Two critically acclaim albums, love both for diffrent reason,probably their best work IMO, but if you could only choose one which one and why.

I think they both represent the artist at a creative peak, but I'd have to choose The Velvet Rope. I can relate more to the themes presented on that record, and it's a very cathartic listen for me.

Like A Prayer also has some filler that I always skip (Love Song, Dear Jessie, Pray For Spanish Eyes, Act Of Contrition). I can't say the same for Janet's album. Finally, the single mixes of Express Yourself and Keep It Together are so superior to the LP versions that the album suffers a bit once you've heard them.
[Edited 1/19/05 16:43pm]

VoicesCarry said:

Dirty sex?

RipHer2Shreds said:

Well, obviously you haven't listened to the album, then. What's in "Got 'Til It's Gone", "Empty", "Together Again", "You", "What About"? There are actually very few explicitly sexual songs on the record. Reducing it to "dirty sex" makes about as much sense as reducing Erotica to "dirty sex".

P.S. "Like A Prayer" is literally about a blow job, metaphorically about more

But don't worry, I fully expect to be castigated for my choice.
[Edited 1/19/05 16:54pm]

VoicesCarry said:

Goodness. Suddenly, it's like I'm talking to jayardee about Madonna. Actually, I have listened to the album, silly. It was a joke. And pish posh with that bj nonsense about Like a Prayer. lol Madonna isn't capable of making such an extensive metaphor, and she's said it's more about a spiritual connection with a lover rather than a physical one. And we all know she never lies.

My vote goes for LaP, for pretty much the exact reasons VC gave about Velvet Rope. Without getting too typically gay, there were a lot of songs on there that really reflected my personal life in my late teens, and I listened to it to the point of ridiculousness.

Velvet Rope, for me, was the continuation of a few Janet album themes that weren't too my liking, mainly unnecessary interludes and continued focus on sexuality. I don't think there was anything too overt about the sex talk, it just felt like we'd already been there before. Though I like the album as a whole, I feel the same way about the Erotica album.

RipHer2Shreds said:

"Getting jayardee" on you would have been saying your opinion had no merit. Funny how we both like the albums we grew up with best. Well, I grew up with LAP, but I didn't grow up with it.
[Edited 1/19/05 17:23pm]

The Velvet Rope!!I like to play it at night by candlelight.Brilliant compilation.

Like a Prayer for me; TVR is overlong, overblown, and overproduced. For the life of me, I'll never understand why people feel that it's head and shoulders above the rest of Janet's work. For me, it's a solid third in her catalog, way behind Control and 1814.

I do like quite a bit of the album, but there is certainly a ton of filler on it, which I don't think you'll find on Like a Prayer. The album seems to fall apart at the end with Anything, Everytime, Special, and all of that 'learn to water your spiritual garden' nonsense. Go buy a Deepak Chopra book and shut the hell up Janet. You certainly can't fault the first couple of tracks on the album, though.

Actually, though, with a little trimming, it could push Control to third best.

My perfect TVR tracklist:

1.Velvet Rope
2.You
3.Got Til It's Gone
4.Go Deep
5.Free Xone
6.Together Again (Deep Mix)
7.Empty
8.What About
9.I Get Lonely
10.Rope Burn
11.Can't Be Stopped

If you cut out the interludes, save that god-awful version of Together Again for dance clubs, and remove all of the sap from the album, the message might not have gotten so diluted.

Anyway, Like a Prayer just seems more honest in its portrayal of Madonna's life; plus it's a more 'organic' sounding album and I dig that.

Great comparison, by the way. I never realized how similar both albums were in theme (well, to some extent). Both albums have the song about spousal abuse/unhappy marriages ('Til Death do Us Part/What About), both have songs about empowerment (Express Yourself/Can't Be Stopped), both have the AIDS song (Spanish Eyes/Together Again), and the argument could be made that both albums have an angry song directed at a family member (Oh Father/You).

Probably could've just said Like a Prayer instead of typing out a doctoral dissertation, but .

Axchi696 said:

You is actually Janet singing to a mirror, basically.

VoicesCarry said:

I know that, but I think it could be the same thing as Like a Prayer's literal/figurative meaning. The song could be about Janet and Michael at the same time.

Axchi696 said:

Interesting thought...I like it

both great albums... but Janet's albums have tooo much... just because there is space for 78mins of music doesn't mean you have to fill it.

LAP is an iconic moment, everything about that period was on point. She couldn't do wrong then.

I am shocked...SHOCKED...that the Madonga fans are going with Like a Prayer

RipHer2Shreds said:

Ok, that is better than "Madogga". Surely someone can continue to improve the pun.

why the negativity?

ehuffnsd said:

It's an in joke. No negativity.

ehuffnsd said:

It's not negativity. I like Madonna and have for years (if you'll notice, I said I was a big fan of LaP). I've also enjoyed calling her Madonga for years.

RipHer2Shreds said:

I hope kremlinshadow visits this thread so he knows how much DavidEye and I cracked up over "Madogga".

Boy, was that lame in a very epic way....

RipHer2Shreds said:

the sarcasm in this is what i was refering to... i don't care how people refer to other people

VoicesCarry said:

Sadly, that's not even an original; I've been seeing it online for YEARS now.

ehuffnsd said:

You consider that negativity?

VoicesCarry said:

sometimes i do, it's the little AA voice in the back of my head reminding me about where sarcasm comes from...

ehuffnsd said:

Yeah - having a sense of humor

ehuffnsd said:

Again - I was referring to myself as well. What's the big deal?

i love both records but the velvet rope means so much more to me. the theme of coming to terms with yourself and all the personal battles that entails was very important to me at the time (and still is today). Besides that, it was janet's strongest release and, thus far, the most creative point in her career.