Publication: News-Leader [US]
Date: October 22, 1995
Section:
Page Number(s):
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Title: "Prince: Silly Symbol, Great Music"
Reviewed By: Mark Marymont

Prince
"The Gold Experience"
Warner/NPG
**** (out of 5)

The guy who was Prince may generate giggles with the silly, unpronounceable symbol he now goes by, but his music is no joke and never has been. This album bristles with creativity and good songs.

Formerly Prince is as nasty as ever on the opening "P Control," a driving dance ditty you will never hear on any radio. As usual, he's all over the musical map, offering driving rock 'n' roll on "Endorphinmachine," blending the brassy jazz rock introduction of "Shhh" into a creamy, sensual ballad, then doing a shimmering love song, "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World," a Top-10 hit last year.

There are other good songs--the bitter lyrics but lovely sound of "I Hate You" [sic], about a cheating lover, hard-hitting funk of the sexy "319" and Stevie Wonder-influenced drive of "Shy."

A few songs are separated by a sultry-voiced "NPG Operator" offering mindless blather, but nothing cools the heat generated by Formerly Prince and the talented players of his New Power Generation. Laugh at his name and bizarre image if you must, but don't let that keep you away from the man's music.