Taken together, all of the stylistic experiments add up to a stunning statement of purpose that remains one of the most exciting rock & roll albums ever recorded.
Its a shit film by word what an album (or soundtrack). The cover is horrendous. But the Music is glorious and the album flows between frenzied synth driven Lets go crazy through the eclectic fantasy of Darling Nikki all the way to the greatest closer of all time; the masterful Purple Rain, all which instantly became iconic. To this day the greatest live performer I've ever seen. Unbelievably he actually has a better album then this (Sign O'the Times) but this is a masterpiece in itself from one of the most complex song writing geniuses of his time. 5/5
How does something sound simultaneously so excessive and so uncluttered all at once? That crisp, clean, joyfully exuberant sound with not a note out of place speaks of an artist working expertly in the easy-to-espouse-difficult-to-achieve mode of Serious Play. And so the entire album is suffused with a sense of delight and playfulness, whilst not-quite holding at bay the melancholic void that sits at the centre of all hedonistic partying. In short: tremendous.
Brilliant funky pop. Possibly Prince's best and cohesive standard length LP (Sign 'O' the times being a double!). Not too long, superb "backing" band in The Revolution.
There are a ton of major singles that came from this album; let alone the fact that it helped his win multiple awards including an Oscar. Prince's powers are firing on all cylinders as he is showing diverse influences in a tightly produced album.
His mission is transcendence, and as a what-you-see-is-what-you-get performance he succeeds. Everything is oversized, virtuoso. No drum beat is permitted unless it's the biggest, baddest motherfucker of them all. No emotion expressed if not in extremis. It coheres too, mostly around the concept of ALBUM AS EVENT. Or maybe ARTIST AS EVENT. And on that level I enjoy the shit out of it in the same way I enjoy a fireworks show. Turn up, happily gawp for however long it lasts, retire home. EVENT over. As for the aftertaste, I'm not so sure.
I didn't see this one and I don't have to listen to this because I know every word and every guitar riff, Prince will remain a wonder always.
One of my favorite albums of all time. I find it thoroughly enjoyable throughout and consider it a perfect album. Prince's absolute zenith with his greatest lineup. Love pretty much everything about this album.
Calkiem niedawno przesluchalem purple raina poza listowym chalengem, bo jesli artysta/albumik zawiera w sobie tyle referencji bizarnych, to cos musi byc na rzeczy, i dokladnie tak bylo, dziwne ze opis albumiku nie wspomina, ze nagrany zostal on za banda the revolution, jako ze nie mialem okazji poznac sie wczesniej na poprzednich albumikach princowych i jego karierze, to aspekty autobiograficzne zawarte w tym albumiku dla mnie nie istnieja, ale podobno sa, bo sama plyta jest soundtrackiem do filmu o takim samym tytule, co wyroznia albumik, charyzma i energia princowata ktora sie z niego wrecz wylewa, zwlaszcza na 3 ostatkich trakach, ktore byly nagrywane live, wiec tytulowy purple rain jest to wersja koncertowa, oczywiscie edytowana i overdubowana, ale jednak czuc zycie w tym co slychac, mimo ze to prince byl glowna sila sprawcza za konceptami, to jednak tutaj banda revolutionowa dala mu dobry backup do tych pomyslow zapewniaja silidne gransko, nieprzesadzana ilosc synthow, co tak bardzo boli pop tamtego okresu, co do strony lirycznej, to jest tak szczera, ze w niektorych momentach az obsceniczna, jak na traku darling nikki , wiec nie bez powodu byl demonizowany jako spiewany zbereznik, nie moge sie przyczepic nawet do wycia na the beutiful ones, jak zazwyczaj bym zrobil, bo jest to tak ekspresyjnie wyjcowane, nie wiem gdzie slyszalem take me with u, ale wydaje mi sie ze musiala to byc jakas giera lub hinska bajka, ewentualne kompozycja oparta na tym traku, bo sluchajac tego mam lekkie deja vu, leci na plejke, kolejny trak to when doves cry, no i tytulowy purple rain, ktory jako najdluzszy trak albumiku, 8 minut, jest spokojnym kloserem niespokojnego albumu, jesli jackson byl krolem czarnego popowego granska, tak prince niech bedzie princem w moim rankingu popowych legend
Top 5 Guitar Player EVER. Sorry I never saw him perform live. OUTSTANDING collection of songs on this album!
I mean. It has all the bonkers fun stuff of prince just having a blast. Bop after bop.
