Sign O the Times

by

Prince

Edit

I have no idea what the guy who called this album "Un-genius like" is talking about. The music on this album is overflowing with genius, style, and creativity. Before this album no-one had ever used a synthesizer and Linn-Drum Computer to the perfection that Prince did on the tracks "If I Was Your Girlfriend", and "The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker". The thought provoking lyrics of the title track"Sign O' The Times" and the simplicity of its music is unbelievable. "Play in the Sunshine" is a gospel meets rock and go-go track that makes u want to dance and shout. The rock guitar riffs, bass line and drum work are amazing. Its hard to belive that this is one musician playing all of the instruments. If dance tracks are what u are looking for, they are here in many forms, from "Housequake" and "Hot Thing" to "U got the Look" and "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night". For the rock guitar lovers u have "The Cross", and the brilliant "I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man" that will blow u away. If this is not enough....U have the most inspired ballads ever written by Prince, the peaceful "Slow Love", the marriage minded "Forever In My Life" which was used by the late John F. Kennedy Jr. at his wedding for the first dance, and the eclectic jam "Adore", which has one of the most inspired vocal performances that Prince has ever put on any album. However, the most impressive song of the set is the aforemntioned "If I Was Your Girlfriend" which has the most complex lyrical content I have ever heard. The song shows a man's vulnerabilty when it comes to love, and the way in which he wants to give his woman everything, while being her everything. The music of this track is equally impressive as the lyrics. "Strange Relationship" serves as the counter to "If I was Your Girlfriend" by showing the feelings that also go along with the ups and downs of a relationship. The most amazing thing about the track is the way in which Prince put such a happy musical track, to such depressing lyrics. The song is a true gem.

What can I say this album is brilliant, complex, moody, dark, and happy at the same time. The music is timeless and has influenced many musicians from Lenny Kravitz, Beck, and D'Angelo, to Macy Gray, Jill Scott, and Angie Stone. This is one of the most important albums released in the last 25 years along with "Songs In The Key of Life", by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye's "Here My Dear" and Sly Stone's "There's A Riot Goin' On". If u like good music I suggest u purchase this album today. The music is revolutionary and timeless.

Yeah, no doubt a masterwork of musical pop artistry.... but hearing it today in full strikes me very simarly to 1987..such a 'tinny' sound for the funk/soul/pop genre.I couldn't then nor can I now get past the image of a guy sitting in front a bunch of machines/computers producing music in the vein of JB,Sly etc... those were bands and when hearing that music it was SO much fun imaging the incredible interplay and tightness of those musicians.... that lustre is gone in this release.... and it's a shame cause the music IS outstanding.... but for me it's enough to really diminish it's value.