The following review appears in the Nov. 18-25th issue of Time Out New York:



"It's not about whether the Artist's new album is good or not, it's simply
about figuring out what he's trying to tell us this time around. And, man -
I'm stumped. I think he's trying to be nice. "Positivity" and all that.
Inside the rather simply packaged CD case, there's a cute picture of a
smiling little lamb along with an anti-wool wearing diatribe and a quote from
Gandhi. The lyrics refer (often) to beverages and heartbreak.



As with every Prince album, the best parts are the outrageous, inexplicable
little details he always throws in that make you go "What the fuck?" Like
when in "Hot with U" (featuring a rhyme from the Ruff Ryder's first lady
Eve), he calls Eve an "astral travellin' hottie" and sings "I wanna get hot
with U/ Wanna get U underneath the cream/ And do the marshmallow" - on my!
Then there's his surprisingly catchy duet with Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, "So
Far, So Pleased" that recalls Prince's synthy '80s-pop hooks a la " When You
Were Mine" in a big way.



Supposedly, it's a big deal that Arista founder Clive Davis worked with
Prince on this record, since he's the guy who made Santana's new album go to
No 1 by teaming up the crusty old band with a bunch of MTV youngsters. I
guess they're hoping for a similar revival here, since Rave has a bunch of
big-time guests besides Stefani, like Chuck D, Sheryl Crow, Ani DiFranco and
legendary JB's saxman Maceo Parker. That's just too gross for words - Prince
don't need no one's help. Luckily, the guest parts are kept to a minimum,
and thank God(dess) Ani only plays guitar and doesn't sing.



The one collaboration that really works is the excellent hidden track called
"Prettyman". Here, Prince hoots and squeals old-school style and jokingly
boasts things like "I write a check and the bank bounce" while Maceo blows
his horn like nobody's bidness. Hearing Prince shout "Maceo!" just like
James Brown used to makes it obvious how easily Prince could be the new
James if he just let loose a little more and funked shit up. Oh the Artist,
what are we going to do with you?"



- Review by Amy Kellner, Time Out NY, Nov 18th-25th