So I really got into prince about a year ago and i've got pretty much everything up to the gold experience, and i have to say the live bootlegs are probably the best of it all (still dreaming to see him live someday). But i dunno about his newer stuff. Is there anything worth listening to?

Listening to emancipation just looks like a chore.

Newer stuff?

eh...lol

Well after the gold experience

Ziggystars said:

Order some stuff off www.amazon.com or check out ebay

I know where to buy the albums but i was just wondering if anyone had any recommendations...

It's fine though. I'll have a look around for some reviews.

Ziggystars said:

Buy all his albums

Don't be that guy. There are enough of them on this board who don't seem to be able to move past what Prince was - and realize who Prince is: an artist who follows his musical soul wherever it takes him, and is extremely capable in doing so.

Is there anything worth listening to since Gold Experience? Well, Emancipation, for one.

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic - probably not so much. You really have to be a fan of Prince to get any joy out of it, and even for those of us who *love* him and his music to the nth degree, there aren't that many servicable songs on the disc, but gems include: "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold," "I Love U, But I Don't Trust U Anymore,", and MAYBE "Man o' War" though lots seem to hate the song, I think it has merit. I like "Tangerine" and "Silly Game" but that's because I enjoy hearing Prince play with sounds and have fun in the studio. Which is why I love "Cloreen Bacon Skin" so much.

I can't recommend "The Rainbow Children" - it sounds exactly like what it is: an artist who recently discovered his religion preaching way to vehemently and poorly about said faith. Musically, it's very interesting. Lyrically, it's a chore.

Musicology is fantastic. I can't recommend it enough. Only a few 'meh' tracks on the disc, and like his other stuff, with the exception of "Life of the Party," and "Cinnamon Girl," most of it's aurally interesting. But this disc has some of the *greatest* R&B songs I've ever heard, much less great Prince songs: "Musicology," "A Million Days," "Call My Name (OH MY GOD SOOOOO GOOD)," "If Eye Was the Man in Ur Life," "Dear Mr. Man," and "Reflection." This is a great Prince album, with Prince doing things you've never heard him do before, and he does it flawlessly and classically.

3121 is also fantastic. "Black Sweat," "Fury," "Lolita," "Love," and "BeautifullovedBlessed" stand out.

Planet Earth? Well...I'm not the biggest fan of this disc. "Future Baby Mama" isn't bad, but really, "Guitar," "Mr. Goodnight" and "Chelsea Rodgers" stand out as great tracks.

The stuff from LotusFlow3r is already fantastic. You'll see.
[Edited 1/8/09 19:22pm]

Ziggystars said:

I like emancipation. It will grow on you.

once you get into his older stuff.. you will be baffled at how mediocre his newer stuff sounds.

Just remember, you won't like Emancipation the first time you listen to it.

But pick it up a year later and all of a sudden the album is transformed.


I love Emancipation. And I've said this a million times before but I dislike 6 songs on it, but 6 out 36 is a damned good ratio

great album.



His newer stuff is meh. Check out his weirder stuff like ONA piano or The Truth.

yeah ONA and The Truth might be the best studio work you'll find of his that is considered new.. his production poo poo isn't stamped all over it.

I get you guys like 'old' Prince music - but why do you keep coming on here to talk and downplay where the guy's gone?

Seriously. You can have your opinions, but no matter how much anyone wants, anyone bitches, anyone moans, Prince will NEVER go back to his old sound: because it doesn't exist anymore. He couldn't if he wanted to, because that time doesn't exist any longer. It's really that simple.

If you're not a fan of his new stuff, then just move on. That's what you do when an artist changes and you don't like the direction he's gone. Today I wore my TOOL t-shirt, and realized while I was at Starbucks, "Wait...why am I wearing this shirt? I don't like what Tool does anymore. I don't like where their music has gone."

And that's why I don't spend time talking in Tool message boards. Make yourself happier - listen to the old stuff and stop fretting about how his new stuff doesn't sound the same.

If you can't get into Musicology or the new stuff from LotusFlow3r (which truly does recapture the spirit {if not the sound} of some of his older work) then you'll probably never be satisfied with what the Man gives you.

bleutuna said:

Totally agree...

Personally, I adore his newer stuff...
3121, LOVED it...funky, groovy.
I enjoyed Rave....
Rainbow Children....a few tracks, but mostly just Ok music.
Musicology is super!!! Love it. I think it is loaded with funky jams and great songs...
Planet Earth...I liked about half of those tracks, a lot! The other half...they were Ok, not the best.
I most def. think you should purchase everything you can.
If you are like me, you will "grow" with his music and love the artist that he is. He experiments, tries new sounds and techniques, and personally, I think they sound fabu!

bleutuna said:

Omg, I read your post, and it is as if the words are coming out of my mouth!
Very well said, and I agree 100%!

