Is it just me or does anyone else feel that ATWIAD is an unremarkable album?

I think the ONLY reason this album works is because it was such a radical departure from anything Prince had done up to that point AND it followed the mania of Purple Rain. Other than that, I think ATWIAD is a farely weak album. Most of the songs(save for the 2 hits) are weak individually and dont seem to gel(is it just me or should THE LADDER and CONDITION OF THE HEART be switched on the track listings?). ATWIAD works in the context of Prince's musicology but you have to admit that there's no other period of Prince's career where an album like ATWIAD could have worked

What do you think of ATWIAD as an album?

I think these could've been 1 thread.

1) this thread is a dupe considering this one by you http://prince.org/msg/7/338276 , and will be locked

2) it's quite remarkable actually, and a fan favorite. There's no way songs like "Condition of the Heart" or "Tambourine" are weak tracks. The album had four singles, "Paisley Park", "Raspberry Beret", "Pop Life", and "America" (3 of which had videos).

3) See #1

i think this album problem is the first and last track ... everything else is pure gold

but first and last track are very important especially on a prince record

seemed kinda like the empire strikes back ... sort of a middle interlude record

of course empire was the best in a series ... purple rain and parade are way better than around the world ..

always in my hair would have been great on that record

still i cant think of a good replacement for atwiad and temtation

prior to this record prince had a great run of 1st song album tracks

dirty mind

controversy

1999

... lets go crazy was ok .. not his best work by far .. the dance mix improved it

but atwiad and christopher tracys parade were both a slip in my opinion .. for opening tracks

p returned to form with sign o the times and eye no

prior to this record prince had a great run of 1st song album tracks

dirty mind

controversy

1999

... lets go crazy was ok .. not his best work by far .. the dance mix improved it

I prefer Around the World in a Day (the song) to any of those, by a long way, in almost every way. Originality, concept, melody, structure, development, arrangement are all more sophisticated, and, to my ears, simply more fascinating and entertaining.

I also rate the album as one of the best of his career. Certainly above Purple Rain.

http://prince.org/msg/7/338276