2 record scores out of 5=mediocre

Not so log ago, the only thing more awesome than seeing Prince in concert would have been the oppurtunity to bring the orgiastic thrills home in a three-cd box like this. But then, around the same time he mangled his name and cut his major-label ties, the man with the cheek-a-boo trousers decided to stop playing his hits. Barnstormers like Lets Go Crazy and Purple Rain were shevled in favor extended jams at the hands of his slick, one note-perfect band, the new Power Generation-people who are allergic to melody.

So instead of vintage housequaking Prince, most of the rambling, brass-heavy material here comes from recent spiritual-minded CD's like The Rainbow Children and Crystal Ball-albums that few bought. When Prince does briefly revisit the past, it's as if the skies part. His run through "When U Were Mine" proves that underneath it all, his lovely falsetto and raw showanship remain as whip smart as ever, while his ocndensed version of "Diamonds and Pearls" is easily the most compelling 41 seconds in this set. Purple lace and sex-kitten heels have never been so sorely missed.-Aidin Vaziri

while I liked&enjoyed a Live Release Set from Prince of course He is gonna get some Knocks.you can always make a Argument for His Past Tours&Performances making the cut too Disc.a Old Prince fan will always argue for 86-88 being released too Disc,Album&Tape.I respect what Vibe said.though I enjoy the Live Release there is a Argument for other Material over the years that give it a Run&whatnot.

hate to say it ... its right on ...

(maybe i woulda given it 3 stars)

really disappointing ... and the sad thing in my mind ... is that i liked the tour and seeing him live ... but this 3 cd album is a disappointment ... and i agree with the review (for the most part ...)

I stopped taking Vibe seriously when they stopped taking music seriously. Years ago.

Agree with supernova on this one ... did the reviewer even listen to any of Prince's output ... or stop listening around 93 ... and started buying up Brittney and Nsync albums ... i think thats what most critics have done ... Rolling Stone included .

Good. It was getting a little creepy with nothing but critical praise for this release.

I don't agree with the review and the writer obviously doesn't appear capable of feeling music outside of the typical chorus/verse/chorus/snore/verse/chorus stuff and also doesn't appear capable of moving beyond Prince's sexy persona, but it's always good to hear other perspectives. It strengthens your own, you know?

You could choke a horse on the amount of melody contained within this release. But you can say "tah-may-tow" and I'll say "tah-mah-tow." Let's call the whole thing off!

And my condolences to anyone who has to write for Rolling Stone or Vibe magazine.

D&P the best thing on the album, huh? This review is SHITE...

rdhull said:

too be Honest most of the Music Magazines today don't take Music too Seriously nowadays IMHO.Vibe is like a Puffy Production:they Sample Rolling Stone,The Source,Entertainment Weekly,Slam Magazine,XXL,People,Us,etc... without ever having there own idenity.but then again all those above Magazines fall into that category IMHO.

WTFUCK VIBE is just like Rolling Stone and those two magazine aren't any better than any teenie bop boy band mags vibe or spin = pakcaged pop = NOT RESPECTABLE OPINIONS

 that AINT cause I like Prince its cause its the truth about VIBE, its for wanna bes

CalhounSq said:

I said the same thing. What in the hell are they drinking? The version of dorothy parker get four stars on its own.

misschestylarue said:

4 stars?? What happened to 5?!!

That right there just says it all about the reviewer. What an azz.

VIBE sucks butt anyway. After Emil took over the mag he's been more interested in jetsetting all over Europe attending fashion shows than any journalistic interest. The mag has been up for sale for a while now but no one is buying.

JohnC said:

They've been listening to more important "musicians", like Puff Daddy...

The live set is DAMNED good.

some need ta post the link to vibe so we all can give the vibe review a beat down!

