It's time to re-evaluate - IMHO Disc 2 of Emancipation is his best effort of the 90's. The other two discs are littered with great moments but Disc 2 is sublime! 10+ years after the fact; it holds up well.

Robert

I actually listen to disc 2 the least

I'll add more after I hear it a few more times and get familiar with it.

So far of all the discs of that album, I've heard Disc I the most, I've heard Disc II through half as many times and Disc III, I haven't even listened to yet

But I like Disc I better than Disc II.

I feel like Disc II falls off after "Let's have a baby."

Saviour, I really can't get into right now
either because I'm not all the religious
or it just doesn't feel like a Prince track. At least not compared to the rest of the album... it feels like it was thrown on the album as an old outtake and it doesn't really go with the others (not musically anyway).

But I can't really get into "Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife"... It goes over my head and it doesn't really make me feel anything but confused.


Except for the last 3 tracks, though... I must say it is an amazing disc.

"Sex in the Summer" has a great beat, it feels very upbeat and Prince is obviously smiling cuz it shows.
"One Kiss at a Time"... took me a while to get, but every note is placed so perfectly! It's the perfect R&B love song and his falsetto is BEAUTIFUL throughout this song. So this song is great by me
"Soul Sanctury" has a great flow, but the only problem I have with it is when his falsetto spikes towards the end and it feels forced... people say that Solo from Come hurts their ears... that part hurts my ears more than Solo does.
"Emale"... I'm still figuring out, but the beat is contagiously addictive The 2nd verse is my favorite because the rhythm of it is aweseome.

Then it takes off for me...
"Curious Child" feels like something out of Shakespeare, like a Romeo & Juliet short of deal (not just cuz of the balcony reference)... but his falsetto is beautiful here as well. its 2 die 4.
"Dreamin' about Ya" segues from that song perfectly and it's like I'm taken to a whole new world an amazing song where he uses his vocals and his speaking voice to full effectiveness
"Joint 2 Joint" is a groovy track and I like how there are a few different parts to it
"The Holy River"... I don't care if I get shot down for this, but it feels like something he released on Planet Earth. The musicality of it, the sound of the guitar... but a great song overall.
"Let's have a Baby"... makes you feel all kinds of things. Happiness, sadness, but the lyrics are very sweet. I can imagine why this made Mayte cry when he played it for her.

I still like Disc I more, but Disc II, i'm still working through

nurseV said:

I thought I was the only one. A bit too "romantic" for my taste.

nurseV said:

Same. Think I only managed to listen to it all the way through once.

It has been more than 10 years and I still think that Emancipation is possibly the worst collection of Prince stuff ever assembled. The only album that comes close to this level of crap is the Rainbow Children.
I actually bought Emancipation when it came out. I ended up losing it a couple years later. I saw it in a music store about 5 years ago and it was on sale for 9 dollars, so I bought it. I quickly wanted my 9 dollars back.

My fave of the 3.

sexxydancer said:

U ole' romantic

nurseV said:

Makez me cry.

daPrettyman said:

My feelings exactly-never really felt disc 2.

Ellie said:

Me too

I think all three discs are about equally good. Disc 2 has gems like Sex In The Summer, Dreaming About You and Saviour.

Eh? Of course, disc two is the best of them. If only for joint to joint. Disc three is waaaay to uneven, starting with that odd house-stuff in the beginning, and disc one is a bit too synthesized. Two is funky, organic.

He created three discs, one for pop, one for fun and disc two to rule them all!

nurseV said:

Same here

mplsmike said:

Mplsmike Well, mike's made it official

nurseV said:

This 60 mins of music right here is the most 1derful, personal single disc of love songs we will ever hear from the man. I adore it...

I Love all of "Emancipation," with the exception of the background vocals on "Joint 2 Joint."

blaksoulfire said:

It stands to reason, Prince said it was dedicated to Mayte.

Disc II is the one I listen to the most out of the 3.

Yeah it is a great album and that disc is also my fave however.....I think that it has dated alot quicker than it should with its over-blown production (sounds,synths etc) which is a shame really oh and Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife, Dreamin About U and Holy River are my fave tracks
[Edited 9/29/08 13:32pm]

One kiss at a time
Soul Santuary
Disc 2

blaksoulfire said:

In many ways this disc is very important; ofcourse it has great songs..but also it documents a very special fase in P's life...therefore it is a crucial disc and yes my favorite disc of the 90's...hmm..maybe the Undertaker competes..mm..no..the symbol album...mm...anyway it's crucial...

Darwintheorgangrinder said:

ok..so you don't like the 3 x CD set and you don't like TRC...

LondonStyle said:

I think that I made that perfectly clear.

Disc 2 is by far my favorite...i guess that makes me an old romantic 2
[Edited 9/29/08 13:30pm]

Joyinrepatition said:

I like the entire Emancipation album, however my fav is disc2. I am so happy that Prince listened to Mayte and finished the album. He said this was his most personal album, and just think he allowed his fans to get this close to his heart. I will always cherish Emancipation....it's Prince and Mayte so in love.