SchlomoThaHomo said:

This record is a strange one. I agree that it's super pompous and even overwrought, given the segues, the storyline, and even some of the song structures. But that's what makes it oddly impressive, even if isn't very listenable. I definitely played the shit out of it when it came out because I was young and thirsty, but I only go back a few tracks from it these days.

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1. My Name Is Prince - Maybe one of the biggest WTF moments of all time. If it were released as a novelty record on the B-side of a single or something, that would be one thing. At least the diehards would know it's tongue-in-cheek. But to have this be the big radio lead-in to the album was perplexing and kind of embarrassing. I remember a lot of my friends giving me shit about this song when it came out.
2. Sexy MF - Still a jam and a total classic.
3. Love 2 The 9's - I still come back to this one regularly. Love the airy and bright feel of it, which are also the qualities I like about In A Large Room With No Light. I think they would work well together. Tony hampers it unfortunately.
4. The Morning Papers - I agree that it could've used a stronger refrain, but I still like it. I think it could've been a classic with a better chorus.
5. The Max - This one I could never really appreciate. Tony's yammering and the general feel were off-putting to me. I loved the '88 version tho.
6. Blue Light - Even as a young teen I knew these lyrics were corny as hell, but I couldn't help but be charmed by it. I think Prince's vocals and the catchy melody help to save it. I remember hearing a bootleg back then of an aftershow and everyone in the audience appeared to know the song, which I found odd since it was new and just an album track. I also remember hearing this once on a MPLS radio station around the time Prince changed his name to a symbol. The DJ introduced it as the new single from Victor and the New Power Generation.
7. I Wanna Melt With U - This one hasn't aged well at all, and I don't think I've listened to it in full since it was new. It kinds sounds out of place on the record to me. The lyrics about popping Mayte's 16 year old cherry were/are pretty revolting as well.
8. Sweet Baby - I really love this one. So pretty and moody and sad and uplifting. The background vocals are so perfectly understated yet oddly complex. Just perfect.
9. The Continental - This one sounds like a forced mess to me. The first part just never clicked for me, even though the second part was appealing. I still can't really get into it.
10. Damn U - I think this one is pretty enough but also kind of boring. I like his vocal a lot but it kind of doesn't go anywhere and is too repetitive.
11. Arrogance - I appreciate it but find it utterly unappealing and unlistenable.
12. The Flow - Worst track on the album and one of the worst of his career. Just awful.
13. 7 - I don't think I've ever loved and overplayed another Prince song the way I have with 7. Such great vocal layering, intriguing melody and lyrics, and possibly the best (or at least most catchy) chorus of his career. This might be the Prince G.O.A.T. for me.
14. And God Created Woman - I still like this one. As with Damn U, it sounds like grown-folk music. Sophisticated and classy, but this one is more interesting to me musically.
15. 3 Chains O' Gold - You have to at least respect Prince's crack at Bohemian Rhapsody. I always really liked it and still do because it's really a jaw-dropping piece of work. I certainly understand why people don't like the bombast of it, though. But really, who the hell else (besides Queen) could pull something like this off?
16. The Sacrifice Of Victor - I loved this one a lot at the time, mainly because it was one of the few really funky moments on the record. I love that early 90s funk sound he had going with this one, MPLS, and Ryde Divine. I wish there was a whole album of it. Too bad about Tony, though.
    

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As a side note, I find it interesting that this is one of 2 times I can remember Prince criticizing his own work in retrospect. Once was after Parade, talking about how he regretted releasing it without having enough strong Kiss-caliber material on it. And with this one, I remember reading an open letter on his website post-Rainbow Children saying something to the effect of, "If you want to hear what freedom sounds like, play the Symbol Album back to back with TRC," making the implication that the chains of the record industry were influencing his sound at the time.

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skywalker said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

This record is a strange one. I agree that it's super pompous and even overwrought, given the segues, the storyline, and even some of the song structures. But that's what makes it oddly impressive, even if isn't very listenable. I definitely played the shit out of it when it came out because I was young and thirsty, but I only go back a few tracks from it these days.

