Every Prince albums is a good album except Planet Earth.

Graycap23 said:

Every Prince albums is a good album except Planet Earth.

There, I fixed it for you!

[Edited 9/11/11 12:04pm]

As someone said earlier, it's subjective - but I like to think of it this way:

If Prince were to release a career-spanning box set of his albums and b-sides (without labeling them as "albums" per se), then the ratio of good SONGS to bad ones would be greater.

I don't think of Prince as an album artist anymore, really - but more like a source for songs. It seems that he touches on greatness as an album artist (TRC, LotusFlow3r) but always includes that one turd or effect (Darth Vader voice?) that ruins it for some people. Take away the idea of "album" -- which digital media already does for you -- and you can judge him by songs. And even his worst albums still have some really great songs.

Another point is how old you are when you become a Prince fan. People who fell in love with "7" might not dig "Dirty Mind". It's crazy, but it's true.

IMHO (out 10):

For You: 5
Prince: 5
Dirty Mind: 8
Controversy: 9
1999: 10
Purple Rain: 10
Around The World In A Day: 8
Parade: 5
Sign O' The Times: 10
The Black Album: 3
Lovesexy: 5
Batman: 5
Graffiti Bridge: 7
Diamonds And Pearls: 8
O( >: 6
Come: 7
The Gold Experience: 8
Chaos And Disorder: 8
The Vault... Old Friends 4 Sale: 7
Rave Un2/In2 The Joy Fantastic: 7
The Rainbow Children: 4
N.E.W.S.: 6
Musicology: 9
3121: 8
Planet Earth: 4
LOtUSFLOW3R: 8
MPLSoUND: 6
20Ten: 7

Good Albuns:12

Meh Albuns :8

Bad Albuns :8

The Albums that I heard, off course.

I love how some of my favorite releases always get beaten up on this cyber playground known as Prince.Org. To each his own. The beauty of Prince's music is that is appeals to a wide variety of people. Some peoples' trash is other peoples' treasures.

Breaking it down further (Albums are listed by score out of 10 in order so the 10 for SOTT is much higher than the 10 for Parade (Sorry Parade), numerics and letter grading have also been added to ease confusion.

1. Good albums, all the following count as good, Classic (10) down to Fair (5) (33 albums)

Classic 10/10 A

Sign o the Times

1999

Purple Rain

Dirty Mind

Parade

Excellent 9/10 A

Crystal Ball

Controversy

Come

The Hits/B sides

Very Good 8/10 A-/B

3121

Prince

Lovesexy

Black Album (The)

Lovesymbol

The Gold Experience

MPLsOUND

Good 7/10 B

Emancipation

Musicology

Lotusflow3r

Ultimate

The very best of Prince

For You

Satisfactory 6/10 C

Graffiti Bridge

Diamonds and Pearls

Planet Earth

The Beautiful Experience

Around the World in a day

N.E.W.S

Fair/Acceptable 5/10 C- (D's are fails in New Zealand)

Rave un 2 the Joy fantastic

20Ten

Batman

One Night Alone

Indigo Nights CD (With the Book)

The Vault, old friends for sale

2. Bad Albums (Total of 12 and only 5 fully available)

Flawed/Mediocre 4/10, D

Exodus

C Note

Rave in2 the Joy fantastic

One Night Alone Piano

The Truth

Poor 3/10, D-

Chaos and Disorder

Goldnigga

Xpectation

The Chocolate Invasion

Dreadful 2/10 or less, E

Rainbow Children 2/10

New Power Soul 1/10

Kamasutra 1/10

Prince almost never puts out a bad album but nowadays they're not great like they used to be.

[Edited 9/12/11 7:26am]

Graycap23 said:

Every Prince albums is a good album except Planet Earth.

You like Kamasutra (or does it not count since it's the NPG Orchestra)?

daPrettyman said:

Graycap23 said:

Every Prince albums is a good album except Planet Earth.

You like Kamasutra (or does it not count since it's the NPG Orchestra)?

Yes I do.

Graycap23 said:

daPrettyman said:

You like Kamasutra (or does it not count since it's the NPG Orchestra)?

Yes I do.

Wow! U're one of the few. I agree that Planet Earth may be the worst P album, though. There are others that I don't like as much, but PE is just horrible.

daPrettyman said:

Graycap23 said:

Yes I do.

Wow! U're one of the few. I agree that Planet Earth may be the worst P album, though. There are others that I don't like as much, but PE is just horrible.

Prince is just dialed into the zone of music that I dig.

I know I'm biased though.

Unfortunately in my opinion Prince is going to end up being better known for his quantity than his quality.

