Hadn't seen this review posted, yet, from www.africana.com:

http://www.africana.com/R...sic_87.htm

Music | Sound Check: Thrillers, Chillers and Killers
By Steven G. Fullwood
First published: December 12, 2001

Prince
The Rainbow Children (Redline Entertainment)
(3 stars)

In 1996 Prince became The Artist Formerly Known as after a contract dispute with Warner Brothers over the ultimate ownership of his master recording tapes forced him to leave the label without the royal title. In the first few years after his emancipation, Prince released about 10 albums worth of material. Much of it was retreads, and didn't earn him any new followers due primarily to the absence of that experimental edge that always placed him ahead of his time. After the release of his 1988 album, the exquisite Lovesexy, his Royal Badness appeared to be following trends (like hip-hop) rather than setting them. But the tide has changed, and Prince's latest and best effort in years is a pleasant surprise. Rainbow Children is jazzy, edgy, and unbelievably satisfying. It's almost as if The Artist wrestled his bloated ego to the ground long enough to let a few songs escape and amaze old heads, while making a few new ones nod too.

Equal parts gospel, sex and politics, the album lounges in reverie, smoothing out funky cuts like "1+1+1=3" and "The Work Pt. 1" or gorgeously soulful tunes like "She Loves Me 4 Me" " and "Mellow." Prince's insight shows best on songs like the razor sharp "Digital Garden" and the divine "The Sensual Everafter." This lovely instrumental is chilling, combining free-floating guitar and bass anchored with crisp piano that explodes into a wonderful rave-up at the end. The title track lays out an expansive musical terrain that allows him to fuse jazz and gospel with aplomb. One major of the album shortcoming is his decision is to employ the deep, God-voice narration. Although it explains the album's theory (Rainbow Children as God's Chosen), it still detracts from the music, which, as I stated above, is well worth the price of the album.