Do you think Prince's music evolved and matured with his every new album during 1978-1988 period?

And when did you find Prince's sound stopped evolving ?

I think it evolved, but not necessarily matured. I think Prince is ever evolving, just not to my liking!

Prince is always evolving and changing.

[Edited 12/21/10 16:10pm]

This is how I always break it down:

For You-Prince was pretty plain, straightforward disco shit.

Dirty Mind-Lovesexy was the classic, eclectic pop oriented sound that made him a god.

Batman-Emancipation was Prince's darkest and edgiest work, but with a more down-to-earth feel than before.

Crystal Ball-N.E.W.S was the infamous experimental stage. IMO, there's a reason he dropped off the map after Emancipation.

Musicology-20Ten. The youthful energy is gone, but the new albums have a much more laid back vibe than the rest. His most mature records by far. Slaughterhouse and Chocolate Invasion don't count.

thebanishedone said:

Do you think Prince's music evolved and matured with his every new album during 1978-1988 period?

And when did you find Prince's sound stopped evolving ?

I think he's always evolving but I don't think the music is always maturing.

I'm sorry but a lot of the 1990's rappish inclusion just wasn't a good evolution for me, and felt like an old person trying to be hip.

I wasn't a big 1990's Prince fan at all

Graffiti Bridge was a disappointment. Even though a lot of the unreleased studio cuts of some songs were good (of course after hearing them years later)

Diamonds & Pearls & Love Symbol album had some good stuff, but it just didn't seem like a maturing. For example I LOVE Love 2 the 9s but once the rapping thing comes in it just looses me.

the sounds he had in the 1980's were so unique that he could have continued to have that unique Prince Minneapolis Sound and still grow... but I think the people in his circle would have a lot to do with it. I think with the change of that 1980's era also went the loss of inspiration and the maturing of his sound we hear during 1999-DreamFactory/Sott.

To me the Family album, Madhouse, Parade & Purple Rain, ATWIAD, songs like Power Fantastic, song like Dear Michaelangelo, A Love Bizarre, Mia Bocca, I Don't Want 2 Leave U, Old Friends 4 Sale, Parade outtakes, Camille project music... that was the definative period of Prince's music maturing

thebanishedone said:

Do you think Prince's music evolved and matured with his every new album during 1978-1988 period?

And when did you find Prince's sound stopped evolving ?

His 'sound' is ever evolving, the lyrics are in the same 'vein' of some of his previous recordings, IMHO ...

I would call it DE-Evolution,..or Deconstruction rather than an Evolution. Genius from 81-91. Great from 92-98, 98- present simply mediocre.