User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 52 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 40 out of 52
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Mixed: 1 out of 52
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Negative: 11 out of 52
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RogerP.Jan 3, 2002Some people will never get it
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EwanB.Feb 6, 2002This is a daring, controversial album. It would be wasted at a party but listen to it in your own: it's deep and satisfying and gets better with each listen. The lyrics are madly inventive; "stroke you're hair a thousand times, let me see what I can find". Best Prince album in a long time. Check out 1+1+1 is 3 and "Family Name". There is no one like him
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AaronB.Jan 27, 2002
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JackTMar 29, 2009I can see where some people will be putoff by the religious narrative, but I love the cohesiveness of the cd and the music is great throughout. And though it is a concept album, it's one that he obvoiusly poured himself into and just totally went for it. My favorite cd (start to finish) of the past 20 years.
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KimmieDDec 30, 2001Prince rocks, Always
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SimonJan 17, 2002As with all Princes music - the more u listen the more amazing it gets.
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ChaliseG.Apr 13, 2002Outstanding piece of work..People need to erase the image that they have of Prince from the past and appreciate the man for his musical creativity. He is the most versitile performer I have ever encountered and he is a true artist and musical genius.
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Sep 25, 2010I 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.....
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Sep 20, 2017
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SethB.Dec 3, 2001This record is really, really good. In fairness it is a bit spritualized in it's message but even leaving that aside it's music and overall production is second to none. Not a Prince fan? Well at some point you will be if you love music, and this will be the record that takes you there.
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HerbMFeb 10, 2002It will sound even better in 10 years...just listen to the Controversy album and hear how those beats and rythyms popped up in dance music years later. Ok the narrative is worth skipping but hey...da music is great!
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MarcusA.Dec 7, 2001This album is fantastic.
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MikeB.Jan 17, 2002Hmmn. I think I really liked what I just listed to. Yes, I have been a hardcore prince fan for years. I remain that today, even though I have been disillusioned at times by some of his recent work. Love the groves on the TRC, but yes the lyrics don't take the great music higher. I know he has more Grammy caliber work in him, if he wants to put it out!! This might not be it but stay tuned.
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alexanderyFeb 3, 2008A fantastic through-composed narrative. Sure the "story" being told may be weird at time, but as a musical experience and a piece of art, it is fantastic. From one track to the next, emotion builds and the listener gets lost in a sea of -- for lack of a better word -- Prince. Truly fantastic.
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jugiDec 4, 2002somehow the critics missed the incredible groove in this album. one of the most straightforward funkiest albums prince ever made.
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mitchDec 9, 2004Very 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...
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buckeyetoddDec 10, 2001Get beyond the annoying bassed up narrator and get into the music. This is heady stuff easily flowing from sticky funk to gospelized exuberance. The ballad "She Loves Me 4 Me" is a stand out as is "The Last December" and "1+1+1 is 3". A 9.5 if not for the cloying narration which adds nothing but confusion to an otherwise cohesive effort.
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JeroenG.Nov 25, 2001OK, the lyrics are disturbing, but the music is so extremely good: it places Prince back in front of all music. Buy this shit and don't think to much about those lyrics.
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orlandoD.smithSep 24, 2006On 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.
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WinstonJDec 5, 2002
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MMoFeb 8, 2002Sad but True......this is a disappointment....Prince is truly gone over to the dark side on this one folks.....for those of you who dont care about the message, the music is ok but not good enough to make me ignore the bigotry, ignorance and loneyness of the lyrics
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MagischesS.Jan 17, 2002It's poop
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RPJun 13, 2008This one is almost imposible to enjoy unless you wear purple toned glasses. It is as cheesy as anything he released in the 90's The compositions are just as predictable tired and uninspired as anything he did in the 90's except played by great musicians. If you like jazzy Prince find Madhouse "6" you will enjoy it a lot more and your eyes wont hurt from rolling them so much.
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CindyC.Jun 13, 2008My 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.
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Awards & Rankings
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Q MagazineHis 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]
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The Rainbow Children contains one good song, a ballad called "She Loves Me 4 Me," buried beneath layers of spiritual horseshittery.
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UncutThe music, though lithe and limber in a jazz-fusion-funk bag, lacks melodic distinction, while the vocals are delivered in a variety of electronically treated styles that are irritating at first and increasingly so on repeated exposures. [Feb 2002, p.125]