The Rainbow Children Image
Metascore

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 34 Ratings

  • Summary: This religion-themed concept album is the artist's first official release in 10 years under the Prince name.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 10
  2. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. His most consistent work since 1991's Diamonds And Pearls, although you'll need to ignore the peculiar narrative episodes in order to fully enjoy it. [Jan 2002, p.106]
  2. Unfortunately, the record is burdened by a pretentious, overarching narrative about "the Wise One" and his struggle with "the Banished Ones."
  3. 60
    A sprawling, instrumentally dazzling work which all but spurns pop songwriting. [Jan 2002, p.99]
  4. The Rainbow Children contains one good song, a ballad called "She Loves Me 4 Me," buried beneath layers of spiritual horseshittery.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Negative: 4 out of 27
  1. I have not bought much music in a while as there is not much out there worth buying. I love this disk. I love the music, and the creativity of lyrics. It's not like most disks where all of the songs sound alike. Give credit where credit is due. An just because you are not spiritual that does not diminish his creativity. Funky, jazzy, and worth buying..... Expand
  2. mitch
    8
    Very disappointed and shocked by the low ratings given by prominent magazines....I agree the persistent use of narrative is a bit much, but adds to the conceptual and religious nature of the album. Easily better than Musicology IMHO based strictly on the album's uniqueness. Somebody please back me up here... Expand
  3. orlandoD.smith
    7
    On then surface I positively accepted it, was initially disappointed in some tracks, one where he tried to sound like bohemian spiritual rapper in' muse to pharaoh' but grew to like it. Happy that he's made a transition, and not resting on a vain attempt to appeal & appease to the youth, visually on his LIVE AT LAS VEGAS cd featuring some of songs-I'm even more impressed. Expand
  4. CindyC.
    0
    My girlfriend gave me this as a present, knowing i was a big Prince fan, and over the years i have tried to like this, but cant, i hate this thing for so many reasons, mostly because it just sounds like lame rehashes of his previous wok with goofy spiritual overtones. Yes it features la live band sound with great musicianship, i just wish they were playing some other songs. Expand

See all 27 User Reviews