I approached this album with some preconcieved notions, even some trepidation, being an MN native and resident but not a huge Prince fan. I realized very quickly though that I had never listened to this album as a whole, and I really thought it was exceptional. The songs are well written, they hold together well, and his raw talent is showcased throughout, both his musicianship and his vocals. Purple Rain as the album finale is just epic.
Maybe I’m biased because of New Girl but this album was amazi by. Lots of special hits on it and although it was thoroughly 80’s, something about a few of the songs were truly timeless. Best of his niche/sub genre. 4.5/5
Absolutely loved this album, a real rock classic. I like the way the whole album is great and upbeat. This was also the first time listening to the Purple Rain song in the 9 minute variant. All I can say is… wow!
All-time classic. All tracks are fire, and "Purple Rain" is my least favorite--saying something.
No question this gets a 5. It's Prince. It's one of the more formative albums of my childhood. Purple Rain was the closing song of every dance in middle school and high school. It's a classic, he's a genius and it deserves all of the stars.
Masterpiece. Prince at his greatest. Extended version of Purple Rain with the guitar solo 👏🏻👏🏻
Classic 80's album. Some excellent so gwriting with great melodies and arrangements, very much enjoyed.
Take me with you... Where do we go, moment to moment? If thoughts were physical locations, the brain, a teleporter. What did we leave to be born? Is the uterus a revolving door between dimensions? Emerging, we are tiny astronauts out on a space walk, tethered to the mothership. Mama Placenta I am air, antibodies, food, and blood -- I was once your entire world. the entire earth in my belly. When it is time for you to leave, pack that picnic basket of essentials: shortbread cookies, potted meat, and celery sticks. Take me with you, but be sure to leave all of our disappointments behind.
15th June 2021 Listened on the living room speaker with jen during the afternoon after hanging my notice at GCF. It's Prince. It's purple rain. One of the best ever.
I happen to really like Prince; liked him when I heard him all the time in the 80s, and now as I re-listen to him, I'm blown away by the musicianship. Because there is so much to Prince that his guitar playing (he played more instruments than I can list, and he was a phenomenal guitarist) gets overlooked, but he belongs in the Pantheon of all-time great guitarists. Quite a bit of his music can be too dance-pop for me, but that's just a matter of taste. Prince rocked.
YES, THIS!! I've only come to appreciate Prince in the last few years, really. This album is a fav though. The tracks are all so varied, but so funky. Love it.
The day before his deathiversary too, what timing. I miss albums that were more varied and dynamic like this.
-Just a bunch of great songs -I liked "Let's Go Crazy," "The Beautiful Ones," and "When Doves Fly"
Tremendous. Triumphant. Transcendent. Fourth Tr word. I’ve never listened to this full album as the artist intended it. I have now remedied that frankly unconscionable failing. This is the sort of thing I signed up for with this challenge.
Damn HBO Max for removing the film after adding it only 3 months ago. This album is best experienced through the film. Despite this, Prince combines pop, rock, R&B, electronic, and dance and experiments with every known instrument and sound the human mouth can make, and you've got to appreciate how much each track differs must each other while still being glued together by Prince's voice, personality, and themes. There is a balance found in every song. There's never too much vocals or too much instrumental. Everything mixes so well, and despite all but one song go 4 minutes or longer, there's always something new and exciting to enhance the experience. Despite its popularity, I'm actually not too big of a fan of the opener "Let's go crazy", but I admit it's a great way to excite the audience for what's to come. I like the experimental sound and storytelling of "Darling Nikki," which as we all led to the creation of the Parental Advisory label (just for referencing masturbation). "When Doves Cry" is without a doubt my favorite Prince song, and quite possibly a candidate for one of my favorite pop songs of all time. Thank god for it being 6 minutes. I'm a sucker for New Wave, so "I would die 4 U" really resonates with my pop soul. Finally, "Purple Rain" smacks us with heartbreaking lyrics in the first half while the other half is a masterpiece in music composition, extending the story without a single word.
I swear I've heard every single song from this album covered by at least one other artist, I like these versions better
This album was shorter than I remembered. There is little to be said that hasn't been said though. A ton of hits came off this thing, most notably the title track. That song is timeless. At just 44 minutes, the only complaint is that I wish there was more. The movie is a weird one, but the music is pretty much perfect. Prince was stylistic, an influencer, and a true artist.
The man and master. Prince is a marvel of modern music. We lost him too young. This is his masterpiece. This is one of the most obvious 5/5 in this list it's not even a question.
