Publication: Orange County Register [US]
Date: October 9, 1992
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Title: "Still Sexy; Prince Tackles Opera With His Latest Album"
Reviewed By: Cary Darling and Anne Valdespino

Oh, that wacky Prince is at it again.

The mahatma of Minneapolis, the czar of St. Paul, the Purple Rose of the Twin Cities just doesn't know when to stop.He keeps going further and further out even though he may be at the end of the road.

Prince'snew album (to be released Tuesday) has a symbol instead of a title.The last big act to do something like this was Led Zeppelin with the record that came to be known as "Led Zeppelin IV" _ you know, the one with "Stairway to Heaven. "

But instead of demonstrating the Zep's runes and medieval otherworldliness,Princehas (surprise) opted for the sexual _ a circle and arrow thing that blends the male and female insignias.

The folks at Warner Bros.Records,Prince'slabel, have taken to calling this release "The NewPrinceAlbum," though what they're going to call it once it's a few months old is up for grabs.

And in the age-old tradition of rockers who've gorged themselves fat on a junk diet of self-flattery and overimportance,Princesays this time he's come up with an opera.Yawn.

With all this hype and in the aftermath of the success of his " Diamonds and Pearls"album, it might be expected that "The New PrinceAlbum" would be a major departure from the singer's recent work _ "The Ring Cycle" as done by George Clinton.

But this 18-track "opera" has only a sketchy story line _Prince moves from the profane to the romantic over the course of the album _ it's written (mostly) in one voice:Prince's.This album's conceit can't hide that this is just anotherPrinceadventure.

"The New Album" _ though it has more than its share of intriguing musical ideas _ is more ofPrince'srecycled sexuality and libido with backbeat.Ever since his sadly unreleased "The Black Album" and the worthy "Sign O' The Times" _ both from 1987 _ he's has been resting on his purple laurels.An innovator and provocateur who fused funk and rock 'n' roll in the late '70s _ and put Minnesota on the musical map _Princehas more than earned his place in rock history.

Albums from the early '80s such as "Dirty Mind," "Controversy," "1999" and "Purple Rain" were skillful meshings of rock guitar, funk rhythms and the sexuality that always has been a part of rock 'n' roll.

But what once was daring and provocative _ appearing on "Saturday Night Live" in his trenchcoat and underwear and getting booed off the stage while opening for the Rolling Stones in Los Angeles _ is now less involving."Lovesexy" (1988), "Batman" (1989), "Graffiti Bridge" (1990), " Diamonds and Pearls"(1991) and the new album go over much of the same territory.

Part ofPrince'sproblem is that he has been overtaken by those who followed in his wake.Producers such as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis used the Minneapolis sound so much that it became as worthless as last year's ruble.Other acts _ such as Living Colour, Anthrax and Primus _ were fusing funk and rock in new and interesting ways while nearly all of rap seemed to makePrince inconsequential.

Princeseemed to realize this: He's taken to including bits of rap on his recent releases.But instead of leading the charge against the cultural mainstream,Princeappeared to be lagging far behind.On the new album, he even throws in a nod to the rave scene with the techno-flavored "I Wanna Melt With You. " Yet if this release offers no new lyrical visions _ STOP THE PRESSES!PRINCELIKES WOMEN! _ it has a sense of musical pizzazz that makes it superior to " Diamonds and Pearls"and certainly "Graffiti Bridge. "

WhenPrinceended the Revolution (his previous band) and started the New Power Generation, he gave up a strong guitar attack in favor of a sound dominated more by keyboards and horns.That robbed him of some of his edge.

Yet with the new album, he makes the new mix work, at least most of the time."The Max" is basically a rewrite of "Get Off," a previous single, but "Sexy M.F.," which attracted attention because of its blatant lyrics, is more interesting because of its jazz-inflected, horn-punctuated arrangement.

"Love 2 the 9's" mixes rap with jazz, "Blue Light" blends reggae with horns and "Sweet Baby" is the kind of plush R&B that could be expected from Anita Baker or Luther Vandross.

"The Continental" begins as if it's going to be just another Princetrack _ withPrincesounding like some king of new jack swing when he sings that he's going to "kick the facts" _ but it evolves into a melodic guitar-pop charmer."Damn U" is a string-drenched jazz ballad," and "7" opens a cappella before moving into electro-funk.

The album ends strongly with the midtempo R&B of "And God Created Woman," and "3 Chains of Gold" is wherePrincemeets Queen.

This entertaining slice of melodrama rivals the deliciously overproduced "Bohemian Rhapsody" in its use of voices, sound and shifting textures.The last track, the ultrafunky "Sacrifice of Victor", leaves off where the album began, with the booming beats of "My Name IsPrince."

Still, for all the album's musical high points,Princeisn't living up to his massive potential.Nothing here rivals the force of songs such as "Little Red Corvette," "Controversy," "Housequake," "Let's Go Crazy" or "Delirious. " Someday, ourPrince will come back.

Princeand the New Power Generation

What: Untitled

Label: Paisley Park/Warner Bros.

PRINCEDATA

BORN: June 7, 1959, in Minneapolis

FAMILY: His father was a band leader; his mother, a singer.

MUSICAL BEGINNINGS: Taught himself to play piano at 7. At 12, he fronted a band called Champagne that played hotels and high school dances.At 18, Warner Bros. made him the youngest artist to produce, arrange and perform his own music.

MYSTERY MAN: He's given only twointerviewsin the past six years.

MEGAHITS: He has 10 platinum albums, more than 50 million copies sold worldwide.

FANS: Eric Clapton lauds him: " Princeis a reincarnation of all the best music.Just what the world needs now . . . a very controversial figure and an absolute musical genius. " IMAGE: He goes glam with colorful clothes.

TOP 10 HITS PENNED BYPRINCE:"Nothing Compares 2 U," sung by Sinead O'Connor; "Sugar Walls," Sheena Easton; "Manic Monday," The Bangles; "I Feel For You," Chaka Khan.

PAISLEY PARK:Prince's"office" near Minneapolis is a 65,000-square-foot multimedia facility that houses a record company, three recording studios and a sound stage.Paisley projects range from TV commercials for Porsche to tour production rehearsals for Neil Young and recordings by Madonna, Paula Abdul, R.E.M., Patti LaBelle and other artists.

FILMS: "Purple Rain," "Under the Cherry Moon," "Sign o' the Times," "Graffiti Bridge. "

OTHER INTERESTS:Princetries to view every film released in the United States.

DISCOGRAPHY: "For You," 1978; " Prince, " 1979; "Dirty Mind," 1980; "Controversy," 1981; "1999," 1982; "Purple Rain," 1984; "Around the World in a Day," 1985; "Parade," 1986; "Sign o' the Times," 1987; "Lovesexy," 1988; "Batman: Motion Picture Soundtrack," 1989; "Graffiti Bridge," 1990; " Diamonds and Pearls, " 1991.