Hey Folks,

Have you all read (or have heard of) the new book, "New Position: The Prince Chronicles" by Critic Armond White?

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I have not read the book, but I do know that it is a collection of critical essays from throughout Mr. Armond White's over 30 year career as a journalist / critic and covers Prince's music, music videos and movies from Purple Rain to The Rainbow Children. On the following Amazon link, you can preview the book. http://amzn.to/2bSgm98

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NOTE: Mr. Armond White's career as a professional journalist / critic began in 1984, when he was the Arts Editor for Brooklyn-based Black newspaper, THE CITY SUN. I am most familiar with Armond White's insightful essays on Prince (as far as I know, they are included in this new book) that appeared in that newspaper, which folded in 1996. You HAVE to read his two seperate essays on both the Sign Of The Times album and the Sign Of The Times concert movie!!! Mr. White, who is from Detroit, has since gone on to write for the New York Press newspaper as well as other media outlets. He currently writes for National Review and OUT Magazine. His other books include: "Keep Moving: The Michael Jackson Chronicles" (which is also a collection of essays on Michael Jackson) and "Rebel For The Hell Of It: The Life of Tupac Shakur".

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I am not aware of an official website for Armond White, but he can be found on Twitter. His Twitter handle is https://twitter.com/3xchair

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I ask whether you all have read the book, because last week, I was at my local Shop-Rite supermarket and when I went to the section in the supermarket where magazines and books are held, I came across the 2011 book by a journalist / critic who I will not identify. All I will write is that that journalist also has books on Music Producer Dr. Dre, RUN-DMC, Death Row Records, Bad Boy Records / Sean "Puffy" Combs, as well as a book on Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and their role in the American comic book revolution. The Prince book by this writer was an edition that was updated with extra chapters to include the latest albums by Prince as well as his passing and I stopped to read a little of it. After reading the introduction, I was insulted and had to stop. The introduction of the book includes insult after insult of not only Prince, but fans or supporters of Prince's art. The author even insults this website and the community of supporters here. Reading that, I had to stop, put the book back and exited the supermarket.

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I figure that some of the members of this website will appreciate an alternative. That is, a book that isn't filled with gossip and heresay (though I know many have a taste for that kind of stuff), but an interpretation of Prince's music art and his many bold moves throughout his legendary music and multimedia career.

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I hope to buy and read "New Position: The Prince Chronicles" by Armond White soon. While I have read many of the essays in the book, I am curious to read his newer essays on Prince's music art, particularly his interpretation of Prince's unappreciated 2001 album, "The Rainbow Children", which I hadn't previously come across. If any of you here have read the new book, "New Position: The Prince Chronicles" by Mr. Armond White, what did you think of it?

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Push, Don't you let 'em pull you down

Push, 'til you get to higher ground

Push, you're never too young, you're never too old

Push, don't stop until you go

-- "Push" by Prince and The New Power Generation on the 1991 Diamonds and Pearls album

1duke said:

This sounds like it would be a good read. Thanks for the heads up. I appreciate a skilled journalistic review.

The other book you're referring to, are you talking about Ronin Ro's book? If so, I'd like to know what he said about the org.

Back in the day I enjoyed his book about Death Row Records, but haven't looked at his Prince book.

Will look for Armond's book - his Tupac book, "Rebel For The Hell Of It" was good.

laurarichardson said:

1duke said:

Hey Folks,

Have you all read (or have heard of) the new book, "New Position: The Prince Chronicles" by Critic Armond White?

-

I have not read the book, but I do know that it is a collection of critical essays from throughout Mr. Armond White's over 30 year career as a journalist / critic and covers Prince's music, music videos and movies from Purple Rain to The Rainbow Children. On the following Amazon link, you can preview the book. http://amzn.to/2bSgm98

-

NOTE: Mr. Armond White's career as a professional journalist / critic began in 1984, when he was the Arts Editor for Brooklyn-based Black newspaper, THE CITY SUN. I am most familiar with Armond White's insightful essays on Prince (as far as I know, they are included in this new book) that appeared in that newspaper, which folded in 1996. You HAVE to read his two seperate essays on both the Sign Of The Times album and the Sign Of The Times concert movie!!! Mr. White, who is from Detroit, has since gone on to write for the New York Press newspaper as well as other media outlets. He currently writes for National Review and OUT Magazine. His other books include: "Keep Moving: The Michael Jackson Chronicles" (which is also a collection of essays on Michael Jackson) and "Rebel For The Hell Of It: The Life of Tupac Shakur".

