I actually think, on the first listen, that this is the best Prince album in nearly a decade. This is coming from a disaffected hardcore fan who really hasn't been interested in any of Prince's music for the last 3 years or so.

The cd is better than Rainbow, but not as good as gold.... I like it though. I just skip the political and social naivety and then it’s a good cd.

orionzdrm said:

In what way?

orionzdrm said:

Name, I agree. I've been giving it repeated spins this evening. Here are just a few realizations:

1) Prince has managed to create a very polished, multi-market album. It's VERY commercial.
2) The songs are short, ideal for radio airplay.
3) He's playing most of the instruments, keeping the feel very cohesive. And, dang, he's playing 'em well.
4) Listened to from beginning to end, the CD has a very cool flow. This could've been one track (a la Lovesexy), and it would've worked.

I'm on my 2nd listen of the CD and I gotta tell you, I don't compare this to TRC cause that like comparing apples to oranges but, this is the first CD since TGE that I really, really like immediately. This is a great CD, period. Not too long but not too short. A great Pop record. I'm digging What do U want 2 Do, which is playing right now.

namepeace said:

Co-sign!

Sdldawn said:

in EVERY way possible.. Rainbow is the only Prince album in his catalog i dont listen too ..i even TRIED again the other night..i just cant get into it

Mazerati said:

Rainbow is the ONLY album is his catalogue I ALWAYS listen through from start to finish and the only one I listen to every week. I can't get into Lovesexy and I absolutely do not like it at all, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate it as one of his cornerstone albums.

TRC is a near perfect masterpiece.

littleredcorvette1 said:

There's no denying TRC has some true gems. Songs like Family Name, Sensual Everafter, Last December, etc. are phenomenal and sound truly inspired, but as an album altogether TRC feels so uneven.

You've got too much Darth Vader, and its appeal is so limited because it's full of a lot of mellow instrumental jazz sounds.

Musicology is way more balanced and cohesive an album imo. It flows great and there's nothing to make you cringe and hit the skip button.

I'm pleased with it. It's a nice, cohesive, fun, pop record.
I'm still on a high from the show.

littleredcorvette1 said:

all I needed was to ask this question.. i knew some peeps would follow through..

namepeace said:

I agree....well, I liked TRC a lot, but otherwise we're probably in the same boat. Musicology was indeed a pleasant surprise!

well IN MY OPINION...

i've listened to the rainbow kids
i've listened to musicology

my initial reaction was to keep the rainbow children in and take musicology out...but

musicology will eventually grow on me and it has for only day 2 of listening to it

they are both very different albums though so its hard 2 say 4 real.

PurpleKnight said:

My thoughts almost exactly!

littleredcorvette1 said:

All due respect, replace Lovesexy with TRC throughout your post and I'd say the same thing. Regardless of my ambivalence towards it, TRC is a "landmark" Prince album (signaling a new artistic direction which emphasizes his religion as opposed to his "spirituality"). But I wasn't feelin' it at all. It sits on my shelf for the most part, I rarely play it.

To me, Lovesexy is a classic Prince album, one of the three or four best albums he has ever done. To me, Lovesexy is darn-near flawless.

But it is a testament to the Artist who can make deeply spiritual and challenging albums in two different decades, even if fans disagree on which was the better album.

happy listening.

orionzdrm said:

I think Ranbow is a good cd and it has grown on me, but not the way say love sexy orarround the world did. I like the Jazz and the music jams in Rainbow. But I kind of felt rainbow was a little racist, so I cant put it in the top 10. Now as for the new cd. It is radio friendly. Verry clean and has a good over all feel to it. I wish Million days and a few other songs were 10 mins longer, but I must say it is alot more ear friendly in the first few weeks than Rainbow has been in years.

namepeace said:

Hmmm, you know I always thought Lovesexy was a VERY spiritual album and was never turned off by it at all. It seemed very open, inclusive and heart felt. TRC feels the exact opposite to me. It steeped heavily in religion but I don't feel a connection to any spiritual vibe it might have. On top of that it seems very judgmental, exclusive, etc... Plus, while the playing is inspired, the lyrical content and general quality of most of the compositions seems a mess on TRC. Where as Lovesexy hand major high points both lyrically and musically.

I, also, think that Lovesexy has had a major and continuing impact on Prince's later music. ...but if Musicology is any indication then I tend to think that TRC will not do the same.

I agree, the album flows nicely. Listen to it from beginning to end and your like 'WOW'. Prince has done another FANTASTIC job.
[This message was edited Tue May 11 21:31:03 2004 by Starmist7]