Chaos & Disorder

With the Gold Experience behind us, and it not being as big an album as it potentially should have been, I was a big apprehensive when I heard Warner Bros were releasing a new CD. Obligation fillers generally don’t make for great artistic explorations so when Chaos and Disorder was released I was a little unsure what I would find, especially when the liner notes stated the material was “intended 4 private use only” and the disc featured the doors to the vault, you knew it was going to be a mix of past tracks and songs not intended for release.

But pressing play I was pleasantly surprised by the opening of Chaos and Disorder. With a rocking distorted guitar melody that out funk rocked Lenny Kravitz, the song kicks a long with observing the changes in modern life. As he had done earlier on, Prince uses sound effects to punctuate the message of lyrics and provide a more thought provoking commentary – for instance the circus like melody that hits “he’s gay use to mean he’s happy” countered with the marching army boots that highlight the don’t ask don’t tell policy of the US forces “these days happy ain’t allowed”. With rocking verses, and a choppy approach to the chorus I found myself drawn into the track in a similar way I had been with Rock’n’Roll is Alive (and it lives in Minneapolis) [answering Lenny again with his claim Rock’n’ Roll is dead]. Powerfully anchored with Michael B’s playing the song was one of Prince’s freshest for a while.

I Like It There is a classic Prince rock song in the vein of When you were mine tinged with a bit more of the Britpop sound that had weaved it’s way in and out of his work from Around the World In a Day and more recently on Dolphin. While a pleasant enough song, it didn’t have the same kind of hook that his classic rock tracks had and listening to it again I find myself enjoying it more than I use to, but that may be more due to the fact that this is probably my least played Prince / albums.

Ok two questions. 1. What Prince thinking with Dinner with Delores? 2. What were Warners thinking releasing it as a single. I remember hearing this and thinking it was a fluffy 70s light rock song that Rod Stewart would still be churning out. And because of that whenever I hear this song I see tartan scarves, and run to press >>.

The Same December is a curious song for me as I find myself liking every second music phase of it, but finding the preceding moment a bit rock cliché. The chorus is again a bit 70s rock in the ilk of the Stones and Kiss, but then the build after it is all Prince and draws me back in. Like the ocean ebbs and flows, this song draws me in only to have me scramble back to the shore, until the blues breakdown hits and I dive back in. Like crunching a rock opera of musical styles into 3:24 the song hits and misses at the same time.

Right the wrong reminds me of the whole Parade era tinged with a bit of LoveSexy for some reason. Like a rockier take on Mountains. And thus, I adore it. The lyrics and vocal delivery are on point and the whole band feel fleshes out the song giving it a rich epic feel. One of the highlights on the album. And love that classic Prince Awwwoaaaa at 2:44.

Zannalee is classic blues-rock done the purple way. The perfect sister to The Ride, this is one of the most underrated songs in the catalogue I feel.

Where as Zannalee is Prince, I rock, therefore I am (and note the I not eye) is all NPG from the Diamonds and Pearls and era. I remember putting this on a mix tape at the time and loving when it popped up, but now the song seems to lack the same freshness that I felt it had at the time.

While I really wanted to love Into the Light, I found myself wanting more from it. It seems never to really reach it’s true potential, and while showing off Prince’s ability as a composer and arranger I keep waiting for it take flight and it seems to hover more than soar.

So whilst I found myself wanting more from Into the Light, I was immediately drawn into I Will. With its beautiful melody and vocal delivery this song deserved to be on a “real” release rather than hidden away on a reluctant release. It’s a haunting song that circles you in warmth and slowly moves in for an embrace. Too good to be overlooked, it should be considered for all self-made Prince compilations.

I can’t help but feel the tongue was firmly in the cheek when Dig You Better Dead was recorded. Was it a reference to the death of Prince, and the new offerings that were to come from the Artist? With it’s hip hop feel, the screeching guitar loop, and vocal hook it’s a song that held some intrigue for me, but now seems a bit throw away.

As has been noted many times before the start of the Warners relationship began with For You and ended with Had U. With its sweeping and somewhat teasing melody this was the big kiss off from an artist who had enough and was ready to create a new set of rules, and be free.

Like The Vault that would come several years later, Chaos and Disorder is a mixed bag. Songs like Had U, I will, and Right the Wrong make it an album that should get more airplay in the Prince catalogue that it receives. But when even the creator wants to distance himself from it, you know the heart isn’t in it. Thankfully his heart was in the epic release of Emancipation, the triple treat due for discussion tomorrow. But for today, hunt out your copy of Chaos and Disorder, relisten to it and see what you think. Then tell us.

