no, but it's very good, and at this point it's as close to a masterpiece as i think we're ever going to get.

i hope i'm wrong about that, but i think it's been 14 years since he put out something this good, and i'm taking into account both discs.

hopefully this is just the beginning of him reaching the heights that we know he is (or was) capable of, but even if it's not, i'm happy with this.


but a masterpiece, no. a very satisfying return to form, yes.

It has that special tingle that a great new Prince album gives you. You cant stop playing it. You hear something new and exciting every time you play it.
Rainbow Children was the last masterpiece that most of the world flat out slept on.

Coming from a 'lurker' around this site I must answer it depends on the listener.

The wonderful thing about Prince is that his music is so varied and scatterbrained....much like he is. When you have so much to offer from a soul like his you're going to have people who are overwhelmed,underwhelmed and just flat out indifferent. I mean this is a guy who showed everyone that he is a genius, but it seems no one can agree which album(s) or songs display his genius. It's futile to try to get a group of Prince fans to decide on what songs are genius, half- baked, necessary, loveable, or disposable because his ability to touch others through his music is widespread...someone is going to feel left out!!! Some people have been feeling left out since the late 80's, but that's another post .

The real question is what does it do for you? Is it the work of a genius or someone imitating a genius? Do the songs satisfy that urge we all have as music lovers for you? I love a lot of songs/albums that get trashed around here, but people have the right to judge for themselves what they like or dislike. That's why I don't participate in the arguments over "what's better" "when he was at his best" or "if he should retire or not" because in my opinion it's useless. You either dig it or dismiss it. For some (myself included) this album is of superb quality and to others it's less than that, but if you find yourself listening to it alot...yeah it's probably a masterpiece....at least for you.
[Edited 3/31/09 21:16pm]

I mean this is a guy who showed everyone that he is a genius, but it seems no one can agree which album(s) or songs display his genius. It's futile to try to get a group of Prince fans to decide on what songs are genius (...) The real question is what does it do for you? (...) For some (myself included) this album is of superb quality and to others it's less than that, but if you find yourself listening to it alot...yeah it's probably a masterpiece....at least for you.

TRC pisses all over OK COMPUTER, KID A and PABLO HONEY ALTOGETHER

I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but I'm enjoying it!

Nope. It's a solid B+, and could have been a masterpiece as one, better sequenced album. But as it stands, the two albums are a hair better than 3121 and Planet Earth, but not quite as good as Musicology.

rainbow children was not a masterpiece, although it is probably the most complex album he has released, when one talks of masterpieces, one has to look at albums like Ok computer, Mezzanine, Diamond dogs and so on.

Outkasts double is considered a masterpiece, Princes new product is better than that, but the problem is Princes back catologue is simply unreal, where as outkasts is just so so. The greatest thing about the new Prince albums is, it showcases the state of modern music today, something Prince has complained about for yrs. It is a blatant statement to the so called music industry, which promotes rubbish to create money and sadly the youth of today consider the likes of Kanye, Timberland, Spears etc as peers.

BTW Madonna can be thrown into that pot as well

TRC pisses all over OK COMPUTER, KID A and PABLO HONEY ALTOGETHER