3121 and Musicology are brilliant! Emancipation has alot of great material within its 3 discs, the same is said for Crystall Ball...take ur time listening 2 these albums as they have some great material spread ova there 3 discs. It's an awfull lot of music 2 take in, So maybe just listen 2 1 disc a day at a time. As u will find with Prince alot of his songs are growers.....BUT THERE USUALLY THE BEST ONES! Nice 2 meet ya im Optimus

P.S Be warned alot of "older fans" seem 2 try and make u think as they do forcing there opinions on "newer fans" like u and I...but 80% of the time there usually wrong as are ears are alot fresher
[Edited 1/8/09 21:36pm]

optimus said:

Very true. Something I've discovered this week.

I've been a Prince fan since I was like 11 - I'm 32 now. But, that being said, I didn't really get into much before Purple Rain, lost track for awhile, got back into him with Batman, and continued on after that.

Meaning I missed Around the World, Parade and Sign o' the Times. From my perspective, these albums *aren't* that different from the stuff he put out in the 90s. Some of it's very different, some of it's a natural progression, some of it's eerily similar.

But, most of all, I came to realize I don't necessarily agree with the blanket statement that Sign o' the Times is an unrivaled masterpiece and Parade is crap. I actually like a lot of Parade, a good bit of Around the World, and a decent amount of Sign, but for me - I prefer The Gold Experience. And as well. does have too much rap on it - bad rap at that, but I don't find it any worse than the cheesy sax on Around the World, or the synth on Sign.

Just Prince using the instruments of the day, creating interesting, eclectic music.

bleutuna said:

There are some statements that I must disagree with.

SOTT is an unrivaled masterpiece, and this is considered the case not only by Prince fans but by non-Prince fans. I remember a survey a while ago on this site where people out and out voted SOTT their all time favourite album.

Also, although Parade received negative reviews initially, most people now consider it one of his best albums.

In addition, I think what is really apparant is that all people have different opinions on what they think about Prince´s music - so asking for a recommendation isnt going to help you. My advice is to listen to ALL of Prince´s albums and decide for yourself what you like - there is bound to be something that suits your personal taste. As a newer\younger listener perhaps the more recent stuff will suit you and the older stuff sounds dated, but I personally think all his music pre-batman is his greater material, and that it is much better than his 90´s stuff. Im always looking for innovation and good songwriting in music. It´s hard to comment on his newer music because it seems he is starting to become innovative again and more comfortable in his own skin, but I do beleive that his songwriting in general has declined dramatically. I just cannot beleive that Prince will ever write a song as perfect as Raspberry Beret, Purple Rain or Little Red Corvette again - but I also beleive most major artists have their creative peak (look at Bowie, Macartney, etc), they still make great music, but anyone thinking that the great songwriting of the past will be forthcoming are gonne be waiting!! which is what I do every album!

I am very encouraged by the sound of the new music on lotus flower, but unlike other people I think making a song like crimson and clover is a great idea and I believe he should do more covers - great song + prince´s innovation, style and creativity make this song superb. This is all just my opinion....

bleutuna said:

Thanks for the info. I still haven't heard it, I'm afraid I'd get really disappointed when I hear it, because of all those negative reviews...

npggirl77 said:

i agree 100% also. If u see Bart or wall or sdldown u know they will be complaining and telling us what the music lacks and not what's good. they are always with a negative vibe. Why they can't find something better and more positive to do with their time is a mystery. i guess some people love being the fly in the soup.

vinx98 said:

I get that people love SOTT, but I also know a lot of people who have said this, then you ask if they've listened to The Gold Experience, or Emancipation, and they haven't.

Plus, there are many people, and I've seen plenty of lists, that put Purple Rain way above SOTT as far as Prince's masterpieces and best albums are concerned. And Purple Rain IS a freaking fantastic album. It's a fantastic piece of art, with some of the best songs ever written, on it and it had the power to change the world.

But, for my money, Musicology is a masterpiece. So is The Gold Experience.

We'll have have to agree to disagree about how unrivaled it is
[Edited 1/9/09 6:24am]

Buy all of the albums and judge for yourself but in doing so PLEASE, I have to say it again, PLEASE DON'T compare the past to the present, or after The Gold Experience. Let the "newer" stuff be it's own ride. To compare the the old stuff with the newer stuff would be cheating yourself out of enjoying the music for what it is. I hope this helps you out a bit.

if u've learned anything from Prince, i'd hope it'd be to have your own mind. don't come to cyberspace to ask ppl u don't know or who don't know u or your musical tastes, your favorite "incarnations" of Prince whether you should buy newer stuff or WHAT newer stuff TO buy. judge for yourself. case in point, i'd heard such negativity about NPS (New Power Soul) and overall it IS a bad album, but i'm SOOOO glad i got it for Wasted Kisses, The One, and Until Your In My Arms Again, those are BRILLIANT to me. so my purchase was worthwhile IMO, DESPITE the negative feedback.