-

I am not aware of an official website for Armond White, but he can be found on Twitter. His Twitter handle is https://twitter.com/3xchair

-

I ask whether you all have read the book, because last week, I was at my local Shop-Rite supermarket and when I went to the section in the supermarket where magazines and books are held, I came across the 2011 book by a journalist / critic who I will not identify. All I will write is that that journalist also has books on Music Producer Dr. Dre, RUN-DMC, Death Row Records, Bad Boy Records / Sean "Puffy" Combs, as well as a book on Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and their role in the American comic book revolution. The Prince book by this writer was an edition that was updated with extra chapters to include the latest albums by Prince as well as his passing and I stopped to read a little of it. After reading the introduction, I was insulted and had to stop. The introduction of the book includes insult after insult of not only Prince, but fans or supporters of Prince's art. The author even insults this website and the community of supporters here. Reading that, I had to stop, put the book back and exited the supermarket.

-

I figure that some of the members of this website will appreciate an alternative. That is, a book that isn't filled with gossip and heresay (though I know many have a taste for that kind of stuff), but an interpretation of Prince's music art and his many bold moves throughout his legendary music and multimedia career.

-

I hope to buy and read "New Position: The Prince Chronicles" by Armond White soon. While I have read many of the essays in the book, I am curious to read his newer essays on Prince's music art, particularly his interpretation of Prince's unappreciated 2001 album, "The Rainbow Children", which I hadn't previously come across. If any of you here have read the new book, "New Position: The Prince Chronicles" by Mr. Armond White, what did you think of it?

-

Push, Don't you let 'em pull you down

Push, 'til you get to higher ground

Push, you're never too young, you're never too old

Push, don't stop until you go

-- "Push" by Prince and The New Power Generation on the 1991 Diamonds and Pearls album

-- There a lot of people putting out crap books about Prince after his death. I would always be interested in checking out an actual critic who had been following Prince along then some newbie idiot trying to cash in.

ya, unless dude just happened to be working on it, when michael died lots of people rushed out with books. When my hero hector camacho died, some moron was selling an e-book, even before hector was properly buried. takes time to do a good bio so it's probably a rush job to make cash.

Laurarichardson said

- There a lot of people putting out crap books about Prince after his death. I would always be interested in checking out an actual critic who had been following Prince along then some newbie idiot trying to cash in.

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1duke reply

-Right, laurarichardson. The crap books are depressing. While Prince certainly had critics who praised some of his art. Critic Armond White has a unique perspective on Prince well worth knowing. More importantly, most of the writing in Armond White's New Position: The Prince Chronicles book were published at around the time Prince's music work / multimedia work were released. That matters.

Again, for those who'd like to preview the book, you can click on the link and be taken to the Amazon profile for Armond White's new book, "New Position: The Prince Chronicles".

http://amzn.to/2bSgm98

Militant said:

The other book you're referring to, are you talking about Ronin Ro's book? If so, I'd like to know what he said about the org.

Back in the day I enjoyed his book about Death Row Records, but haven't looked at his Prince book.

Will look for Armond's book - his Tupac book, "Rebel For The Hell Of It" was good.

Hi Militant,

Yes, I was referring to that writer's 2011 book on Prince. I went food shopping today at my local supermarket and took another look at it. It appears I may have overreacted to his introduction chapter.

In essence, he writes that he's disinclined to being a Prince fan due to, among other things, "aging creeps on fansites", the way Prince dressed, his guitar playing being "weak" (other than on "Let's Go Crazy"), etc.

The writer didn't mention prince.org by name in the Introduction chapter, however, who else could he be referring to with that "aging creeps on fansites" remark?

The writer DOES, however, Thank this website as well as the Housequake website on the Acknowledgement page at the end of the book. So I guess that counts for something. I didn't see that until I took another look at the book today.

