U name the album. I'm always stuck by this statement and I've read it many times here on the org. It always leaves me perplexed because I'm one of those fans that find great artistic merit in all the albums that Prince has produced. Sure there are those I consider better then others but none that I think are devoid of quality music.

Do people really feel this way or are they just speaking in extremes because being extreme garners more attention? I can think of 3 albums that I was unimpressed with on initial listen (Rave, NPS, and C&D). I don't feel any of the three is his best work but over time I have come to appreciate each as a step in Prince's musical journey. I think I've come to appreciate what they do offer as opposed to what they don't. I guess its the case of the glass being half-full as opposed to being half-empty.

I think too many of us are looking for absolute genius in Prince too much of the time. Whatever our personal highs are, we are looking for Prince to reproduce that high in us with each song or album. In doing so me miss a lot of the beauty that is offered. I just feel privileged to be alive and able experience this gifted musician in real-time. I can never judge Prince harshly on his personal decisions because they are his to make.

I don't feel the need to "battle" with Prince or call him derisive names like we are in elementary school together. It seems as silly as going to battle with Alfred Hitchcock or Picasso. I'm sure many people considered them "assholes" or whatever but really it's about the art they created and left for us enjoy.

Going back to the original statement "Prince hasn't done anything good since...", that is such a dismissive way of critiquing any artist. And really it just isn't true. I don't believe any one of his so-called fans can listen to PE and truly believe that to be true.

There is always wit and philosophy in his lyrics and ambition in the music. What is there not to love?

Prince hasn't done anything good since "Planet Earth."

tricky99 said:

Sorry to edit your excellent point of view (I should have highlighted the bits I've taken instead) but you've stated exactly how I feel.


Prince hasn't done anything bad. He does things that some of don't like - but how many times do you see on here that what some of us adore, others dislike!

It's the beauty and scope of Princes work!!!

Its good to read something intelligent for a change!


I agree with you Tame, Nothing good since Planet Earth!!
[Edited 1/16/08 6:17am]

Since P-Funk.

NouveauDance said:

D'oh.

How could I forget!!!!! Got lost in the thread.


Since Pfunk!!! Agreed.

tricky99 said:

I agree.

For You - Glass Half Full

Prince - Glass Half Full

Dirty Mind - Glass Full

Controversy - Glass Full

1999 - Glass Overflowin'

Purple Rain - Glass Full To The Rim

Around The World In A Day - Glass Full

Parade - Glass Full

Sign O´ The Times - Glass Runneth Over

Lovesexy - Glass Full

Batman - Glass Damn Near Full

Graffiti Bridge - Glass Half Full

Diamonds And Pearls - Glass Has A Couple Of Drops Left In It

- Glass Has A Couple Of Drops Left In It

Come - Glass Half Empty

Black Album - Glass Really Full

Gold - Glass Half Full

Chaos And Disorder - Glass 3/4 Full

Emancipation - Glass Half Empty

Crystal Ball - Glass Full

The Truth - Glass 7/8 Full

The Vault... Old Friends 4 Sale - Glass Full

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic - Glass Half Empty

Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic - Glass Half Full

The Rainbow Children - Glass 3/4 Full

One Nite Alone - Glass Completely Full

One Nite Alone... Live! - Glass Running On Empty

The Aftershow: It Ain't Over! - Glass Half Empty

Xpectation - Glass Full

C-Note - Glass Full

N.E.W.S - Glass Full

The Chocolate Invasion - Glass Half Empty

The Slaughterhouse - Glass Half Empty

Musicology - Glass Empty

3121 - Glass Damn Near Empty

Planet Earth - Glass Empty

squirrelgrease said:

U are not nearly as funny as u think u are.

tricky99 said:

Damn tricky that was on point. You said a lot of things that have floated around in my head for years.

since 3121

tricky99 said:

i tend to lean toward this for 'some' folk.. nothing wrong with having an opinion of liking and disliking some stuff, but usually what happens is ppl's post will turn into a personal attack against Prince and it's not necessary ..

well really since Exodus.
after that was tons o crap until The Rainbow Children,
and then it's been a pretty steady diet of crap ever since.

squirrelgrease said:

I guess for Rainbow Children the Web Sheriff must've taken the glass !

(probably had a Prince logo on it or something...)

