http://www.ew.com/ew/arti...19,00.html

A decade of Prince albums

For You (Warner Bros., 1978)
A professional, if derivative, one-man-band debut, most notable for ''Soft and Wet'' and Prince's Afro on the cover. B-

Prince (Warner Bros., 1979)
He still hadn't found his voice, but ''I Wanna Be Your Lover,'' his first pop hit, was a slither in the right direction. B-

Dirty Mind (Warner Bros., 1980)
The punchiest production and writing of his early career (''When You Were Mine,'' ''Dirty Mind''), complete with over-the-top lyrics (''Sister,'' ''Head'')-a masterwork of lewdness and desire. A

Controversy (Warner Bros., 1981)
Basically Dirtier Mind, with longer jams, one of his best pillow-talk ballads (''Do Me, Baby''), and, naturally, assorted odes to assorted bods (''Sexuality''). B+

1999 (Warner Bros., 1982)
Prince's take-no-prisoners pop breakthrough — his first album to crack the top 10 — still sounds bold and brassy, especially on ''Little Red Corvette,'' ''Let's Pretend We're Married,'' and the title cut. Excessive at times, but not even Prince could avoid the traps inherent in a two-record set. A-

Purple Rain (Warner Bros., 1984)
The album and soundtrack that made him a media sensation (No. 1 album, Oscar for Best Original Score) is one of his murkiest. Soggy ''rock'' arrangements and the overblown title track bog it down, although a few gems, namely ''When Doves Cry'' and the ballad ''Take Me With U,'' sparkle. B

Around the World in a Day (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1985)
Yes, he could update the sunniest feel-good aura of the '60s (''Raspberry Beret,'' the James Brown/Sly Stone vamping of ''Temptation''). But too many of these songs sound like bad acid trips. C

Parade (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1986)
Wallowing even deeper in self- indulgence, Prince pairs his weakest movie (Under the Cherry Moon) with his most wildly uneven album. Florid ballads and ersatz cabaret dominate, yet he salvages the record with two slinky workouts (''Girls & Boys,'' ''Anotherloverholen-yohead'') and one of his punchiest singles, ''Kiss.''C-

Sign 'O' the Times (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1987)
Back in form, Prince finally delivers the goods he'd been promising in the wake of Purple Rain. From topical funk (the title track) to unabashed pop (''U Got the Look'' with Sheena Easton, ''I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man'') to glorious guitar squalor (''The Cross'') to simmering R&B (''Slow Love''), this double album was a sign that proved worth heeding. A

The Black Album (unreleased, 1987)
Pulled from release under mysterious circumstances (did Prince back down? did Warner?), the heavily bootlegged Black Album lives up to its legend with dark funk and a disturbing pimp fantasy (''Bob George''). Worth hunting down. B+

Lovesexy (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1988)
A somewhat reserved Prince hits 30 and confronts God, sex, and What It All Means on a confused and sometimes confusing album. More than its share of dippiness, but also some of his densest funk (''Alphabet St.,'' ''Eye No'') and ballads that ooze lust (''I Wish U Heaven,'' ''When 2 R in Love''). B

Batman (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1989)
Prince's first No. 1 album since Around the World in a Day is not your standard hackneyed '80s movie soundtrack. But with such piffle as ''Scandalous,'' ''Partyman,'' and the clunky hit single ''Batdance,'' it's not your standard thrilling Prince album, either. B-

Graffiti Bridge (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1990)
Back on track, Prince delivers his most consistent, playful, and profound music yet, in a double album (from the soundtrack of his new film) that moves in a radiant arc from distress to redemption. A+ — Greg Sandow

[Edited 8/17/10 23:16pm]

I remmeber these reviews! I think I still have that magazine issue.

That's insane

From Wikipedia: "Sandow has also extensively written and researched unidentified flying objects^[4], notably for the International UFO Reporter, a quarterly publication of the Center for UFO Studies.^[5]"

Maybe Sandow was trying to spot UFO's when he wrote that Grafitti Bridge was better than SOTT and the mixed bag that is called Parade, Purple Rain, ATWAID,...?

iamchris90yall said:

1. Purple Rain gets a B but Graffiti Bridge gets an A+?! (Better than SOTT?!)

2."Take Me With U", generally seen as the weakest track on the album, is highlighted as one of the best??

