be prepared to deal with the questions.


.
[Edited 10/31/06 13:04pm]

The lyrics thing gets to me. On other websites I've read people talk about the lyrics being a bother at times conmerning TRC. What? Nobody had problems with him singing about fucking his sister, receiving head splloging on a dress or about a whore masturbating in a lobby?

What twisted folks "us" are


.
[Edited 10/31/06 13:07pm]