It could've been worse, we could've got 4 Raves or MPLSounds.

Sorry, disagree. I saw him live in 2011, 2013, and three times in 2014 so far. All shows were fantastic. He's released a ton of great music - "Screwdriver", "The Breakdown" and "FIXURLIFEUP" being my personal favorites. 3rd Eye Girl is a cracking band, absolutely awesome. He's been active on Twitter and Instagram.

If I had to pick a worse 4 year span (what's with the arbitrary 4 years?), I'd go with 2001-2005. The albums he released in that time frame : TRC, N.E.W.S, Musicology...... all sit at the very bottom of my list of Prince albums.

Luckily, he got his funk back in 2006 with the 3121 album and has been rolling well ever since.

The last four years have been profoundly miserable although I enjoyed a couple great concerts in 2012.

Militant said:

donnyenglish said:

I disagree. I heard many of new tracks during these last few years that I love.

I've heard many new live tracks of old songs that I love. This has been a new

time of new arrangments that I love. Sure, he hasn't done a lot of new material

that will win awards, but he's been busy making people happy. So, if this is your

four years of worst material then I say count your blessings, because these last

four years have been some of his best live material.

Prince has released far more than an album's worth of material in the last 2 years. We've had Rock & Roll Love Affair, Screwdriver, Screwdriver Remix, Breakfast Can Wait, The Breakfast Experience, Live Out Loud, Fix Ur Life Up, Boyfriend, That Girl Thang, Ain't Gonna Miss U When Ur Gone, The Breakdown, Pretzelbodylogic, FallInLove2Nite, Funk N Roll, Da Bourgeoise, Groovy Potential, Extraloveable Reloaded, Same Page Different Book...

People act like he didn't release any of those things. What? Because he didn't compile them into a set under an album name?

Even post 20Ten you had Rich Friends, Hot Summer, the extended version of Laydown.

And what about all the rehearsals? Dance Electric, The Sweeter She Is, Big City, Plectrum Electrum, Something In The Water, So Dark, Cause & Effect, Menstrual Cycle, Octopus Heart, Moon Drop.....

So you can miss me with that "All we got in the last four years was 20Ten"...... are you for real?

Militant said:

thanks2joniandu said:

Ppenguin said:

Militant said:

Prince has released far more than an album's worth of material in the last 2 years. We've had Rock & Roll Love Affair, Screwdriver, Screwdriver Remix, Breakfast Can Wait, The Breakfast Experience, Live Out Loud, Fix Ur Life Up, Boyfriend, That Girl Thang, Ain't Gonna Miss U When Ur Gone, The Breakdown, Pretzelbodylogic, FallInLove2Nite, Funk N Roll, Da Bourgeoise, Groovy Potential, Extraloveable Reloaded, Same Page Different Book...

People act like he didn't release any of those things. What? Because he didn't compile them into a set under an album name?

Even post 20Ten you had Rich Friends, Hot Summer, the extended version of Laydown.

And what about all the rehearsals? Dance Electric, The Sweeter She Is, Big City, Plectrum Electrum, Something In The Water, So Dark, Cause & Effect, Menstrual Cycle, Octopus Heart, Moon Drop.....

So you can miss me with that "All we got in the last four years was 20Ten"...... are you for real?

It seems a tad disingenuous to compare live streams to a proper release, after all you could only ever hear them once, and that's only if you tuned in at the right time. Unless of course you were willing to find unofficial sources off the internet which recorded them, but that's obviously naughty. Also, FunknRoll has still not officially been released, so it doesn't belong in your top list.

I would say either 1997-2001 or 2001-2005, I wrote a post a while back on this (about 1997-2006 being a low decade), would link it but the links on this site don't seem to work (STILL!).

Luckily it seems things have picked up a lot since and he seems to be on good form now, just need Plectrum Electrum out there!

[Edited 5/28/14 3:47am]

TheFreakerFantastic said:

I would say either 1997-2001 or 2001-2005, I wrote a post a while back on this (about 1997-2006 being a low decade), would link it but the links on this site don't seem to work (STILL!).

Luckily it seems things have picked up a lot since and he seems to be on good form now, just need Plectrum Electrum out there!

[Edited 5/28/14 3:47am]

I think this is when Empancipation and Rave came out ? That was a low for me. Basically it was when he was with Mayte (married) something happened to his music... it took a turn for the worse - IMO.

