Publication: USA Today [US]
Date: March 24, 1998
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Title: "The Stones, Berry Treated to Tributes"
Reviewed By: Edna Gundersen

POP/ROCK: The Artist, Crystal Ball (# # #) -- The ex- Prince still reigns as rock's maniacally prolific king of funk on a four-CD set culled largely from his legendary vault. He remains the industry's royal pain, too, shunning music-biz machinery in favor of entrepreneurial risks. Operating sans manager or major label, he's releasing Crystal Ball on his NPG Records and distributing it through Best Buy, Blockbuster and Musicland and by phone (800-639-3865; callers who pony up $ 50 for the set get a freebie CD, the symphonic Kamasutra).

Crystal Ball lacks the sophistication and cohesion of 1996's Emancipation set, but it's a loose, joyous and remarkably varied diversion. Amid the aimless jamming that dominates three CDs of widely bootlegged content, the Artist's talents crystallize in the silky groove of Goodbye, muted R&B of Crucial, metallic jazz of Da Bang and fierce rock of Calhoun Square. The highlight is the acoustic folk 'n' funk on the fourth CD, The Truth.