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GB and Emancipation : all the critics love them in NY, Minnie, LA I can't help but notice than in two recent "essential recordings" articles on Prince, these two much maligned albums are getting a thumb up from critics.
How is it that many fans have cited them as two prime examples of Prince's artistic demise? I myself have been no big champion of GB and Emancipation, but when I put them on, people around me like what they hear. They find the records compelling and interesting. I even have an ex who's particularly found of GB, even though he's mostly into opera (yes, the whole cliched bit!) I don't think anyone can deny there are a few bad moments on these albums. GB -- the song-- is one, with its overly giddy, dysneyfied gospel. And Emancipation suffers from a rather conventional approach to production that spells MIDI like nothing else. However, it looks like the number of great songs and the albums' sheer quality are making these the real standouts of Prince's post-Lovesexy output. I think that what really saves these albums despite some of their obvious flaws is the joy of making music that shines throughout. Even if you think they contain too many songs and that some of them border of filler, it's clear that Prince had a lot of fun making that music and was excited about what he was creating. The same cannot be said of many of his 90's records. [This message was edited Sun Mar 14 11:12:52 2004 by Aerogram] | |
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These 2 cited CD's are BRILLIANT! Just Brilliant!
Is it me?  Thanks for the laughs, arguments and overall enjoyment for the last umpteen years. It's time for me to retire from Prince.org and engage in the real world...lol. Above all, I appreciated the talent Prince. You were one of a kind. | |
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Aerogram said: I can't help but notice than in two recent "essential recordings" articles on Prince, these two much maligned albums are getting a thumb up from critics.
How is it that many fans have cited them as two prime examples of Prince's artistic demise? I myself have been no big champion of GB and Emancipation, but when I put them on, people around me like what they hear. They find the records compelling and interesting. I even have an ex who's particularly found of GB, even though he's mostly into opera (yes, the whole cliched bit!) I haven't read the articles you're talking about, but critics have been known to change their minds, even years later, about albums they didn't like before. And/or maybe they're listening to them with "different ears" because of Prince's upcoming Rock Hall induction and media accessibility. Although I don't find those albums to be top tier efforts in his catalog, they do contain some of his best songs despite some of the dross surrounding them. This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes. | |
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I always considered Emancipation as one of his best work. Terrific songs on it!!!
GB contains also what has become Prince classics!!!! "Goodness will guide us when love is inside of us... The Force will be with you, always" | |
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When Graffiti Bridge came out, Rolling Stone gave it 4 stars and called it a brilliant return to form. No confusion, no tears. No enemies, no fear. No sorrow, no pain. No ball, no chain.
Sex is not love. Love is not sex. Putting words in other people's mouths will only get you elected. Need more sleep than coke or methamphetamine. | |
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theblueangel said: When Graffiti Bridge came out, Rolling Stone gave it 4 stars and called it a brilliant return to form.
Actually, one of their critics gave it 4 1/2 stars in that issue. But the telltale sign is in their year end issues, or their periodic listings of "best albums" because that's when all their critics vote...it never made any of those listings like some other albums by him did. I'm sure there are people who love that album, but GB was never critically acclaimed. ` [This message was edited Sun Mar 14 14:23:56 2004 by Supernova] This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes. | |
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Well I love Emancipation. I don't know what peoples problems are with that album it is just too brilliant. Graffiti Bridge I think to an extent suffered from being a horrible movie. But when you go back listen to just the music it really is a very very good album. Let's look at all the hits that came from that album. 'Thieves in the Temple' 'Round and Round' 'Melody Cool' I mean that was a pretty solid album. I think it suffered from the fact that Prince did not perform on every song. That might have confused people to how really good GB is. As far as people hatin on these albums on this site, well I've said it once and I will say it again. This is the most negative collection of Prince "Fans" I have ever seen in my life. I usually see more negative posts than positive. I wonder if Madonna fansites have that problem?
Peace THE CARDINAL HAS SPOKEN!!! | |
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Aerogram said: I can't help but notice than in two recent "essential recordings" articles on Prince, these two much maligned albums are getting a thumb up from critics.