Rainbow Children - on record I was like WTF but after the tour... WOW.

These years aren't bad as we have been treated to so many shows. Problem with Prince is that he just ... on record I don't know what happens to the man these days. LIVE is where it is at these days.

RaspBerryGirlFriend said:

Militant said:

Prince has released far more than an album's worth of material in the last 2 years. We've had Rock & Roll Love Affair, Screwdriver, Screwdriver Remix, Breakfast Can Wait, The Breakfast Experience, Live Out Loud, Fix Ur Life Up, Boyfriend, That Girl Thang, Ain't Gonna Miss U When Ur Gone, The Breakdown, Pretzelbodylogic, FallInLove2Nite, Funk N Roll, Da Bourgeoise, Groovy Potential, Extraloveable Reloaded, Same Page Different Book...

People act like he didn't release any of those things. What? Because he didn't compile them into a set under an album name?

Even post 20Ten you had Rich Friends, Hot Summer, the extended version of Laydown.

And what about all the rehearsals? Dance Electric, The Sweeter She Is, Big City, Plectrum Electrum, Something In The Water, So Dark, Cause & Effect, Menstrual Cycle, Octopus Heart, Moon Drop.....

So you can miss me with that "All we got in the last four years was 20Ten"...... are you for real?

It seems a tad disingenuous to compare live streams to a proper release, after all you could only ever hear them once, and that's only if you tuned in at the right time. Unless of course you were willing to find unofficial sources off the internet which recorded them, but that's obviously naughty. Also, FunknRoll has still not officially been released, so it doesn't belong in your top list.

There's a circulating radio rip of the studio version of Funk n Roll.

Official release or not, we've heard it. Half the people on this site didn't officially buy 20TEN because it wasn't released outside of Europe, so what's the difference? Prince wanted us to hear it, so he sent it to radio.

Even if you don't include the live streams, there's still almost 2 albums worth of material in the last 18-24 months.

I can see where you are coming from in terms of not releasing albums, but in terms of the direction of music e.g. 3rdeyegirl I like where it could lead. I like screwdriver, pretzel and fixurlife (not so keen on the breakdown). The two shows i attended this year were the best since 1995.

In addition we have the promise (!) of WB releases over the next so many years. (We shall see on that front.)

I cannot agree with regards to 1990-1994 being a poor period! This is one of his most prolific periods where quantity met quality!!

This four year period included the orginal versions of come, gold, the undertaker, exodus and the many unreasled tracks, some later to resurface on CB.

IMO the worst four year period would be 1996/7 to 2000/1. From Emancipation to prior to TRC.

strawberrybubblegum said:

TheFreakerFantastic said:

I would say either 1997-2001 or 2001-2005, I wrote a post a while back on this (about 1997-2006 being a low decade), would link it but the links on this site don't seem to work (STILL!).

Luckily it seems things have picked up a lot since and he seems to be on good form now, just need Plectrum Electrum out there!

[Edited 5/28/14 3:47am]

I think this is when Empancipation and Rave came out ? That was a low for me. Basically it was when he was with Mayte (married) something happened to his music... it took a turn for the worse - IMO.

Rainbow Children - on record I was like WTF but after the tour... WOW.

These years aren't bad as we have been treated to so many shows. Problem with Prince is that he just ... on record I don't know what happens to the man these days. LIVE is where it is at these days.

It was when NPS, Rave, TRC came out!

I don't include Emancipation because I loved that album, despite the sometimes 'plasticy' production.

bigd74 said:

Ppenguin said:

bigd74 said:

Chaos (which I like) Emancipation, New Power Soul, Crystal Ball, Rave Average at best

Forgot about Emancipation...New PowerSoul was the beginning of the big slide for me. Perhaps I've just blanked out those years

yeah thanks for reminding me of that pile of turd freakerfan and ppenguin Also think i blanked out those years. When people say they got into him after listening to Rave and what not I truely am shocked.

I've been a fan since late 2004 (so missed the big musicology boom)

I kind of agree to a certain degree with this post but looking at the years since being a fan I really can't complain.

