Anji said:

Let's just say that I feel as though I'm getting there through a lot of practice.

And I also need to remember to base my personal rewards on my personal achievement, not on the feelings and/or actions of others.

And that's an important point to learn, because absolutely everything created has someone that loves and hates it.

I'm not interested in pleasing others, else I'd be either Mr. Cool who would declare that all art is subjective (and therefore just a simple matter of taste) or Mr. Reassurance who would declare that ever last note is genius.

But instead I think that our genetic makeup is just a starting line, and taste is just another human attribute that can be developed as much or little as we desire.

Maaaan, I'm surprised no ones has said The Rainbow Children yet...

I was stunned the first time that voice came through my earphones. Then came the music, track after track of disjointed jazz spaghetti... !!! Then I thought to myself. "Self, let's check out the lyrics!" and again utter dissapointment, nothing but JW gibberish and personal religious interpretations...

Horrible album, haven't ever been able to find a single track worth listening to, despite it having really cool jacket art.

In a bad way, the first one was Batman. After the run of albums between '80 and '88, it was a big disappointment.

In a good way, Parade. Blew me away, weirdly.

New Power Soul made me stop dead in my tracks because it was the first Prince album that I thought totally sucked. I've loved Prince's music from the beginning and think he's best live performer of all times, but I'm not blind. Crap is crap. Also, the new album is not so good either. I think my expectations of Prince over the years are sometimes too high. He's been around and been good for a long time, you can't expect him to be on point all the time. I can imagine with all of the good music he's put out there, it's hard to top yourself. He's done it all already.
[Edited 11/7/07 6:02am]

RenHoek said:

Yep, it's the only P album I refuse to rip onto my iPod.

Ellie said:

The only one I didn't put onto mini-disc, too. Fucking awful album.

Good post. Good question. I'd have to say the first time I was shocked over a
bad Prince record (at least in my opinion) was with Graffiti Bridge. I had already been disappointed with Batman (too commercial), but it wasn't shockingly awful. Although I dutifully bought each of his albums, I didn't really fall in love with a Prince record again until 1995's The Gold Experience (which I still consider a nice companion piece to Purple Rain). 5 years without a decent Prince record. That was shocking.

I wasn't shocked again (essentially because I had grown accustomed to Prince's mediocre music mixed in with the masterful stuff) until Planet Earth. While I wasn't a huge fan of 3121, it was at least worth full purchase price. I was honestly shocked he would sink down to Planet Earth level, which I actually liked less than Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (a CD I truly couldn't stand).

What's next for Prince? If the pissed off funk he put out on PFUnk (too bad the anger isn't pointed at something other than his fans) could expand into a full album it'd be the best he's done in over a decade. I just can't imagine it getting worse than Planet Earth. Here's to a funky and/or rockin' comeback by Prince with his next release (and maybe an apology to us fans)!
[Edited 11/12/07 15:49pm]

NewPower Soul is definitely worth a mention here from me.

Don't think I've come across an album that I really didn't play quite as much as this one.

The argument is that its an NPG album, not a Prince album. If that's the case, why would the wrecka stow put it in the Prince section? Just because it has his picture on the cover? Well... FYE's system still has flaws (UTCM is not a musical).

Anyway, I looked over the lyrics beforehand and some of the stuff written there is like... what is this? Mad Sex and Shoo-bed-oh had some lyrics that gave me that reaction.

Then when I heard the title track the first time, when it was close to the end, I never wanted out so badly before.

The album does still have gems, though.
Until ur in my arms again, When u love somebody, Shoo-bed-oh (music/rhythm got me into it ), Come on, The One, Wasted Kisses.

The One and even Come on make the album worth having, but overall, the vibe I get is a disappointing throwaway.

Keep in mind, though, that I listened to Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic for an entire week b4 picking this album up. That album has been called "over-produced" and "studio plastic" and pretty much any insult there is.

NewPowerSoul is more experimental, I guess you could say, but its more or less based around the NPG (give me The Revolution anytime).

That week might have had something to do with my preference of Rave, but in its case, I think even though some tracks are less than stellar (Hot w/U, so far so pleased, silly game), the gems (Man O' War, Love U/don't trust U) are so good that the positives outweigh the negatives.

In NPS's case, even the positives aren't strong enough to make up for the amount of negatives/filler in the album.

Y'know,
if Prince wins with this whole "suing the fansites" thing,
we'll be seeing a hell of alot more posts like the two above this one.

Not album but the whole "this is for" bit in Lady Cab Driver caught me off guard the first time. I love that song.

Password was stolen so I am just aplogizing to everyone for the mess.
Sorry if anyone was offended. I didn't send this last post.
[Edited 11/16/07 18:25pm]

emesem said:

My experience of Parade was identical as a 15 yr old schoolboy (it's now my favourite album)

In terms of disappointment it was Batman. End of the golden years for me.

I never got shocked by a Prince album. Untill I heard The Rainbow Children. I was like WTF and I liked it.

purplesweat said:

im listening 2 that as im reading ur post....i must admit, i never played this when my mum was around


album that shocked me was ATWIAD. after PR it was a real about face, but its one of my favs

but over the years, i have learned that thats normal for prince....never a dull moment

just changed songs, the rugrat was listening
[Edited 11/16/07 13:37pm]