Prince's most underrated album, if you ask me. When it came out, Rolling Stone said something like, "Prince covers more ground in the first four songs than most artists do in their entire careers." I think the album got overlooked and maybe suffered from being attached to the movie, but nevertheless, it's easily one of Prince's best albums. Anyone agree (or disagree)?

I think Graffiti Bridge is Prince's most soulful 90's album. The passion brewing in Prince's spirit creates a palpable sense of darkness and funk. A true masterpiece...

Anji said:

hehe hawww "passion brewing"..."palpable sense of.."

rdhull said:

Don't laugh, this is my duty.

Anji said:

lol I know that "palpable" stuff

Anji said:

Thanks, Anji. I think what you said was spot on.

It has some classic songs, but i don't care for the non-Prince lead vocal tracks... had those been trimmed, and had another song or 2 been added... GB would be right up there w/ my fave P albums.

I think it might be seen as a Prince classic if it had had more, and different singles and if the assosciated artist tracks had appeared on their own albums. It's definitely worthy of his best work if you consider the 10 Prince tracks. Not that the other songs are bad. They just distract from the overall effect.

Personally, I think that ATWIAD and Lovesexy are the most underrated.

TRON said:

I think the associated artists add to the overall effect. Where else have we got a classic Prince album that truly incorporates his musical vision through both himself and those he respects?

Personally, I think Lovesexy is his most overrated record amongst the hardcore (and deservedly so).

I know I am probably the only one that thinks like this, it's cool...

TRON said:

Too many cooks in the kitchen...

I love Graffity Bridge, even though it contains horrid things like Melody Cool, Round And ROund and the title track.

But the Time tracks and the Prince tracks are jewels!

Release it.
The Question Of U.

The album has a few minor glitches though.

First and formost; WHY THE HELL DID HE FUCK UP THE ORIGINAL INTRO OF JOY IN REPETITION???
The original intro I used to have on tape, don't have it now, but I can still play it in my mind, where it resounds with certain power.
The lonely computer beat was a way better intro to the union he finds later on in the song.

And of course the version of We Can Funk is way weaker than the one he did with The Revolution.

ANd then not to release Soul Psychodelicide with all them lines of songs from Graffity Bridge is stupid. It woudl have tied in with Joy In Repetition.




Oh. And the film SUCKS.
Big time.

I dig this piece though I thnk it lacks some "sound coherence" it just doesn'"t really sounds like one album but more like compilation but anyway in it you can find some of his most efficient work...

klaatu said:

I think it just lacked focus. Probably due to the film. There are some astounding trax on it... Question Of U, We Can Funk, Joy In Repetition (although he has messed up the beginning of it), Release It and Thieves In The Temple is awesome!

But can Graffiti Bridge, Melody Cool, The Latest Fashion are very weak IMHO.

The title track is just so sugary sweet and makes me wanna barf

I rememeber it being the first Prince Album (Batman aside due to its commercial attatchments) that actually had fans worried about quality. Whereas everything b4 was just gettin' better... IMHO.

Efan said:

Yes, I dig this album Efan. Yearning (Dear Dad...), hopeful (Graffiti Bridge), powerful (Melody Cool), outtanowheregenius (Joy In Repetition) among the other songs.

In fact, imho, it's a bit like life atm, and it's a bit like the Paisley Park Paragon's other albums that I have heard

peace

Efan said:

Totally agree! I was just listening to it this evening! Playing along to some of the songs!

I love Elephants and Flowers! One of my alltime favorites. The Latest Fashion is great too. And I personally like the whimsical feel of the title song.

Yes, that's somthing that stands out and I remember everytime I listen to it, what Rolling Stone said.

And if you haven't noticed that was the last time Prince had Sheila E. in a Prince related record.

I also feel that this is the last great 80's (although released in 90) Prince albums. After that it was just glossy, rapping, new band name, yuckiness.

I think he should of went with what he had. I know. We can start discussing should of's but, I think after Graffiti Bridge he should of released a greatest hits, then BAM! A live record and THEN a fabulous ROCK guitar album!

No effing RAPPING or Hip Hop!

Just solidified himself as a guitar god! Then a few real FUNK albums. Then the Rainbow Children and this more classy jazz Prince we have now.