.

1. My Name Is Prince - Maybe one of the biggest WTF moments of all time. If it were released as a novelty record on the B-side of a single or something, that would be one thing. At least the diehards would know it's tongue-in-cheek. But to have this be the big radio lead-in to the album was perplexing and kind of embarrassing. I remember a lot of my friends giving me shit about this song when it came out.
2. Sexy MF - Still a jam and a total classic.
3. Love 2 The 9's - I still come back to this one regularly. Love the airy and bright feel of it, which are also the qualities I like about In A Large Room With No Light. I think they would work well together. Tony hampers it unfortunately.
4. The Morning Papers - I agree that it could've used a stronger refrain, but I still like it. I think it could've been a classic with a better chorus.
5. The Max - This one I could never really appreciate. Tony's yammering and the general feel were off-putting to me. I loved the '88 version tho.
6. Blue Light - Even as a young teen I knew these lyrics were corny as hell, but I couldn't help but be charmed by it. I think Prince's vocals and the catchy melody help to save it. I remember hearing a bootleg back then of an aftershow and everyone in the audience appeared to know the song, which I found odd since it was new and just an album track. I also remember hearing this once on a MPLS radio station around the time Prince changed his name to a symbol. The DJ introduced it as the new single from Victor and the New Power Generation.
7. I Wanna Melt With U - This one hasn't aged well at all, and I don't think I've listened to it in full since it was new. It kinds sounds out of place on the record to me. The lyrics about popping Mayte's 16 year old cherry were/are pretty revolting as well.
8. Sweet Baby - I really love this one. So pretty and moody and sad and uplifting. The background vocals are so perfectly understated yet oddly complex. Just perfect.
9. The Continental - This one sounds like a forced mess to me. The first part just never clicked for me, even though the second part was appealing. I still can't really get into it.
10. Damn U - I think this one is pretty enough but also kind of boring. I like his vocal a lot but it kind of doesn't go anywhere and is too repetitive.
11. Arrogance - I appreciate it but find it utterly unappealing and unlistenable.
12. The Flow - Worst track on the album and one of the worst of his career. Just awful.
13. 7 - I don't think I've ever loved and overplayed another Prince song the way I have with 7. Such great vocal layering, intriguing melody and lyrics, and possibly the best (or at least most catchy) chorus of his career. This might be the Prince G.O.A.T. for me.
14. And God Created Woman - I still like this one. As with Damn U, it sounds like grown-folk music. Sophisticated and classy, but this one is more interesting to me musically.
15. 3 Chains O' Gold - You have to at least respect Prince's crack at Bohemian Rhapsody. I always really liked it and still do because it's really a jaw-dropping piece of work. I certainly understand why people don't like the bombast of it, though. But really, who the hell else (besides Queen) could pull something like this off?
16. The Sacrifice Of Victor - I loved this one a lot at the time, mainly because it was one of the few really funky moments on the record. I love that early 90s funk sound he had going with this one, MPLS, and Ryde Divine. I wish there was a whole album of it. Too bad about Tony, though.
    

.

As a side note, I find it interesting that this is one of 2 times I can remember Prince criticizing his own work in retrospect. Once was after Parade, talking about how he regretted releasing it without having enough strong Kiss-caliber material on it. And with this one, I remember reading an open letter on his website post-Rainbow Children saying something to the effect of, "If you want to hear what freedom sounds like, play the Symbol Album back to back with TRC," making the implication that the chains of the record industry were influencing his sound at the time.

[Edited 4/22/13 6:58am]

Nice analysis....even though I disagree on some points. Also, in 1992 Mayte was 19...which maybe makes Prince's lusting after her no less creepy, but certainly more legal.

Except having her tapes, exchanging corresponence with an 16 year old, waiting for to turn 18 is... Is that legal? Isn't that grooming? Well its messed up at least.

