I've been seeing Emancipation in record stores for pretty cheap lately but for some reason I'm a little scared to buy it. The three CDs intimidate me. So I was wondering, exactly how good is Emancipation?

jessyMD32781 said:

well theres lots to choose from...you can wade thru what you dont like or just burn what you do like on another cd

3out of 5 stars i give it...he has some filler on there

jessyMD32781 said:

Who in their right mind sees Prince music, 3 cds worth for cheap , and has to ask if they should get it? You're not a true fan.

It's not my favorite at all. In fact, it's one of my least favorite because it sounds overproduced to me and alot of the songs seem like filler to make his "blueprint" as he called it (on the today show interview) of three CD's, one hour each. There are some classic songs on it, of course, like Soul Sanctuary, but alot of the songs are too long IMHO, but I just have been in a pop song mood.

There is some great shit and some just plain shit.

rdhull said:

Come on now! It's three full hours of music, and Prince music at that. Wouldn't any TRUE Prince fan be intimidated by three full hours of Prince music?

jessyMD32781 said:

What is the problem with people like you? You come to the org, pretending to be a Prince fan, but you don't even have the albums he's put out and when you find an album that you don't have, and it is also cheap as you say, you don't even buy it! I just can't understand it!
[Snip. Flame removed. LaV]

ChocolateInvasion said:

Ooooh! [Snip. Flame removed. LaV]

adoreme said:

Really, I don't understand! Maybe it's my collector-me speaking, but I have some friends who claim to be die-hard fans for some band, but don't actually have all 4 or 5 CDs the band has released. WHY? If you like something a lot, don't you try to get everything, because that may be just as good as the other stuff you heard?
If you are a newbie Prince fan, and you like some of the old and some of the new stuff, I figure you go out and try to get all his stuff, because you know it'll make you happy.

ChocolateInvasion said:

I am incredibly jealous of some people's collections but realistically I need to spend my money on other things...like rent and wine for example (both equally important).

Don't be nasty to people just because they aren't die-hards like you, Chocolate! We all love Raspberry Beret... x

jessyMD32781 said:

its a great album that got mixed reviews like much of his work in the 90's cause so many peopled wanted him 2 stay in that purple rain phase... but the thing i realized is by the time he got 2 the symbol album in 93' he was evolving cause he was gettin older and emancipation shows much of that growth... also people wer complainin that the album was 2 long bein 3 cds but i say this 2 them... some of miles davis john coltrane marvin gayes jimi hendrix and curtis mayfields duke ellington mozarts bach and beethovens best work came in layers because it needed 2 be told that way... so upon ur discovery i say 2 u like he said 2 me at the end of the gold experience... welcome 2 the dawn u r now an official member of the new power generation enjoy

rdhull said:

I am inclined to agree. If it's cheep, buy it! If you like it, bargain. If not, ah well.

I bought it from HMV for £3.99 on Saturday. £4!!!
I have always hated it, but my copy had got all scratched up from hours and hours of fun and enjoyment listening to Mr.Happy and Right Back Here In My Arms...

At £4, I consider it about right because it is mostly awful MOR drivel...

Just take your time...I haven't heard all of Prince's music although I feel like I have...it's because I started catching up with albums around 97', and felt overwhelmed when I got like 2 or 3 CDs into my hands, but Emancipation is a beautiful set, especially Disc II, which I fully immersed myself into, and most likely you probably will too, Disk one and three has some great songs as well, but my thing is that, once I listen to a CD I love, I stay stuck on it, so you should just get it, and see what it's all about...
[This message was edited Thu Mar 6 15:09:01 PST 2003 by Starmist7]

jessyMD32781 said:

Buy it while you still can. There's a great single album in there.

Emancipation is probably not one of Prince's greatest works.

Which means it's simply better than 95% of the other shit being released these days.

jessyMD32781 said:

Emancipation is a consistently strong set if you like Prince's RnB vibe. I really like it.

I THINK THIS GUY IS RIGHT!
you're all telling him he's not a true fan for questioning whether or not to buy a Prince album.

Well after Prince pissed all over his legacy during the course of almost thew whole of the 90s, this guy is just being smart.

My tip for you is not to buy Emancipation. It's pretty bollocks to be honest. Even if you cut it down to 1 cd, it would still have some chuff on it.

Aside from TRC, i tend to stay away from 90s Prince, for reasons i said earlier. All of the session musician, NPG - gang-vocal, raps by a 'tommy M' or whatever he's called, the lame pre-packaged "hip-hop" scratches that Prince just shoves in for no reason whatsoever, the over-production on nearly everything he ever touches!!! The lame symbols, the bad artwork, the shamefull haircuts.

The reason why i'm saying this, is because i decided to put the 'symbol' album on last night, not only were the interludes so shit, him trying to be cool and 'down with the kids' by sampling NWA but towards the end of the album ( 3 chains o' Gold ) is unlistenable.

The 90s for Prince was the sound of a genius pissing on his legacy.

Look Bro: If you can get Emancipation cheap, then buy 2 or 3 copies, You can buy the clean version as well. Personally I love Emancipation, I've said all alone that if I could only have one Prince Album and I was stranded on a Desert Island with just food, water, a Cd player and a lifetime supply of Batteries, I would pick emancipation.
It is fresh, soul searching, Has funk, R&B, Rock, Ballads, etc. It is well rounded and no matter what these dumb block heads say, buy the disc in a hurry.

some people here are predjudice, they only like one thing, mostly the rock type songs, or rather they don't like the urban sounding songs (any argument). But I think the Record is a MASTER PIECE.

To be honest I don't think you are really a fan, but since you are searching then stick with it, you will know what all the rest of us know, (at least the ones that are honest)
that Prince is the Man, and all of his music is better than anything else being played out there.

jazzy328is said:

Co-sign.

Just go buy it and make your own decision as to what you like or don't like about the set. Personally, I enjoy Emancipation very much. I don't love all the songs, but I like many of them. Real fans own everything, whether it's a 5 star release or not. Just go for it.

ChocolateInvasion said:

I never claimed to be a die hard fan or a "true" fan or a fam. I enjoy Prince but he's not the only artist that I listen to and I don't want to waste money on a three CD set that sucks. Now either answer my question or leave me alone.

Thanks to all the rest of you who gave me your honest opinion and did not judge whether or not I'm a real fan just for asking a question.

how good is it?

not at all, imho.

mine!!!

I don't play it anymore, it depresses me.

If you can get it in the bargain bin, I'd say it's worth it.

I just can't shake all the references to the love he shared with Mayte - call me a hopeless romantic.

JonSnow said:

That's it!

I LOVE it, it is my absolute favorite album!! I loved it so much, I had to buy 2...one for the car and one for the house You should DEFINITELY buy it!!!

I really like Emancipation...I play it all the time...go for it.

i got it on sat as i had mentioned last week and im quite pleased with wot i hear .i like right back here in my arms and sex in the summer .i think its pretty gud and easy worth the 3.99 but i can appreciate that sum people may not hav had it b4 at the original price.