нет слов - одни эмоции невольно сравниваешь с Майклом Джексоном, на половине перестаешь и слова кончаются, начинаются эмоции
ЧТО: Шестой студийный альбом короля ритм-н-блюза - Принса, который стал самым популярным альбомом в дискографии артиста, а также неким манифестом его уникального стиля. Считается одним из самых успешных альбомов в истории (чтобы было понятно, по миру было продано 22 миллиона копий). КАКОЙ: Лучший R&B альбом, что я слышал. Одно решение здесь выглядит безумнее другого. Весь альбом пропитан энергией провокации и сексуальности. Но смысл пластинки, конечно, гораздо глубже банальной провокации. В каждой песне подбор инструментов, звучание вокала, структура песен индивидуальны. Но общее звучание альбома вдохновлено каким-то готическим нуаром из бёртановского «Бэтмэна» (саундтрек к которому кстати тоже написал Принс). При этом сексуальная энергия борется как одна из сторон личности музыканта с другой стороной - религиозностью. Первое начало проявляется в бодрых гитарных риффах и вокальных изысканиях Принса (например, на Darling Nikki). Сексуальность вообще одна из главных тем в творчестве исполнителя. Религиозное же начало проявляется в использовании органа на некоторых песнях, а также в некоторых фишках, которые Принс делает со своим голосом: то он похож на госпэл, то звучит по-дьявольски (например, гроул (гуттеральный вокал; звуки, издаваемые за счёт резонирования гортани) на When the doves cry). Видны попытки избежать посредственности. Именно поэтому все на той же When the doves cry напрочь отсутствует басовая линия, что необычно для танцевальных песен. Интересно, что начинается альбом с некой небольшой интерлюдии в начале Let’s go crazy, а оканчивается долгим проигрышем и аплодисментами на Purple rain. Таким образом происходит своеобразное замыкание альбома на самом себе, по форме напоминающее цельный музыкальный перфоманс. Подводя итог, можно сказать, что Purple rain структурно и музыкально вовсе никаким нормам не подчиняется, по крайней мере он так выглядит; очень старается быть таким: ярким и неформатным, при этом штурмуя мировые чарты. Такое может себе позволить только поистине гениальный музыкант. О ЧЕМ: Тексты оплетают уже высказанную выше основу: единство противоположностей в душе Принса, выраженных сексуальной свободой и религией. Многие песни повествуют о прекрасном времяпрепровождении с любимым человеком. Но, естественно, всё не настолько целомудренно. Darling Nikki - вовсе история о безумном сексе, в которой Nikki - это дьявол. Последние реверсивные (здравствуйте, мистер Нолан) строчки показывают, что эта песня есть признание в грехах, перекликающееся с историей Фауста. Тут стоит упомянуть, что именно «Пурпурный дождь» стал поводом для появления знака Parental Advisory, обозначающего, что альбом содержит ненормативную лексику, либо тексты провокационного или непристойного характера. Вспоминая о прекрасной титульной песне Purple rain, следует сказать, что весь этот альбом является саундтреком к одноименному фильму. Вкратце: Принс учится исполнять роли бойфренда, музыканта, лидера, сравнивая себя со своим отцом, который не смог реализоваться, растерял все свои мечты и стал жестоким. При этом, сколько бы боли этот человек не вызвал в сердце, Принц все равно говорит, что любит его. Короче говоря, секрет в том, чтобы быть собой и верить в свои силы даже если больше никто не поддержит. ИТОГ: Во всех смыслах сильный альбом супер-звезды в зените славы. Справедливо названный классическим этот альбом затрагивает проблему неидеальности людей. Человек ошибается, но от этого не перестаёт быть человеком. Эта пластинка не только триумф Принса, но и манифест свободы и оригинальности, который покажется потрясающим до глубины души всем хоть сколько-нибудь мыслящим людям. ЛУЧШИЕ ПЕСНИ: Let’s go crazy, When doves cry, Purple rain.
Epic album. So many upbeat good groove bangers before possibly the greatest closing track ever. The more I hear this album the more I love it.
🦹🏼♀️Loved the artist and all his quirkiness. Tiny man with huge talent. I’d put him up there as one of the best writer, performer and guitarist out there. I know he is in a band with Freddie Mercury right now fighting over who gets to wear the tightest, brightest, studded out fit. Rock on gentleman. Easier to list which songs I didn’t like-none.