3.Batman gets better reviews than Around The World In A Day and Parade?!

1. maybe crossing a bridge is better than bathing in the rain

2. "take me with you" cried the abductee, who wouldnt want a glimpse of the real world?

3. maybe superheroes get the job done when others do not

I actually agree with their opinion of ATWIAD

Didnt or doesnt Warner Bros. own Entertainment Weekly?? This is definately an example of them overhyping up the movie & soundtrack at the time, since it was the new release,I'm sure they had 2 give it a glowing review, they didnt even mention what songs made the album that great. & No other album but Graffitti Bridge gets an A+ up til that point, LOL!

[Edited 8/18/10 4:22am]

NPG2045 said:

Didnt or doesnt Warner Bros. own Entertainment Weekly?? This is definately an example of them overhyping up the movie & soundtrack at the time, since it was the new release,I'm sure they had 2 give it a glowing review, they didnt even mention what songs made the album that great. & No other album but Graffitti Bridge gets an A+ up til that point, LOL!

"Graffiti Bridge" has some cool songs,but I wouldn't give it an A+ that's absurd

I can't get past Parade getting a C-.

[Edited 8/18/10 4:49am]

I love Graffiti Bridge. I would put it in my top three, so I don't mind it getting an A+ at all.

But that collection of reviews is just a product of its time. It's BS in the way it's BS whenever a magazine does "The 500 Best Albums of All Time" or something like that. They're more a reflection of the current time and the current state of the magazine that produced them than they are actual measurements of art. And when a magazine writer has to sum up a bunch of albums in a line or two, it's always a burdensome task.

Given the many "Is Prince any good at funk?" threads that go on here, I did giggle at "Alphabet St." and "Eye No" being called his "densest funk."

Purple Rain (Warner Bros., 1984)
The album and soundtrack that made him a media sensation (No. 1 album, Oscar for Best Original Score) is one of his murkiest. Soggy ''rock'' arrangements and the overblown title track bog it down, although a few gems, namely ''When Doves Cry'' and the ballad ''Take Me With U,'' sparkle. B

this is hilarious."Murky"?? "Soggy rock arrangements"??

iamchris90yall said:

http://www.ew.com/ew/arti...19,00.html

A decade of Prince albums

For You (Warner Bros., 1978)
A professional, if derivative, one-man-band debut, most notable for ''Soft and Wet'' and Prince's Afro on the cover. B-

Prince (Warner Bros., 1979)
He still hadn't found his voice, but ''I Wanna Be Your Lover,'' his first pop hit, was a slither in the right direction. B-

Dirty Mind (Warner Bros., 1980)
The punchiest production and writing of his early career (''When You Were Mine,'' ''Dirty Mind''), complete with over-the-top lyrics (''Sister,'' ''Head'')-a masterwork of lewdness and desire. A

Controversy (Warner Bros., 1981)
Basically Dirtier Mind, with longer jams, one of his best pillow-talk ballads (''Do Me, Baby''), and, naturally, assorted odes to assorted bods (''Sexuality''). B+

1999 (Warner Bros., 1982)
Prince's take-no-prisoners pop breakthrough — his first album to crack the top 10 — still sounds bold and brassy, especially on ''Little Red Corvette,'' ''Let's Pretend We're Married,'' and the title cut. Excessive at times, but not even Prince could avoid the traps inherent in a two-record set. A-

Purple Rain (Warner Bros., 1984)
The album and soundtrack that made him a media sensation (No. 1 album, Oscar for Best Original Score) is one of his murkiest. Soggy ''rock'' arrangements and the overblown title track bog it down, although a few gems, namely ''When Doves Cry'' and the ballad ''Take Me With U,'' sparkle. B

Around the World in a Day (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1985)
Yes, he could update the sunniest feel-good aura of the '60s (''Raspberry Beret,'' the James Brown/Sly Stone vamping of ''Temptation''). But too many of these songs sound like bad acid trips. C

