There truly is a divide amongst Prince fams in regard to his material. I've seen it over and over again. There are those who seem to count the most mediocre material as a masterpiece. I remember being excited when the first reports cameout of the Rainbow Children listening sessions. So many people praised it, and then I listened to it and wondered what kind of drugs were floating around Paisley Park. And this has happened before; every new project that comes out is great. It's a little tiring. Perhaps it's my fault for expecting objective opinions on a Prince fan site, but I know you're out there. After hearing how Plectrum Electrum is going to be the greatest thing since highspeed internet (if it's ever released) I listen to the Breakdown, a very forgetful Prince going through the motions track, but on the org one would think it's Little Red Corvette. I know I am going to get lambasted for this (you don't go to the bat cave andtalk shit about Bruce Wayne). I've seen all the responses after reading other critical posts here: "you're negative," "you should be happy he's making music," "xyz song is actually great", etcI am a real fam (16 concerts, traveled from New York to Vegas,Baltimore, Connecticut), and this is a real opinion. Speaking of opinions, I'll be waiting on Jack White's new album which has an actual date attached, the first two singles of which are more absorbing and alive than anything P has made in years.Let the onslaught begin

radici27 said:

There truly is a divide amongst Prince fams in regard to his material. I've seen it over and over again. There are those who seem to count the most mediocre material as a masterpiece. I remember being excited when the first reports cameout of the Rainbow Children listening sessions. So many people praised it, and then I listened to it and wondered what kind of drugs were floating around Paisley Park. And this has happened before; every new project that comes out is great. It's a little tiring. Perhaps it's my fault for expecting objective opinions on a Prince fan site, but I know you're out there. After hearing how Plectrum Electrum is going to be the greatest thing since highspeed internet (if it's ever released) I listen to the Breakdown, a very forgetful Prince going through the motions track, but on the org one would think it's Little Red Corvette. I know I am going to get lambasted for this (you don't go to the bat cave andtalk shit about Bruce Wayne). I've seen all the responses after reading other critical posts here: "you're negative," "you should be happy he's making music," "xyz song is actually great", etcI am a real fam (16 concerts, traveled from New York to Vegas,Baltimore, Connecticut), and this is a real opinion. Speaking of opinions, I'll be waiting on Jack White's new album which has an actual date attached, the first two singles of which are more absorbing and alive than anything P has made in years.Let the onslaught begin

Only 16 gigs.....thats not a real fan

I do know what you mean, I think The Breakdown is getting over praised because its being subconsiously associated with the WB "comeback".

Most of those who were citing The Breakdown as a masterpiece were talking about the live version, which reigns supreme over the studio version released this past weekend. Live it sounded so raw, with great instrumentation. While I like the studio version - Prince's voice is on fire for one thing - it's hard not to be a little dissapointed with it after hearing so many superior live versions.

But yeah - there is certainly a divide. However I would add a 3rd dimension. There's those who praise everything, those who hate on everything and there's those who judge things objectively, catered to their own preference of course. (Though it doesn't seem so most the time, I think the latter is the majority)

All this time and I still can't work out how to do paragraphs on the org!

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[Edited 4/23/14 17:51pm]

[Edited 4/23/14 17:52pm]

3rdeyeboy said:

radici27 said:

There truly is a divide amongst Prince fams in regard to his material. I've seen it over and over again. There are those who seem to count the most mediocre material as a masterpiece. I remember being excited when the first reports cameout of the Rainbow Children listening sessions. So many people praised it, and then I listened to it and wondered what kind of drugs were floating around Paisley Park. And this has happened before; every new project that comes out is great. It's a little tiring. Perhaps it's my fault for expecting objective opinions on a Prince fan site, but I know you're out there. After hearing how Plectrum Electrum is going to be the greatest thing since highspeed internet (if it's ever released) I listen to the Breakdown, a very forgetful Prince going through the motions track, but on the org one would think it's Little Red Corvette. I know I am going to get lambasted for this (you don't go to the bat cave andtalk shit about Bruce Wayne). I've seen all the responses after reading other critical posts here: "you're negative," "you should be happy he's making music," "xyz song is actually great", etcI am a real fam (16 concerts, traveled from New York to Vegas,Baltimore, Connecticut), and this is a real opinion. Speaking of opinions, I'll be waiting on Jack White's new album which has an actual date attached, the first two singles of which are more absorbing and alive than anything P has made in years.Let the onslaught begin

Only 16 gigs.....thats not a real fan

I do know what you mean, I think The Breakdown is getting over praised because its being subconsiously associated with the WB "comeback".

I honestly like it. If I didn't I'd have no problems saying so, WB or no WB. His vocals are tight, that's something that I haven't been able to say about his music in years.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

3rdeyeboy said:

Only 16 gigs.....thats not a real fan

I do know what you mean, I think The Breakdown is getting over praised because its being subconsiously associated with the WB "comeback".

I honestly like it. If I didn't I'd have no problems saying so, WB or no WB. His vocals are tight, that's something that I haven't been able to say about his music in years.

I like it too. I just think its being overly praised in light of the recent events. I prefer Groovy Potential.

I've thought about this a bit recently myself, and I think this is a moot argument. If someone likes "The Breakdown," it doesn't mean they are drinking purple Kool-aid. All it means is they like the song.

Personally -- I believe some of Prince's "classic" albums are overrated at times while his recent albums are underrated. Don't know why, but I just don't enjoy Parade much now while I listen to Rave Un2... every other day. Not trolling here at all....I just think that Prince's output has been so prolific and varied that his fans can find their own set of "classics".

The Breakdown is ok. I don't really need the sound effects... But sonically & structurally I like it. Both the live and studio versions... Although the live vocal sounds like he is struggling a bit with that falsetto.

I don't think the lyrics are particularly great but because the rest of the song is up to snuff it doesn't draw attention to it like it does in so much of his recent stuff

The Breakdown would have sounded great on Lotus Flower either as a closer or after Crimson & Clover
[Edited 4/23/14 19:05pm]