Here's the way I see how it has been since being a fan:

2005 - Close to dead year
2006 - 3121 - TV APPEARANCES GALORE - VEGAS - NEW WEBSITE
2007 - PLANET EARTH - SUPERBOWL - 21 NIGHTS!
2008 - Another relatively dry year but COACHELLA & 21 NIGHTS BOOK
2009 - LOTUSFLOW3R & MPLS - TV APPEARANCES (leno) - MONTREUX/PARIS - L.A. 3 shows
2010 - 20TEN, EURO TOUR, W2A TOUR
2011 - W2A TOUR (cont) , TV APPEARANCE (Lopez), W2A (EUROPE)
2012 - W2A AUS, W2A Canada, Chicago shows, iHeart TV appearance
2013 - RnR affair, NEW BAND 3rdeyegirl + songs, WEST COAST TOUR, Billboard (No album )
2014 - London shows, Hit & Run II, Paisley park shows, Arsenio TV appearance, WB announcement


The way I see it my favourite years since being a fan have been: - 06,07,10,14

That might just be because I've got to see him those years (although did see him in '11 twice) but also because there has been this great sense of hype about something he is doing, but you cannot deny that he hasn't been active for 90% of it

strawberrybubblegum said:

Ppenguin said:

bigd74 said: Forgot about Emancipation...New PowerSoul was the beginning of the big slide for me. Perhaps I've just blanked out those years

yeah thanks for reminding me of that pile of turd freakerfan and ppenguin Also think i blanked out those years. When people say they got into him after listening to Rave and what not I truely am shocked.

Who says that!!!!???

I think you have to include Emancipation, it wasn't all bad but in the main a major disappointment following on from 1993-early 1996.

So 1996/7 to 2000/1!

I've been a fan since 1992 and I can say that I've found the 2013-2014 a great time to be a fan

I've seen him 4 times this year already and they are some of the best shows I've seen him do.

I'm loving the albums worth of music that's been released... We've even had a maxi single

I've loved the tons of streamed video footage and audio on youtube livestream and vimeo

He's been tweeting and posting pic on Instagram

There was a website that wasn't subscription service just pay per download. He released demo's live tracks and rehearsals...

There are some people that won't be happy untill they've got Remasters and the contents of 80's bootlegs released in a deluxe package and it looks likethey are going to get some of what they want by the end of the year.

Myself I of course have a wishlist but i'm more than happy to get new songs and videos on itunes/youtube whatever

Loved this last year and a half

Llanishenlad said:

From my point of view, 2013 and 2014 have been rollercoastingly exciting for Prince fans.

For one thing: a complete re-invention of his look / sound / set-up / purpose-in life. Recent concerts rank among his most exciting in decades.

Just no album - but once you get over that, there was so much!

I agree with the Orig poster, when it comes to the studio music:

Imho it has been a long down hill decline since Prince left Warner Bros and since The Gold Experience in 1995.

The recent music releases 2012-2014 is garbage. From RnR LA to The Breakdown. And songs in between.

It's a pain to be a Prince fan,


BUT I am so much looking forward to the re-releases. Purple Rain is gonna be great, I hope....

Militant said:

RaspBerryGirlFriend said:

It seems a tad disingenuous to compare live streams to a proper release, after all you could only ever hear them once, and that's only if you tuned in at the right time. Unless of course you were willing to find unofficial sources off the internet which recorded them, but that's obviously naughty. Also, FunknRoll has still not officially been released, so it doesn't belong in your top list.

There's a circulating radio rip of the studio version of Funk n Roll.

Official release or not, we've heard it. Half the people on this site didn't officially buy 20TEN because it wasn't released outside of Europe, so what's the difference? Prince wanted us to hear it, so he sent it to radio.

Even if you don't include the live streams, there's still almost 2 albums worth of material in the last 18-24 months.

If Prince wants us to hear Funk n Roll, I think a better method of doing so would be the "put it on iTunes for 99p" method, instead of the "play it once on a radio station that only people in America listening at a specific time would be able to hear, forcing everybody else who wants to hear it to scour the dark corners of the internet in order to hear a very bad quality version, a task made infinitely harder by the forced removal of a number of bootleg blogs a few months ago" method. But I'm kinda weird like that.

In the main however, I do think you're basically correct, we have got a large amount of material over the past year, I think people's problem comes with it being released in dribs and drabs, rather than a single album of decent length to get one's teeth around. I think that would somehow feel more substantial, even if a similar or even higher amount of material has been released as individual songs.

Man....u gotta love this place....