independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > The Symbol Album Is So Cringe.
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Page 1 of 3 123>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 11/06/14 5:49pm

Gunsnhalen

The Symbol Album Is So Cringe.

I used to love the hell out of this album. Then i realized how immature and silly half of it is. I used to now mind Prince in his hip-hop phase. And i still don't mind some of his hip-hop songs. But got damn! prince was like what 34? when this album came out. Talks about having a midlife crisis.

The use of the n word on the album by him is silly. And sounds like he's trying way too hard. Prince obviously wanted to be in the in crowd. I think Prnce chased trends a lot in the 80's. But he was so damn good at making it his own unique thing.

Dirty Mind & Controversy for example. Sounded like a mix of 70s funk. With 80's New Wave (Blondie, The Police, Elvis Costello), late 70's punk. And i hear a lot of Talking Heads Remain In Light & Peter Gabriel's melt too. It sounds like he heard all those artists. And made his own unique thing with it.

The symbol album doesn't sound unique at all. It sounds like princey chasing trends to be hip. And by 1992 his sexual prowness was a little off base too.

There are still some great tracks on it (7, Blue Light, 3 Chains O Gold, Morning Papers, Love 2 the 9's) but it's like i can finally understand. Why so many of you dislike his early 90's output lol

Pistols sounded like "Fuck off," wheras The Clash sounded like "Fuck Off, but here's why.."- Thedigitialgardener

All music is shit music and no music is real- gunsnhalen

Datdonkeydick- Asherfierce

Gary Hunts Album Isn't That Good- Soulalive
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 11/06/14 5:54pm

Graycap23

avatar

I dig the project....even now.

FOOLS multiply when WISE Men & Women are silent.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 11/06/14 6:28pm

skywalker

avatar

Gunsnhalen said:

I used to love the hell out of this album. Then i realized how immature and silly half of it is. I used to now mind Prince in his hip-hop phase. And i still don't mind some of his hip-hop songs. But got damn! prince was like what 34? when this album came out. Talks about having a midlife crisis.

I disagree with your assessment of the album. Also, 34 is too old for what? What do you make of Prince rapping on Art Official Age in his mid 50's?


The use of the n word on the album by him is silly. And sounds like he's trying way too hard. Prince obviously wanted to be in the in crowd. I think Prnce chased trends a lot in the 80's. But he was so damn good at making it his own unique thing.

Prince had used the "n word" waaaaay before this album.

-

I agree that Prince chased trends in the 80's....a lot of people don't see it that way, but he definitely used what was current and hip and made it his own thing. I think that prince is a continuation of this formula. The difference is that early 90's rap/hip hop was more bold and in your face than any other style he had ever put into his purple mix. Taking/using elements of Costello, Blondie, etc is a lot more subtle than using elements of early 90's rap. I mean, there was nothing subtle about rap at that time, so it stood out more when Prince played with it.



Dirty Mind & Controversy for example. Sounded like a mix of 70s funk. With 80's New Wave (Blondie, The Police, Elvis Costello), late 70's punk. And i hear a lot of Talking Heads Remain In Light & Peter Gabriel's melt too. It sounds like he heard all those artists. And made his own unique thing with it.

The symbol album doesn't sound unique at all.

This is where I disagree with you the most. In 1992, NOTHING sounded like the prince album and nothing sounds like it today.

-

Listen to that record from start to finish. No one is/was putting sounds like Sexy MF and The Max with sounds like 7 and 3 Chains O' Gold. No one could and no one would dare. That whole album is an extention of the sounds that Prince started with Diamonds and Pearls and a bridge to what he did later with Come and The Gold Experience. To me, the prince is unique as hell. The whole thing is totally Prince as he was in the early 90's for better or worse.

It sounds like princey chasing trends to be hip. And by 1992 his sexual prowness was a little off base too.

Sexual prowess was off? You ever see the video for The Continental?



There are still some great tracks on it (7, Blue Light, 3 Chains O Gold, Morning Papers, Love 2 the 9's) but it's like i can finally understand. Why so many of you dislike his early 90's output lol

Man, I get if people don't like his early 90's output. It was a departure from what the late 80's had been and definitely incorporated/acknowledged hip hop in a big way. That said, did Prince ever let go of rapping? Did he ever let go of taking new music trends and putting them in his purple mix?

-

Listen to Art Official Age and you have your answer....

