214 said:

databank said:

It's not just a matter of subjective as in taste but of the equation being too complex.

For one thing before you define what are the 100 best albums of all times (or the year), you should first be able to define what your criterias are. No one does that. It's difficult.

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Then, many critics are biased by the obligation to remain within the limits of the genre they write about, for example most Rolling Stores or so magazines will make lists with 75 rock albums + 25 Black and electronic albums not to look close-minded, and nothing else (as if there was nothing else but rock, Black music and electronica). That's how "100 best rock albums of all times" gets labeled as "100 best albums of all times".

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Regarding yearly/contemporary lists, it's indeed very subjective but also a matter of trends. If a record is like super hype this year, ignoring it will make you look like a fool unless you care to explain why.

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And regarding "all times" lists, many critics are also biased by historicity, as in "classics are necessarily better" and "it was better when I was young than it is today". That's why those lists typically list mostly 60's and 70's records and ignore recent masterpieces, or why most film critics will usually put 50 pre-1970 films on a list before Fight Club, while Fight Club is arguably better than any of those "protocinema" era films.

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Obviously, in a world where hundreds of thousands of full length albums have been released over the course of 70 years, making a list of the "100 best albums" is a futile exercise. It could maybe make more sense to label those lists as "100 most influential albums". Same with films. Or then one should label it as "our 100 favorite records".

I agree with you thoroughly but Fight Club which i consider quite overrated. The best thing for me about the film is watching Brad Pitt almost naked.

There are many reasons why it is an incredible film, but even if we were to disagree on those qualities, it remains significant as one of the most influential film of all times. The way Hollywood, and soon the world, made films drastically changed after 1999. Fight Club is not the only film that had an important impact in 99 (just google "1999 year that changed movies", there are several articles on that topic), but in terms of narrative approach, filming techniques and editing, Fight Club is arguably the film that had the most impact.

214 said:

What is that, that you don't like about Parade?

I just don't think its songs are very good, compared to the my 3 favorite Prince albums (which frame it). No doubt Prince was on fire in the Parade-period, but I don't think the released album really reflects it.

Actually, for me personally there are no essential tracks on the first half of the album. 'Under the Cherry Moon' is good, and 'Christopher Tracy's Parade' is okay, but neither is helped (in my mind anyway) by their clear association with the stinky-feces film project. 'Side 2' has one good song ('Kiss') and one great one ('Sometimes It Snows...').

I guess it's just a taste-thing, but the overall sound/style of this album doesn't really do it for me either. And I don't think the song-selection is particularly strong.

ThePanther said:

214 said:

What is that, that you don't like about Parade?

I just don't think its songs are very good, compared to the my 3 favorite Prince albums (which frame it). No doubt Prince was on fire in the Parade-period, but I don't think the released album really reflects it.

Actually, for me personally there are no essential tracks on the first half of the album. 'Under the Cherry Moon' is good, and 'Christopher Tracy's Parade' is okay, but neither is helped (in my mind anyway) by their clear association with the stinky-feces film project. 'Side 2' has one good song ('Kiss') and one great one ('Sometimes It Snows...').

I guess it's just a taste-thing, but the overall sound/style of this album doesn't really do it for me either. And I don't think the song-selection is particularly strong.

What the...?

How long have u been fan of the Prince music..??? Do ur homework, take another listen..

Parade is a Prince-classic, a true masterpiece.

Mountains,
Kiss,
Anotherloverholenyohead,
Girls & Boys,
Sometimes It Snows In April,

Excellent music, this album is top class from start to end. The music have his trademark all over.. inho Parade is a Prince top-5 album.

This is a stupid fucking thread

Best Prince album, imo, is 1999.

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Sign of the Times is a close second and Purple rain a close third.

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First Prince album I ever bought was Sign of the Times, got it in 1987 on cassette tape. It might seem odd that I'm still a huge fan, even though all other albums except one have been lesser. Well, the thing is, 1999 and Sign o the Times are the best pop/rock/soul albums that I've heard to date, by any artist. Stevie Wonder's 70s albums are close. A couple of the Beatles albums are close, too. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions is another one. But I digress...

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Here's my overall list top 11 list (because I just can't keep it to 10):

1. 1999

2. Sign o the Times

3. Purple Rain

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4. Lovesexy

5. Parade

6. The Gold Experience

.

7. The Vault ... Old Friends 4 Sale

(yes, that's right, that album very solid)

.

8. Dirty Mind

9. Controversy

10. Dirty Mind

.