But I don't want to steer the discussion from it's original intent. These were my thoughts on the album from tonights listening session.

It's an overlooked gem which I hope WB doesn't delete. People will be missing a lot.

I've also alway felt that Graffiti Bridge as a greatest UNRELEASED songs album.

Elephants and Flowers from Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic.

Joy In Repetition from Crystal Ball.

Can't Stop This Feeling I Got from The Dream Factory.

Tick Tick Bang from Controversy.

The Question Of U from the Around The World In A Day era.

Release it from the unreleased The Time album from 89.




ooo
[This message was edited Thu Mar 27 4:17:45 PST 2003 by FlyingCloudPassenger]

Graffiti Bridge is…

Fondue. I can’t wait to devour certain offerings, others I’m hoping fall off the fork and get buried in the “poor goo”.

Maddeningly inconsistent, yet strangely capable of maintaining a welcoming and soulful spirit throughout.

A showcase for the worst of The Time.

A showcase for the worst of Mavis Staples.

Blessed by the inclusion of “Elephants and Flowers”, not only one of Prince’s most underrated wonders, but an honest advertising slogan for the quality range found within.

Soiled by something called “Shake!” that only makes me quiver for sounding like a bastardized, turned-inside-out, then-ironed version of “U Gotta Shake Something”, one of Prince’s greatest unreleased tracks.

Testing positive due to the Prince/Clinton-pee cocktail, regardless of whether it’s as potent as previous concoctions.

Anchored by at least three songs that will be a part of the regular play list 100 years from now when Prince is honored in concerts throughout the world: The Question of U, Joy In Repetition, Thieves In the Temple.

Littered with tracks such as “Round and Round” and the title track that make me wonder if Prince has any capacity for left-brained thinking.

Capable of outlasting the Mystery Science Theater 3000 spoof of the film that mercifully hasn’t even taken place yet.

My friend. But it doesn't return any of my phone calls.


--
[This message was edited Thu Mar 27 10:08:20 PST 2003 by Brendan]

Prince said himself "...it's just a soundtrack album". There are probably more featured artists than on any other Prince release (if you don't count Clare Fischer's orchestra), so it's still pretty good IMO.

then&Now it seemed like Prince's Wanna-Be Take on Quincy Jones's "Back on The Block".it doesn't work for Prince to have Albums like this.He tried it again on "Rave"&it didn't work there either.

Efan said:

I’m laughing my ass off.
That’s so true and so beautifully put.
It's nice album. Very commercial in my opinion!
Shame it wasn’t more popular.

Commercial trax:
Can’t stop this feeling I got
NPG
Thieves in the temple

Works of art:
Elephants and flowers
We can funk
Joy in repetition
Tick tick bang
Melody cool
Sill would stand all time.
[This message was edited Thu Mar 27 11:18:30 PST 2003 by CAMILLE4U]

Efan said:

It was the beginning of the end for him.

Everytime I hear that awful "sword-swishing" sample in New Power Generation, I shudder. Bbbrrr...

It was the start of his everything-plus-the-kitchen-sink production motif which prevailed throughout most of the 90s. Obviously, there were a few good songs - some old and some new but most of it was filler.

I cried when I first sat down to listen to this album after rushing out to buy it. I'd never been so disappointed in my life...

It just sounded like horrible American pop - like Paula Abdul or something.

He wouldn't release another good album after Batman until Newpower Soul. He still hasn't released a great album since Lovesexy.

I would rather listen to ELO & Olivia Newton John do a 30 minute rendition of Xanadu than listen to Graffiti Bridge...

WatchThemFall said:

Elvis Died On The Toilet

'dre

NEAR the toilet Dre, don't start me on Elvis... Head back to the King-Hating cave from which you've come from!

'GB' has it's moments but overall,it's not a very interesting or cohesive album.Too often,a really good song ("Can't Stop this Feeling I Got") is followed by a weak,forgettable track ("New Power Generation").When listening to this album,you keep waiting and waiting for the big song that's gonna just knock you out,but there's no such song anywhere on the album.


There are some bright spots ("Thieves In The Temple" and "We Can funk" are top-notch songs),but to tell you the truth,I found 'Batman' to be a stronger,more exciting album.