Released in the U.S. exactly one year after its predecessor1, Sign o’ the Times is an absolute fucking masterpiece. Peaking at #6 on Billboard’s Top 200 around five weeks after it was released, achieving platinum status just two months after that, Sign o’ the Times demonstrates the raw power music can have on an audience. […]

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After the perceived commercial failing of Around the World in a Day and a mixed response from critics, the safe bet is to get back to basics. The problem for Prince is, there is no “basics.” His fundamentals are sound enough, and his very nature is curious enough, that continued experimentation is the inevitable result […]

Read more "Retroactive Review: Parade (1986)"

Rather than fast track a sequel1, why not throw the audience a swerve with your artistic sensibilities? Around the World in a Day doesn’t even try to properly succeed Purple Rain, and it’s better off because of that fact. Released rather surprisingly on April 22nd, 1985, the album hit the #1 spot on Billboard’s Top […]

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Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to peruse this critic’s adoration and subsequent fawning over of an undeniable pop music masterpiece. A subjective word, masterpiece, it means a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship, and there’s plenty of people who may disagree, but I’m here to tell you, they’re wrong. A world without […]

Read more "Retroactive Review: Purple Rain (1984)"

I once wrote that subtlety was only in the technicalities of Prince’s craft, and that we could enjoy content released for the sake of new content, provided they maintain quality. That’s all being flung out the window of the purple tinted party bus now, because once Prince’s manager, Bob Cavallo, suggested an overarching song and […]

Read more "Retroactive Review: 1999 (1982)"

When you talk about sex, you get attention, when you talk about fucking your sister, you get controversy. Released on October 14th, 1981, Controversy went to #21 on Billboard’s Top 200 and managed to stay in the charts for 32 weeks, earning Prince a gold certification in just three months; ultimately going platinum in early […]

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This perverted little masterpiece was the sudden culmination of several factors going on in Prince’s career and the state of pop music as a whole. Released on October 8th, 1980, it debuted at #63 on the Top 200 chart, peaking at a meager #43. It took nearly four years for it to achieve a certification, […]

Read more "Retroactive Review: Dirty Mind (1980)"

On October 7th, 1979, Prince released his self-titled second album, and in a way, truly began his career. For You didn’t sell the eventual million records that this one did, and “Soft and Wet” wasn’t the smash hit that “I Wanna Be Your Lover” was, even if it did only peak at #11 on Billboard’s Top 100. […]

Read more "Retroactive Review: Prince (1979)"

For context, my mom was just a little over a year old when a 19, nearly 20-year-old Prince released his debut album, For You, on April 7th, 1978. I’m a full generation after Prince’s initial audience, and yet the talent won me over. Sometimes something (or someone) is considered classic for a reason, and talent […]

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