11. Crystal Ball including The Truth

[Edited 10/23/17 16:43pm]

thedance said:

What the...?

How long have u been fan of the Prince music..??? Do ur homework, take another listen..

Parade is a Prince-classic, a true masterpiece.

Mountains,
Kiss,
Anotherloverholenyohead,
Girls & Boys,
Sometimes It Snows In April,

Excellent music, this album is top class from start to end. The music have his trademark all over.. inho Parade is a Prince top-5 album.

I'm not saying it's a terrible album -- it's still Prince, in his prime, so it can't be too bad. I just think it's quite weak, song-wise, compared to the two or three albums prior and the one after it.

(By the way, I've been listening to Prince's music for 33 years, and I bought Parade in 1993.)

If you are only matching pound for pound the 5 songs

Mountains
Kiss
Anotherloverholenyohead
Girls & Boys
Sometimes It Snows In April

Along with Under the Cherry Moon, for sure it is one of the best. I rate the whole CD.

If you take the other songs on the CD they are just ok, they do not match up to 1999, Signs of the Time, Purple Rain, The Love Symbol and Around the World whole song list.

I love the 6 songs on Parade, listen to them ALL THE TIME!

Parade may be one of those "You just had to be there" records but it is surely miles above ATWIAD which in retrospect seems like a transitional, odds and sods Purple Rain outtakes sort of album.

Parade more than just the sum of its individual songs. The sounds and production are amazing and timeless. He never was able to replicate is magical sound. If there is one album I both fear and look forward to as a remaster, its this one because its already currently Beach Boys/Brian Wilson/George Martin level audio artistry on this one. (perhaps more a testament to Susan?). How do you top it?

ThePanther said:

thedance said:

What the...?

How long have u been fan of the Prince music..??? Do ur homework, take another listen..

Parade is a Prince-classic, a true masterpiece.

Mountains,
Kiss,
Anotherloverholenyohead,
Girls & Boys,
Sometimes It Snows In April,

Excellent music, this album is top class from start to end. The music have his trademark all over.. inho Parade is a Prince top-5 album.

I'm not saying it's a terrible album -- it's still Prince, in his prime, so it can't be too bad. I just think it's quite weak, song-wise, compared to the two or three albums prior and the one after it.

(By the way, I've been listening to Prince's music for 33 years, and I bought Parade in 1993.)

[Edited 10/24/17 6:46am]

emesem said:

Parade may be one of those "You just had to be there" records but it is surely miles above ATWIAD which in retrospect seems like a transitional, odds and sods Purple Rain outtakes sort of album.

Parade more than just the sum of its individual songs. The sounds and production are amazing and timeless. He never was able to replicate is magical sound. If there is one album I both fear and look forward to as a remaster, its this one because its already currently Beach Boys/Brian Wilson/George Martin level audio artistry on this one. (perhaps more a testament to Susan?). How do you top it?

ThePanther said:

I'm not saying it's a terrible album -- it's still Prince, in his prime, so it can't be too bad. I just think it's quite weak, song-wise, compared to the two or three albums prior and the one after it.

(By the way, I've been listening to Prince's music for 33 years, and I bought Parade in 1993.)

[Edited 10/24/17 6:46am]

The existing version of Parade does miss the tracks 'Mia Bocca' and 'Alexa De Paris'. A remaster would have to include them.

fortuneandserendipity said:

databank said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

The existing version of Parade does miss the tracks 'Mia Bocca' and 'Alexa De Paris'. A remaster would have to include them.

Huh?

I have the 'NPG Vandal' version. Xtra tracks...

Mia Bocca

Alexa De Paris

Love Or Money

Old Friends 4 Sale

An Honest Man

fortuneandserendipity said:

runningbear said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

emesem said:

Parade may be one of those "You just had to be there" records but it is surely miles above ATWIAD which in retrospect seems like a transitional, odds and sods Purple Rain outtakes sort of album.

Parade more than just the sum of its individual songs. The sounds and production are amazing and timeless. He never was able to replicate is magical sound. If there is one album I both fear and look forward to as a remaster, its this one because its already currently Beach Boys/Brian Wilson/George Martin level audio artistry on this one. (perhaps more a testament to Susan?). How do you top it?

[Edited 10/24/17 6:46am]

The existing version of Parade does miss the tracks 'Mia Bocca' and 'Alexa De Paris'. A remaster would have to include them.

Power Fantastic as well.

214 said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

The existing version of Parade does miss the tracks 'Mia Bocca' and 'Alexa De Paris'. A remaster would have to include them.

Power Fantastic as well.

