It's still me favorite album by Prince. The most cohesive and interesting release for me that he everput out. It lived up to the hype back in 1988 and went far beyond. I was SO MUCH MORE INTO IT THAN LOVESEXY.

It's uneven but parts of it are just filled with inspired, random and inventive genius.

There are sounds popping everywhere, sounds that you don't hear on any other Prince record.

He just went for it in the studio..a torrent of imagination, like he didn't have to think too long, the funk just poured out of him.

Some people say that a Prince release doesn't excite them any more. Well, comparing this to his current output is a great example of why people are saying that. This is the kind of material alot of old school fans crave.

It is, sadly, of it's time..but what a time that was!

I wanted to answer this but realized that I can't. I don't listen to albums any more. I just listen to playlists. I can tell you that I like to listen to a couple songs off this album, because they are on my workout playlist.

But I am going to listen to the entire Black Album and let you know how I think the album has aged.

I don't think releasing it as a contractual toss-off did it's rep. any favours, it deserved a much bigger fanfare of a release - outside of that time period - but it's still one of my favourite albums.

V10LETBLUES said:

I think it's aged great. This era of Prince's music live entirely in it's own space and time. There is nothing to link it to anything else. It's quintessential Prince.

This!

robertgeorgeakabob said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

No. Are the lyrics more meaningful if you have?

[Edited 8/3/13 15:46pm]

It's littered with ecstasy references... If your body needs water keep dancing cos you oughta keep the blood flowing down to your feet - perfect summation of being e'd up and unable to stop dancing even though you know you should. Ecstasy makes you massively thirsty. The aftertaste just lasts and lasts, you kiss somebody, you wanna party all night. E has a bitter aftertaste, and you feel so loved up that kissing a stranger seems a totally natural thing to do. Some will say it doesn't reference E as its ambiguous in meaning but I don't think for one second Prince only took E the once.

Never made that link, but now it is spelled out for me it is very obvious actually. I don't think he did it only once either...

robertgeorgeakabob said:

It examines the heightened sexual state of being on E, how it removes boundaries and makes you tune into your darkest fantasies and desires. It's not your average funtime party record. It's a very unsettling record, full of dark, black humour.

I can't actually believe I have never made that link before!

NouveauDance said:

I don't think releasing it as a contractual toss-off did it's rep. any favours, it deserved a much bigger fanfare of a release - outside of that time period - but it's still one of my favourite albums.

Totally agree here, the album was/is way too good for that. Such a shame...

funkaholic1972 said:

NouveauDance said:

I don't think releasing it as a contractual toss-off did it's rep. any favours, it deserved a much bigger fanfare of a release - outside of that time period - but it's still one of my favourite albums.

To think that this album was, back in the day, the sort of stuff that Prince would toss out like candy from a parade float. Unbelievable...

Poplife88 said:

I think this one has gotten BETTER with time. It a funny funky party album.

Yes I agree with you...I don't think it's as "dark" as people often say it is.

It should b revamped 4 the new NPGHORNZ!!!!!

"The Black Album" has two of my favorite Prince songs on it: "Le Grind" and "Bob George". (Especially "Bob George"... man, that's one awesome song.) Unfortunately, it also contains one of my least favorite tunes, that being "Dead On It", a song I would lump together with "Jughead" and all of "New Power Soul" as being almost impossible for me to make time for.

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The other tunes are fun: "Cindy C", "2 Nigs", etc. Back in the day, I had heard "Lovesexy" before I got "The Black Album", so for a long long time, "When 2 R In Love" completely took me out of the flow of the music, but now I'm used to it.

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Someone earlier gave it a 7/10. I think that's the right score: good, but not a classic.