I am shocked at all the negative feelings about this album

Seriously,how can a Prince fan dislike an album that contains great songs like "Eye Hate U","Billy Jack Bitch","319","Shhhh","Now",and the title track?! Those are strong,powerful,inspired songs!!!

"Eye Hate U" is one of the BEST songs that Prince has ever done!

SoulAlive said:

I am shocked at all the negative feelings about this album

Seriously,how can a Prince fan dislike an album that contains great songs like "Eye Hate U","Billy Jack Bitch","319","Shhhh","Now",and the title track?! Those are strong,powerful,inspired songs!!!

"Eye Hate U" is one of the BEST songs that Prince has ever done!

Well most peopel seem to like it but don't hail it as this masterpiece anymore. I think it's still fun and indeed, it contains, quite some nice songs and a coherent vibe. One of the major minus points must be that it hardly captures the energy and rawness of the live shows that were really great.

djThunderfunk said:

The Gold Experience is still awesome. I love this album and always have. Really great songs on here and very enjoyable to listen to still to this day. I think people are being too critical. This is a really strong album, it's just a shame it kind of came and went because of all the WB turmoil at the time.

The penultimate album in an astonishing run of form from 80-95. 15 years of brilliance. C&D which followed ended that run.

I think it has aged just fine too. The segues do seem a bit silly now, but they dont intefere at all really. And it sounds as over produced today as it did back then, but I like it. Its big, loud and in your face. Along with Exodus, Come and C&D the man was on fire with his big, angry beats, funk filled extravagnace, gut punching guitars and face eating bass! Its baffling that he then followed that sound with casio drum machines and plastic programming sprinkled with glitter and fairy dust. I think he tried to revive the sound briefly with NPS but missed the mark.

Im hoping that AOA is the start of an evolving sound and isnt just another one-off album before doing a complete 180. He went on a journey with the TRC sound for a while and he let it evolve before he abandoned it, Im hoping he will do the same with AOA. But we will never see the kind of evolution in sound littered with experiments, chances, left turns and bold ambition which started in 1980 and culminated in 1995 with TGE ever again. And it would be wrong for us to expect it. But it would be nice if he stuck with a sound and explored it for a little longer than one album. Since TRC he has taken a scatter gun approach to his albums - heres an album of real music by real musicians, heres an rnb album, heres a rock album, now you can have an album that covers all genres, heres a retro sounding album and now you get an album made with a computer and so on and so forth. Just a bit of continuity would be nice without expecting anything as insanely genius as what TGE book ended.

I think it's a calculated effort, but unlike several more recent examples, the results are exceptional. The segues are annoying, yes, but they're part of the "experience" & easily avoided. Gold has that same anthemic, it could-be-country quality that Purple Rain has, & there are many other aspects of the record that strongly suggest he was trying to replicate the success of Purple Rain for a new era. Perhaps if he'd toured off it in the U.S., it would have enjoyed a more lasting impact.

Dropping in status?? Really? Wtf....?

The Gold Experience is a 10/10 pop-funk-masterpiece.

Sign "O" The Times and Purple Rain, and actually all albums 1980 to 1988 (from Dirty Mind - incl Lovesexy) are also 10/10 masterpieces as well.

Impressive:

They are all just DIFFERENT..... still those are all true pop-funk-rock-soul "masterpieces":



The problem is what came after "The Gold Experience", those albums couldn't keep up...

Probably a combination of things, but a lot of newer fans who don't have an emotional connection to that time period could be one factor. Another could be that it's been 20 years(!) since TGE, and although for a long time it was a strong contender for best post-80s album, there's been a lot of other contenders for that title in the past two decades.

^ I really like reading your posts NouveauDance, you are clever, most of the time you are so spot on. Thanks.

mushmackalenta said:

if you take the other songs from this time period you can make yet another amazing album.

Interactive
da bang
Calhoun Square
What's my name
Days of wild
Funky design
mad
Love sign
Acknowledge me
Ripopgodazippa
Hide the bone
Strays of the world

^ That would indeed make an excellent album!!

I agree, with you Mushmack........

NouveauDance said:

Probably a combination of things, but a lot of newer fans who don't have an emotional connection to that time period could be one factor. Another could be that it's been 20 years(!) since TGE, and although for a long time it was a strong contender for best post-80s album, there's been a lot of other contenders for that title in the past two decades.