Even though it was recorded shortly before the release of Parade, PF would maybe be more at home on a SOTT rerelease. However PR Deluxe contained tracks recorded after the release of PR, so this is all open to debate, given that Prince was in a continuous recording process as opposed to specific sessions for each record.

databank said:

214 said:

Power Fantastic as well.

Even though it was recorded shortly before the release of Parade, PF would maybe be more at home on a SOTT rerelease. However PR Deluxe contained tracks recorded after the release of PR, so this is all open to debate, given that Prince was in a continuous recording process as opposed to specific sessions for each record.

This is why we need a series of sessions releases. Let people create their own best ofs or "THIS IS HOW THE ALBUM SHOULD BE" tracklists on Spotify if they please but don't let the estate/WB/whoever continue making dubious choices for outtakes on releases based on half known information.

jaawwnn said:

databank said:

Even though it was recorded shortly before the release of Parade, PF would maybe be more at home on a SOTT rerelease. However PR Deluxe contained tracks recorded after the release of PR, so this is all open to debate, given that Prince was in a continuous recording process as opposed to specific sessions for each record.

This is why we need a series of sessions releases. Let people create their own best ofs or "THIS IS HOW THE ALBUM SHOULD BE" tracklists on Spotify if they please but don't let the estate/WB/whoever continue making dubious choices for outtakes on releases based on half known information.

There's no way to do this in a fully satisfactory manner, believe me: I've given it a lot of thoughts. But WB definitely slacked on that one, I'll give you that.

databank said:

jaawwnn said:

This is why we need a series of sessions releases. Let people create their own best ofs or "THIS IS HOW THE ALBUM SHOULD BE" tracklists on Spotify if they please but don't let the estate/WB/whoever continue making dubious choices for outtakes on releases based on half known information.

There's no way to do this in a fully satisfactory manner, believe me: I've given it a lot of thoughts. But WB definitely slacked on that one, I'll give you that.

Probably not, is the problem just too much stuff? It's amazing how much things can change session to sessions, I've always been a bit meh about Wonderful Ass until I heard the 1982 version recently and WOAH, been playing it on repeat.

People are obessessed with remasters clears shows that they don't have the original Masters and those are records... seems like a 20something retard club bitching about nothing these days. iPod fucks

What in the name of god and all things holy is Phase 2 doing way at the bottom??? What have you done!! Shirley that's a mistake.

Regarding Parade: for me it's the best he did up until SOTT. As a concise statement, it's better than SOTT in my opinion. It's pure awesome front to back (well, Venus aside), amazing production, incredible flow. Someone earlier said it's more than the sum of it's parts - that's a good way to describe it. Far better than Around the World. Much less abrasive than Purple Rain and 1999. I love it.

controversy99 said:

Best Prince album, imo, is 1999.

.

Sign of the Times is a close second and Purple rain a close third.

.

First Prince album I ever bought was Sign of the Times, got it in 1987 on cassette tape. It might seem odd that I'm still a huge fan, even though all other albums except one have been lesser. Well, the thing is, 1999 and Sign o the Times are the best pop/rock/soul albums that I've heard to date, by any artist. Stevie Wonder's 70s albums are close. A couple of the Beatles albums are close, too. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions is another one. But I digress...

.

Here's my overall list top 11 list (because I just can't keep it to 10):

1. 1999

2. Sign o the Times

3. Purple Rain

.

4. Lovesexy

5. Parade

6. The Gold Experience

.

7. The Vault ... Old Friends 4 Sale

(yes, that's right, that album very solid)

.

8. Dirty Mind

9. Controversy

10. Dirty Mind

.

11. Crystal Ball including The Truth

[Edited 10/23/17 16:43pm]

Dirty Mind is so good it had to be there twice

johnnyribcage said:

Regarding Parade: for me it's the best he did up until SOTT. As a concise statement, it's better than SOTT in my opinion. It's pure awesome front to back (well, Venus aside), amazing production, incredible flow. Someone earlier said it's more than the sum of it's parts - that's a good way to describe it. Far better than Around the World. Much less abrasive than Purple Rain and 1999. I love it.

Parade for me is nearly his best, but 2 tracks New position and Life can be so nice are good songs that occasionally annoy if i'm not in the right mood. Purple Rain doesn't drop the ball, but maybe Parade is the easier listen if you're tired. Agree with you on SOTT.

In my opinion I think musically, artistically, the best 5 PRINCE albums are (in no order)

PURPLE RAIN

SIGN O THE TIMES

1999

PARADE

DIRTY MIND

"Lovesexy" is the one.