Publication: Detroit Free Press [US]
Date: November 20, 1994
Section:
Page Number(s):
Length:
Title: "Legendary 'Black Album' Is Just A Little Timeworn"
Reviewed By:

Back when Prince was big, "The Black Album" was the stuff of legend as much a mystery as the talented but enigmatic musician who created it. The album was set for release in December 1987. Early word trumpeted its explicit sexual content, said to be beyond even Prince's blatant standards. It was going to be one of the first albums to carry the new Parental Advisory stickers.

With Prince still a hot commodity-"The Black Album's" predecessor, "Sign O' The Times", was a critical and commercial smash the buzz was immense. Then Prince pulled the album, which will finally see limited release on Tuesday. Saying he regretted placing sex above love and spirituality, Prince consigned "The Black Album"(Warner Bros.) to oblivion. It was the most famous unreleased album since the Beach Boys' "Smile". Because some copies sneaked out, particularly in Europe, it became a heavily bootlegged and collectible piece; original copies fetched up to $11,000, while countless bootleg editions surfaced in short order. Only one "Black Album" song, "When 2 R In Love", has been on another Prince album, 1988's "Lovesexy".

Of course, Prince's fortunes have dwindled significantly since then. His record sales have decreased with each subsequent release, and his latest, "Come", was an artistically uninspired work. His decision to drop his name in favor of a symbol that mixes the icons for male and female has rendered Prince something of a joke, and he's feuding with his label, Warner Bros., over the release of his next album, "The Gold Experience".

So finally putting out "The Black Album" could be an effort to rekindle Prince's career and put a little sizzle into what's become a yawn. He's only getting minimal mileage out of it, though. As per Prince's wishes, the album will be available only until January 27. Its graphics are nondescript, a Spinal Tap black cover with no liner notes not even Prince's name or an album title on the spine of the cassette or CD box. Only a sticker on the front will identify it.

More damning is just how dated "The Black Album" sounds. With its spare arrangements and medium-fi technology, it has the ambiance of an unfinished demo recording, with none of the snap and polish of Prince's usual work. The assortment of 13-letter words and sexual colloquialisms might have caused a stir in 1987, but nowadays in the wake of grunge, gangsta rap and death metal the lyrics here seem decidedly PG-13. And a track like "Dead On It", a snooty dismissal of rap music(See, the rappers problems usually stem from being tone deaf")now seems particularly unenlightened.

Which is not to say "The Black Album" lacks compelling material. "Cindy C" is a bawdy come on to model and MTV hostess Cindy Crawford. "Le Grind", "Superfunkycalifragisexi" and "Rockhard In A Funky Place" have merit on the dance floor, while the instrumental "2 Nigs united 4 West Compton" is a jam that shows off Prince's estimable musical skills. Then there's "Bob George", a tongue-in-cheek gangster fantasy that's profane, misogynist and violent, just barely saved by its self-effacing humor; at one juncture, Prince asks a cheating girlfriend "What he do 4 a living?/Manage rock stars?/Who?/Prince?/Ain't that a bitch!"

At this late date, however, "The Black Album" is little more than an interesting period piece that makes all of the excitement of 1987 seem curious. It's nice to have the album to complete collections, but its time has clearly passed.