The Critic ~ Album #13 Review ~ Depeche Mode

[NothingFails]

Well my exposure to Prince was pretty weird, I heard SOTT before some of the more conventional albums and it made me a bigger fan. PR was the first full album I heard, second was ATWIAD (and even that is a pretty weird choice for second album to hear of his), then I heard 1999 and SOTT around the same time and truly knew what a genius he was.

Honestly, if you took It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night off the album, it'd fit on one CD and be a fine 70 minute album.

[jio]

Well my exposure to Prince was pretty weird, I heard SOTT before some of the more conventional albums and it made me a bigger fan. PR was the first full album I heard, second was ATWIAD (and even that is a pretty weird choice for second album to hear of his), then I heard 1999 and SOTT around the same time and truly knew what a genius he was.

Honestly, if you took It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night off the album, it'd fit on one CD and be a fine 70 minute album.

Oh but that's such a good song to take away. It's so Bee-Gees lol. I'd remove "Play In The Sunshine", it's just boring and make a shorter version of "Adore"

[NothingFails]

is the Prince album taking a long time to grow on you? always check every day to see if a review is up since I can't wait to see your reviews for the next few

[CrazyCrazy]

is the Prince album taking a long time to grow on you? always check every day to see if a review is up since I can't wait to see your reviews for the next few

I'll put something up shortly.

[Chun]

^ Can't wait

[CrazyCrazy]

^ Can't wait

I'll try and post something tomorrow.

[NothingFails]

lol, I so cannot get on your case since I'm the one who takes months to finish a countdown I could've wrapped in three weeks

[Chun]

Yes, I wanted to do a countdown as well recently but stopped after posting 2 entries. It is lots of work, so don't feel you have to do it.

[CrazyCrazy]

The Critic ~ Album #10: Prince - Sign 'O' The Times


Rating 6.9/10

Hit & miss album for me this one, the opener & title track is a really bombastic and funky number, perfect as an opener I reckon, "Housequake" was a bouncy funk/rock cut which I enjoyed, "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker" had a dream-like atmosphere, mainly thanks to the low bass guitar twang (well whatever instrument it was!) running through it, I enjoyed listening to this song. "Slow Love" was very good, had a motown sound to it, the kind of song to get you in the mood for "getting down" but it didn't sound corny.

We are about half way through now and the track "Hot Thing" was instantly likeable, a little repetitive but certainly infectious, like a slowed down version of a James Brown track perhaps. "Forever In My Life" was a little forgettable but after a few more listens I enjoyed it more, "U Got The Look" is infectious and has some sexual lyrics (well what do you expect from Prince!?) Sheena Easton's inclusion makes this track much better and instant, "If I Was Your Girlfriend" is not my kind of track, there's nothing wrong with it and the sentiment of the track is cute and all but it was just too slushy for me and sounded a little dated and the lyric near the end gets kinda explicit "...I swear I'll drink every ounce..."! I'm no prude it just doesn't really appeal.

Nearing the end of this double album now and "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man" was good but something about the production was dated and didn't quite click with me but I did like it, "The Cross" was definitely a highlight for me, here I could hear a bit of soul coming out of Prince, cracked vocals and shouts gave this religious track some gusto which I really appreciated. "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" was an enjoyable pop/funk track which sounded like it was performed live, the song sounded like something the Bee-Gees would have done, maybe a bit too long for a new listener to Prince perhaps.

The final track "Adore" was quite good, the track only picked up for me about half way through, sweet track but not among the albums strongest. So overall, this album is more hit than miss but only by a margin, there are an eclectic mix of influences, some which do work and some not so much, I give good points for the funk he has plenty of and a number of the solid tracks but numerous tracks passed me by and left me cold.

Prince does have his own signature sound and seems focused so I also give points for that but that signature sound does not do that much for me and I seem to like him more when he does something outside of that.

Best tracks:

#1 The Cross
#2 U Got The Look
#3 Slow Love
#4 The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
#5 Sign 'O' The Times

[Wardo]

the kind of song to get you in the mood for "getting down" but it didn't sound corny.

I LOVE your reviews

It's about time to me to discover Prince, not sure now if the first I'm going to listen is Sign 'O' The Times.
I was thinking about 1999, instead.

The Cross is really good!

[hugo]

How come you didn't include "It"? that song is pure sex!

[ShayLaB]

I didn't even see this until now...what a terrific thread.

