I think MPLSound is highly under-rated. Much better than the inconsistent, overly labored and ballad-focused AOA. NP

Around the world in a day, had the bad luck to have 2 Epic albums sandwiched either side of it and it was not quite as epic. Still I love the musical colours here, Around the World in a day - that song must have a 25 minute instrumental version somewhere. Paisley Park is great too and Raspberry Beret and Pop Life presented a more accessible and poppy Prince than Purple Rain.

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Blame the era, all the bad publicity, critics expecting Purple Rain 2 and the gutter press freaking out over his bodyguards, size, obsession with Purple and preceived ponciness.

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Also Chaos and Disorder, all about timing, Prince was angry and he was apparently deliberately spitting duds at Warners like this, except its a solid rock and drums album. Only I Rock therefore I am is a filler, throw out the ragga dude and the rapper and cheesy lines and you have a decent album.

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On the other hand, Emancipation is weak, overdone and self indulgent, a few good songs and a lot of crappy filler. Of the two 1996 albums, Chaos is much better any day. I don't even listen to Emancipation now, but I do to Chaos a lot.