[Edited 11/6/14 18:30pm]

"New Power slide...."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 11/06/14 7:10pm

trax

Sorry you feel that way. Its my favorite album and its the only Prince album I play pretty regularily. Peoples taste change through the years so it happens. No big deal

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 11/06/14 9:10pm

TrevorAyer

it's my guilty pleasure .. cant stand tony m but i still love this record .. i learned to play drums playing along to this tape over and over .. lots of good stuff on it ... his last great moments before the huge slide

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 11/06/14 9:15pm

warning2all

I agree with you completely- and have long thought there is a lot of immaturity in the lyrics on this album. That's not to say its a bad album. Its still sonically one of the best 90's albums.

He sounded more adult/intelligent on Parade/Sign/Lovesexy.

"Don't look now there's a river of blood" - like really? Stuff like that- but its the amount of bragging that is really immature. Far removed from "Way Back Home" introspection of today, but "Symbol" kicks AOA's ass musically speaking, and was a vast improvement on the previous years "Diamonds and Pearls" IMO.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 11/06/14 9:22pm

1725topp

skywalker said:

Gunsnhalen said:

I used to love the hell out of this album. Then i realized how immature and silly half of it is. I used to now mind Prince in his hip-hop phase. And i still don't mind some of his hip-hop songs. But got damn! prince was like what 34? when this album came out. Talks about having a midlife crisis.

I disagree with your assessment of the album. Also, 34 is too old for what? What do you make of Prince rapping on Art Official Age in his mid 50's?

Sexual prowess was off? You ever see the video for The Continental?



There are still some great tracks on it (7, Blue Light, 3 Chains O Gold, Morning Papers, Love 2 the 9's) but it's like i can finally understand. Why so many of you dislike his early 90's output lol

Man, I get if people don't like his early 90's output. It was a departure from what the late 80's had been and definitely incorporated/acknowledged hip hop in a big way. That said, did Prince ever let go of rapping? Did he ever let go of taking new music trends and putting them in his purple mix?

-

Listen to Art Official Age and you have your answer....

[Edited 11/6/14 18:30pm]

*

Well said, Skywalker...well said.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 11/06/14 9:36pm

SoulAlive

I love this album.The music throughout sounds lively and inspired.

Songs like "7","And God Created Woman","The Continental","Sexy MF" and "Love 2 The 9s" are classics,imo.

It's as if Prince thought that the previous album ('Diamonds And Pearls') was a little too "soft",and so on the follow-up,he really takes things to new levels lol

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 11/06/14 10:00pm

Askani

avatar

Yeah, there's way too much bullshit on this. From the "story line" to the segues to Arrogance, The Flow, The Max, I Wanna Melt With U (which I love), 3 Chains O' Gold, My Name Is Prince... it's just too much. It's too long. There's a really fantastic album in there somewhere, but he gilded the lilly.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 11/06/14 10:16pm

Bambi82

avatar

"Parts of the Symbol album are so cringe" would be a more accurate thread title. Morning Papers, 7, Blue Light, Damn U, Love 2 the 9's? No, this is definitely not an entirely cringeworthy effort!

Also, age has nothing to do with anything.

Everybody stop on the 1...GOOD GOD! Uhh!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 11/06/14 10:34pm

Rebeljuice

Awsome album. His last flawless effort before the rot started to set in.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 11/07/14 12:39am

feeluupp

The LAST real Prince album.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 11/07/14 12:47am

aiden

avatar

One of my absolute favourites
"Still Crazy 4 Coco Rock"
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 11/07/14 1:01am

jaawwnn

It's weird, it's the one massive fan album that I almost like nothing on. It's all so pompous and over-produced, agree totally with the first post. I realize that it's some peoples favourite and i'm cool with that, prince fans fall into all types, but man is it ever not for me.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 11/07/14 1:06am

funkaholic1972

avatar

Askani said:

Yeah, there's way too much bullshit on this. From the "story line" to the segues to Arrogance, The Flow, The Max, I Wanna Melt With U (which I love), 3 Chains O' Gold, My Name Is Prince... it's just too much. It's too long. There's a really fantastic album in there somewhere, but he gilded the lilly.

I have to agree with you here, there is some stellar material on this album but it is too long and dumbed down by the annoying segues/ story line and bad filler tunes.

I also agree with jaawwnn who says it is "pompous and overproduced". Still, the good songs on this album are fantastic!

RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time...
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 11/07/14 1:13am

BoraBora

I have a strange relationship with the Symbol album.

I can see the quality, I can see the skill, I can see why it is so appreciated from fans.

Even so, to my ears sounds "Too Much" in many ways.

Too long, too rich, too "bombastic" sometimes, too full.

