Taken from the "Pulse" lifout from the Courier Mail (Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia)


THE ARTIST foermly known as...
Rave un2 the Joy Fantastic (Arista)



This is the first album released by The Artist with Arista,
since leaving Warner. Oddly enough, the produciton credits
on the disc are awarded to Prince.



In a fashion, that's exactly what Rave is - a classic Prince
album. It might be 1999, but The Artist might be boldly
starring down the millennium, but this album sounds very
1986.



Now that's not necessarily a bad thing. Fans will be soon
slotting Rave right alongside Purple rain and 1999.



Of course, The Artist performs on all of the record's tracks
but he is not entirely without support. Rave features
contributions from the likes of Chuck D, Sheryl Crow,
Ani DiFranco, No Doubt and saxophonist Maceo Paker.



On Rave, The Artist shows off his endless dexterity. The
title track mixes funk and metal riffs, while the "Purple
One" wails away with a soulful falsetto. On Undisputed,
Chuck D lends some wieght as The Artist croons:
"Commercialism of music/is what brought it down".



A stand-out is the first single The Greatest Romance Ever
Sold. Infectious pop, the song is a throw-back to The
Artist's classic '80s singles. The bulk of the album is
Artist originals.



Typically Prince, the show ain't over until the artist say's
it's over. Stick around for a hidden track, Prettyman.



Those expecting a great leap forward will be disappointed.
It is an album that recalls The Artist's fomer majesty.



(Mitchell Peters)