Listen to another cash grab Prince vault release or have dental surgery?
I gotta say, this wasn't an easy decision.
Neither is much fun.
If you've been reading me for some time, you know I am not a disciple. I will be first in line to call out my heroes. My love is conditional. And let's face it, beginning in 2001 with "The Rainbow Children" and continuing through the unlistenable "Welcome 2 America" in 2021, Prince's output was godfuckingawful.
I can hear the disciples now, defending "Musicology" and "Lotusflower."
Please, let it go.
So why do I like the just released "Timeless?"
Maybe it's because my expectations were so low, they were buried.
Yes, it's random. And it was haphazardly put together...or maybe it wasn't.
That it is chronological doesn't help my argument, especially after years of stressing how sequencing a record is so important. But with this release, I think it works. It lays it all out.
Every song on its own is better than most of what is found on all of those weirdo experiments throughout the 2000's. Every song took me back to a period when I thought Prince was a god, maybe even thee God for a stretch.
Is "I Am You" better than anything on Prince's debut?
Yeah, a few tunes.
Is the original "Tick Tick Bang" better than the revamp on "Graffiti Bridge?"
I think so.
"Dirty Mind" is already amazing. Think about how much more amazing it could have been with "Tick Tick Bang" right before "Sister."
We love "Computer Blue" from "Purple Rain," don't we? "Heaven" is not much different.
I can't say I have ever heard Celine Dion's version of "With This Tear," but the version on "Timeless" is quite lovely.
"Stone" was considered for "Emancipation" and after hearing it twice, I think I'd considered it for one of my "Emancipation" edits I've made through the years.
My point is, nothing on "Timeless" is as terrible as most of those "proper" albums Prince released in the last 20 years. That's a bit backhanded, I know. But how about this? It's been years since I wanted to listen a new Prince album a second and third time. "Timeless" is the first in a while that called me back and it will be revisited again, and maybe again.
If a friend made you a Prince mixtape of rarities and it was "Timeless," you'd love it.
“If a friend made you a Prince mixtape of rarities and it was Timeless, you'd love it.” - Sal, 09.01.2026
ReplyDeleteExactly. Best description I’ve read. Listened to with that understanding, it’s really good. Really good. And there’s always shuffle.
Not much different from last year’s Crap Years Challenge (I still listen to Anonymous’ mix):
http://burnwoodtonite.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-2025-prince-crap-years-challenge.html
Apparently this album was unexpected. Two weeks ago, a Parade Super Deluxe edition was anticipated because of earlier estate teases.
DeleteDidn't know about a "Parade" SDE. Would love to see that.
DeleteHoping sometime today the "Who By Numbers" SDE is announced!
This 8 min video provides album background, track origins, and possible intent of release.
Deletehttps://youtu.be/Qc0jPDj4-ZM?is=vPeX6aKgADjlgf5P
I'm starting to think that there aren't any masterpieces buried in his fabled vault. If it was really, really good, he released it.
ReplyDeleteThe Revolution era was my period, so bring on the expanded Parade sessions. And include the Family album in there too.
Co-sign. Timeless is odds and ends...and they're quite good odds and ends. I had no expectations either. As wardo says, we've heard he recorded and recorded and recorded but the hope that the vault is filled with masterpieces is not borne out. Maybe lots of good concert recordings. I've played Timeless twice and bumped it up from 2 1/2 stars to 3 out of 4. Hearing him kill it live at the end feels like a nice capper. It's you know, pretty good and at this stage, that's very welcome indeed.
ReplyDeleteOh and for me Parade is my favorite Prince album so a SDE would be one I'd actually dive into.
ReplyDeleteI knew you'd listen. Everything released by his estate so far has been a disappointment. I was on the fence about this one but I have some bonus points at my record store and got this for free. We've heard it all before and one former other but there are a couple of standouts like "With This Tear", "Stone" and "I Wonder" that make it worth every penny I didn't spend on it.
ReplyDeleteI do love Lotusflower, but am really excited about By Numbers!!!
ReplyDeleteHadn't really planned on listening to this as most recent Prince releases have been kind of meh. But this played pretty well. Not sure I'd put it into rotation, but I never thought about stopping it either. (Damning with faint praise here, I guess...)
ReplyDeleteAhh of course u liked it lol...I find it a travesty. I am convinced most, if not all, of these tracks have been posthumously produced, edited, chopped up, with sounds/instruments added, vocals changed added rearranged...and possibly by AI...I can't prove it, of course, but already, long time Prince horn player Greg Boyer offered that he recorded horns just three months ago ..but I felt this before that came out...
ReplyDeleteI am far less a "hardcore" fan (understatement) than I was back in the day and I agree with your assessment of his output post Rainbow Children ..I would go back even further.
I never lost my admiration and astonishment for the talent and that wondrous 1979-'88 run, and of course seeing him live...but this release is a lackluster slapdash edited mess and a slap in the face to his name. Imho of course.
yeah... I'm just very familiar with a few of these tracks as old bootlegs...I Wonder, Heaven..Tick Tick Bang...I understand their could've been other more completed versions in the vault, but I actually doubt it. I think these were produced by the Estste to sound more "modern" and steaming friendly with a similar production "sound" and feel..to me it sounds very antiseptic and soulless. The fact it's so sparse and so few tracks are included in this makes me think it's a possible tryout for how much they (the current awful Price estate) can get away with AI-wise..and pull the wool over collectors and the public's collective eyes. They don't care about the fan base they want Gen X and Millennial $$$$.
ReplyDeleteAI never crossed my mind. But once AI is brought into a conversation about anything, it makes me distrust EVERYTHING!
ReplyDeleteI really like HitnRun Phase Two...Baltimore is fantastic, and Screwdriver is superb!!
ReplyDelete