Just listened to the Everlasting Now for the first time in forever and forgot how many twists and turns there are in that song. What an amazing album.

riocoolnes said:

Just listened to the Everlasting Now for the first time in forever and forgot how many twists and turns there are in that song. What an amazing album.

when they do the stop on the one false stop...thats my shit..

rdhull said:

riocoolnes said:

Just listened to the Everlasting Now for the first time in forever and forgot how many twists and turns there are in that song. What an amazing album.

when they do the stop on the one false stop...thats my shit..

Psych lol i love his santana style solo in that song so much.

robertgeorgeakabob said:

kpowers said:

Because the Darth Vader Voice goes on way to long. It's short on 1999.

after reading your intellectual approach to this matter i stand totally corrected.

[Edited 12/15/12 17:09pm]

I could only get through the whole album 3 times in my life. By far without question the most over rated mush, especially from the fans & worshipers. I do like some songs on it, but as whole, the album is just too murky & heavy handed for my taste. I couldn't wait for it to end....it just kept going on & on . I rarely ever listen to it.

Milty said:

Yeah, a Sunday.

I'd been so far out of the loop since the early 90's that I didn't even know he had TRC out, much less heard any of it. Last thing I'd seen of him was The Beautiful Experience. In '02 I heard he was gigging in town with 'One Night Alone'. The missus was a big Jacko fan during the 80s and had seen him live at Wembley, Aintree and Paris but she'd never done a Prince gig. I'd told her all about Lovesexy and how great it was and promised her one day I'd take her to see what a real musical genius was like live.

I got tickets for ONA and drove to the gig with my fingers crossed, hoping he wouldn't play a load of shit. I bought The Rainbow Children album in the foyer and we went in for the gig not knowing what to expect. We had blinding seats upstairs just off centre.

He started with TRC. Sounded good to me. Nice. jazzy mellow n funky. As the gig rolled out I uncrossed my fingers. By the time he was into The Work I was rockin. A mate of mine called to see how it was going and when I spoke to him later he told me it was like having a phone call with a chicken. I was whoopin and hoopin so much.

P got someone up to dance and played him off against another dancer that went across the stage like a nutcase. The Work was funky. The gig was funky too. He played a couple of my top tunes. Joy In Repetition which I'd never heard live, sat down for an acoustic set for Don't Play Me too. It was sheer fucking bliss. 1+1 was funky as fuck. We got The Ride, (I'm one of those whistlers) Gotta Broken Heart, where just about everyone in there shouted out they loved him. It was a good gig all in all.

When we got out of there we hung around for a bit. Prince came by on his way to the afters, almost running me over. I put the album on as soon as we got back to the motor. When I got home I opened a beer and put it on indoors. I sat there grateful he'd stopped pissing about. It sounded like a proper album again. Yeah, he was full of religious bollocks but like Bob said, Lovesexy was the same. (Didn't stop me shouting Yes either).

I played it over and over right through the night. The amp got louder and louder as the night went on and all of the beers got drunk. Don't think I got to bed til the following afternoon. It sounded like the first time in a while he'd put something genuine together that was decent. For a while until then I'd liked the odd tune here and there but most of it was pap. It's been pretty much the same since then.

I've just put the boot on of that night and I heard the album earlier. TRC was the last decent album he put together, as far as I've heard. The first decent album since Lovesexy. Lotushower and 20Ten Mpls whatever only got quick flick-throughs once or twice. That was probably only cos it cost me £80 and hours of pissing about on the lappy to get. I feel like I've heard it all before. Insert same old solo here, cheesy lyrics there, dodgy melody anywhere.

Come back Prince, all is forgiven. I wanna hear the wrinkles too.

treniselove said:

I can't believe I've shelved this album!!! Now I can't stop playing it and singing it!!! Addicted!

coooooool

this is an album I play periodically in the afternoon during the Spring time, or at the end of summertime, always afternoon when the sun kisses the skyline..

I absolutely like this jazzy mood; the fastness of some tracks gives wings

The wellness it brings is kind of "healing".

"when the devil comes, dressed as light, maybe they gonna fool the untrained mind, but nobody I know gonna bite.."

You shelved TRC? Wow...

treniselove said:

I can't believe I've shelved this album!!! Now I can't stop playing it and singing it!!! Addicted!

rdhull said:

riocoolnes said:

Just listened to the Everlasting Now for the first time in forever and forgot how many twists and turns there are in that song. What an amazing album.

when they do the stop on the one false stop...thats my shit..

OK

SweeTeaII said:

rdhull said:

when they do the stop on the one false stop...thats my shit..

OK

Don't let nobody bring you down..don't let yourself neither

ganesh said:

SweeTeaII said:

OK

Don't let nobody bring you down..don't let yourself neither

...