Parade (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1986)
Wallowing even deeper in self- indulgence, Prince pairs his weakest movie (Under the Cherry Moon) with his most wildly uneven album. Florid ballads and ersatz cabaret dominate, yet he salvages the record with two slinky workouts (''Girls & Boys,'' ''Anotherloverholen-yohead'') and one of his punchiest singles, ''Kiss.''C-

Sign 'O' the Times (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1987)
Back in form, Prince finally delivers the goods he'd been promising in the wake of Purple Rain. From topical funk (the title track) to unabashed pop (''U Got the Look'' with Sheena Easton, ''I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man'') to glorious guitar squalor (''The Cross'') to simmering R&B (''Slow Love''), this double album was a sign that proved worth heeding. A

The Black Album (unreleased, 1987)
Pulled from release under mysterious circumstances (did Prince back down? did Warner?), the heavily bootlegged Black Album lives up to its legend with dark funk and a disturbing pimp fantasy (''Bob George''). Worth hunting down. B+

Lovesexy (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1988)
A somewhat reserved Prince hits 30 and confronts God, sex, and What It All Means on a confused and sometimes confusing album. More than its share of dippiness, but also some of his densest funk (''Alphabet St.,'' ''Eye No'') and ballads that ooze lust (''I Wish U Heaven,'' ''When 2 R in Love''). B

Batman (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1989)
Prince's first No. 1 album since Around the World in a Day is not your standard hackneyed '80s movie soundtrack. But with such piffle as ''Scandalous,'' ''Partyman,'' and the clunky hit single ''Batdance,'' it's not your standard thrilling Prince album, either. B-

Graffiti Bridge (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1990)
Back on track, Prince delivers his most consistent, playful, and profound music yet, in a double album (from the soundtrack of his new film) that moves in a radiant arc from distress to redemption. A+ — Greg Sandow

[Edited 8/17/10 23:16pm]

Goes to show...many Prince fans view the 80's with rose tinted glasses.

Hey, I love Around The World in a Day. However, I also accept that it is not a universal fact that everyone else does.

skywalker said:

iamchris90yall said:

http://www.ew.com/ew/arti...19,00.html

A decade of Prince albums

For You (Warner Bros., 1978)
A professional, if derivative, one-man-band debut, most notable for ''Soft and Wet'' and Prince's Afro on the cover. B-

Prince (Warner Bros., 1979)
He still hadn't found his voice, but ''I Wanna Be Your Lover,'' his first pop hit, was a slither in the right direction. B-

Dirty Mind (Warner Bros., 1980)
The punchiest production and writing of his early career (''When You Were Mine,'' ''Dirty Mind''), complete with over-the-top lyrics (''Sister,'' ''Head'')-a masterwork of lewdness and desire. A

Controversy (Warner Bros., 1981)
Basically Dirtier Mind, with longer jams, one of his best pillow-talk ballads (''Do Me, Baby''), and, naturally, assorted odes to assorted bods (''Sexuality''). B+

1999 (Warner Bros., 1982)
Prince's take-no-prisoners pop breakthrough — his first album to crack the top 10 — still sounds bold and brassy, especially on ''Little Red Corvette,'' ''Let's Pretend We're Married,'' and the title cut. Excessive at times, but not even Prince could avoid the traps inherent in a two-record set. A-

Purple Rain (Warner Bros., 1984)
The album and soundtrack that made him a media sensation (No. 1 album, Oscar for Best Original Score) is one of his murkiest. Soggy ''rock'' arrangements and the overblown title track bog it down, although a few gems, namely ''When Doves Cry'' and the ballad ''Take Me With U,'' sparkle. B

Around the World in a Day (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1985)
Yes, he could update the sunniest feel-good aura of the '60s (''Raspberry Beret,'' the James Brown/Sly Stone vamping of ''Temptation''). But too many of these songs sound like bad acid trips. C