Legendary. Sent me down the rabbit hole of watching live performances. His Super Bowl halftime show may never be topped. Best track: Purple Rain
This album is prime Prince for me. He may have gone deeper lyrically on later albums, and certainly broke as much (or more) new ground sonically elsewhere, but PURPLE RAIN is nothing if not pure Pop/R&B genius.
Really liked the combination of catchy pop sounds paired with the extravaganza of Prince's rock and funk
Wow, simply wow. His virtuoso playing and singing, mixed with his writing and sense of performing, all create an album that throughout is completely unique and authentic, blending all the sounds and genres from the 80s. A great run time as well with on point production. The entire vine felt like a concert with that legendary outro to Purple Rain the song to conclude it. Prince is probably the greatest musician in 20th century popular music. What can he not do?
No surprise this was great! Knew most of the songs but didn’t realize how fast it would go. Wanted to listen to it again immediately
This album was in my house soon after it’s release (an LP purchased by my sister I believe), I’ve listened to it I’m sure a hundred times, and very happily listened to it again as it came up on this list. I think it’s a true masterpiece, blending psychedelic funk, R&B and Soul, pop and rock With a seamless precision not seen before or since. Prince’s vocals are as good as anything James Brown did, as good as anything by Michael Jackson - and he’s a virtuoso guitarist to boot. This one will survive the ages
I remeber being kid in the video store and seeing the wall sized poster for this album/movie. I had no real idea of who Prince was and my parents seemed pretty eager to keep it that way, but I remeber being frozen in awe of just how damned cool Prince must be. So, the elephant in the room - Darling Nikki. What a singularly fascinating song. I'm sure the sexual subject matter and the outro with lyric played in reverse is a big part of why this whole album was the focus of so much conservative and censorship ire. It's probably also part of the reason why my parents weren't stoked to see me gawking at the poster, all those years back. If you can look past that though, it is a relentlessly catchy track, merging funk, rock and healthy portion of musical theater. Outside of that one salacious track, the rest of the album is focused on common funk and R&B lyrical themes. The arrangements, the live band vibe, Prince's vocal diversity and improvisation all come together with fluid perfection. Nearly every track is a stand alone hit, and played back to back they sound cohesive and congruent. An all out great album!
Absolute masterpiece. Wanted to give 4.5 stars but Purple Rain is so 5 stars its ridiculous
Driving, sexual, anthemic. This album is obviously in the upper echelons of popular music. Prince was a musical chameleon and this album reflects his best. His musicianship is understated despite the fact that his guitar playing is some of the best. He always did what was best for the song at hand.
The G.O.A.T. with one of my all time favorite albums. I could ramble on for hours about this one, and nobody wants that, so I'll just say 5 stars and leave it at that.
Yaasssss! I have listened to this album too many times to count. Solid fucking 5! Anyone that disagrees is an idiot
It’s easy – and helpful – to forget that this is the soundtrack to one* of the worst films of the 1980s. I mean, I really worked on liking this film. Really worked. But after a fourth watch, I pretty much lost the will to live. (I was, in a dumb 12 year old kind of way, quite shocked to discover that it is actually ok to like the album but hate the film. Sort of like loving the sinner but hating the sin.) *‘Purple Rain’, believe it or not, is not even the worst film Prince made in the 80s.
An absolute banger of an album, there isn’t a bad track on here which easily makes it a 5 out of 5. From the freneticness of I would die for you through two the mellow vibes in the beautiful ones for me this was Prince at his absolute best
Prince was a genius, I acknowledge that. When he was on, he was on and Purple Rain is the best example of his work. 5/5.
This album has universal appeal. Most people have heard at least one of the tracks. Great entry album for new Prince fans. Low 5, for rollercoaster of themes best listened to alone.
10/10. Has a couple of my favorite Prince songs on it, and while a couple songs are only meh, I still enjoy it all the way through.
Great album! Not always what I was expecting but still had some great moments and Purple rain is an amazing finisher.
I feel like this is such an iconic album, and I’ve never listened to it. And why have I never really listened to Prince in general? I’m not sure why he wasn’t played on the stations I listened to growing up. I liked this one pretty well and am still perplexed at the lack of Prince in my growing up radio life.