[Edited 12/16/12 17:29pm]

TRC, along with Xpectation, C-Note and LotusFlow3r, is one of only four Prince releases post 2000 that I've found worth my time and attention. And were I to list his albums to this point that I'd consider indispensible to a decent Prince collection, TRC would definitely be on that list.

robertgeorgeakabob said:

SweeTeaII said:

ganesh said:

Then I know you having a straight groovy time. Imma reminiscence on some Everlasting Now in myself. No stereo, no gadgets, just me...hey! You want to dance with me?

treniselove said:

SweeTeaII said:

You shelved TRC? Wow...

Yes I did I can't believe I did this too lol

Very mixed experience for me, use to really hate it, but realised its lyrics were just weird and sick, but the musicality, the jazz measures and playing on it is fantastic. It was just musically challenging, the tones and the textures, along with some very lush melodies and great drumming and guitar work.

Just a shame the lyrics of most of the songs are hateful garbage. The Darth Vader voice is ridiculous too and the drawn out opening track and Muse to the Pharoah are terrible.

But on the other hand. She loves me for me and Last December are just pure genius, they are beautiful songs and a taste of his more mature accomplished Jazz soul of the past 10 years.

Fonkyman said:

SweeTeaII said:

* the Rainbow Children

* the Wise One

* the Resistor

* the Banished Ones

* the Digital Garden

* Menda City mendacity [mɛnˈdæsɪtɪ] 1. the tendency to be untruthful 2. a falsehood

* the Muse

* Sensual Everafter

The Rainbow Children

With the accurate understanding of God and His law
they went about the work of building a new nation:
the Rainbow Children.

"The Wise One who understood the law
that was handed down from God long ago
reflected the true meaning 2 his woman every day.
And she surrendered her discerning of it into his care and keeping
4 she trusted he would lead in the right way.
Her children in subjection 2 her, and she in subjection 2 the Wise One.
The Wise One in subjection 2 the only Begotten One.

"And 4ever is in subjection 2 God."

Just like the sun, the Rainbow Children rise
Flyin' upon the wings of the new translation

"As prophesized, the Wise One and his woman were tempted by the Resistor.
He, knowing full well the Wise One's love 4 God,
assimilated the woman first and only.
Quite naturally, chaos ensued and she and 5 others were banished
from the rainbow 4ever."

Reproduction of the new breed leader - stand up, organize

"The Wise One who understood the law that was handed down
from God long ago, held fast in his belief that the Lord
would bring him another one who loved him so."

* This sorta sounds like he is playing with the idea of Lilith as Adams 1st wife. But who are the 5 others??

Muse 2 the Pharoah

Digital Garden

Love, like a rose in bloom
And all of the Rainbow Children would feel it soon
2 the east, word traveled about this energy
Until it reached the Banished Ones
Who just wanted this love 2 cease

They now fallen into (Love, like a rose in bloom)
Resistor's dream
And they built a Digital Garden
(And all of the Rainbow Children would feel it soon)

Or so it seemed
In its brilliant darkness
So-called angels of light
Lies {repeated}

And all the Rainbow Children will stand and fight
4 everlasting, everlasting life
4 the one who sits on the right {x3}
4 Him we're willing 2 do the work

"The Banished Ones approaching the palace shouted obscenities.
They tried 2 confuse the Rainbow Children and dethrone their king.
Using the lies promoted by the whosepapers, hellavisions, and scagazines,
The Banished Ones constructed a Digital Garden around the palace
That extended throughout the world.
Furthermore, they demanded compensation 4 their time
spent in the palace before the exile.
This was noise! (Fire, fire!)

"'So be it', said the Wise One,
And gladly obliged with an invisible deed.
The Banished Ones accepted it
and returned 2 their place of birth in Menda City.
As 4 the Rainbow Children, they began deconstructing the Digital Garden.
Door 2 door they went in search of those willing 2 do The Work".

The Work, Pt. 1

"From all over the people came 2 do The Work.
And with every phase of the deconstruction
the Everlasting Now became evermore the reality.
Everywhere the people were witnessing a change
But the alchemy occurred most in the muse".

Everywhere

There's a place I want 2 go
Where the milk and honey flow
Without God it wasn't there
Now I feel it everywhere

The Sensual Everafter

"2 all his good brothers the Wise One spoke highly of his muse because
her love 4 the one true God was growing with every passing day.
So he said, "2 all a good night", sent them 2 bed early
and invited his muse 2 join him in the Sensual Everafter".

Mellow

1+1+1 Is 3

"As she fell into the Sensual Everafter - out of body, out of mind,
he stroked her hair a hundred times.
And as she fell deeper into the hypnotic unwind,
He counted his way into the suggestive mind.
Planting a seed that bears fruit on the tree.
He said, 'repeat after me, repeat after me, repeat after me,
1+1+1 is 3.'"