I remember skimming through the Death Row book at my local library a few years ago. It's probably worth revisiting. And finally, yes, Armond White's Tupac book IS good. I own two copies of it (the American version and the U.K. version). Although, I can understand Tupac fans not liking it as much since it is a tough look at Tupac's music and life.

Here's the link to the New Position: The Prince Chronicles book by Critic Armond White on Amazon. There, people can preview the book themselves. http://amzn.to/2bSgm98

Pgeishirt said:

This sounds like it would be a good read. Thanks for the heads up. I appreciate a skilled journalistic review.

You're welcome pgeishirt,

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The "New Position: The Prince Chronicles" is most likely a good read. I haven't read the book yet, but am familiar with many of the essays in it. I look forward to buying and reading it when I get the money. Here is the amazon link for those who would like to preview the book.

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http://amzn.to/2bSgm98

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Thanks. I just ordered it. Apparently it is not in digital at this point. I may give feedback here once I read it if it seems worthwhile.

gandorb said:

Thanks. I just ordered it. Apparently it is not in digital at this point. I may give feedback here once I read it if it seems worthwhile.

Cool, Gandorb!

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Hopefully you feel that the "New Position: The Prince Chronicles" book by Critic Armond White is worthwhile.

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1duke said:

Hey Folks,

Have you all read (or have heard of) the new book, "New Position: The Prince Chronicles" by Critic Armond White?

-

I have not read the book, but I do know that it is a collection of critical essays from throughout Mr. Armond White's over 30 year career as a journalist / critic and covers Prince's music, music videos and movies from Purple Rain to The Rainbow Children. On the following Amazon link, you can preview the book. http://amzn.to/2bSgm98

.

Looks like a handful of not that great pieces dating back mostly to the mid-1980s to early-1990s. Can't say the preview has got me interested in it, and his "about the author" is just preposterous. Oh, and here's how he promotes it on his Twitter account: "The only Prince book you'll ever need." What a load of bollocks.

.

Save your money for books that actually inform you instead of just present you with one critic's not very informed take on Prince.

did someone say that this author didn't like P's guitar playing? why do a book on someone you don't have a high regard on, unless he's trying to do a hack job. the best bios i've read are by people who have a great enthusiasm for their subject.

PeteSilas said:

did someone say that this author didn't like P's guitar playing? why do a book on someone you don't have a high regard on, unless he's trying to do a hack job. the best bios i've read are by people who have a great enthusiasm for their subject.

I was referring to the author of the 2011 (and recently updated this year) Prince book, PeteSilas. I was thinking the same thing, by the way. I understand being objective, but why bother using up all that energy writing a book about something you aren't enthusiastic about, UNLESS it's a big payday? As I wrote earlier, on Friday I went back to the supermarket to take another look at the book, and I may have overreacted initially upon taking another look at it.

Here is Critic Armond White being interviewed by Vinette K. Pryce and Imhotep Gary Byrd about his new book, "New Position: The Prince Chronicles" on FRIDAY, September 30th 2016.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukIoQs-xtC0

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A LOT is discussed in this short interview. What do you think of the interview?

[Edited 10/11/16 3:59am]

Is this the Armond White who writes ridiculous film criticism? I am a big movie geek who used to frequent IMDB.com and Armond White is a film critic who is notorious in those parts. He writes contrary opinions just for the sake of getting attention. This is the type of guy who states that that Ben Affleck is a better actor than Daniel Day-Lewis, that the Godfather Part II is a bad film and that Michael Bay films are masterpieces....all this so he can get attention.

If this is the same guy than I will not read a book compiled by him about someone as talented and respected as Prince. It will probably be all negative or contrarian.

purplerabbithole said:

Is this the Armond White who writes ridiculous film criticism? I am a big movie geek who used to frequent IMDB.com and Armond White is a film critic who is notorious in those parts. He writes contrary opinions just for the sake of getting attention. This is the type of guy who states that that Ben Affleck is a better actor than Daniel Day-Lewis, that the Godfather Part II is a bad film and that Michael Bay films are masterpieces....all this so he can get attention.

If this is the same guy than I will not read a book compiled by him about someone as talented and respected as Prince. It will probably be all negative or contrarian.

.

On the contrary, Armond White is an absolutely brilliant film journalist who happens to express many unpopular opinions.