Just Prince innit,absolutely class. Super talented and a lot of thought gone into the album design, felt like a story. I was going to just automatically give this a 5 but it's hard because even though I appreciate the class it still isn't ever going to be a regular 'go to' album for me. So, 4/5 but in reality it's like 4.8 😂
In conclusione: Io gli anni ottanta li odio musicalmente (e forse anche non) però Prince è una delle poche eccezioni per me. È un artista che rispetto molto, suonando e producendo mediamente tutto da solo (anche se in questo album aveva la sua band) comunque ha sviluppato molto la sua voce artistica che è davvero riconoscibile anche se il suo modo di comporre è così pieno di influenze e raramente si ripete. Questo album ha dei piccoli gioielli come Darling Nikki o When Doves Cry e nonostante la patina anni ottanta sia tutt'altro che assente comunque secondo me l'identità artistica di Prince riesce ad emergere lo stesso con quei testi così surreali e gli arrangiamenti eclettici. Anche la stessa purple rain con i suoi 8 minuti in cui parte mezza ballad country e poi finisce in tutt'altro modo. Si sente che è un album colonna sonora da una parte ma questo in bene e in male (il film non l'ho mai visto). Diciamo che per me è un quattro solo perché non posso passare sopra a certi suoni, in particolare i brass e i lead synth e i riverberi sui rullanti me ammazzano.
5/5/21: I've heard many of these songs on the radio, but first time listening to album from start to finish. 1. Let's Go Crazy - Damn, that bass in the outro was hittin hard, I loved it. Never noticed before. The drums on these headphones are amazing. 2. Take Me with U - Great intro with the drums. Is that Prince and someone else? "I don't care...just take me with you" 3. The Beautiful Ones - Sounds similar to something else, not sure though if from before or after this song, so who inspired who, you know. No mistaking that 80s synth. "I gotta know, do you want me?! Baby baby " Yea, karaoke song right here! haha 4. Computer Blue - Who names a computer Wendy? I guess someone named Lisa...whatever. That like the weird science riff? Nice guitar solo. That sounds familiar too. 5. Darling Nikki - Damn Nikki. 6. When Doves Cry - That melody always hits. Not to overshadow Purple Rain but just as good. 7. I Would Die 4 U - One of my favorites on the album, but I always go towards the upbeat, dancing type, synth. 8. Baby I'm a Star - Honestly didn't pay close attention to this one. Not the most memorable, just waiting for Purple Rain to come on...wonder if this is what cassette playing listeners felt back in the day. 9. Purple Rain - YES!!! Fuck, if I could play guitar I'd play this all day. When it comes to Prince, I can't help but remember Sandra Bernhardt dancing to Little Red Corvette at the end of her special. While I don't always get her comedy, she was doin alright by in the day.
Prince = artista, polistrumentista e compositore ma anche studioso e ricercatore. In questo album mi piace la sua cura nei dettagli: quel determinato riff o quel suono di chitarra, il fatto che Nikki si stesse masturbando su dei magazine (tra l'altro ho letto che l'etichetta Parental Explicit è stata introdotta per la prima volta grazie a questa canzone). C'è una componente anni '80 anche in questo caso, ma mi pesa molto di meno. "Genio!" (Letto con la voce di Boris) Voto: 4
Can’t give this anything less than 4 due to it being a hit factory and the album cover.
Funny story, I won this record in a draw but didn't really like it. As the years passed, I learned to appreciate its finer qualities, and - more importantly - learned to recognise Prince for the talent he [sadly] was.
About half the songs on here are _amazing_, but the others don't quite do it for me. I think this is the first album I've wanted to give a .5 star to, as it's not quite 5 stars for me, but maybe should be classed higher than the other 4 stars. Massive kudos to Prince for defining his own sound with such confidence. Sounds fresher today than a lot of his contemporaries. Fave track - "When Doves Cry" and "Purple Rain" are frickin' epic. Really like "Let's Go Crazy" and "I Would Die 4 U" too though...
Brings back a flood of memories of freshman year at college, fall of 1984. Although I've never been a huge Prince fan (more of a classic rock guy) I can appreciate the brilliance of this album. 4 stars.
A few great hits, and "Darling Nikki" was a delightful hidden gem. Not perfect, but a classic.
Never listened to Prince before as I'd assume it would be cheesy 80s. Despite some outdated production, I was proven wrong. It has 3 great singles on here and the album cuts were good too. It has made me look forward to watch the movie just to see how the songs are featured. Only a 4 because a couple of songs were average.
La neta lo tuve que escuchar muchas veces para poder subirle a las estrellas, pero al final sí me quedo convencido de lo chingón que está.
Mr. Clapton, what does it feel to be the best guitarist alive? -I don't know, ask Prince
All great songs, fun and they don't blend in with each other. Lots 80's synth use but the good kind.
