Having a copy on vinyl, I can attest that ATWIAD is a little overrated (considering the quality of the extended versions), although Raspberry Beret and Pop Life are pretty fantastic. If you can get into the headspace/context of the album as a whole, compared to Purple Rain and Parade, it makes sense as a record?

Parade is in no way overrated. Mountains? Sometimes it Snows in April? Girls and Boys? Anotherloverholeinyourhead? Please... I mean, come on - you can't argue with that calibre of material! The period between '86/87/88 is arguably his most creative.

The Rainbow Children also is a fantastic record. If we're all on here praising his musicality and experimentation - never mind his instrumental virtuosity, compositional ability, and capacity for allowing other musicians to shine, then there's no argument.

But I'm a musician myself, so I'm maybe biased.

I haven't heard/don't own all the records yet (I'm trying not to DL them, don't want to be too obsessive with it) and so don't want to make any comments on the ones I don't have until I've given 'em a proper going over. I'm still diggin' on the outtakes tbh!

But to be honest... I mean I LOVE Dead on It, and Rockhard in a Funky Place is sleazy as hell, but The Black Album as 'the Funk Bible'? Cindy C is cool, but it goes on too long, as with the rest. When 2 R in Love is smooth... I dunno. I wasn't as impressed as I thought I'd be.

The new (2000+/post Witnessing) stuff seems to lack the tenacity of his older stuff, I reckon. But he did say in that recent Chum interview that he recorded all that material in the '80s so he could 'coast' in his autumn years, n'est pas?

What the f...

Around the World in a Day

Lovesexy
The Gold Experience

3 Prince masterpieces, maximum ratings from me.

(sorry for not answering the question asked, I just have to defend these brilliant albums,

if only Prince could make music like that again... )

JoeTyler said:

errant said:

Controversy

ATWIAD

Lovesexy

i don't think Controversy is overrated. The album has some strong followers here, sure, but they're the minority. The vast majority here accepts that Controversy is a good bridge between Prince/DirtyMind and 1999 with some great ideas but also some turds...I mean, many people here hate RonnieTalktoRussia and Anne Christian, and many others think that JackUOff is B-Side material, and let's not forget that the short version of Let'sWork is an abomination...the production of Sexuality isn't spectacular either...

[Edited 11/27/11 12:40pm]

Why the fuck do you keep attacking people trying to answer your post?

Controversy is a fan favorite, especially on the org. Are you suggesting that For You and Prince gets a lot of love on here? That's a first.

Overrated on the org IMO:

- Dirty Mind (slightly overrated, it's a great album, but not a masterpiece)

- Lovesexy (slighty overrated, the innovative arrangements can't hide that there are some lesser compositions on this album - I wish U heaven especially: filler IMO - and the second half of the album loses steam with too many slow - midtempo tracks).

- Come (very overrated, Prince on autopilot: generic production, weak songwriting).

- The Gold Experience (slighty overrated, the best sounding Prince album IMO (great mix), but no real lyrical growth being shown, and the middle-section of this album (We March, 319, Now especially) contains too much filler).

- The Truth (quite overrated, nice to hear him try acoustics, but the majority of the songwriting is rather 'meh' and the added sound-effects ad well.. nothing).

- Lotusflow3r (quite overrated, more organic sounding for a change, but where are the songs?).

I consider both The Rainbow Children as 20ten as overratedby some on here, but there seem just as many people who don't like or even hate these albums...lol... so I didnt include them

Purple Rain, super super super overated

ATWIAD

Parade---Don't get me wrong,I do enjoy this album.I just don't think it's the big masterpiece that some fans say it is.It lacks focus.

Emancipation

among people on the .Org, LotusFailur3

This album is bad, we're talking JOKE bad. If you play a lot of the songs for people they're going to laugh at you. The songs are dirivitive and third class, nothing creative or musically note worthy.

Wildboy said:

among people on the .Org, LotusFailur3

This album is bad, we're talking JOKE bad. If you play a lot of the songs for people they're going to laugh at you. The songs are dirivitive and third class, nothing creative or musically note worthy.

Well, okay, I see...

I still love it, though.

1999

Sign O The Times

Lovesexy

The Rainbow Children

The Rainbow Children

Parade

Black Album

Parade

The Black Album

Come

Batman

I see a few that say Dirty Mind. I wouldn't call it overrated. Overhyped, definitely. Especially on here. But not overRATED.

