Love Symbol--1992-- 4 and a half star review.

First heard about album on the Box cable channel, when the very odd 2 Whom It May Concern video was played. That actually was Princes best and last attempt at good promotion for his work. A video of a new song, with snippits of the new album was inspired. The song snippits got me tastin the new album.

As with most earlier Prince albums, before he turned to shit, I bought it with trembling hands and real excitement (Ah, remember the days? Sigh.). As I always do, I lay on my bed, with headphones on listening to the whole album, with eyes closed to get every nuance. Very please to find out as the songs played they got better and better, until I reached the nirvana of the last song, and the little, fitting prayer that ends the disk.

My Name Is Prince bangs into my skull and I bang my head and feel funky sensations all over. Great rap by Prince--Hard charging beat and melody. His rap song that doesn't suck. Even Tony M sounded good. Lots of neat sounds and weird ideas for a mainstream sounding song. But at least he understood what it took to reach the streets.

Sexy MF was not as good. Too much James Brown imitation for me, and the rap is kinda goofy. But the overall funky vibe saves it from being unlistenable. Good horns and playing all around. Good time stuff and neato cussing like we like it.

Love 2 the Nines really rocked my world. Love the deft two part aproach. Great jazzy lilt of the first part, wonderful, funky and banging second part, with the funny rap with Tony and Mayte trading quips. Funky ass scratching making the jazz lilt very innovative. Wonderful melody, and an overall classic song.

The Morning Papers is amazing. Great rock/pop song with powered but mannered guitar and nice horns. Why this wasn't a big hit is a mystery. I do remember, it was played on the radio bunches, but it didn't catch on. A Purple Rain feel, but a classic song. Lyrics don't always make sense, but the song is so good it doesn't matter much.

The Max is amazing as well. Great, chorus, funky ass stuff. Eclectic music but spare melody. Great street vibe. too Bad this wasn't a single, it would have become big on the radio.

Blue Light--Wow is all I can say. Great way of using Reggai melody in a pop song. Lilting and jazzy and silky as a light wafer. This is the song to get busy with. Yum,

I Wanna Melt With U is a fucking masterpiece. Innovative as fuck and experimental in the best way. his use of different sounds beats most rap of the time. The dog and cat sounds are pure genius, and very funny. One balls out chorus. Over all one of Princes best songs ever.

Sweet Baby is one pretty ballad. Good to get a girl in the mood. Not a great song, but really well written and sensual and frothy. Good song for a late night.

The Continental is a two part masterwork. Great soft part at the end.

More later. gotta REboot..

stopped reading at "before he turned to shit"

He's made some far superior music than this since IMO.

2freaky4church1 said:

ok, back to work:

DAmn You is the one weak moment. Nice jazz stuff, but a bit on the fluffy side. A little more Adore type bravado would have helped. Kind of a watered down song but decent.

Arrogance is wild. Short and sweet. Great idea, maybe a little short, but an ass kicker. Pimp rag indeed.

The Flow has great horn solo or should I say eruption at the end. But no more Tony M!!

7 I rarely listen to much now, but wonder why. At the time I thought it was a classic song. Now, maybe I am burned out by it. It is a deft use of religious imagery with a great pop hook and rockin chorus. How in the hell does a song about God and the devil become a top ten hit?? Who knew. lol.

God Created Woman. Glad God created Prince so that he could write this song. One of his best, with beautiful melody and amazing background vocals. Pretty as fuck. This is what you use to score the slimmys...lol.

3 Chains Of Gold. Either you love it or hate it. I notice these two warring camps and just snicker. This is rock opera, but great rock opera. An attempt at 70's rock bombast, but it works. Really is kick ass and well written with interesting parts. A bit artsy for some, but overrall and amazing rock song. About time. lol

Sacrifice Of Victor, Don't call him Victor, but do call him a clever little motherfucker. This is another of his best. Great gospel feel, without feeling too pious, and the lyrics are some of his best. It is good to see Prince so open about his past life, and bad times. About time he had coherant lyrics that actually mean something. Steels put in a kick ass vocal performance. Turn to the book of Victor and amen.

I got so excited upon my first listen of this album that I had to listen to it all the way through again. Great to experience great music. If only Prince could wake the fuck up and get back to fine music making. But I guess that is a pipe dream. Better to just groove to the old albums, it seems.

This is the one album I never got into. I always prefer the
"I'll Do Anything" sessions and "Peach" to this work. And
can't help wondering what a less commercial 1992 album would
have sounded like.

s'okay.

I always loved this album.

The reviews were good too. I used to read Q and remember they gave it a 9 out of 10 or so.

The songs flow perfectly into the next one.
The ballads are fabulous and let you relax beetween the dominant uptempo trax.

Yes. It's commercial. So what?

I could go on & on about this album. An absolute CLASSIC, not by Prince's standards, but by anybody's. This is the album that has stood the test of time for me and even now, 11 years after its release, I still listen to it on the regular.

7 was one of those songs that converted me to P that I don't listen to as much anymore but still appreciate much like the D&Ps album.

The Flow
Arrogance
& Sacrifice Of Victor suck.

Sacrifice is great live,but the album cut i just cant get in2.

these 3 songs ruin from being perfect.

Something holds me back from keeping this album in regular rotation and on the whole I prefer the songs performed live. I don't think the half-assed Vanessa Bartholemew/Egyptian Princess storyline helped things any.

Somebody that is in agreement with me on this album. This is one of the only Prince albums still in rotation in my CD player. I know I don't get as deep as the rest of you guys, but I fuckin' love this album. I have not been inspired by any album Prince has made since this one. By the by, 7 became a hit because some people didn't know he was singing scripture.

This was my first Prince album. And it's still one of my favorites.

The album has lots of attitude.

This is my favorite album of all of Prince's albums. Why? Because this is the first album where I really like ALL the songs. Also, this is the only album where I can feel the heart, soul and passion in the songs. 3 Chains of Gold, makes my nip@(*s hard! There have been great songs since, and some great albums since, but this is still my favorite.

Peace.

Love Symbal is a good album and in my mind it leads up to TRC. It took 10 years to get there but it feels similar.

Only song I really love on this is 7, and God Created Woman is pretty good too. Hate the rest. A real disappointment when it came out and it has not aged well at all imo. All the Tony M shit was embarrassing.

Deja.