Parade (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1986)
Wallowing even deeper in self- indulgence, Prince pairs his weakest movie (Under the Cherry Moon) with his most wildly uneven album. Florid ballads and ersatz cabaret dominate, yet he salvages the record with two slinky workouts (''Girls & Boys,'' ''Anotherloverholen-yohead'') and one of his punchiest singles, ''Kiss.''C-

Sign 'O' the Times (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1987)
Back in form, Prince finally delivers the goods he'd been promising in the wake of Purple Rain. From topical funk (the title track) to unabashed pop (''U Got the Look'' with Sheena Easton, ''I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man'') to glorious guitar squalor (''The Cross'') to simmering R&B (''Slow Love''), this double album was a sign that proved worth heeding. A

The Black Album (unreleased, 1987)
Pulled from release under mysterious circumstances (did Prince back down? did Warner?), the heavily bootlegged Black Album lives up to its legend with dark funk and a disturbing pimp fantasy (''Bob George''). Worth hunting down. B+

Lovesexy (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1988)
A somewhat reserved Prince hits 30 and confronts God, sex, and What It All Means on a confused and sometimes confusing album. More than its share of dippiness, but also some of his densest funk (''Alphabet St.,'' ''Eye No'') and ballads that ooze lust (''I Wish U Heaven,'' ''When 2 R in Love''). B

Batman (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1989)
Prince's first No. 1 album since Around the World in a Day is not your standard hackneyed '80s movie soundtrack. But with such piffle as ''Scandalous,'' ''Partyman,'' and the clunky hit single ''Batdance,'' it's not your standard thrilling Prince album, either. B-

Graffiti Bridge (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1990)
Back on track, Prince delivers his most consistent, playful, and profound music yet, in a double album (from the soundtrack of his new film) that moves in a radiant arc from distress to redemption. A+ — Greg Sandow

[Edited 8/17/10 23:16pm]

Goes to show...many Prince fans view the 80's with rose tinted glasses.

Hey, I love Around The World in a Day. However, I also accept that it is not a universal fact that everyone else does.

Not really! It just goes to show that Greg Sandow of Entertainment Weekly, didn't know what he was talking about!

An A+ for Grafitti Bridge but a B+ for Controversy....HA!

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

skywalker said:

Goes to show...many Prince fans view the 80's with rose tinted glasses.

Hey, I love Around The World in a Day. However, I also accept that it is not a universal fact that everyone else does.

Not really! It just goes to show that Greg Sandow of Entertainment Weekly, didn't know what he was talking about!

Sure, but like much of what gets written on the web or in the magazines, it all boils down to someone's opinion. They are never the stone cold truth, they are simply popular opinions or not. I mean, prove to me that Controversy is a better album than Graffiti Bridge.

[Edited 8/18/10 8:18am]

skywalker said:

prove to me that Controversy is a better album than Graffiti Bridge.

would you rather build a bridge and get over it or get caught up controversial drama?

skywalker said:

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

Not really! It just goes to show that Greg Sandow of Entertainment Weekly, didn't know what he was talking about!

Sure, but like much of what gets written on the web or in the magazines, it all boils down to someone's opinion. They are never the stone cold truth, they are simply popular opinions or not. I mean, prove to me that Controversy is a better album than Graffiti Bridge.

[Edited 8/18/10 8:18am]

As you said it's really a matter of opinion, which is why your "Goes to show...many Prince fans view the 80's with rose tinted glasses." comment was completely pointless.

However, proving that Controversy is a better album is not hard, for you see, had there not been a movie attached to Graffiti Bridge, therefore providing its theme and merit. It would not have been able to stand on its own. "Thieves in the Temple" and "Round and Round" were the only songs that got any airplay. The only time I've actually heard the other songs is when I was watching the movie or Prince played around with a few of them in concert.

Controversy, on the other hand, had no movie. Stood valiantly on its own merit and still does to this very day and in my neck of the woods, 5 out of the 8 songs got massive airplay.

.

[Edited 8/18/10 12:43pm]

Parade gets a C- and Graffiti Bridge gets an A+??

OK, Purple Rain only gets a B but Grafitti Bridge gets an A+?

