The Velvet Rope

alphastreet said:

I believe the comparison is because they were released the same year or a year within each other
[Edited 12/8/08 23:28pm]

Yeah, they sound nothing alike. But thematically, they're their 2 most introspective, soul-searching records.

Ray of Light, but the Velvet Rope is fantastic as well. Generally, I'm not a big fan of Janet's stuff, but the Velvet Rope was amazing.

[Porno snip - luv4u]

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[Edited 12/8/08 23:50pm]

「 Pajama Party! ϟ Tina Peel 」.1976-80
「 Pajama Party! ϟ Tina Peel 」.1976-80


「 Pajama Party! ϟ Tina Peel 」.1976-80
「 Pajama Party! ϟ Tina Peel 」.1976-80


「 Pajama Party! ϟ Tina Peel 」.1976-80
「 Pajama Party! ϟ Tina Peel 」.1976-80


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[Edited 3/14/09 17:51pm]

I love both albums in different ways. I agree Ray Of Light is the more consistent of the two, even though i find the earth mother spirituality thing a little grating. I guess when i think of the singles on there - Ray Of Light is definitely the stronger, but i loved some of the album tracks on TVR, the title track & Empty especially.

While i feel TVR is a better album than its predecessor, it also follows its blue print a little too much. Every time is a lame rip off of Again, and Rope Burn falls short of Any Time Any Place - so while she still pushes her sound forward, she also re-treads the same ground of janet.

That cant be said i dont think of Ray Of Light which was a complete shock to my ears. The textures Orbit came up with, mixed with her voice made her sound nothing like she had before.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

interesting. me too.

so TVR is the dropping off point?

ROL, it made a bigger impact on Madonna's career and pop culture.

Ray of Light. I've been listening to it quite a bit lately and it just moves me. I like TVR and am surprised to see that some also thought it was overrated. I think it got extra points because it was from Janet. Sadly she's never done anything close to it since.

Mara said:

wooo chyld

and what's up with the Smurf porn?

velvet rope, the album and tour are both great

The Velvet Rope.

velvet rope

Janet is way better than madonna

I'm going to have to revisit Velvet Rope because I got NOTHING personal from it whereas Ray of Light struck me in all kinds of places. Maybe that's because I'm not a Janet devotee but quite frankly, I'm surprised that album is a personal manifesto for people. This will be my weekend dig

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I was 20 at the time, in the aftermath of having come to grips with my sexuality, and I remember it being a pretty personal album to experience. I remember it fondly, though I hardly ever listen to it. I might have to revisit it. The last time I listened though, I came away a little cold, but that might have more to do with everything that's come since.

errant said:

Maybe it has to do with me being an old hag and already have had covered that territory. If it was 1999, then I would have been 29 and have already been out 11 years at that point. I'm going to remember this and listen with those ears.

Oh, did it give you the courage to pierce your tit?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

no. It did make me contemplate coffee enemas, though.

Seriously, though, she was depressed, I was depressed, blah blah blah...

errant said:

Did she sing about that and which song!?!

Considering I'm married to sadness I'm surprised I didn't pick up on it. Maybe I was distracted by her flingin those fallopian tubes of hers around Now I'm excited to listen to it again.

It's funny because you are so spot on about this being the turning point towards everything I think is wrong with her music and career since then. And I have been so turned off to her that when I came across this last I was really hesitant to even listen to it and then discovered there were all kinds of songs that I loved that I thought were pre VR and it totally had to do with the change in direction you pointed out. It reminded me how great an album it is and how great Janet's potential really is.

Thinking of this potential, I want to slap her for Damita Joe

I did this exact thread like 3 years ago! Then I did Erotica vs Janet, American Life vs Damita Jo...

I vote Velvet Rope. In fact, it was ROL that took my Madonna love/obsession down a notch, and VR that took my love for JJ up a notch. Don't get Jan fans that don't give it up to VR...what the hell? Got Til it's Gone is not only my all time fave JJ song, it's my all time fave song, ever!

But then, VR marked the end of four PERFECT albums for JJ. Much as I love her 2000s output and how she ventured into old school and a more R&B sound (that piece of shit ALL FOR YOU excepted), nothing will touch JJ's four album streak of Control - VR. It's the perfect catalogue.

my fave track on ROL is either "Swim" or "Candy Perfume Girl" though
[Edited 12/9/08 10:29am]

badujunkie said:

Funny because ROL made my respect for Madonna skyrocket

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

She didn't sing about coffee enemas. But she talked about them at the time.

I think that until the most recent one, she's been trying to make this album over and over again ever since. It is, itself, a sort of edgier re-make of the "janet." album, but I don't mind that because it's still pretty top-notch. There are some clunkers though (the sappy MJ-sytle "Special," the "Again" retread of "Everytime"), and you can she's starting to take the sexuality a little too over the top but starting to phone it in at the same time ("Tonight's The Night," "Rope Burn," etc.).

Overall it's strong, and ranks with the 3 that came before it as one of her best, but yeah, you can tell things are heading south.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

It's all kinds of gay..and about sadness, being accepted, having everything and still felling alone, etc... I'm surprised she didn't slit her wrists
[Edited 12/9/08 11:24am]

LiquidGold said:

I'm fucking shocked as hell over this. Maybe it's cuz I was hooked into PJ Harvey at the time, couldn't be bothered to notice I can't wait now to re-listen to VR.

perhaps my vote won't count since i don't even HAVE Ray of Light (Madonna is an overrated skank to me) so, Velvet Rope easily. i'd kicked Janet to the curb for a while and didn't have the album. listened to it on a road trip and was quite pleasantly surprised. its never too far from me now

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Co-sign!

Velvet Rope