Anyway, just after ONA Prince started a decline which made the 96-2001 time frame a virtual masterpiece compared to the the unbearable greatest hits and terrible covers stuff he's offering until today. And his albums get worse and worse and worse.

I'd really wish he'd retire.

vitriol said:

Anyway, just after ONA Prince started a decline which made the 96-2001 time frame a virtual masterpiece compared to the the unbearable greatest hits and terrible covers stuff he's offering until today. And his albums get worse and worse and worse.

I'd really wish he'd retire.

It also started probably the 2nd most successful period in his career.

Maybe you should just retire from life.

Successful, when he has to release albums as a covermount with certain newspapers or by arrangement with ONE retailer?

He's burnt all bridges with the people who could help him get his music to the public. He's even burnt the possibility of selling directly thru a website of his because he's proven to be a scalper.

And his current tours make him an human jukebox letting out terrible cover versions of other people's music riveted by Shelby J.'s unbearable yells.

If that's 'life' for you, I'll gladly 'retire'.

vitriol said:

vitriol said:

Successful, when he has to release albums as a covermount with certain newspapers or by arrangement with ONE retailer?

He's burnt all bridges with the people who could help him get his music to the public. He's even burnt the possibility of selling directly thru a website of his because he's proven to be a scalper.

And his current tours make him an human jukebox letting out terrible cover versions of other people's music riveted by Shelby J.'s unbearable yells.

If that's 'life' for you, I'll gladly 'retire'.

Yet, you're still here, and you still bitch.

Paris9748430 said:

vitriol said:

Anyway, just after ONA Prince started a decline which made the 96-2001 time frame a virtual masterpiece compared to the the unbearable greatest hits and terrible covers stuff he's offering until today. And his albums get worse and worse and worse.

I'd really wish he'd retire.

It also started probably the 2nd most successful period in his career.

Maybe you should just retire from life.

It's better than the "annoying ass screeching" on this site.

Paris9748430 said:

KingSausage said:

Paris9748430 said:

It's better than the "annoying ass screeching" on this site.

What's your point? They're both pretty awful.

My point is quit yer bitchin'.

Paris9748430 said:

artist76 said:

In general I agree, but there are exceptions to every rule.

The Viva Las Vegas boot from May of 99 showcases a fiery show that featured Larry Graham and the Family Stone when that concept was still fresh and interesting(!) The Septimo TV performance, I think from '99 also, featured killer takes on Prettyman, Baby Knows, and an inspired emotional cover of Motherless Child complete with face burning guitar solo.

But yes, I was at the Hollywood Bowl show in October 97 and was surprised at how uninteresting most of the arrangements were.The same was true for the Rave New Years Show, with the caveat that there was plenty of great guitar.

When I saw him next, in April 02 for ONA in NYC, I remember the difference in the musicianship and the arrangements. It was like night and day from the '97 show.

I agree that Kirky J was his weakest drummer.

[Edited 8/31/12 13:18pm]

vitriol said:

Anyway, just after ONA Prince started a decline which made the 96-2001 time frame a virtual masterpiece compared to the the unbearable greatest hits and terrible covers stuff he's offering until today. And his albums get worse and worse and worse.

I'd really wish he'd retire.

Why? Are you waiting for him to run into your arms so you can retire peacefully together and have him all to yourself?

^Huh?

vitriol said:

^Huh?

Well why on earth else would you want him to retire? What's it to you?

Bohemian67 said:

And it sucks to see you writing such a silly messge when you've got such a great avatar.

KingSausage said:

Bohemian67 said:

Well why on earth else would you want him to retire? What's it to you?

I can't and won't speak for Vitriol, but it sucks to see Prince doing such boring, uninspired shows. He is such an amazing musician. Just let it out! ONA was an amazing tour. Playing Play That Funky Music is just sad.

Exactly. For someone who has written so much music, to rely so heavily on cover songs & showcasing of backup singers is just sad.

And it's not "bitching" to find fault with things. It's actually more healthy than the unabashed sycophantism displayed by some on this site.

