Prince has many masterpieces
He really doesn't have to do anything else

i have many shoes. does that mean i should not walk anymore?

Is this a random thought in defence of his latest "masterpieces"? LOL.He does have many masterpieces, and it would seem that his more recent work reflects that he doesn't have to do anymore, because he isn't doing anymore....

kenlacam said:

Exactly!

kenlacam said:

Be honest and fair. How many Prince albums did people proclaim a "masterpiece" right away, or even during the 1st year of it's release?
Besides Purple Rain?

Truth be told, many albums like Parade and Lovesexy are only now called "masterpieces" and still mostly by only Prince fans.
[Edited 5/18/09 11:41am]

skywalker said:

That's very true, I remember some very iffy reviews of Sign o the Times, even.

^ really?

Imo. 1980-1988 includes 8 masterpieces,

Dirty Mind
1999
Purple Rain
ATWIAD
Parade
Sign O' The Times
Black Album
Lovesexy

Am I fanatic then...?

thedance said:

Not at all. I agree with you. I'd add Controversy to that list. However, are you telling me that fans and critics alike immediately embraced these albums as "masterpieces" upon their release? I don't think so.

Leave the 80's for a second. Around here, I even see that Chaos and Disorder is getting some love. This album was widely lamented by people when it 1st was released. Now, with time views/perspectives change.
[Edited 5/18/09 14:58pm]

Let me clarify-after Diamonds and Pearls, I can't think of any more masterpieces, certainly nothing in the new millineum can be considered as such.

kenlacam said:

Really? Diamonds and Pearls was the last "masterpiece". The album that contains "Jughead" is his last "masterpiece"?

To be a musical legend that has offered so much to this world...he doesn't have to do write anymore, although, I suppose what makes a Master a Master, is to keep going until every drop of inspiration has been painted on the canvas of his dreams.

kenlacam said:

The Gold Experience
The Truth
The Rainbow Children


easily as good as anything that came before or after.

To be honest, LotusFlow3r is a master piece and so is 3121

After all the movies, all the protege albums, all the b-sides, 12" remixes, soundtracks, tracks given to other artists and attempts at being Godly, funky, sexy or anything else, his last true masterpiece that encompassed different styles, yet held a common theme, appealed to the masses, and could have appealed to radio with proper promotion, dug deep into his feelings on anything from courtship, sex, commitment, fetishes, loneliness, vindication, love and hate was

jjonezy said:

LOL No they're not. You might really like them, but they are not masterpieces.

skywalker said:

Exactly. People can love an album when it first comes out, but to define it as a masterpiece is a huge step in the annals of music history.



Time does change perspective. Some things age well with time, some do not. An album is like a tree, the songs are leaves. Over time, certain ones stay, others fall off from lack of nurture. I think a safe rule of thumb with most Prince albums is, that despite his incredibly prolific career and tremendous output and brilliant times that there have been not-so-brilliant moments on any given album. So there's always a rule of extracting one or two tunes for the sake of making the album stronger. That rule definitely applies to something like Chaos and Disorder, where a song or two might bring the album down a notch. Otherwise, it IS a really good CD, despite Prince's utter lack of interest in it.

Ultimately, a Masterpiece wouldn't have that rule apply. It'd be what it is, and every song has its place and it's cohesively perfect. The songs are crafted perfectly, the production, the delivery of the vocals, ALL of that is right in the pocket.

Sgt Pepper, The White Album, Thriller, Control, Purple Rain, No Jacket Required, Sign O The Times, Like A Prayer, Ray of Light. THOSE are masterpieces. LotusFlower is not.
[Edited 5/19/09 8:30am]