Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 10/25/1990
Run Time: 43:50
Prince designed
Purple Rain as the project that would make him a superstar, and, surprisingly, that is exactly what happened. Simultaneously more focused and ambitious than any of his previous records,
Purple Rain finds
Prince consolidating his
funk and
R&B roots while moving boldly into
pop,
rock, and
heavy metal with nine superbly crafted songs. Even its best-known songs don't tread conventional territory: the bass-less
"When Doves Cry" is an eerie, spare
neo-psychedelic masterpiece;
"Let's Go Crazy" is a furious blend of metallic guitars,
Stonesy riffs, and a hard
funk backbeat; the anthemic title track is a majestic
ballad filled with brilliant guitar flourishes. Although
Prince's songwriting is at a peak, the presence of
the Revolution pulls the music into sharper focus, giving it a tougher, more aggressive edge. And, with the guidance of
Wendy and
Lisa,
Prince pushed heavily into psychedelia, adding swirling strings to the dreamy
"Take Me With U" and the
hard rock of
"Baby I'm a Star." Even with all of his new, but uncompromising, forays into
pop,
Prince hasn't abandoned
funk, and the robotic jam of
"Computer Blue" and the menacing grind of
"Darling Nikki" are among his finest songs. Taken together, all of the stylistic experiments add up to a stunning statement of purpose that remains one of the most exciting
rock & roll albums ever recorded.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
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