GIOVANNI said:

http://www.vibe.com

NuPwrSoul said:

Speak your Peace Man.Emil is all over the place ain't He? whatever Fashion Engagement that Cat is there.after Keith T.Clinkscale left Vibe they haven't truly been the same IMHO.I think they are no Worse than what goes for Pop-Mainstream Magazines nowadays Overall but truth be told they didn't move me as much as Black Beat or Right On!from back in the day."Vibe" always tried too Much Fan Appeal.sometimes a Stew has too Much Sauce&just needs too be left as it is.but Respect when they are talking about the Music¬ just not if a Artist is based on Appeal with the current market.

mistermaxxx said:

Yeah it's funny to see Emil on VH1 and other music docu programs discussing past music, as if he knows what the hell he's talking about. No major stories did he break, no major profiles, no major journalistic pieces, but he's sitting up their flappin his azz on Tupac, Biggie, etc. like if he wrote about them, met them, etc.

What a poser.
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[This message was edited Mon Jan 6 19:17:00 PST 2003 by NuPwrSoul]

NuPwrSoul said:

Yeah man I Miss when Alan Light would speak on things.I got that Vibe with Michael Jackson on the Cover&Emil acted like He wrote the whole Piece&whatnot.He did the same with Mary J.Bliege Cover.Emil must think He is the Carson Daily of Vibe HUH??

mistermaxxx said:

Ha!

I miss Alan Light. His cover story on Prince during the "Slave"/Gold era was one of the best that I've read to cover his career. Isn't Light over at Spin now?

Who the hell is Emil? Emil is what I call Bart Van Hemmeln because he looks like an Emil.Is Emil an editor? I had Vibe since day one and dont remember any Emil. Only Alan Light whom Russell Simmons ragged on publicly.

NuPwrSoul said:

you get Double Church AMEN time on that One Brother! Alan Light made that Story really Cool.I think He is over on Spin.I read His Rap Book through Vibe with Pac&Biggie.I still have that Issue with Prince on the Cover from 94 that Alan Light did.that was a Tight Story.I also dug the Piece he did on Prince&Run Dmc for Vibe I think back in 99??I still see Him on VH1 or other Shows or Peep His Work in Billboard or any other Magazine where He writes.Peace

rdhull said:

Emil is the H.N.I.C of Vibe Nowadays or He does His Best Job of Acting like it???Yeah he is the Editor but things aren't the same with Him ROlling the Magazine.you still remember what Russell Simmons said about Alan Light? Russell was just doing the Hard-Core Hip-Hop Pose there.someone should tell Russell in case he don't know but He does that way over Half the People in the Industry are Gay.Russell refused too be partners with Quincy Jones because of Alan Light's preference as if that is gonna Hurt Selling the Magazine??but needless too Say Alan Light moved on&is still getting Props wherever He takes His Craft.Russell got a tired Magazine&tired Rip-Off CLothes too Sell.

FOR Gods sake Justin Timberlake is on the cover so what do these people know about real music even Vibe has sold out on music and 4 those who jump the gun... it has nothing to do with race, it clearly deals with my view on music and Justin isn't it

mistermaxxx said:

No you just did not say HNIC



Hell yeah ..said Vibe aint got one straight white-black male working there or something like that.



Yeah with his mad ass lisp



he knows this--he was just mad because he felt disrespected etc. so he went the ignorant route



yup

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[This message was edited Mon Jan 6 22:20:27 PST 2003 by rdhull]

As RD would say... all them bammas got washboard abs. (well the "bammas" part is my contribution)

Vibe Magazine, just like several other black music forums (BET/and all radio stations owned by Radio One) are all sell outs. They have sold their souls in exchange for this watered down bullshit music of today that leaves it's listeners with a serious case of musical malnutrition. ONA is a great box set. First of all, it's the first time that a lot of fans have had a chance to hear Prince live without the benefit of bootlegers. It shows true musicianship and showmanship like only Prince can deliver.

This is one of the reasons that I stopped my subscription to Vibe Magazine 6 months ago. I had been a subscriber since it's first magazine, but when it adopted a vision of Hip Hop only, I knew that it was time for me to leave these fools who's journalists are from Generation X. Most of all, I am sorry to see that Quincy Jones has blessed and endorsed the magazines vision, which by the way is going to hell in a handbasket. (Done venting now).

Screw Vibe. ONA is a masterpiece that should be in every home. I can't give it enough stars.

ditto, the review is right on target