Well I could've quite happily kept my vitriol to myself, but as you've asked us to share, how can I not?

I loathe this album.

When people say that, musically, he explores new areas I really haven't a clue what they're talking about. I don't hear it. All I hear is that laid back jazzy funky tripe that he can wallop out any old time, and it's fine when he does some jazzy noodling live (or without the ghastly lyrics), but 74 minutes of it, clinically digitised and devoid of life, is more than I can take.

I like challenging music - even if it turns out not to be to my taste - if it's well constructed then there is value to listening to it. And therein lies the problem with TRC for me - although it's a challenge for me to listen to, whenever I try I get the distinct impression that it was far from a challenge for Prince to make, that musically he stays well within his comfort zone, and basically just tossed it out. Well, if he's going to make me sweat listening to it, he damn well better've put some sweat into making it, and I don't think he did. Maybe that's a little unfair, given that Prince's comfort zone is fairly expansive, but musically, I just find it boring. Too boring to listen to.

The one song on it that I would like to be able to listen to more often is Family Name, because the guitar work is good, but I rarely get to the good bit, all that akashic butt-cheek clenching crapology gets to me and I end up switching it off (usually about the 7 second mark). I have no interest in religion, so over the years I've developed a sort of filter where I can gloss over the god bothering, but it doesn't work with this. Pity really, because musically it's the high point of the album. If, lyrically, he had some message that he felt important to deliver, wouldn't it have been better served being delivered with some memorable music?

But the real problem for me is the lyrics - pretty much all of them. The music needs to be a damn sight better than that to allow my god bothering filter to kick in, and even then it's impossible to ignore the constant Jehovocoder.

If there was an instrumental version, with every last word of those irritating, cringe worthy, shameful, juvenile, insulting, crass lyrics removed (and the bloody annoying Darth Jehovader voice of course), I'd give it a spin occasionally. It would make perfectly serviceable background music.

When people say it's his ultimate concept album I guess I can agree with that - but that's really not saying much - the competition for that accolade amongst his previous (or subsequent) work is non-existent, he simply can't do 'concept', and I wish he wouldn't try.

On this album more than any other, Prince really is a cloth brained whiner. *

Ain't no room to disagree? I think you'll find there damn well is.

* You will of course have spotted that "cloth brained whiner" is an anagram of "the rainbow children". This footnote is therefore irrelevant, much like TRC.

Well I could've quite happily kept my vitriol to myself, but as you've asked us to share, how can I not?

I loathe this album.

When people say that, musically, he explores new areas I really haven't a clue what they're talking about. I don't hear it. All I hear is that laid back jazzy funky tripe that he can wallop out any old time, and it's fine when he does some jazzy noodling live (or without the ghastly lyrics), but 74 minutes of it, clinically digitised and devoid of life, is more than I can take.

I like challenging music - even if it turns out not to be to my taste - if it's well constructed then there is value to listening to it. And therein lies the problem with TRC for me - although it's a challenge for me to listen to, whenever I try I get the distinct impression that it was far from a challenge for Prince to make, that musically he stays well within his comfort zone, and basically just tossed it out. Well, if he's going to make me sweat listening to it, he damn well better've put some sweat into making it, and I don't think he did. Maybe that's a little unfair, given that Prince's comfort zone is fairly expansive, but musically, I just find it boring. Too boring to listen to.

The one song on it that I would like to be able to listen to more often is Family Name, because the guitar work is good, but I rarely get to the good bit, all that akashic butt-cheek clenching crapology gets to me and I end up switching it off (usually about the 7 second mark). I have no interest in religion, so over the years I've developed a sort of filter where I can gloss over the god bothering, but it doesn't work with this. Pity really, because musically it's the high point of the album. If, lyrically, he had some message that he felt important to deliver, wouldn't it have been better served being delivered with some memorable music?

But the real problem for me is the lyrics - pretty much all of them. The music needs to be a damn sight better than that to allow my god bothering filter to kick in, and even then it's impossible to ignore the constant Jehovocoder.

If there was an instrumental version, with every last word of those irritating, cringe worthy, shameful, juvenile, insulting, crass lyrics removed (and the bloody annoying Darth Jehovader voice of course), I'd give it a spin occasionally. It would make perfectly serviceable background music.