Dang, another heavy hitter artist, not a bad streak lately. Just like I did with Queen, there was a time when I went through most of Prince's albums. This isn't my favorite, but it's still very strong. Some classic jams on here for sure. Lots of melodies that I know, even on songs I don't remember lyrically, like When Doves Cry and I Would Die 4 U. Prince can be a bit too quirky for his own good sometimes, but he's an undeniable creative force. It's always a bit of a headscratcher for me to remember this is a soundtrack album--I never heard about the movie. I can't imagine it's as good as the music. Favorite tracks: I Would Die 4 U, Purple Rain, Let's Go Crazy, When Doves Cry, The Beautiful Ones. Album art: Classic, iconic Prince cover. One of my favorites to look at, even though I'm just realizing now that it's the movie poster with a cool floral border. 4/5
Now here is an album I haven't listened to but know so many of the songs. SO happy to have this on the list with classics like Let's Go Crazy, When Doves Cry, I Would Die 4 U, and Purple Rain. Prince was an enigma and while I was never really a fan of him just due to little exposure, I recognize what a special person he was and this album is a perfect showing of that. Album cover is also an all timer.
Purple Rain, When Doves Cry...keep it coming. A Multi instrumentalist who loved music and everything it brought.
Really love this album some great songs on there, doves cry and purple rain. But it creates a sound that sleazy, wholesome confused pop and funk. It's so conflicted it makes this unique pop that is so not pop. I don't know how to describe it really but great stuff
When Doves Cry and Purple Rain are great songs the rest of the album is good but nowhere near as strong, of note is some of the incredible singing in songs like The Beautiful Ones. Also some incredible guitar playing, beautiful tone, always tasteful yet impressively heavy. Took two listens through to gain appreciation. 4 🌟
не ну ваще никогда не был фанатом принса, да и особо не слушал, но этот альбом очень понравился
I've heard a lot about Prince but until now have never actually heard an album. I'm not even sure what songs he has. This particular album is definitely of its time and for me that's not necessarily a bad thing. The production is dense and there's a lot going on. I quite enjoyed his singing (he's very charismatic) even if the lyrics are mostly trite.
"Let's Go Crazy" is an awesome way to start an album. And "Purple Rain" (the album) mostly delivers on that promise. But it is buoyed by the hits. "Let's Go Crazy," "When Doves Cry," "I Would Die 4 U," and "Purple Rain" are terrific songs. The other half of the album is less remarkable, but they're still much better than most of "Sign 'O' The Times."
Kim Basinger has aged and so has Purple Rain. But the classic album endures partly because of the personality and all the stories tied to it. The Charlie Murphy skits on Chapelle's Show were the best. My favorite is when Prince challenges the Murphy crew to a game of hoops, destroys them and then serves pancakes afterward. Sure, Let's Go Crazy has got to be one of the best 'pick me up' songs there is known to man and despite the inclusion of Computer Blue, this album still scores high. But it's the basketball and pancakes story, the fancy roller skates and afterhours rollerskating with Questlove story, the personal ads story (where in 1993 to spend the holidays someone) give PR longevity that Kim Basinger will never have... even after being immortalized by releasing recordings of the two having sex. https://www.vulture.com/2014/09/24-outrageous-prince-stories.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff8LEx9Mw54
I mean, hell yeah. As the album goes on, I like less of this than I expect to. Some of it is crazy high tempo pansexual gender-queer pop at its finest. Others are... muddy and lost. Purple Rain is a jam for sure, but its not good consistently and its like 10 minutes long, if you want me to listen to a ten minute song it has to be good all the way through. Goods - Let's Go Crazy, When Doves Cry Bads - Take me With U
Absolutely wonderful, a time capsule for the 80s with great production and musicians. Standouts are obviously Purple Rain and When Doves Cry.
So I appreciate the different themes in each of the songs on this album. Each one feels like it’s trying to achieve its own thing, or is separated enough to not get old. Most of them have decent grooves, but not incredible. It feels like the hits from the albums were the hits for a reason. Still a fun and interesting listen. 7/10
Como não cantar Purple Rain junto? Impossível. Adorei perceber como ele influenciou o meu amado Synthwave.
A real banger of an album. While side 1 doesn’t ever really match the energy of the opener, it’s still rock solid. The only misstep on the album is “Darling Nikki”, which is both just kind of a bad song and the mixing was terrible.