There are many pearls in the box but also something weak (for example, probably I'm in a minority but to me "My Name Is Prince" is one of the most embarassing song and single from P).

I like it, but for my taste "Come" is a better P listening than "Symbol", to say.

Maybe less worked, maybe less rich... but more P.

JMO

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 11/07/14 1:31am

MoBettaBliss

sexy mf is an absolute classic to me... even if you don't really dig his vocals, musically it's off the chain

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 11/07/14 6:57am

TrevorAyer

MoBettaBliss said:

sexy mf is an absolute classic to me... even if you don't really dig his vocals, musically it's off the chain

and the horns on this and all over the album

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 11/07/14 6:57am

udo

avatar

You cringe.

So what does that say about you?

Pills and thrills and daffodils will kill... If you don't believe me or don't get it, I don't have time to try to convince you, sorry.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 11/07/14 7:06am

Empress

Cringe worthy?? WTF? It's an awesome album. I loved it then and love it now!! Who could do something like this other than Prince??
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 11/07/14 7:07am

thedance

avatar

Amazing album " prince ",


much better than most post-1995/post-Warner albums.. music

- imho... wink

Prince 4Ever. heart
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #21 posted 11/07/14 7:12am

MattyJam

avatar

I love the Symbol album. Granted, there's a few duds on there (MNIP, The Flow), but Sweet Baby and Damn U are two of his finest ballads and I loved how organic sounding the NPG were on this record, with all the hammond organs and Levi's jazzy guitar licks.

The Morning Papers, 7, Sexy MF, Blue Light and even 3 Chains O Gold are also top drawer material.

Hell, I even dig Arrogance.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #22 posted 11/07/14 7:33am

thedoorkeeper

Wasn't too wild about D&P so I found this
a great follow up. Doesn't seem over produced
to me - it seems lush and rich. Edit out
a few duds and I find its a great collection
of songs.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #23 posted 11/07/14 8:04am

MendesCity

avatar

I think it's actually improved with age - at the time, I was put off by the lack of great singles, but now that I'm used to years with no hits from the man, I can hear it for its strengths: great playful energy and musicianship.

Jughead still sucks, though.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #24 posted 11/07/14 8:14am

thedance

avatar

MendesCity said:

the lack of great singles, >> what.... question eek fantastic singles imho... music



Jughead still sucks, though.>> That is not this album prince its on: D&P.. razz

Prince 4Ever. heart
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #25 posted 11/07/14 9:42am

KingSausage

avatar

I love the fuck out oft his album. Only Prince could make an album like this, warts and all. I would love for him to sound this good again.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #26 posted 11/07/14 9:47am

Empress

KingSausage said:I love the fuck out oft his album. Only Prince could make an album like this, warts and all. I would love for him to sound this good again. Totally agree!!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #27 posted 11/07/14 9:53am

peedub

avatar

this album's got some of my favorite individual tracks, but i rarely (if ever) listen to it start to finish anymore.

i dislike it solely for the fact that it's got those damn segues, the introduction of which i think is the bane of too many subsequent albums. but honestly, the segues make it a more cohesive album.

you got a sense of the man trying to provide artificial cohesion on the diamonds and pearls artwork (stringing the song titles into a sort of rap), but he finally went all the way with this one. he's since ruined a couple of great albums with npg operators and skits and various bs.

strangely, though, the segues on art official age kind of work....took a long time, though.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #28 posted 11/07/14 10:17am

treehouse

I think it's the first album where his fans were more sophisticated than him about the genres he was trying to work in. Referencing Gary Numan, Sly Stone, George Benson...these felt more like cultural references that he could create original ideas from....even James Brown was just getting played out and people were recognizing samples, because his audience was a few steps ahead of him thanks to radio and CD reissues ...so there's absolutely nothing avant garde or edgy about the record.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #29 posted 11/07/14 10:31am

lostangel078

avatar

My least favorite Era of P's career - early 90's. Hip Hop isn't a natural fit for him.

He's a master of every musical artform with the exception of hip hop, which is fine. since he wasn't raised listening to HipHop it makes sense. It's the only "musical" form he listened to as an outsider, and tried to fit in. In something as grassroots and organic as 80's and early 90's hip hop, it just doesn't work that way.

The NON HipHop sounding ballads from this album are nice.


But he's still the baddest MuthaFucka to ever do music In My Opinion - ever.

[Edited 11/7/14 12:24pm]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Page 1 of 3 123>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > The Symbol Album Is So Cringe.