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As with any critic, I don't personally agree with him all (or maybe even most) of the time - but he does what any great critic should: gets you thinking about the work being critiqued. If you're open-minded enough to do so, of course.

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In an age of memes and groupthink and wild proclamations about what is or is not great art or entertainment, White is boldly unafraid to go against the grain.

.

I didn't know he covered Prince over the years and I will definitely be getting his book. Even if it enrages me (as some of his movie reviews do). At least it should be interesting.

[Edited 10/18/16 11:56am]

BartVanHemelen said:

Save your money for books that actually inform you instead of just present you with one critic's not very informed take on Prince.

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One doesn't know if a given critic's take is well-informed (or not) until that person has read said take.

.

And some people actually like both - books the present objective information as well as books that provide thoughtful, intelligent analysis (analysis which is, yes, the subjective opinion of that author).

purplerabbithole said:

Is this the Armond White who writes ridiculous film criticism? I am a big movie geek who used to frequent IMDB.com and Armond White is a film critic who is notorious in those parts. He writes contrary opinions just for the sake of getting attention. This is the type of guy who states that that Ben Affleck is a better actor than Daniel Day-Lewis, that the Godfather Part II is a bad film and that Michael Bay films are masterpieces....all this so he can get attention.

If this is the same guy than I will not read a book compiled by him about someone as talented and respected as Prince. It will probably be all negative or contrarian.

-
-
When did Armond White write that Ben Affleck is a better actor than Daniel Day-Lewis? When did Armond White write that The Godfather Part II is a BAD film? And when did Critic Armond White write that Michael Bay films are masterpieces? Michael Bay does a particular thing well and as I recall, Armond White wrote about Bay's particular gifts as a filmmaker in some of his writing on Bay's Transformer movies as well as Michael Bay's Pain and Gain movie. But to dismiss Armond White's writing as contrarian is inaccurate and the citing of those particular references are irresponsible.

-
-
I have not read Armond White's New Position: The Prince Chronicles book yet but I am familiar with a lot of the essays on Prince featured in the Book. Those interested in the New Position: The Prince Chronicles book by Armond White can preview some of the book on the amazon website. Here is a link. http://amzn.to/2bSgm98

I read most of the book, but was not that impressed. Only a minority of the book is about his musical releases, as his videos and his movies get equal billing. Despite Purple Rain and some interesting videos, i always perceived prince's genius to be more in music than in the visual arts. He does lavish praise on almost all of the albums mentioned, sometimes surprisingly. The main angle he used throughout the reviews is how each release is connected to African American culture. While this angle interests me, I have found a few of the comments on Prince and race here on the org more enlightening than the points that the author makes. Despite my less than enthusiastic response, his essays are written with considerable thought and intellect. Moreover, it doesn't feel crass or exploitative, which is what I was worried about with a book released so soon after Prince's death.

I said "this is the type of guy who states...". Please read closer. I never said he specifically said those things. Trust me, I can appreciate the popcorn movie value of a Bay movie. White doesn't write about those movies being guilty pleasures. He was constantly bitched about by film fans. CONSTANTLY and not in the way that Rex Reed or Ebert or Roeper or Peter Travers were.

Here is some real reviews of his... (rotten tomatoes scores). These reviews, for me, are shocking.

Rotten:
Up,Star Trek,The Wrestler,Milk,Slumdog Millionaire,The Dark Knight
Iron Man,Hellboy II,Encounters At the End of the World,
Revolutionary Road,The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,Doubt,Gran Torino,The Reader,Vicky Cristina Barcelona,
Hunger,Gomorrah,The Class,Boy A,Paranoid Park,In Bruges,4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days,Cache A Christmas Tale,
There Will Be Blood,Sweeney Todd,I'm Not There,AmericanGangster,Zodiac,
Gone Baby Gone,Michael Clayton,Eastern Promises,3:10 to Yuma,
Knocked Up,Sugar,Frozen River

Fresh:
Terminator Salvation,Bedtime Stories,Transporter 3(WTF!),
What Happens in Vegas(WTF!!),
Never Back Down,War(WTF!!!),I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry,
The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer(WTF!!!!)

