[Edited 10/4/13 19:04pm]

Nope, it's way underrated. One of his best IMO. Raw, dark, uncensored and oddly addictive funk...

[Edited 10/5/13 5:33am]

God I love this album. It's one of the last times Prince really cut loose and not give a shit. Don't hate. It is what it is. U don't need to over analyze this album. Just feel it and get lost in the fun/FUNK!!

Hell no. Shit is a classic, man. Like a demented extension of Sign 'O' The Times. No radio hits or nothing (Superfunkycalifragisexy is a close one, I think), but I think that's what he was going for. "Dark", definitely strange and off-putting at times (not to me, of course ). Would'a dropped when gangsta rap was getting big, right? The language is kinda tame compared to that shit. He always swore anyways. Would'a worked for the kinda release he was planning for anyway. Low-key, probably no promotion, blank black album cover. I doubt it would have killed his career. Either way, the withdrawal, Lovesexy, the bootlegging (would've been cool to be around for anyways), the release in '94. I was a baby for all this, listening to MJ and Janet and shit and watching Barney. Got my copy in early '00s without even trying. Was looking for Batman high and low and found both on CD at this little used record shop and was . My appreciation for Batman was slow to start, but with The Black Album it was instant. Loved it. Cut from the same cloth as SOTT, but kookier and fun. The music was all stellar at that time. Don't feel like going track for track, but every tune is a keeper. Even Dead on It, which I see mad shade thrown at is hilarious. I doubt he's taking himself too serious, talking about diamond rings the sizes of mice and neither should we ideally and the beat and that chicken scratch or chicken grease or what the hell = . No standouts, but no filler either. Just an artist at the top of his game having a lark. Sweet!

I think its a great album and if when 2 r in love wasnt on the Lovesexy album it wouldn't b questioned. I do agree a huge part of the albums appeal stems from the mystic, i bought the peach marble 1994 edition but " rock hard in a funky place" is still one of my favourite songs. its controverial but i think " last heart" would have fitted on there.

pureTsexy said:

Superfunkcalifragisexy is crap.

^

Haven't you seen the Lovesexy 88 concert video?

Superfunkycalifragisexy is a classic, both live and on the record, imho.

Depends on how its rated and most people I read of like it, but don't love it. I mean if people think its on the level of Crystal Ball and Dream Factory, then they over rate, but compared to other later unreleased albums like High and various 90s cuts off Crystal Ball, it holds it own.

It is a good album, but not a classic one, most of the cuts except Dead on it and one or two are decent to great. Still its too short and has no real cohesive theme, the albums that surround it )Sign and Lovesexy) are both much better than it and its not really a good transistion. Compared to the very high level of his 80s albums, I only rank Black Album better than Batman and well behind the next album Controversy.

I think the mystique it had until 1994 made it sound greater to people than it was. But it was the first album where quality was sacrificed for overproduction and the songs myther on abit, 2Nigs and Super drag on too long and other tracks only have one or two great hooks and rely on melodies rather than songcraft and brilliance like on Sign o the time or sheer quirkiness that you find on Lovesexy. Still a decent 7.5/10 album for me, I can listen to it without skipping.

this is prince's darkest, blackest, most cynical album yet and that's why it's a treasure. You can really see into his soul and thought process at the time as well as be amazed by the sheer creativity of it all. I think maybe Prince thought it was all too much, and didnt release it, but in essence, it was RIGHT to eventually release it as it is part of his STORY.

Why I like to listen to it, as it is so completely different to the "cleaner" SOTT, Batman albums and a darker "sister" to the Lovesexy album at the time, it just makes a difference in terms of something to listen to. After listening to SOTT on rotation for a week, I feel like something dirty, weird and funny - I listen to the Black album.

Its all about balance folks, one day you feel like clean soulful gospel, the next you want that dirty funk. When I want an injection of the dirty funk I go to BLACK.

PS - once I listened to DEAD ON IT on rotation for about 30 minutes, just an absolutely superb song.

Definately not a commercial recording but if funk is something you cant describe then this is it. never heard anything like it before or after. You certainly wouldnt have got U2 taking such a career risk.

All I can tell you is that some of my non Prince fan friends back in 1989 wanted cassette copies of the Black Album after they heard it. They did not want Lovesexy, and they did not want Batman. And the only songs they seemed to think were cool on SOTT was Housequake and SOTT.

I think Prince could have marketed on the marketing need that opened up with mainstream, white, guys wanting what seemed dark, funny and funky or ghetto... hence the top 40 hits of Tone Loc and then getting to the real stuff like Public Enemy or NWA being played by frat guys in jeeps just a few years later. In some alternate reality, he did not recall the album, and Bob George cemented him as being too cool hardcore crazy for your parents or girlfriend to stand, and colored his image up to now.

It sounded great in 88 when I listened on a borrowed LP that for some reason had only one channel for about half of the album (I think it was the left) and when I listened on a cassette recorded from that LP. It still sounded good when I got it officially in 94 on CD. I prefer Cindy C. and Le Grind to Bob George and Dead on It, actually. Don't care for When 2 R in Love much, on either album. Superfunky... and Rockhard are my choices. 2 Nigs is just okay.

Solid enough album. Not in my top 5--but that doesn't mean I think those who have it there are out of their minds at all.

No. It is not overrated. But listening to the Black Album and then his newer music, I can confidently diagnose Prince as suffering from low testosterone. His new music is lame tired and aimless. Musically he can't get it up anymore. It's normal for someone his age.

I love it, it feels like a very "free" album, def his most funkiest, its a like a jam session, it has a dark feel but a very fun and tounge in cheek feel too. Alotta people say When 2 R In Love doesnt fit, I used to agree but now I think it does, its like a moment of calmness, the straight back to the madness and funk. I love Le Grind adimitly i used to think it was weak, but it grew on me and is a brilliant opener for the album. Even though you know its all rehearsed and planned, it still gives me the sense that everything was just happening as it went along.

bigd74 said:

It's been said before but i like the concept of this being part of a 2 disc project with Lovesexy, with a fun naughty disc and a spiritual disc, a bit like the Lovesexy live experience

This. Brilliant tour, imo.

BruthaMoorice said:

Naw, man. It's not overrated. But I'll tell you what it is: F.U.N.

bigd74 said:

It's been said before but i like the concept of this being part of a 2 disc project with Lovesexy, with a fun naughty disc and a spiritual disc, a bit like the Lovesexy live experience

Yeah, I like that idea.

V10LETBLUES said:

No. It is not overrated. But listening to the Black Album and then his newer music, I can confidently diagnose Prince as suffering from low testosterone. His new music is lame tired and aimless. Musically he can't get it up anymore. It's normal for someone his age.

I'd say you're spot on. The Prince who created the Black Album is long gone, but we have to make the most of the one that we have now.

So long as he's happy, he's paid his dues after all so I can't begrudge him the passage of time.