How is it that many fans have cited them as two prime examples of Prince's artistic demise? I myself have been no big champion of GB and Emancipation, but when I put them on, people around me like what they hear. They find the records compelling and interesting. I even have an ex who's particularly found of GB, even though he's mostly into opera (yes, the whole cliched bit!) I don't think anyone can deny there are a few bad moments on these albums. GB -- the song-- is one, with its overly giddy, dysneyfied gospel. And Emancipation suffers from a rather conventional approach to production that spells MIDI like nothing else. However, it looks like the number of great songs and the albums' sheer quality are making these the real standouts of Prince's post-Lovesexy output. I think that what really saves these albums despite some of their obvious flaws is the joy of making music that shines throughout. Even if you think they contain too many songs and that some of them border of filler, it's clear that Prince had a lot of fun making that music and was excited about what he was creating. The same cannot be said of many of his 90's records. [This message was edited Sun Mar 14 11:12:52 2004 by Aerogram] Well, I love Emancipation. Definitely in my top 10, probably top 5. Graffiti Bridge I never really got into. Some songs I like but I don't like the sound of the album. Too clean and polished. | |
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Emancipation is really good, bordering on great. There is enough material on there to satisfy whatever version of Prince you like (funky, ballads, techno, rap, pop, rock) - so that in itself is no small feat.
I don't have a problem with Emancipation, not at all. In fact, I think I will play it now. If I had one critique, I would lose the cover tunes (except for One Of Us). About Graffiti Bridge, I wish that Prince had released the album with only HIS songs on it. Then it would be much, much stronger. I like the Time, but they don't have a classic sound to them. They always sound early-80's. I skip through those tracks and listen to Prince. In fact, on my computer, I have deleted all non-Prince CB songs. That's it. The album, to me, is not tainted by the movie. It's a stand-alone entity. |
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Se7en said: About Graffiti Bridge, I wish that Prince had released the album with only HIS songs on it. Then it would be much, much stronger. I like the Time, but they don't have a classic sound to them. They always sound early-80's. I skip through those tracks and listen to Prince. In fact, on my computer, I have deleted all non-Prince CB songs.
That's it. The album, to me, is not tainted by the movie. It's a stand-alone entity. Even "Release It"??? I LOVE that track! | |
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theblueangel said: When Graffiti Bridge came out, Rolling Stone gave it 4 stars and called it a brilliant return to form.
Entertainment Weekly also gave it a great review, I believe it was an 'A+', or at least an 'A'. While I don't think it's that good, I do enjoy most of it, especially JIR and Still Would Stand All Time. | |
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bonkers said: theblueangel said: When Graffiti Bridge came out, Rolling Stone gave it 4 stars and called it a brilliant return to form.
Entertainment Weekly also gave it a great review, I believe it was an 'A+', or at least an 'A'. While I don't think it's that good, I do enjoy most of it, especially JIR and Still Would Stand All Time. The reason RS gave it such a high rating, then ingnored it at year's end, is because the movie sucked and bombed, no hit singles and poor sales.It's politics!: By the end of 1990, it wasn't cool to hype Prince,& sensing the inevitable backlash due Prince; RS is in the business of selling mags- they steered clear of wasting paper hyping GB.I swear they intentionally slammed Prince or ignored new releases altogether just because he wasn't "cool", ever since!  [This message was edited Sun Mar 14 16:49:10 2004 by warning2all] | |
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endorphin74 said: Se7en said: About Graffiti Bridge, I wish that Prince had released the album with only HIS songs on it. Then it would be much, much stronger. I like the Time, but they don't have a classic sound to them. They always sound early-80's. I skip through those tracks and listen to Prince. In fact, on my computer, I have deleted all non-Prince CB songs.
That's it. The album, to me, is not tainted by the movie. It's a stand-alone entity. Even "Release It"??? I LOVE that track! Release it and Shake are great. Melody Cool is too. | |
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warning2all said: bonkers said: Entertainment Weekly also gave it a great review, I believe it was an 'A+', or at least an 'A'. While I don't think it's that good, I do enjoy most of it, especially JIR and Still Would Stand All Time. The reason RS gave it such a high rating, then ingnored it at year's end, is because the movie sucked and bombed, no hit singles and poor sales.It's politics!: By the end of 1990, it wasn't cool to hype Prince,& sensing the inevitable backlash due Prince; RS is in the business of selling mags- they steered clear of wasting paper hyping GB.I swear they intentionally slammed Prince or ignored new releases altogether just because he wasn't "cool", ever since!
[This message was edited Sun Mar 14 16:49:10 2004 by warning2all] I agree, I also couldn't help but notice that RS gave it 4 stars in their magazine, but when they put out there album guide 2 years later, it received 2 stars and they trashed it. | |
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Se7en said: About Graffiti Bridge, I wish that Prince had released the album with only HIS songs on it. Then it would be much, much stronger. I like the Time, but they don't have a classic sound to them. They always sound early-80's. I skip through those tracks and listen to Prince. In fact, on my computer, I have deleted all non-Prince CB songs.
That's it. The album, to me, is not tainted by the movie. It's a stand-alone entity. Agreed. It suffers from the Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen syndrome. Had the Purple Rain soundtrack included The Time and Appolonia 6's songs it would have been weaker too. Some of the lyrics from GB make me cringe. This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes. | |
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