1duke said:

purplerabbithole said:

Is this the Armond White who writes ridiculous film criticism? I am a big movie geek who used to frequent IMDB.com and Armond White is a film critic who is notorious in those parts. He writes contrary opinions just for the sake of getting attention. This is the type of guy who states that that Ben Affleck is a better actor than Daniel Day-Lewis, that the Godfather Part II is a bad film and that Michael Bay films are masterpieces....all this so he can get attention.

If this is the same guy than I will not read a book compiled by him about someone as talented and respected as Prince. It will probably be all negative or contrarian.

-
-
When did Armond White write that Ben Affleck is a better actor than Daniel Day-Lewis? When did Armond White write that The Godfather Part II is a BAD film? And when did Critic Armond White write that Michael Bay films are masterpieces? Michael Bay does a particular thing well and as I recall, Armond White wrote about Bay's particular gifts as a filmmaker in some of his writing on Bay's Transformer movies as well as Michael Bay's Pain and Gain movie. But to dismiss Armond White's writing as contrarian is inaccurate and the citing of those particular references are irresponsible.

-
-
I have not read Armond White's New Position: The Prince Chronicles book yet but I am familiar with a lot of the essays on Prince featured in the Book. Those interested in the New Position: The Prince Chronicles book by Armond White can preview some of the book on the amazon website. Here is a link. http://amzn.to/2bSgm98

[Edited 10/18/16 22:01pm]

purplerabbithole said:

I said "this is the type of guy who states...". Please read closer. I never said he specifically said those things. Trust me, I can appreciate the popcorn movie value of a Bay movie. White doesn't write about those movies being guilty pleasures. He was constantly bitched about by film fans. CONSTANTLY and not in the way that Rex Reed or Ebert or Roeper or Peter Travers were.

Here is some real reviews of his... (rotten tomatoes scores). These reviews, for me, are shocking.

Rotten:
Up,Star Trek,The Wrestler,Milk,Slumdog Millionaire,The Dark Knight
Iron Man,Hellboy II,Encounters At the End of the World,
Revolutionary Road,The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,Doubt,Gran Torino,The Reader,Vicky Cristina Barcelona,
Hunger,Gomorrah,The Class,Boy A,Paranoid Park,In Bruges,4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days,Cache A Christmas Tale,
There Will Be Blood,Sweeney Todd,I'm Not There,AmericanGangster,Zodiac,
Gone Baby Gone,Michael Clayton,Eastern Promises,3:10 to Yuma,
Knocked Up,Sugar,Frozen River

Fresh:
Terminator Salvation,Bedtime Stories,Transporter 3(WTF!),
What Happens in Vegas(WTF!!),
Never Back Down,War(WTF!!!),I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry,
The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer(WTF!!!!)

.

You know what's great about Armond White? He is an independent thinker who's not afraid of publishing unpopular opinions. The folks who get their thong twisted over his reviews are often the same folks who would prefer everyone share the same opinion about everything.

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And no, what you listed are not "real reviews of his" - the binary rating system of Rotten Tomatoes is one of the laziest way to summarize a person's critique (especially critiques as complex as White's).

CAL3 said:

BartVanHemelen said:

Save your money for books that actually inform you instead of just present you with one critic's not very informed take on Prince.

.

One doesn't know if a given critic's take is well-informed (or not) until that person has read said take.

.

Which you can. On Amazon. In the sample pages.

.

.

And some people actually like both - books the present objective information as well as books that provide thoughtful, intelligent analysis (analysis which is, yes, the subjective opinion of that author).

.

Neither of which are present in this book, judging by the samples available online.

BartVanHemelen said:

CAL3 said:

.

Which you can. On Amazon. In the sample pages.

.

.

And some people actually like both - books the present objective information as well as books that provide thoughtful, intelligent analysis (analysis which is, yes, the subjective opinion of that author).

.

Neither of which are present in this book, judging by the samples available online.

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That's fine, I haven't read the book (or even the samples).

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Interested parties should check it out from the library, best of both worlds - no money spent, and you can read beyond the samples posted on Amazon...

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EDIT - I read the sample pages, IMO there's not a whole lot go by... Still planning to read the whole thing...

[Edited 10/19/16 8:55am]