Absolutely fantastic. The first few songs sounded more conventional than the core of the record, which ends on a slower note. I hear the movie's awful, but expect it adds some amount of context.
definitivamente uma vibe bem anos 80 (pq bem, o álbum é dos anos 80.) tem umas bem popzinha e outras bem legais no geral eu gostei, 4/5
Prefs: Let's Go Crazy, Computer Blue, Darling Nikki, When Doves Cry, I Would Die 4 U, Baby I'm a Star, Purple Rain Moins pref: Take Me With U
1984. Blown away by When Doves Cry. Bought the 12". Went to see the film. Cheesy but entertaining. Bought the album. Played it to death. Parade is better though, in retrospect. What a talent.
This started off with me thinking that maybe prince was a bit intense, but really liked the instrumentals which pushed it over a 3 into a 4.
Oh Boy do I remember this album- my sister played it to death. Listening to it now is quite refreshing since a lot has happened since. There's a lot of energy and flamboyance and no matter how OTT it's Prince. It just epitomises the 80's for me so I wouldn't play this other than for nostalgia. Musically dare I say I find it quite two dimensional: lots of energy and skill but there's no depth. Even the deeply personal tracks don't come across with any emotion. Maybe it's like the man himself- there's an impenetrable mask?
The musicianship on this is astonishing. Prince can get a bit samey though - I prefer the tracks to the album.
although im dont consider myself a fan prince, he has his own style and he executed it with class this album holding 3 great songs and the others not far behind
Dad used to play this while I waited in the car and he ran in to get cigarettes. He would restart it when he got back in. Bonus nostalgia points, not my thing, but enjoyed it more than Sign Of The Times.
'When doves cry' and 'Purple Rain' elevate this album to a complete classic. I am not going to individually review each track, but this is a quintessentially the 80s contemporary piece of pop art that should be the showcase of the vernacular of the era. Drum sound, slight kitsch - hedonistic and yet innovate and ground breaking. Very close to a 5/5 - it's a 4/5 because it requires some adjustment to get into the mood for it, but when you do, you're well rewarded.
Still not sure I get the fuss about the song purple rain, but funky album, feel like I knew most of the tracks already. Always meant to listen to more Prince.
With Prince albums, there are always songs that I absolutely adore, and songs that I can't stand; rarely anything in between. This one was no exception. However, there was only 1 song on each side I disliked. The rest was pure gold. Remove those two tracks and we would have an easy 5 stars here.
When Doves Cry is pretty fantastic, but overall this is an album where I really dont see the hype. Seems like nothing really that special to me. Not a bad album, but not something that I really plan to come back to.
Appreciated the artistry, but unfortunately did not enjoy it too much, except for a few songs.
I gave this a few listens, and while I can appreciate the musicianship and songwriting, this unique, new wave-y blend of rock, pop, and R&B just isn't my sort of music.
Don't understand the hype behind the album, of course When Doves Cry, and Purple Rain hold their own. 3 stars for the use of trashcans.
For the fame this album created, it's only 9 songs. It always reminds me of the 80s and the Purple Reign junk associated to Marion's basketball success. Take Me with U and The Beautiful Ones...they bleed into each other so easily I'm not sure I even heard Take Me with U. I Would Die 4 U - best song on the album.
I get why people like Prince, but in general I am not a fan of pop so this is just "okay" for me personally. In terms of general consensus and historical purposes it would be a 5 for sure, but enjoyment is just "ok" for me. Always feels a bit corny for me.
Listened to it while studying. Didn't make much of an impression. Will have to listen to it with more attention the next time.
idk wish I liked this more but it's pretty 80s sounding, it's really just not my thing. RIP Prince
Hmmm. Singles are the best. Amazing musicianship throughout. Would I listen again? Probably not.
It's interesting how an album can be totally groundbreaking at it's time and because of that have a huge influence on contemporary and following artists and then when you listen to it decades later, it feels like you've heard similar music millions of times before and that makes it sound uninteresting and uninspired. It's a 3.5 for me, rounded down because although it's not bad, it failed to grab enough of my attention. When Doves Cry is a really good song though.
i especially like the beautiful ones and prince's screaming in it is top notch when dooooves cryyyy i like the songs more n more as the album proceeds
I problemi che ho con questo disco sono come suona, lo trovo mixato malissimo, e che alcune volte prince ha uno stile che proprio non mi piace. Però devo dire che quando prince groova è veramente impressionante.
This was ok, already got it in my collection but might convince me to dig it out more often!