They must've been sippin' that purple syrup. knoimtalkinbout

I recall the initial reviews (including RS IIRC) for GB where ridiculous.

Giving Parade a C- in absurd.

I really do like Graffiti Bridge, but Purple Rain murky? Scandalous is piffle? I bet he liked Lemon Crush, P's worst song ever.

The ufo needs to come back and pick this jackass up.

Let me sum it up betta:

For You--A-

Prince B+

Dirty Mind A

Controversy B +

1999 A +

Purple Rain A +

ATWIAD A-

Parade A -

SOTT A + + +

Black Album B-

Lovefreaky A

Batman B +

Graffiti Bridge A-

There, better.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

skywalker said:

Sure, but like much of what gets written on the web or in the magazines, it all boils down to someone's opinion. They are never the stone cold truth, they are simply popular opinions or not. I mean, prove to me that Controversy is a better album than Graffiti Bridge.

[Edited 8/18/10 8:18am]

As you said it's really a matter of opinion, which is why your "Goes to show...many Prince fans view the 80's with rose tinted glasses." comment was completely pointless.

However, proving that Controversy is a better album is not hard, for you see, had there not been a movie attached to Graffiti Bridge, therefore providing its theme and merit. It would not have been able to stand on its own. "Thieves in the Temple" and "Round and Round" were the only songs that got any airplay. The only time I've actually heard the other songs is when I was watching the movie or Prince played around with a few of them in concert.

Controversy, on the other hand, had no movie. Stood valiantly on its own merit and still does to this very day and in my neck of the woods, 5 out of the 8 songs got massive airplay.

.

[Edited 8/18/10 12:43pm]

I don't disagree that Controversy is better than Graffiti Bridge. Just saying this reviewers opinion is no more/less valid than mine or yours. You see subjective lists like this popping up every hour on Prince.org. That said, the logic you give explaining why Controversy is better is a bit flawed to me.

1. Airplay does not equal quality.

2. 5 out of 8 songs on Controversy go major airplay? Which five? Show me how they/when they charted.

3. I would argue that Graffiti Bridge The Movie actually damages/weakens the album. Had the album not been attached to the turkey of a movie, the album would have been better off...and not tainted with the aura of suck. Aura pun intended.

4. My statement that "many Prince fans view the 80's with rose tinted glasses" is a fact. It might be an incorrect fact, but it can be proven or dis-proven.

[Edited 8/18/10 17:05pm]

Timmy84 said:

OK, Purple Rain only gets a B but Grafitti Bridge gets an A+?

They must've been sippin' that purple syrup. knoimtalkinbout

iamchris90yall said:

http://www.ew.com/ew/arti...19,00.html

Lovesexy (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1988)
A somewhat reserved Prince hits 30 and confronts God, sex, and What It All Means on a confused and sometimes confusing album. More than its share of dippiness, but also some of his densest funk (''Alphabet St.,'' ''Eye No'') and ballads that ooze lust (''I Wish U Heaven,'' ''When 2 R in Love''). B

I Wish U Heaven oozes lust?

StonedImmaculate said:

iamchris90yall said:

http://www.ew.com/ew/arti...19,00.html

Lovesexy (Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1988)
A somewhat reserved Prince hits 30 and confronts God, sex, and What It All Means on a confused and sometimes confusing album. More than its share of dippiness, but also some of his densest funk (''Alphabet St.,'' ''Eye No'') and ballads that ooze lust (''I Wish U Heaven,'' ''When 2 R in Love''). B

I Wish U Heaven oozes lust?

yeah,what does he mean by that??

Makes you wonder if some of these critics actually take the time to really listen to these albums it's hilarious that someone could dismiss 'Purple Rain' as a "murky" album with soggy rock arrangements,containing only a few gems

i respect opinions, but to say i wish u heaven ozzes lust is pure boldadash

SoulAlive said:

Makes you wonder if some of these critics actually take the time to really listen to these albums it's hilarious that someone could dismiss 'Purple Rain' as a "murky" album with soggy rock arrangements,containing only a few gems

Do they ever?