For You - 5/10 (First effort, working out the kinks)

Prince - 5/10 (Still pigeon holed in R&B)

Dirty Mind 7/10 (The funk spills out)

Controversy 6.5/10 (Not a bad album, just more of a middle step between DM and 1999)

1999 10/10 (Perfect, Except for dumping Moonbeam Levels for Free)

Purple Rain 10/10 (duh)

Around The World In A Day 6.5/10 (a big let down after PR)

Parade 7/10 (hit or miss but had some crazy strong tracks)

Sign O The Times 11/10 (possibly the best album ever)

Lovesexy 6/10 (rushed and sloppy in parts)

Batman 7.5/10 (under rated album with some great Bsides)

Graffiti Bridge 4/10 (Transition Year)

Diamonds & Pearls 6.5/10 (Sort of a sell out but it's good music)

6.5/10 (D&P part 2)

Come 9/10 (VERY under rated)

The Black Album 6/10 (A few good dance tracks but a lot of crap-olla)

The Gold Experience 8/10 (Prince finally succeeds in making a SOTT part 2)

Emancipation Disk 4/10 (2 discs too many)

Crystal Ball Disk 6/10 (needed to be organised by year)

The Truth 4/10 (Prince can do sooo much better acoustic stuff than this)

The Vault 6.5/10

Newpower Soul 8/10 (A dance album you can listen to front to back, Prince doing what he does best)

Rainbow Children 0/10 (this isn't even music, it's Prince stroking himself off)

The Chocolate Invasion 6/10 (P finally releasing his B sides. Hats off to him)

The Slaughterhouse 6/10

Musicology 5/10 (a promotional album given away for free)

3121 8/10 (his best work in almost ten years. Good music and CONTEMPORARY)

Planet Earth 5/10

Indigo Nights 8/10 (a great live album, we just know P can do better)

Lotusflow3r 1/10 (possibly his most over rated work. Derivative and a lame duck. Bland)

MPLSound 3/10 (only slightly better than LotusFailur3)

20ten Negative -2/10 (laughable. A joke)

So overall, I'd say Prince was a sprinter in a distance race. He started off strong but lost steam at the halfway point and now we're not even sure if he'll be able to finish the race.

His strongest efforts like 1999, PR and SOTT are offset by unlistenable garbage like TRC, LotusFailur3, and 20ten.

This Brings us to a total score of 189.5 out of a possible 320 which rounds out to about 6.4/10 for an average Prince album. Not really the stuff legends are made of. This is why Prince has very little relevance in modern music and he's not held in the same esteem as some older 1980's acts like Bruce Springseen, U2, or Madonna.

[Edited 9/12/11 8:08am]

Wildboy said:

Unfortunately in my opinion Prince is going to end up being better known for his quantity than his quality.

[Edited 9/12/11 8:08am]

Not by those who actually PAY attention.

[Edited 9/12/11 8:16am]

TheFreakerFantastic said:

However I can say with certainty a large proportion of his best work remains unreleased.

I used to think that, but how based on how mediocre his songs/albums have been for years now....I no longer think thats the case.

Wildboy said:

Unfortunately in my opinion Prince is going to end up being better known for his quantity than his quality.

Prince - 5/10 (Still pigeon holed in R&B)

Controversy 6.5/10 (Not a bad album, just more of a middle step between DM and 1999)

Around The World In A Day 6.5/10 (a big let down after PR)

Lovesexy 6/10 (rushed and sloppy in parts)

Batman 7.5/10 (under rated album with some great Bsides)

Graffiti Bridge 4/10 (Transition Year)

6.5/10 (D&P part 2)

The Black Album 6/10 (A few good dance tracks but a lot of crap-olla)

Crystal Ball Disk 6/10 (needed to be organised by year)

The Truth 4/10 (Prince can do sooo much better acoustic stuff than this)

The Vault 6.5/10

Newpower Soul 8/10 (A dance album you can listen to front to back, Prince doing what he does best)

Rainbow Children 0/10 (this isn't even music, it's Prince stroking himself off)

The Chocolate Invasion 6/10 (P finally releasing his B sides. Hats off to him)

The Slaughterhouse 6/10

Musicology 5/10 (a promotional album given away for free)

Indigo Nights 8/10 (a great live album, we just know P can do better)

Lotusflow3r 1/10 (possibly his most over rated work. Derivative and a lame duck. Bland)

MPLSound 3/10 (only slightly better than LotusFailur3)

[Edited 9/12/11 8:08am]

These ratings make me doubt your taste in music. Especially for The Rainbow Children.

BTW, The Chocolate Invasion and The Slaughterhouse are not really albums. They are compilations of NPGMC tracks.

daPrettyman said:

Wildboy said:

Unfortunately in my opinion Prince is going to end up being better known for his quantity than his quality.