The only ones I know well are Kylie and Prince. I really like Sign Of the Times...it's all over the place in terms of style and there are some great tracks in there. I prefer the Parade, the funky little album that preceded it. It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night was recorded live - in Paris, as part of the Parade tour IIRC. The album was released as a double album (vinyl) but doesn't quite fit on a single CD.

Looking down the list of what is to come you certainly have taken the scatter gun approach. Some of those choices are *courageous*...another Britney to endure, one of the worst Queen albums, an odd Gary Numan choice (The Pleasure Principle surely??).

I salute the epic nature of your undertaking and wish you well on this voyage of discovery.

I may well follow up on some of the better reviews and add them to my Spotify collection.

If I had been around much when you started this I would have suggested:
Setting Sons - The Jam
Gentlemen Take Polaroids - Japan
Stranded - Roxy Music
Scott 4 - Scott Walker.
Perhaps also something by Leadbelly and the first LZ album.

[NothingFails]

the kind of song to get you in the mood for "getting down" but it didn't sound corny.

I LOVE your reviews

It's about time to me to discover Prince, not sure now if the first I'm going to listen is Sign 'O' The Times.
I was thinking about 1999, instead.

The Cross is really good!

Even though 1999 was one of his biggest albums and was the one that really launched his stardom (even though his was actually album #5), it is probably more indulgent than SOTT as a whole. The three singles are all pop/r&b classics, but the majority of the songs are over 6-7 mins long and it is definitely a hard R-rated album (the irony being that "Darlin' Nikki" is the song that got him in hot water with the parents groups when the song is downright G-rated compared to some of the tracks on 1999, Controversy and Dirty Mind). I think its one of his best albums, but he has far more accessible albums for a newbie to check out.

[CrazyCrazy]

the kind of song to get you in the mood for "getting down" but it didn't sound corny.

I LOVE your reviews

It's about time to me to discover Prince, not sure now if the first I'm going to listen is Sign 'O' The Times.
I was thinking about 1999, instead.

The Cross is really good!

Yes I don't think this would be the best starting point, glad you like The Cross!

How come you didn't include "It"? that song is pure sex!

Well it just seemed to be a meh track while listening hence why it didn't get a mention, this is usually the case with tracks which aren't mentioned btw.

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 7:40 pm Post subject:
I didn't even see this until now...what a terrific thread.

The only ones I know well are Kylie and Prince. I really like Sign Of the Times...it's all over the place in terms of style and there are some great tracks in there. I prefer the Parade, the funky little album that preceded it. It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night was recorded live - in Paris, as part of the Parade tour IIRC. The album was released as a double album (vinyl) but doesn't quite fit on a single CD.

Looking down the list of what is to come you certainly have taken the scatter gun approach. Some of those choices are *courageous*...another Britney to endure, one of the worst Queen albums, an odd Gary Numan choice (The Pleasure Principle surely??).

I salute the epic nature of your undertaking and wish you well on this voyage of discovery.

I may well follow up on some of the better reviews and add them to my Spotify collection.

If I had been around much when you started this I would have suggested:
Setting Sons - The Jam
Gentlemen Take Polaroids - Japan
Stranded - Roxy Music
Scott 4 - Scott Walker.
Perhaps also something by Leadbelly and the first LZ album.

Wow thank you buddy, interesting to read your thoughts there, I'll add your suggestions once the rest is done, which may be a while yet.

Are you disappointed with my rating NF?

[NothingFails]

Not really, I'm glad you at least found a couple songs to chart. I figured SOTT would be a good place for someone who only knows Prince's hits since it does represent his diversity as an artist, even though Parade and Around The World In A Day may be more to your liking if you were more into his experimental tracks.

[CrazyCrazy]

Not really, I'm glad you at least found a couple songs to chart. I figured SOTT would be a good place for someone who only knows Prince's hits since it does represent his diversity as an artist, even though Parade and Around The World In A Day may be more to your liking if you were more into his experimental tracks.

Oh ok Well I do like him more after the album, 6.9 is not a bad rating in my book, I was surprised the see the album get so much acclaim! Overrated maybe this one? I will try those ones.

As we are on Prince..."The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" is a contender for one of the worst songs ever for me, it's just so cheesy! I really like "When Doves Cry" though!

[NothingFails]

Not really, I'm glad you at least found a couple songs to chart. I figured SOTT would be a good place for someone who only knows Prince's hits since it does represent his diversity as an artist, even though Parade and Around The World In A Day may be more to your liking if you were more into his experimental tracks.

