The Rainbow Children
by Prince
  • Record Label: Redline
  • Release Date: Nov 20, 2001
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 52 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 52
  3. Negative: 11 out of 52

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  1. MagischesS.
    Jan 17, 2002
    1
    It's poop
  2. MMo
    Feb 8, 2002
    2
    Sad 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
  3. RP
    Jun 13, 2008
    0
    This 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.
  4. CindyC.
    Jun 13, 2008
    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.

Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Most Discussed Album of 2001
82
#82 Most Shared Album of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. Q Magazine
    80
    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. The A.V. Club
    30
    The Rainbow Children contains one good song, a ballad called "She Loves Me 4 Me," buried beneath layers of spiritual horseshittery.
    Read full review
  3. Uncut
    40
    The 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]
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