Prince - 5/10 (Still pigeon holed in R&B)

Controversy 6.5/10 (Not a bad album, just more of a middle step between DM and 1999)

Around The World In A Day 6.5/10 (a big let down after PR)

Lovesexy 6/10 (rushed and sloppy in parts)

Batman 7.5/10 (under rated album with some great Bsides)

Graffiti Bridge 4/10 (Transition Year)

6.5/10 (D&P part 2)

The Black Album 6/10 (A few good dance tracks but a lot of crap-olla)

Crystal Ball Disk 6/10 (needed to be organised by year)

The Truth 4/10 (Prince can do sooo much better acoustic stuff than this)

The Vault 6.5/10

Newpower Soul 8/10 (A dance album you can listen to front to back, Prince doing what he does best)

Rainbow Children 0/10 (this isn't even music, it's Prince stroking himself off)

The Chocolate Invasion 6/10 (P finally releasing his B sides. Hats off to him)

The Slaughterhouse 6/10

Musicology 5/10 (a promotional album given away for free)

Indigo Nights 8/10 (a great live album, we just know P can do better)

Lotusflow3r 1/10 (possibly his most over rated work. Derivative and a lame duck. Bland)

MPLSound 3/10 (only slightly better than LotusFailur3)

[Edited 9/12/11 8:08am]

These ratings make me doubt your taste in music. ghterhouse are not really albums. They are compilations of NPGMC tracks.

4 sho.........

Totally subjective. Every orger will give you a different run down of what they felt was good and what they felt was bad. I have about 3 CDs that don't do anything for me and they don't get played(as a whole) often. Even with that those 3 still have a track or two that I love and usually they wind up on a playlist in my iTunes.

Of course, its subjective, but thats not the point; were an opinionated bunch. In my opinion then, Prince has never made a bad album. Don't get me wrong; there are albums that I hardly listened to (Kamasutra, NEWS, TRC), but I wouldn't say that they were bad albums. Just not my cup of tea. Btw, if you don't like Exodus, then, in my opinion, of course, you know nothing!

Darshy said:

Of course, its subjective, but thats not the point; were an opinionated bunch. In my opinion then, Prince has never made a bad album. Don't get me wrong; there are albums that I hardly listened to (Kamasutra, NEWS, TRC), but I wouldn't say that they were bad albums. Just not my cup of tea. Btw, if you don't like Exodus, then, in my opinion, of course, you know nothing!

I could add a few more 2 that list..........but point taken.

daPrettyman said:

These ratings make me doubt your taste in music. Especially for The Rainbow Children.

BTW, The Chocolate Invasion and The Slaughterhouse are not really albums. They are compilations of NPGMC tracks.

If you like the Rainbow Children, then I doubt your sanity, sir.

It's drivel for religious nuts

Wildboy said:

daPrettyman said:

These ratings make me doubt your taste in music. Especially for The Rainbow Children.

BTW, The Chocolate Invasion and The Slaughterhouse are not really albums. They are compilations of NPGMC tracks.

If you like the Rainbow Children, then I doubt your sanity, sir.

It's drivel for religious nuts

TRC has NOTHING 2 do with religion.

Graycap23 said:

TRC has NOTHING 2 do with religion.

Are you high?

Wildboy said:

Graycap23 said:

TRC has NOTHING 2 do with religion.

Are you high?

I suggest u listen again.

TRC is about the Illuminati and the destruction of the New World Order.

Didn't realise you were taking the piss out of me at first. Well played sir

Wildboy said:

daPrettyman said:

These ratings make me doubt your taste in music. Especially for The Rainbow Children.

BTW, The Chocolate Invasion and The Slaughterhouse are not really albums. They are compilations of NPGMC tracks.

If you like the Rainbow Children, then I doubt your sanity, sir.

It's drivel for religious nuts

No it's not. If you would read the lyrics, you'd see that it's a typical Prince album. Especially "Mellow" and "Everlasting Now."

Graycap23 said:

Wildboy said:

Are you high?

I suggest u listen again.

TRC is about the Illuminati and the destruction of the New World Order.

Wildboy said:

Unfortunately in my opinion Prince is going to end up being better known for his quantity than his quality.

For You - 5/10 (First effort, working out the kinks)

Prince - 5/10 (Still pigeon holed in R&B)

Dirty Mind 7/10 (The funk spills out)

Controversy 6.5/10 (Not a bad album, just more of a middle step between DM and 1999)

1999 10/10 (Perfect, Except for dumping Moonbeam Levels for Free)

Purple Rain 10/10 (duh)

Around The World In A Day 6.5/10 (a big let down after PR)

Parade 7/10 (hit or miss but had some crazy strong tracks)

Sign O The Times 11/10 (possibly the best album ever)

Lovesexy 6/10 (rushed and sloppy in parts)

Batman 7.5/10 (under rated album with some great Bsides)

Graffiti Bridge 4/10 (Transition Year)

Diamonds & Pearls 6.5/10 (Sort of a sell out but it's good music)

