I had to admitted that I was disappointed with AWIAD. This was in the early 90s when I seriously became a Prince supporter. I loved Purple Rain era so greatly I want more. So I went to the library and found his follow-up obviously (according copyright 1985) ATWIAD on cassette. I went home and listen to it on my boombox. I was appalled and I thought "What kind of shit is this? I was mad as hell and very disappointed after I listened to the album, I wanted Purple Rain 2. Then a few weeks later, I discovered that Prince made another movie Under the Cherry Moon. I was like great, and as naive I was I expected Purple Rain 2 even with the soundtrack. So when I watched the movie and heard the soundtrack feature, I said to myself, 'This mfucker really lost it making some weird shit music. '

I then became appreciated with ATWIAD and Parade as I grow older, still I don't considered to be one of my top 10 favorite Prince albums. But I like Parade better and SOTT better than both ATWIAD and Parade.

The first album i was a bit dissapointed in, was Batman, but in retrospect its a fine album, not offering very much new, but in general very good, suiting the movie, and benefitting from the extra depth the lyrics ad to the music (Prince the gemini using the Batman - Joker persona's to sing about his twisted mind).

Understanding Prince could not always reach the heights of the period 1981 - 1988, i did put down my expectations a bit, and yes, Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds and Pearls and the Symbol album are very good albums, with some great tracks, much better then many of the albums released by other artists in those years.

Also for me Come is (apart from 3 songs) a total let down. I mean, not also the songwriting was mostly mediocre, also the delivery did sound uninspired. Looking back i still look back negatively on that album: it lacks 'soul', conviction, Prince often sounds very bored. It rangs with me as the worst Prince album, together with New Power Soul.

The positive result of this disappointment was that i did focus myselve much more on other artists, and that i did learn there are so many much more different artists and musical styles to enjoy.

ironhills said:

Yes, yes, yes. Even though I've learned to like it, I still hate the decision to go in that direction. It was so generic sounding.

I disagree with some opinions on Diamonds and Pearls.

I mean, when i first heard the album i also thought: Hey, is Prince going mainstream here? But after some time i realisized that i have never had real drums ever sound like this on an album (i still think its one the strenghts of this album, the way he did make Michael B.'s drums sound).
Next to that, maybe for the first time since the 'Prince' album, Prince was trying to write songs that didn't mix different styles, but that were more traditional in their approach, the result: some of the best songwriting in his whole career: Cream, Get Off, Diamonds and Pearls and Money Don't matter tonight, were just great written singles that will be played on the radio for decades after.
Next to that i admire the attempts he made to deliver a more band-orientated sound. I mean, in the end Batman and Graffiti Bridge were mostly one-man productions, and he didnt seem to grow further in that direction. The NPG were clearly reflecting a new course in his career.
Alltough a lot of fams here often complain about the more rap-orientated songs and the input of Tony M, i really think dont songs are that bad: those songs, alltough a bit cheesy, still show more energy, funkieness and vividness then most of the songs on albums like Come, New Power Soul and Rave.

Not that music critics are always right. But many journalists consider this Princes best album of the nineties, and i agree with them. IMO Diamonds and Pearls is in the top 5 of Prince albums.

Prince's worst albums for me are:

Diamonds and Pearls

Emancipation
Rave un2 the Joy Fantastic

masbas said:

People define Princely expectations.

Riverpoet31 said:

I hear you, and in fact, the album is one of my favorites--same band & basic style, right? In a way, The NPG was like Prince's orchestra, capable of playing anything he threw at them. But to me they sounded like session musicians. After creating such a notable sound in the 80's, this was a shock to my system

I grew to like it okay, though. And there's no question it revived his career, as well as updated his image. A few songs are among his best, and it's a no-nonsense song oriented album.

Still, I wonder if it was a step backwards in terms of artistry. I thought after 1984-1988 he was moving away from top 40 pop music, and D&P brough him not only back into it, but as more of a follower than he'd ever been.

I haven't resolved the issue in my head totally. A good case can be made either way.