Oh ok Well I do like him more after the album, 6.9 is not a bad rating in my book, I was surprised the see the album get so much acclaim! Overrated maybe this one? I will try those ones.

Around The World In A Day and Parade were the two albums that immediately followed Purple Rain (and preceded SOTT) and for the most part, though two albums were intended to weed out those who loved Prince the pop icon from 1999 and Purple Rain and those who admire Prince the artist. Both albums had hits (Raspberry Beret and Kiss are two of his biggest) but as a whole, they were both albums that were far more adventurous and less mainstream.

I think as a whole SOTT gets the love it gets because it really does represent the "end" of his real artistic reign. Lovesexy was alright but it didn't quite measure up to the six or seven albums before it, but the soundtrack to Batman was where he really goes from this untouchable genius to someone who is hit and miss but can have some great moments per album.

[Wardo]

Thank you so much for the suggestion, NothingFails

[NothingFails]

Thank you so much for the suggestion, NothingFails

Honestly, except for Diamonds And Pearls (his attempt at trying to be popular with the New Jack market) and Batman (which was basically done to show Warner he still had selling power), everything he did up until 1996 is worth checking out, but some of his stuff can be very self-indulgent if you're not already a fan. Much like how I love Bowie's Lodger album, but would never recommend it to someone who hasn't already listened to 5-10 other albums. A lot of people really compare Prince and MJ largely because they were the same age, peaked around the same era and were both black artists who broke the color barrier on MTV, but I think Prince was more of a black Bowie than competition to MJ.

[jio]

Oh you posted your review... just now I saw it.

Well, as I said before SOTT is indeed a hit-and-miss album for me too so I don't mind the initial statement (although over at the Prince fan clubs they would have hanged you upside down for that lol). Although there is not really a bad song in the whole album, there are several average ones and that puts it in a lesser category than all Prince albums before it, IMO.

So I kinda agree with your review, although IFIYG is definitely my favourite song in there. Also "Hot Thing" really shines on its remix version, not so much in its album version. "Strange Relationship", "U Got The Look", "The Cross" and of course the title track are all fantastic songs. ICNTTPOYM indeed sounds dated and several songs on the first LP/CD sound like fillers.

Wardo yeah you should really discover Prince but don't start with SOTT. Start with either the Hits/B-Sides or with 1999 or Purple Rain. His music is just too good not to experience it

[jio]

Thank you so much for the suggestion, NothingFails

Honestly, except for Diamonds And Pearls (his attempt at trying to be popular with the New Jack market) and Batman (which was basically done to show Warner he still had selling power), everything he did up until 1996 is worth checking out, but some of his stuff can be very self-indulgent if you're not already a fan. Much like how I love Bowie's Lodger album, but would never recommend it to someone who hasn't already listened to 5-10 other albums. A lot of people really compare Prince and MJ largely because they were the same age, peaked around the same era and were both black artists who broke the color barrier on MTV, but I think Prince was more of a black Bowie than competition to MJ.

I really need to get more familiar with Bowie myself. I love almost every single he has released from the 80s on (besides the Pet Shop Boys collaborations) and everything I have heard from his 70s output yet I haven't purchased (or heard in full) a single studio album by him. Maybe I'll buy something when my salary comes:)

[LonelyDreamer]

Prince, a black Bowie? Sorry, but David Bowie is so above it all... and MJ is so superior that there is no parameters to compare him to anyone else in music.

Prince only has a couple of good songs plus "Nothing Compares 2 U" lyrics and that's all.

[jio]

Prince, a black Bowie? Sorry, but David Bowie is so above it all... and MJ is so superior that there is no parameters to compare him to anyone else in music.

Prince only has a couple of good songs plus "Nothing Compares 2 U" lyrics and that's all.

I wish people would be familiar with an artist (any artist) before they make such statements...

On a different note, I just ordered "Space Oddity"

[LonelyDreamer]

Jio, I have tried several songs from Prince... He's just annoying.

Not my cup of tea, really.

[jio]

Jio, I have tried several songs from Prince... He's just annoying.

Not my cup of tea, really.

Fair enough. You should have said you don't like him and I wouldn't have said a word. But you really can't judge an artist who has released over 30 albums by knowing just "several songs".

Personally I was a MJ fan and Prince annoyed me when I was a kid but then I discovered Prince's music and I am a fan ever since. I am familiar with MJ's albums too (minus the 70s) and I think Prince is far better (although MJ is indeed one of the greats). But that's just my opinion and is as valid (if not more since I am familiar with the discography of both artists) than yours.