True.

Maybe I can clear things up a bit.....

Although personally, my favourite post 80s album is hands down. And the only ones that could possibly usurp TGE as the best album since would be AOA and TRC. However, TGE is not the 2nd best album of the 90s, that would go to GB. But TGE is definately the best album by TAFKAP, but this may not be the case if AOA or TRC were made by TAFKAP as opposed to Prince. However, AOA and TRC are not better than GB but are much better than D&P, with D&P coming in possibly 4th in terms of his 90s output. In 3rd place I would have to say its a tie between Come and C&D, both of which I think are inferior to AOA and TRC. So when all is said and done, TGE still maintains its status as one of the best albums of the 90s with not too many post 80s albums bettering it, barring a few exceptional examples. I hope that helps.

Rebeljuice said:

NouveauDance said:

Probably a combination of things, but a lot of newer fans who don't have an emotional connection to that time period could be one factor. Another could be that it's been 20 years(!) since TGE, and although for a long time it was a strong contender for best post-80s album, there's been a lot of other contenders for that title in the past two decades.

True.

Maybe I can clear things up a bit.....

Although personally, my favourite post 80s album is hands down. And the only ones that could possibly usurp TGE as the best album since would be AOA and TRC. However, TGE is not the 2nd best album of the 90s, that would go to GB. But TGE is definately the best album by TAFKAP, but this may not be the case if AOA or TRC were made by TAFKAP as opposed to Prince. However, AOA and TRC are not better than GB but are much better than D&P, with D&P coming in possibly 4th in terms of his 90s output. In 3rd place I would have to say its a tie between Come and C&D, both of which I think are inferior to AOA and TRC. So when all is said and done, TGE still maintains its status as one of the best albums of the 90s with not too many post 80s albums bettering it, barring a few exceptional examples. I hope that helps.

Complicated, but accurate.

TrevorAyer said:

The lyrics are awful The rapping is even worse The drum programming / beats are boring and played out A shitty record intended to put a nail in his wb career and did just that The gold record was all glitter and No gold Intentionally!!! This is why come chaos and vaultALL hold up better

You must be listening to a different album than I am.

if we can get the 17 track configuration ..all hate would decease

TrevorAyer said:

The lyrics are awful The rapping is even worse The drum programming / beats are boring and played out A shitty record intended to put a nail in his wb career and did just that The gold record was all glitter and No gold Intentionally!!! This is why come chaos and vaultALL hold up better

Agreed

TGE is a classic album. Maybe you had to "be there" to truly appreciate it, maybe not. Any retroactive hate towards it doesn't diminish my appreciation for both the album and era.

I'm actually less surprised by the disrespect for TGE than I am by the all out slobbery dick-sucking of the Symbol album, as if it doesn't have the tragic Tony M. turding all over perfectly good songs (except for The Flow, which is a turd with or without him, and also Arrogance, which is a fucking waste.)

Maybe TGE doesn't have a "7" on it, but at least you don't have to wade through/forgive some no-talent blowhard's amateur ramblings to actually enjoy the album. An album I do enjoy despite that desecrating "Deacon."

SoulAlive said:

"Eye Hate U" is one of the BEST songs that Prince has ever done!

The over-the-top big hall production/arrangements of "Eye Hate U" always reminded me of :



which came years before (1989).

Even the composition bears resemblance (the quiet verses, the two big slammed chords on the chorus).

KingSausage said:

Lately on the Org I've see any people post negative things about TGE. Others are still positive,

.

Don't believe the hype.

It's all in your minds.

TGE didn't change.

Perhaps you did.

My opinion of hasnt changed much. I like the confidence it has in itself. Yeah by 95 Prince was already considered a has-been (way too soon) but he didnt care and came out guns ablazing with a new sound and new look.

As usual, it his execution that killed it. The whole "free the Gold album" thing was tiresome. Lots of leaks weakened the thrill of the day of release. The whole independent release of TMBGITW thing was a distraction (but still a solid track on the album and his last real hit).

PControl is a jarring introduction, everyone hates the keys in Endorphenmachine (but would have I noticed if I didnt hear the live version on VH1 first?), it was a mistake to not include Interactive and I didnt care for BJB (too new jack for me) but otherwise its a sold and cohesive REAL album that sounds like it was all written and recorded (albeit too LOUD) around the same time.