We are the Banished Ones and we have come 2 dance
If U will not let us, we'll have 2 kick your pants! {repeat phrase}

Who's that knockin' on our door?
Didn't we throw U out before?
I'm 'bout 2 get rowdy
Look out, I'm 'bout 2 get rowdy, now
Make me wanna do something

We could be surrounded in the palace
(Everybody wants 2 get U)
I don't care

Deconstruction

"One after the other, the Banished Ones fled
as they watched from the distance the destruction of the Digital Garden.
With no more fruit 2 bear from its trees, the haze was finally broken.
And with the rains came the awareness that never again
would anyone ever lay claim 2 the treasures of the Rainbow Children.
As though awakened from a dream, the Muse opened her eyes.
This time as queen".

Wedding Feast

Brother, dear brother, I came as quickly as I could
The digital haze is broken
The Banished Ones are gone 4 good
Gone 4 good

Now there must be a wedding (Wedding)
Now there must be a feast

A feast, a feast
A smorgasbord at least
A brunch, a munch
Of cake, if just a piece

Not just a vat of chitlins
Or turkey meat, U see
We are what we eat
So we must eat a leaf
We'll dine under a tree
Unless it snows

She Loves Me 4 Me

Family Name

When a minority realizes its similarities on a higher level
not just "black", but "people of color", and higher still "indigenous", and even higher still, "from the tribe of", and yet higher:
"The Rainbow Children".

the Everlasting Now

Last December

ZsaZsaJackson said:

I can't do it.

I'm a tongue flipper myself. Fingers go under the front of the tongue. I use many combinations of fingers and would only ever practice when completely naked.

V10LETBLUES said:

I hate this album with a passion.

To Love or to hate, means that you've got feelings, still, better than being untouched about it

ganesh said:

V10LETBLUES said:

I hate this album with a passion.

To Love or to hate, means that you've got feelings, still, better than being untouched about it

Very well put.

IstenSzek said:

a few weeks ago i listened to this album again. somehow i always mention it as

one of my top 10 prince albums but i realised i hadn't actually listened to it as a

whole in over 2 years or something.

so i dusted it off and had another listen.

and then another one. and another one.

i've never had a problem with the 'darth vader' narration or any of the sugarry

sweet stuff on it.

as i listened i had a few dozen moments where i went 'oh yes, how could i have

forgotten this? this is so amazing!'.

great album, and great musicianship.

whenever i listen to this i have to smile as i remember my hysterical fam-out on

the day i first heard it. after new power soul and rave, this came as something

of a shock. a very pleasant shock though.

i don't know what i was expecting, but it wasn't this after spending most of a

day trying to download it with my slow connection i finally got it all on my hd and

pressed play and then i just went kind of nuts, to be honest.

every twist and turn and every new song my smile just got bigger and bigger and

my faith in prince was restored, fully.

he was on fire at this period. the instrumental albums, one nite alone and it's tour,

everything was just inspired and in particular 'non plastic'.

i wish he'd get another kick like this and just release 4 or 5 projects over a couple

of years, a full album, some instrumental discs, a stripped down acoustic one etc.

but as it is, these still work just fine. great, great stuff.

Isten,

We had the EXACT same experience, especially the part I have included in bold above.

It was the middle of the night. I was in a hotel in the middle of nowhere, and having waited ages for the download, closed my eyes to give up, and then ALL OF A SUDDEN the following words literally BOOMED out of my laptop:

"With the accurate understanding of God and His Law..."

It was spooky hearing those ominous words in the pitch black dark, seemingly coming from nowhere (as I didn't actually realise it the Prince record). I think I literally jumped out of my skin at first. I was like, WTF?!!!!

Needless to say, I loved that entire album from the very beginning, even if I often do find it quite "heavy/dense" to absorb nowadays. I would say it's one of only a few records where he was reaching his level of genius. It was both a God-send of a release and something of a nightmare, because for one reason or another, he has released far less "artistic" records ever since. Apart from N.E.W.S., Lotus Flower is his closest record to The Rainbow Children in terms of integrity, and I believe that single disc has almost unanimously received critical praise.

More than any other record, The Rainbow Children album is the one that still gives me hope.

love,

Spirit

I don't care for this album, if only because the message narrative is esoteric to me.

That said, I do respect and admire that Prince here wasn't concerned about trying to win back his white or black fans or whoever, or trying to more money from those fan quadrants or whatever marketing strategies. This is a concept album, an uncompromising one. Either you "get" it, or you don't. I like that he strived for art here. Even if it does nothing for yours truely.

Good thing he produced this when his career was in a gutter for if he had in his prime or his 2000s comeback, he would've been REALLY crucified by the media and public for the politics in RC whether it be regarding men over women or that one line in that Jews at least got to keep their names (and thus indirectly imply that they shouldn't complain as much or something.)

But since this ws produced in 2001, when Prince was irrelevant, he got away with it. Or more than he would otherwise.

One of the best albums put by any artist PERIOD!

RECKON WITH IT!