6.5/10 (D&P part 2)

Come 9/10 (VERY under rated)

The Black Album 6/10 (A few good dance tracks but a lot of crap-olla)

The Gold Experience 8/10 (Prince finally succeeds in making a SOTT part 2)

Emancipation Disk 4/10 (2 discs too many)

Crystal Ball Disk 6/10 (needed to be organised by year)

The Truth 4/10 (Prince can do sooo much better acoustic stuff than this)

The Vault 6.5/10

Newpower Soul 8/10 (A dance album you can listen to front to back, Prince doing what he does best)

Rainbow Children 0/10 (this isn't even music, it's Prince stroking himself off)

The Chocolate Invasion 6/10 (P finally releasing his B sides. Hats off to him)

The Slaughterhouse 6/10

Musicology 5/10 (a promotional album given away for free)

3121 8/10 (his best work in almost ten years. Good music and CONTEMPORARY)

Planet Earth 5/10

Indigo Nights 8/10 (a great live album, we just know P can do better)

Lotusflow3r 1/10 (possibly his most over rated work. Derivative and a lame duck. Bland)

MPLSound 3/10 (only slightly better than LotusFailur3)

20ten Negative -2/10 (laughable. A joke)

So overall, I'd say Prince was a sprinter in a distance race. He started off strong but lost steam at the halfway point and now we're not even sure if he'll be able to finish the race.

His strongest efforts like 1999, PR and SOTT are offset by unlistenable garbage like TRC, LotusFailur3, and 20ten.

This Brings us to a total score of 189.5 out of a possible 320 which rounds out to about 6.4/10 for an average Prince album. Not really the stuff legends are made of. This is why Prince has very little relevance in modern music and he's not held in the same esteem as some older 1980's acts like Bruce Springseen, U2, or Madonna.

[Edited 9/12/11 8:08am]

I like your list, its honest and you justify your marks for each album well. It also helps we agree on most things, such as the Rainbow Children being terrible (Last December, She love me for me and 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 are at least decent) and that ATWIAD was a huge fall off after the deep satisfaction of Purple Rain (Because of the high quality music, funkiness and assured songwriting, not just digging it because its a hit like Prince said about fairweather fans in the 80s), and that SOTT is just in a class of its own). I wish more orgers could justify their statements like you do.

Adorecream said:

I like your list, its honest and you justify your marks for each album well. It also helps we agree on most things, such as the Rainbow Children being terrible (Last December, She love me for me and 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 are at least decent) and that ATWIAD was a huge fall off after the deep satisfaction of Purple Rain (Because of the high quality music, funkiness and assured songwriting, not just digging it because its a hit like Prince said about fairweather fans in the 80s), and that SOTT is just in a class of its own). I wish more orgers could justify their statements like you do.

You pretty much nailed the three good parts of the rainbow children. The rest is just a bunch of Darth Vader voices and religious stuff.

Yeah, that ATWIAD quote always cracked me up. I think everyone who writes a great album and follows it up with a mediocre album should blame the public for being fair weather fans lol

Here is mine

For You - okay

Prince - okay

Dirty Mind - good

Controversy - good

1999 - great

Purple Rain - great

Around The World In A Day - great

Parade - good

Sign O The Times - good

Lovesexy - okay

Batman - great

Graffiti Bridge - okay

Diamonds & Pearls - great

- great

Come - okay

The Black Album - bad

The Gold Experience - great

Emancipation - okay

Crystal Ball - great

The Vault - bad

Newpower Soul - bad

Rainbow Children - okay

The Chocolate Invasion - bad

The Slaughterhouse - bad

Musicology - bad

3121 - okay

Planet Earth - great

Lotusflow3r - great

MPLSound - bad

20ten - okay

My total comes to

Great - 9

Good - 4

Okay - 9

Bad - 7

13 - good to great

4 - indifferent on either way

7 - bad

1 (worst) to 10 (best)

For You - 6.5

Prince - 8

Dirty Mind - 10

Controversy - 7

1999 - 10

Purple Rain - 10

Around The World In A Day - 7

Parade - 8.5

Sign O The Times - 7.5

Lovesexy - 6.5

Batman - 7.5

Graffiti Bridge - 5

Diamonds & Pearls - 8.5

The Hits/B-sides - 7.5

Come - 5.5

The Black Album - N/A

The Gold Experience - 7.5

Emancipation - 7

Chaos & Disorder - 3.5

Crystal Ball - 6

The Vault - 5

Newpower Soul - 4.5

Rainbow Children - 4

The Chocolate Invasion - N/A

The Slaughterhouse - 4

Musicology - 8

NEWS - N/A

3121 - 6.5

Planet Earth - 4

Lotusflow3r - 7.5

MPLSound - 6.5

20ten - 5.5

N/A - Never heard or havent heard in long awhile