[Edited 1/16/08 8:44am]

Tame said:

ButterscotchPimp said:

This is an example I'm talking about. Saying something is crap is not a very interesting critique at all. Really unless someone was discussing soulja boy or some other juvenile music, Just saying something is crap sounds like someone just saying something without any critical thought. Why is Exodus good while Come is crap? There is a certain essense of Prince that cuts across production techniques, genre, and instumentation. That is what I identify as the genuis of Prince. It rears its head no-matter what. The genuis is in the details.

"Chelsae Rodgers" and "Somewhere Here On Earth". I named particular tracks instead of naming the "Planet Earth" album since it contained a shit hop track like "Mr. Goodnight" to ruin it.

tricky99 said:

Prince hasn't done anything good since soft and wet

musicology

some stuff on 3121

planet earth was average in my opinion

plenty of fans i know feel that he needs something that he has lost.

he needs to get it back for the next project and need to be back on top.


MY OPINION. if you are offended i didnt mean to dishonor your god

RumAndRaisin said:

really? I was thinking 94 east lol

AGNTHVC said:

U miss my point. I am well aware we have different songs/albums that appeal to us. I'm talking about the dismissive types who find no merit in his work past a certain album. It's not about him being God..jeez

See I don't have a problem with people thinking an album sucks ass but I do have a problem with people coming up here calling me crazy and pathetic for liking everything Prince releases. That includes acting like their opinion is THE TRUTH when it's just an opinion. We like what we like and we shouldn't be dogged for that on a fansite devoted to that person who's CD(s) we enjoy. That's a major reason why a fansite like this even exists. That self-righteous, snobby attitude is part of why the Purple World is divided as it is. That attitude is also with some of the fans who can see no wrong too but I see it more with those who think he hasn't released a "decent" record since the 20th century.
[Edited 1/16/08 9:42am]

purplecam said:

Maybe its me but Prince seems less stuck in time then alot of his fans. He's still trying new things (TRC, NEWS, TAC) and keeping his eye on the mainstream to see where its going. I'm fasinated that I still find him fasinating after 30 years and 100s and 100s of songs. Maybe at some point i'll become a disguntled fan but it hasn't happened yet. I mean the man will be 50! who is is peer?

tricky99 said:

Man I hope and pray that I NEVER get to where a lot of fans are with Prince. That's a place I want nothing to do with. I'm with you, Prince is still as unpredictable as he was 10, 20, even 30 years ago. One thing about Prince, positive or negative, the ride is never dull. The only thing I want from Prince to change is the promotion of his work and him to release the right songs from his CD's but that's another topic. Prince still kicks my ass!

tricky99 said:

i appreciate ur thoughts and feelings about his body of work and i tend 2 agree with u. there is always something on his albums that makes me smile and cherrish with PE being the least body of work that i shake my head at the most considering 8 tracks pure garbage.

RumAndRaisin said:

then that would negate ur whole top 5 album list wouldn't it?

L4OATheOriginal said:

But you said 8 tracks were garbage, that must mean that the other 2 tracks must have grabbed you in some kind of way, even if it was just a little bit.

purplecam said:

i hear what ur saying cause it does bother me somewhat when people think just cause he's added a flavor of hip hop 2 his music that it's all pure crap. or that since the revolution broke up there hasn't been any good jams or albums since. i put myself in this as well as where i feel he needs 2 get a certain linuep of the npg back and kick that ass, but i try 2 chalk it up 2 as one being nostalgic and not wanting 2 progress forward. if it seems at times i'm being a "hater", then it's in their view as opposed 2 wanting this man's music that i have enjoyed 4 close 2 25 years 2 keep moving forward instead of reliving a certain time of his career. hence my opposing of his setlits in his shows. we all need 2 move forward with our lives and music is the same in this regard

L4OATheOriginal said:

i was only joking btw lol

i think planet earths good, so i cant really conribute much to this thread.

the nps / 3121 bashes are gonna have a lot of fun though!!!

purplecam said:

oh without a doubt and somewhere here on earth r my sentimental favorites..i've always said that the album is shit except those 2 tracks but 4 me, 3121 kicks ass like no other since a long time 4 me. u'll c on this site people trash musicology and 3121 but praise planet earth 2 high heavens. that's good 4 them but 4 me it's the opposite