Publication: The Sunday Times [UK]
Date: September 2, 1990
Section: Features
Length: 149 Words
Title: "Record Of The Week"
Written By: Robert Sandall

PRINCE. Graffiti Bridge Paisley ParkWarner WX 361;CD Pounds15,double albumcassette Pounds 12.

ANOTHER album trailing a movie this time his own finds the tireless Prince Nelson in a more expansive mood than he managed for the monolithic funk workouts of last year's Batman. Idiosyncratically condensing blues, soul, funk and even rock 'n' roll into his unmistakable, disco-friendly stew, Prince manipulates sound with a playful elan which is never less than good clever fun.

On the debit side, it is seldom a lot more than fun either: most of these 17 tracks are melodic fragments magnified by arrangement and production, rather than fully developed songs. By turning himself into such a willing slave to the rhythm and smothering everything in a welter of rococo decoration, Prince is starting to make albums that are as brilliant, intriguing and pointless as architectural follies.