I think it's his best album of the 90s.The songs are vibrant and inspired.

Highlights: "Sexy MF","Love 2 The 9s","The Continental","And God Created Woman","7"

even though "My Name Is Prince" got a mixed reaction from fans and critics,I like that song It's loud and extreme,but he needed to do a song like that.Subtlety has never been his style.

The single choices were a little odd.A lackluster song like "The Morning Papers" should not have been a single.I would have chosen the gorgeous "And God Created Woman" instead.

The album should have ended with "Three Chains O' Gold".That's a perfect finale."The Sacrifice Of Victor" is a mess of a song,and comes across as filler.

jtfolden said:

riocoolnes said:

phennomenal record. Definitely the best of the 90s and most underated. Should be considered classic.

Completely agree. I think this album could have been HUGE if some thought had been put into the single releases... so many radio ready tracks here.

Eye wish "7" was released as the first single. It was a perfect single 4 .

But things happen as it is suppose 2 & this was the disk that pissed off with its wb lack of promotion.. Memories will never forsake me of my Arsenio Hall attendance that graced brilliantly per4rmed live versions of the Symbol album & the belly turning introduction of his soulmate.....

The Act I & II tour turned this disk in2 a

[img:$uid]http://pic80.picturetrail.com:80/VOL2084/9118410/23995995/405566474.jpg[/img:$uid]

I happen to, coincidentally, listen to this album today, and it dawned on me that this would be an awesome album if the the rap-heavy tracks and tracks featuring Tony M. had been omitted. (With the exception of "Sexy M.F. For some reason, Tony M's contribution doesn't even ruin this one for me.)

I like the Gregorian chant-like part of "My Name Is Prince", but I think that song ranks among one of the worst Prince has ever released.

Tony M's "yo baby..." rap on "The Max" reminds me of Yogi Bear's infamous, "Hey Boo Boo" every time I hear it.

So, if you omit the segues "My Name Is Prince," "The Max," "Arrogance" and "The Flow" edit the rap out of "Love 2 the 9s," you'd get a pretty strong track listing.

Sexy MF
Love 2 The 9's (with Tony M's rap edited out)
The Morning Papers
Blue Light
I Wanna Melt With U
Sweet Baby
The Continental
Damn U
7
And God Created Woman
3 Chains O' Gold

The Sacrifice Of Victor (I'm on the fence about this one. I don't know if I'd omit it all together or edit out Tony M's part and tack the song on as a hidden track at the end.)

[Edited 4/22/13 18:21pm]

Anotter thing I noticed when listening to this album today is that it's the first album to feature songs that Prince started to make worse by adding unnecessary sound effects, particularly the fake DJ record-scratching noise.

Unfortunately, this is a trend that had nearly ruined a lot of his '90s output.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

As a side note, I find it interesting that this is one of 2 times I can remember Prince criticizing his own work in retrospect. Once was after Parade, talking about how he regretted releasing it without having enough strong Kiss-caliber material on it. And with this one, I remember reading an open letter on his website post-Rainbow Children saying something to the effect of, "If you want to hear what freedom sounds like, play the Symbol Album back to back with TRC," making the implication that the chains of the record industry were influencing his sound at the time.

[Edited 4/22/13 6:58am]

Eye think The wb was pressuring 2 add rap 2 his muziq back then. That is why he added Tony M 2 his band. Rap had completely taken over the muziq industry back then & still has. It all makes since now.

It definitely is Prince at his most pompous and egocentric. To sum it up: Your mileage may vary.

This album is all over the place, but it has its moments. I'd say it's his weakest of his main '90s run, though. It's too long and just too inconsistent.

PicassoFace said:

Right on! You got it, Picasso! This is exactly what was wrong with so much of Prince's 90s studio work. He just could not resist using all the studio tricks he had at his disposal and turn everything he did into a concept album. Less =more was the motto of 80s Prince. More=more was the motto of 90s Prince. There's many a great record that was buried in the mud of expensive studio trickery in those years.