I think 1999 and The Gold Experience or both overrated on this forum. 1999 is probably my least favourite 80s album and The Gold Experience is one of the weaker efforts from the 90s in my opinion.

Lovesexy is vastly underrated on Prince.org. I can't pick an absolute favourite Prince album but Lovesexy is right up there with his very best stuff as far as I'm concerned.

overrated:

Controversy

Black Album

underrated:

TRC is pretty underrated in my eyes, there are a lot of ppl that don´t like it.

When i listened to TRC the first time i hated this album like hell, i thought it´s Prince´s worst album.

But there is no other album that grew that much on me like TRC and it is a shiny gem nowadays

offering music that is soo dynamic, colorful and virtuous, a bid complex though.

SoulAlive said:

ATWIAD

Parade---Don't get me wrong,I do enjoy this album.I just don't think it's the big masterpiece that some fans say it is.It lacks focus.

Emancipation

These 3 albums come to mind for me too. I do like them and both have a few amazing songs on them, but I find that they are somewhat overrated in this site.

^Since Parade and ATWIAD are among the strongest albums Prince has ever made, it's like saying Prince as an artist is overrated.

I forgot one to mention:

The Black Album is indeed overrated.

Both Le Grind and Cindy C have those nasty, hard funk grooves i like, but these songs last a bit too long for their own good.

Dead on it is just plain embarassing: it sounds was too clumsy to be an effective 'dig' at hip-hop music.

And When 2 R in Love sounds totally out of place on this album.

I would rate this album 7 out of 10, and don't see it as some masterpiece ('the funk bible') as some others here seem to rate it.

clovesandtea said:

Purple Rain, super super super overated

I knew that someone would write this (((:
Just no. This album is almost perfect.

Husky said:

Overrated on the org IMO:

- Dirty Mind (slightly overrated, it's a great album, but not a masterpiece)

- Lovesexy (slighty overrated, the innovative arrangements can't hide that there are some lesser compositions on this album - I wish U heaven especially: filler IMO - and the second half of the album loses steam with too many slow - midtempo tracks).

- Come (very overrated, Prince on autopilot: generic production, weak songwriting).

- The Gold Experience (slighty overrated, the best sounding Prince album IMO (great mix), but no real lyrical growth being shown, and the middle-section of this album (We March, 319, Now especially) contains too much filler).

- The Truth (quite overrated, nice to hear him try acoustics, but the majority of the songwriting is rather 'meh' and the added sound-effects ad well.. nothing).

- Lotusflow3r (quite overrated, more organic sounding for a change, but where are the songs?).

I consider both The Rainbow Children as 20ten as overratedby some on here, but there seem just as many people who don't like or even hate these albums...lol... so I didnt include them

You joined the org last week, have 6 posts (as of this writing) and you know what is overrated on the org?

Iiiiiiiinteresting.

I have been here before under another name, Genesia and i have been reading along a number of years.

It's always interesting to see the different opinions people have on his albums.

I'm shock people are mentioning 'Lovesexy' that is just blasphemous! haha jk. It's one of my favorites though, I don't think it's overrated. But thinking about it, during the time I can see why it could be seen now, even now when people speak of the aspects of the album cover, many styles into one, the live performances all over the place..But to me that is what makes me love LOVESEXY. It ultimately all comes together.

I definitely think some albums are overrated. Such as:

'The Gold Experience'

I'm NOT saying it's a bad album. I think it's remarkable and stands tall in the 90's as one of the most remarkable. In general it is just a very good album concept. However I think sometimes it's success and concept is exaggerated.

'Dirty Mind'

I LOVE IT, but it is for sure overrated, as remarkable as it is..it really does not go anywhere. All the songs are alike with the drum pattern and piano..It's good but just too similar.

'The Love Symbol Album'

I really dig this album a lot, but it did not define the 90's like some people say...Same with 'Diamonds & Pearls' Great albums but definitely overrated.

Those are the only ones that come to mind, I don't consider something 'Overrated' unless what is being said about something, is not only well received by critics but fans too, by the general population..I don't know??

It depends on many factors, Prince has a large collection of songs, and to me not many of them are overrated.

It's easier to see what 'songs' could be than albums.

Reading this thread, the following Prince albums are considered to be overrated in one way or another:

For You

Prince

Dirty Mind

Controversy

1999

Purple Rain

Around The World In A Day

Sign O' The Times

The Black Album

Lovesexy

Batman

Graffiti Bridge

Diamonds And Pearls

Love Symbol

Come

The Gold Experience

Chaos And Disorder

Emancipation

Crystal Ball

The Truth

The Vault: Old Friends For Sale

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

The Rainbow Children

One Night Alone

N.E.W.S.