WatchThemFall said:

I like atwiad a lot, too, but for the track temptation. A really dumb track.
I think before the hip hop nonsense P. was consistently astonishing and genuinely dumbfounding.
I even loved Batman, The venture brought 2 of my childhood superheroes together

Come and nps are, for me, lost causes.
Also graffiti bridge didn't have much soul, call it creative substance if u like.
His album seem 2 have a premeditated atmosphere in recent years. he's got the brains but I don't think he's got the courage 2 turn his back on on his needy desire to be fashionable.

He might even cover Private Dancer from Tina, it'd be somehow fitting, and they'd certainly b some calling it a stroke of genius.

Am I right?

Riverpoet31 said:

Here we seem2 b of 1 mind!! Riverpoet 4 president!

Crystal Ball was hard for me to connect to at first....years later, I now dig it.

Prince has never disappointed me.

You experienced the exact same reaction in the 1990s that I, and so many other people, had in the 1980s when it was actually happening. Except I wasn't expecting "Purple Rain 2" though. I was, however, expecting the famous "Minneapolis Sound" and not some off the wall "creative" shit.

Diamonds and Pearls was the first album I felt that way about. It was a sad day for me

imma have to go with rave. I pretended to like it for so long.

MikeMatronik said:

DanceWme said:

Chaos and Disorder, Come, NPS, Gold are vastly...but really vastly superior

I feel much for the 'Come' album!

Since I saw the Beutiful Experience back in the summer of 1994, I have adored 'Come', the album is like The Gold Experience's little brother, the only problem is it's too short: 'Lovesign' and 'Interactive' should have been on it (Instead of 'Solo' and 'Orgasm').....and 'Come' would have been PERFECT, my fave trax: the long title track, Space, Letitgo, Dark, Papa and Loose!


I don't get why ppl are dissin' this great album, I just this album VERY much

The Rainbow Children is by far the most disappointing to me. I don't think I've even played it straight more than 5 or 6 times. Lovely music at times but rather inane lyrics.

jtfolden said:

I think you're reading things into it, that aren't there.
The bad critics have spoiled 4 u

The come album has only got something like 2 original ideas on it.

Come - not too bad, a little boring
space - not too bad at all
Pheromone - Dull
Loose - a weak idea, should have been dropped.
papa - I'm a star therefore my pains r greater and cuter.*
[b]Race - a stupid rap number, pointless.
dark - This 1 I can listen to, but not a really strong ballad
solo - I can't often listen to this, but I think it's the best thing on the whole album. I like it a lot, Comes' saving grace
Let it go - is extremely boring and predictable
Orgasm - is that meant 2 b shocking, or sexy, or stupid, or what? come on!
* Morrissey does it better
[Edited 2/18/07 7:10am]

thedribbler said:

No, the Darth Vader voice, 'short bus' level story, combined with the mega-stupid lyrics at times spoiled it for me. I don't look to critics to tell me what to like. I don't need validation from anyone else.

...and I wasn't aware we were directly comparing TRC to Come but, if we must, I'd take Come over that album any day of the week. Some of the songs, on their own, might be a tad weak here and there but I love listening to it as a whole. ...and it does include 3 of my favorite Prince songs Space, Solo, Letitgo.

itsmrhappy said:

I was 21

Come - I listened to this song again recently. I used to think it was the most sexy track - I loved it.

But now I'm older and wiser, my jaw hit the floor when I realised not only is there all sorts of really adolescent slurping sounds when he's supposedly giving a girl oral felicitations, but THERE'S A TROMBONE SOLO OVER THE TOP OF IT!!!

Is that guy SERIOUS?! A TROMBONE!!!

What next? Bassoon break in the middle of "Do Me Baby"?

As a long time old-school prince fan, i felt quite the opposite, i felt that " Come", left hope that he could still put out a good album,... i just about hated every album since batman, this one had quite a few great ideas.

Solo is gorgeous
Pheromone is incredible
Let It Go is so cool as well

but it did also have the dim-witted lazy sensibilities that have plagued most of his 90's and 2000's work in songs like Loose Papa and Race, ……………..other than those its a pretty good album.