LittlePurpleYoda said:

Bohemian67 said:

vitriol said:

^Huh?

Well why on earth else would you want him to retire? What's it to you?

It's very simple. I'm ASHAMED of what he's doing.

As much as of your post.

KingSausage said:

Musically speaking, it's amazing how boring most of Prince's live performances were from 1997 to around 2000. His band was nowhere near the best he's had and he often sounded so unmotivated. But in 2001 and especially on the ONA tour his raw musicianship came back in force. It was a late-period renaissance like I didn't think was possible. Listening to a show from the NPS era, it's hard to imagine that he could get his shit together in just a few years and hit the ONA heights. A fun way to hear this transition in process is to compare the 2000, 2001, and 2002 Celebration performances. I was at the 2000 concert and it was okay. Very bland. The 2001 show is much better. And then the 2002 shows just fucking blow me away. Why were the 1997-2000ish shows so bad? Kirky J. was a pisspoor drummer. The set lists were uninspiring. The arrangements were plastic and lifeless for the most part. But there's more...almost intangible.

I saw one of the MPLS shows in late '96 for the JOTY tour, and I thought it was fantastic. Did you go to any of the JOTY shows? They seem to get a bad rap but the one I saw was thoroughly enjoyable.

I didn't see any of the NPS shows, except for the TV appearances and the Beautiful Strange VHS. The few boots I've heard are kind of uninteresting. I can't imagine an album that uninspired would have an inspiring tour behind it.

Mill City was a pretty fun show but we were up close and it was a really great atmosphere as well.

I thought the 2000 Celebration show was very good, and I got a little choked up when he did America with Fink, Mark, and Bobby. It was pretty bare-bones, though, production-wise. There were some great surprises (at the time) in the set. Opening with Anna Stesia was pretty awesome, I thought. And I remember liking Man O' War into Adore. Uptown made an appearance for the first time in a while, too.

There were 2 shows for the 2001 Celebration. I went to the first and I thought it was weak as fuck. Were were 5th row center, too, and it still kinda sucked. Talk about going-through-the-motions.

I agree about 2002 Celebration shows. They were a revelation. I remember some people being pissed that on one of the nights he did another standard ONA show, like he did opening night. But the ONA show was so fucking awesome, I didn't even mind seeing it again. I wish I would've been able to see more of them, in fact. Compared to the 2001 show, it was like 2 different people.

I'm gearing up to see some Welcome 2 Chicago shows, though I can't imagine they will be as wonderful as the last time I saw him live (First Ave 7/7/7). But I will definitely go into them with no expectations and not shit on them before they even happen.

^I can't believe most of you are still interested in seeing him live bearing in mind what he's doing.

For me it's like seeing a clown or a pisspoor impersonator mocking at him.

vitriol said:

^I can't believe most of you are still interested in seeing him live bearing in mind what he's doing.

For me it's like seeing a clown or a pisspoor impersonator mocking at him.

What was the last show you were at? And was it any good?

vitriol said:

^I can't believe most of you are still interested in seeing him live bearing in mind what he's doing.

For me it's like seeing a clown or a pisspoor impersonator mocking at him.

Amen, my brother. It's like a lot of people are just interested in saying they saw him (cuz ya never really know when he'll kick the bucket, right?? ) live then actually looking at and paying attention to the product he's putting on stage. It's absolute SHIT and boring. VERY by the numbers, regardless of what track he half-performs nowadays. The band is God awful and has been for years now. He had it right when he had his Vegas run back in '06/'07. He belonged there and has essentially never left.

The general consensus is that lotta fans are just pissed off. Nobody is very happy with the current NPG line up and Prince's at the moment. While many were very happy last year, another half were disappointed.

If you are going to see Prince in Chicago, be aware that he'll be playing

40% Cover Songs

30% New Songs from Superconductor performed by Andy

30% Hits

Keep your expectations low, specially if you haven't seen him live very often and in recent years. Spend the money only if you don't know on what else to spend.

Seeing the idol is great, but so is the disappointment afterwards!

Just my