When people say it's his ultimate concept album I guess I can agree with that - but that's really not saying much - the competition for that accolade amongst his previous (or subsequent) work is non-existent, he simply can't do 'concept', and I wish he wouldn't try.

On this album more than any other, Prince really is a cloth brained whiner. *

Ain't no room to disagree? I think you'll find there damn well is.

* You will of course have spotted that "cloth brained whiner" is an anagram of "the rainbow children". This footnote is therefore irrelevant, much like TRC.

I have tried hard, very hard and so hard to like this album, but I can't, there is just so much filler and stupid Jehovah Witness messages. I can only listen to four songs on the album (They are 1+1+1=3, She loves me for me, Last December and The Sensual everafter, and I love their beats and musicality rather than their sentiment), and I must wonder, what was floating through Princes head when he wrote this turd fest.
What I hate about the Rainbow Children
1. He plays the slowed down voice of God (Most songs)
2. Extremist born again Christian sentiments
3. Anti - Semitism (Family Name)
4. Sexism (Muse to the Pharoah)
5. Stupid ass artwork on the sleeve
6. The fact is drags on for fourteen songs
7. The fact it proves how much of a narrow minded superstitious plonker he had come since his days of sexual liberation and dilettantism.
8. The fact he wa sinfluenced, by washed up born again Larry Graham (He makes Tony M look like Sheila E in comparison)

Now I know I am going to get some hate here, but save it for another thread, u don't agree, I respect that, but save your venom for somewhere else, otherwise if you can't stand the Rainbow Children either tell us about it. ( I am waiting for you Ernest and Imago)

1. He plays the slowed down voice of God (Most songs)

OldFriends4Sale said:

Is that what that's supposed to be? Well shut my mouth because that's NOT what it sounded like to me!

OldFriends4Sale said:

Is that what that's supposed to be? Well shut my mouth because that's NOT what it sounded like to me!

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

It is funny. I think when I first heard it I was like 'wtf is this shit'? and then the ONA tour rolled into town.

I think if I had not seen the ONA tour 7 times I may not have liked the album.

Where's Ernest? He loves this album.

At the playground or the kiddies pool with his camera perhaps? Who knows.

squirrelgrease said:

At the playground or the kiddies pool with his camera perhaps? Who knows.

I still Listen to TRC very often! It is excellent imho! Just listen to the way it was recorded all the instruments so clean. The rhodes, the rhodes, the rhodes, can't say enough about my love for his tone on this recording. Listen to the bass solo and programing on "The Sensual Everafter", the programing and Vocal and Guitar work on "Digital Garden" only Prince can do this really well (and most of you know it).

"Everywhere"- That female vocal is beauty personified and so is his and the song (whether you believe in the same thing he does or not) is so full of uplift and life. Listen to the drum solo and bass interlock. I could listen to certain songs on this album every other day! One of the reasons I love Prince's music and also the reason I believe sometimes it has so many detractors is because (like a true original genius) when everyone else go's left, he goes right (and does so skillfully). He is able to fully realize what is in his head (whether we like it or not).

As for "Wedding Feast" it was meant to be a comedic interlude (not a song) that most were to busy taking it all too serious to get. Oh and the "The Work" - I'm sure James B. would be smiling his butt off in admiration if he could hear this perfecting and updating of his sound. Again, Prince is the only one that could pull this off and he is the torch bearer of past Legends.

I could go on and on! Many here need a history lesson. One listen to TRC and you should immediately know that Prince is drawing from the well of electric Myles Davis who with his recording of "Bitches Brew" elicited similar responses from his fans of him coasting! Not only that, but Prince's fascination with this sound continues on the "LotusFlower" project (for those who are questioning his "NEW" jazz-funk). One thing about Prince that is never in doubt and is very predictable is that he knows his music history and he wears his influences on his sleeve so his listners can hear it too and respect the craft.
You will hear JB, Jimi, Myles, All the great funk arrangers all over his music (no surprise). So, I would say there is much more being conveyed that meets the
eye (or ear) and it shows growth and maturity on Princes part in terms of both his recording technique and the courage to trump convention (partly his own) with this project.
[Edited 10/20/09 20:11pm]
[Edited 10/20/09 20:11pm]

xenon said:

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Oh, the irony!

Once upon a time Princes 'sinfulness' offended the preachers,
now his preaching offends the 'sinners'

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

Me either. I just thought it was a narrator.