[Edited 10/4/10 14:40pm]

All the things i read about this album being contract filler and such like was put to the back of my mind when i bought this.

I really enjoyed the album and i still do, there are a couple of cringeworthy moments but on the whole it is rock solid.

Dinner With Delores is imo a great little pop tune, i had to laugh at your description. I also feel the same about Into The Light.

Standout tracks for me would have to be Chaos, Right The Wrong, and Zannalee.

This is the sound that i wish Prince would make more of, except a bit rougher round the edges and not as polished as this.

Good album though.

[Edited 10/4/10 16:38pm]

It is one of my fav.I m so into guitar... that is why maybe.

There is definity a bunch of everything in that CD and I think it works well.

Might be a catalog filler, but it was carefully produced and masterized by the finest warner engineers at that time, a must have and a good introduction to Prince for any new fan.

mwu said:

It is one of my fav.I m so into guitar... that is why maybe.

There is definity a bunch of everything in that CD and I think it works well.

Might be a catalog filler, but it was carefully produced and masterized by the finest warner engineers at that time, a must have and a good introduction to Prince for any new fan.

I do wonder at what point people were introduced to Prince. As I've stated for me it was at Controversy - so maybe I have a bias as Prince being more of that funk, whereas others it's a rockier Prince they crave. I do wonder what a fan arriving at the C&D disc would expect from a future prince.

Chaos & Disorder,

I Like It There,

Dinner With Delores,

The Same December,

Zannalee

These are great songs

(I can live without the rest..)

While it has nothing mind blowing, the album is a lot of fun to listen too.

Except for that one obvious track. Sooo awful.

Dinner With Delores is a great track. its too short! its my favorite track from C & D (i put in in the vein of When U Were Mine, Ballad of DP, and a few others). quirky pop song that showcases his diversity. i agree with the overall album description as "fun". In to the Light and I Will blend in to each other quite nicely. and i LOVE the vocal arrangement on Dig U Better Dead. Not a spectacular album and some cringeworthy moments, but i've grown to like it more over the years. some great musicianship going on.

at least Dinner with Delores is a proper song.

I Like It There is amazingly lazy crap. Up there with Cinnamon Girl with Prince's lamest attempts at Rock/Pop. This from the guy who wrote Lets go Crazy? To compare it to When You Were Mine is blasphamy and someone needs to get their ears checked.

All that said, this alblum came out during a tough time for me and In to the Light/I Will helped me get through it.

[Edited 10/5/10 7:59am]

emesem said:

I Like It There is amazingly lazy crap. Up there with Cinnamon Girl with Prince's lamest attempts at Rock/Pop. This from the guy who wrote Lets go Crazy? To compare it to When You Were Mine is blasphamy and someone needs to get their ears checked.

Ok you are not going to like what I say about Cinnamon Girl in a week or so, lol.

The cassette cover of Dinner with D led me to Scifinerd's C&D thread. The background info is educational to say the least and I understand the album better now. It's angry Prince. Not my favourite album but has one of my favourite tunes.

C&D I like 2.57 to 3.10. 13 seconds.

I like it there - Sounds like the Rolling Stones or Aerosmith, bands of whom I literally know perhaps 1 or two songs. Enough said.

Dinner with Delores - this one grew on me extensively over the last year. It's got a lovely flow, pretty sounds, lyricals are quite comical, almost sad.

The same December - too rocky 4 me.

Right the wrong - Loved everything about this one from second one. I like its unpredictability, the vocals and variety; keeps you guessing.

Zannalee - I know the rockers love this one. I am not a rocker. Interesting video though.

I rock therefore I am - A mixture of rock and rap. My worst nightmare.

Into the light - Finally! A little piece of heaven. I'd buy the album just for this song. It's a journey, an awakening, makes me think, stop and makes me happy. "Every soul must return into the light" and "if you could sell your worries would anyone buy them". Perfect lyrics.

I will - the break down into piano and this tune can give me goosebumps. It's like leaving planet earth and flying. Can never get enough of this one. One of my favourite tunes.

Dig you better dead - Lyrics are off putting. Think I'm going to put this on my ipod though. I like the female vocals in here harmonising with Prince. If I can get past the title, it's kind of hypnotic and eastern influence interesting.

Had u - How fitting, the title, now known in temporal context. Sweet and to the point

The first four songs on Chaos & Disorder are one of the better examples on a Prince album of good-songs-in-a-row from the start of an album. I like the album as a whole too. Aside from ok songs like I Rock, Therefore I Am and Had U, it's all good.