[Edited 5/5/15 8:46am]

actually you do have to wade through amature crap on tge .. prince trying rap and new jack is very amature is all very amature level .. espcially crap like "now"

on a positive note ...

i really think billy jack bitch could have been one of prince really great songs .. had he not taken a giant crap all over the tune by saying "bitch" 623 times all over it ..

would sound great acoustic without any mention of the words "billy jack bitch" on it .. but its too much to think prince could have a clue and make this song great .. no .. instead he just ruins it trying to sound cooler than he is .. what a chump

emesem said:

My opinion of hasnt changed much. I like the confidence it has in itself. Yeah by 95 Prince was already considered a has-been (way too soon) but he didnt care and came out guns ablazing with a new sound and new look.

As usual, it his execution that killed it. The whole "free the Gold album" thing was tiresome. Lots of leaks weakened the thrill of the day of release. The whole independent release of TMBGITW thing was a distraction (but still a solid track on the album and his last real hit).

PControl is a jarring introduction, everyone hates the keys in Endorphenmachine (but would have I noticed if I didnt hear the live version on VH1 first?), it was a mistake to not include Interactive and I didnt care for BJB (too new jack for me) but otherwise its a sold and cohesive REAL album that sounds like it was all written and recorded (albeit too LOUD) around the same time.

[Edited 5/5/15 8:46am]

Prince "returned" with a new sound and new look...which happened to be a purple rendering of the nonsense that had taken over radio in the past 5-10 years. THIS IS THE PROBLEM. Sure, there are some dynamite moments on TGE (and the other albums released after 1989), but once the man stopped SETTING trends and started FOLLOWING them... Maybe its just me, but having lived thru the Rude Boy Era...gangsta glam and whatever else he pulled PALED in comparison. The talent was always there, but to rank any of these crappy 90s/00s albums with the "Glory Years" is ridiculous IMO. He was (and still is) a shell of his former self. Take "Billy Jack Bitch" for example. Awesome beat, cool groove...absolutely ruined by the sample of someone yelling "BITCH!" in the background. That's not Prince. That's the garbage that led to the garbage that rules the charts now. I could name other songs that followed on other albums, more nonsense where Prince tried to remain "hip" (remember when he was hip because there was no one else like him?), but I'll just leave it at that.

[Edited 5/5/15 9:46am]

TrevorAyer said:

actually you do have to wade through amature crap on tge .. prince trying rap and new jack is very amature is all very amature level .. espcially crap like "now"

I keep seeing "new jack" mentioned. What on TGE is "new jack?" I'd give you "Acknowledge Me" but it's not on the record.

in many ways,TGE is sorta like the "Purple Rain" of the 90s...

Both albums are very "loud" with lots of guitar throughout.

"Eye Hate U" and "The Beautiful Ones"-----strong,passionate ballads that get more and more intense as the song progresses

The song "Gold" has been labeled as a 90s "Purple Rain"

"319" doesn't sound like the Purple Rain material,but it's sorta like the "Kiss" of the 90s,dontcha think?

SoulAlive said:

in many ways,TGE is sorta like the "Purple Rain" of the 90s...

Both albums are very "loud" with lots of guitar throughout.

"Eye Hate U" and "The Beautiful Ones"-----strong,passionate ballads that get more and more intense as the song progresses

The song "Gold" has been labeled as a 90s "Purple Rain"

"319" doesn't sound like the Purple Rain material,but it's sorta like the "Kiss" of the 90s,dontcha think?

Yes!

SchlomoThaHomo said:

TrevorAyer said:

actually you do have to wade through amature crap on tge .. prince trying rap and new jack is very amature is all very amature level .. espcially crap like "now"

I keep seeing "new jack" mentioned. What on TGE is "new jack?" I'd give you "Acknowledge Me" but it's not on the record.

I think Billy Jack Bitch has a heavy new jack sound but that the only one.

"Billy Jack Bitch" doesn't sound anything like New Jack swing

I'm pretty sure "We March" is the only song that is New Jack Swing. I think it could also be argued that it's a fusion of Sly and the Family Stone and hip hop, but the fusion just ends up sounding like New Jack Swing.