Musicology

3121

Planet Earth

Lotusflow3r

MPLSound

20Ten

I'm sure it won't be long before the others are voted overrated as well.

edit: forgot one

[Edited 11/29/11 14:05pm]

Nonsense, the Black Album overrated... tsk tsk tsk....

it's so funky, on the edge, almost as "trippy" and psychadelic as the Sign O The Times album...

seems that even Prince's masterpiece albums can't satisfy all fans.

I hope you are a newbie Husky?

^ Agreed. I think it's one of his best !

clovesandtea said:

Purple Rain, super super super overated

yep. I can't say any song on PR is bad, but somehow the whole thing ends up being sort of 'meh' for me. There are so many other albums I'd take to the desert island before PR.

plus when I read fans talk about how Prince never sold out, I always think of Purple Rain.

[Edited 11/29/11 15:09pm]

^ It dated quickly. I first heard PR in 1995 and i remember thinking, this stuff sounds really old..(although there is a certain timeless quality to WDC and PR).

TheFreakerFantastic said:

^ It dated quickly. I first heard PR in 1995 and i remember thinking, this stuff sounds really old..(although there is a certain timeless quality to WDC and PR).

I hate the dated argument. There are so many factors that go into the recording of sound (music). The available recording facilities and equipment available, the current recording trends in popular music at the time, a lot of stuff is going to sound like it came from a certain era in time. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" doesn't sound fresh or like it was just recorded, but it's a great peformance and the musicians sounds good; what more can you ask for?

^ Yes but the dated synths and effects kind of spoilt it for me. If you chase the 'new sounds' 10 years later it sounds dated...

Albums that didn't chase new sounds don't sound as dated.

sextonseven said:

Reading this thread, the following Prince albums are considered to be overrated in one way or another:

For You

Prince

Dirty Mind

Controversy

1999

Purple Rain

Around The World In A Day

Sign O' The Times

The Black Album

Lovesexy

Batman

Graffiti Bridge

Diamonds And Pearls

Love Symbol

Come

The Gold Experience

Chaos And Disorder

Emancipation

Crystal Ball

The Truth

The Vault: Old Friends For Sale

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

The Rainbow Children

One Night Alone

N.E.W.S.

Musicology

3121

Planet Earth

Lotusflow3r

MPLSound

20Ten

I'm sure it won't be long before the others are voted overrated as well.

edit: forgot one

[Edited 11/29/11 14:05pm]

this thread is insane

JoeTyler said:

sextonseven said:

Reading this thread, the following Prince albums are considered to be overrated in one way or another:

For You

Prince

Dirty Mind

Controversy

1999

Purple Rain

Around The World In A Day

Sign O' The Times

The Black Album

Lovesexy

Batman

Graffiti Bridge

Diamonds And Pearls

Love Symbol

Come

The Gold Experience

Chaos And Disorder

Emancipation

Crystal Ball

The Truth

The Vault: Old Friends For Sale

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

The Rainbow Children

One Night Alone

N.E.W.S.

Musicology

3121

Planet Earth

Lotusflow3r

MPLSound

20Ten

I'm sure it won't be long before the others are voted overrated as well.

edit: forgot one

[Edited 11/29/11 14:05pm]

this thread is insane

It's your thread. lol

That just about every Prince release is represented seems more than apropos to me. No one should feel shunned or left out. Everyone's tastes looks to be represented

Lets see, SO Many to choose from

Around the World in a day, this record gets far too much love. Its okay but the overall feel is patchy and inconsistent. People really only dug it because of the outstanding singles like Raspberry Beret, Pop Life and Paisley Park, the opener and Condition of the Heart are also great. But the rest is turgid filler you will not again encounter until the 90s. Also compared to Purple Rain and even 1999, this is a steep fall downwards, thank God he gave us Parade next.

I won't say Batman, GB and D and P as these get more abuse than they are worth.

I think Gold nigga is way overrated, this is lame as ghetto rap and its borderline racist as it invokes negative stereotypes of black men as gold wearing gangstas who swear like troopers (Despite the fact it is supposed to empower them)

ONA is overrated

Chaos and Disorder

But the most overrated by a longshot is THE RAINBOW CHILDREN its Hitler set to music, weak songwriting, religious bigotry, el cheapo technics, silly god voices and worn out phone in beats from a Soviet disco album of the 70s. Its absolute shite.