One of those albums I feel like I'm supposed to appreciate, but I just can't get into it. Most of it just feels so 80s pop. When Doves Cry is an amazing track though, as is the title track.
Very interesting. I know Prince was a big thing and this was my first time listening to him. Not sure if it's I'm not in the mood or different age but I didn't love it. It was just okay
Very good but moat of its strength comes from When Doves Cry and Purple Rain. The rest of the album is good but pales in conoarison to those two hits.
One stone cold classic, bolstered by two or three other strong tracks but the rest is pretty turgid
A couple of absolute incredible tracks aside much of this album I struggle with and, frankly, don’t enjoy. Typical Prince imho
Purple Rain (song) is a masterpiece. When Doves Cry makes me want to shake. I like Let’s Go Crazy. I Would Die for You is decent. The rest is mostly forgettable.
meh, there are some fun poppy songs but, it's just not my style at all. i'm sure some of the stuff he was doing is NOW overdone but wasn't then?
One stone cold classic, bolstered by two or three other strong tracks but the rest is tripe
Some cool things done throughout the album, quite unique to me at least. "Purple Rain" the best song for me.
As much respect as I have for prince I could never really get into the 80s pop rock sound. That said love the guitar work
Best Song: When Doves Cry. I really don't think anyone other than Prince could make this song work. Everything about it is killer: the layered vocals, the introspective lyrics, that slow grinding groove. Worst Song: The Beautiful Ones. Too sleepy and synthy. Doesn't meet the energy of the songs that come before or after. I do like the raw vocals at the end though. Overall: It's hard not to love Prince's goddamn charisma. The best songs on this album sound like pure Purple energy. Prince sounds like Michael Jackson if MJ had a soul. Even still, there is a pretty sizable gulf between the massive heights that the singles reach and the comparatively far weaker songs that fill the rest of the album.
Pretty good, but a bit synth-poppy; lacking in guitar, which he shreds and usually allows him to rip purer pinnacle songs
all the good songs on this album were already independent hits that they play on the radio. All the other songs sounded like kinky 80's space pirate music.
Eh, I really don't "get" Prince. I can appreciate that 'Purple Rain' (song not album) is fundamentally an impressive song, but I don't really like it. The rest of the album is a bit... screechy in places.
Well it‘s Prince...not his best album. I don‘t think it shows his singing skills very well.
1st track is bearable. Others got old - they are too cheesy and banal to bear, both lyrically and musically. Nice thing for boomer-glam-costume-party, but these occasions are getting rarer and rarer.
Some good songs for sure with mass appeal. Then some songs that very artsy and out there. Not sure I would call it a masterpiece since there are some weak spots.
“Purple Rain” by Prince and the Revolution (1984) A Prince fan recently told me that one cannot understand the message of “Purple Rain” without seeing the movie. Uh, okay, but since this a review of the ‘album’ and not the ‘album+movie’, I’ll set the message aside, other than to say that the lyrics are thoroughly unimpressive. Musically, Prince’s guitar stylings are outstanding (if underutilized), and flawlessly performed. He has real guitar skill. And the pop arrangements, heavy with keyboard support and occasional string ensemble backing have undoubted popular appeal. Drum machine, however, is a definite minus. Seriously. Lead vocals by Prince, while demonstrating expansive tonal range, evoke soulless pretension, providing the listener with baroque frills, but with tragically understated passion. Rhythm section is uniformly mechanical. Prince the arranger seems to think a rhythm section is an annoying necessity. “When Doves Cry” is (apparently) entirely composed, arranged and performed by Prince alone. It has plenty of flair, but its lacy decorations seem to grate against the meaning of the lyrics. Perhaps the movie explains this awkward tension. Likewise on “I Would Die 4 U”. Actually, the same could be said for much of this album. “Purple Rain” comes at you like a heroically expansive gospel anthem dressed to kill. It has a very nice string arrangement in the outro, marred by dubbed audience approval (giving the listener a hint). But in order to get excited about this song, I’d have to know what the hell it’s about. Maybe you really do have to see the movie. I’ll do movie reviews after I die. 2/5
After seeing numerous Prince Tribute acts with Grant Cabaret Connor. I must concede that it's not as terrible as I remember. 2 stars
Was familiar with the album but never listened from start to finish. I can see why it is in the list, but not really for me.
Couple of brilliant tunes but can't get past the fact most of it is nonsense and he is individually repulsive.
Some parts were kinda cool; some parts I hated. Prince is phenomenal at guitar but WOW does he underutilize his guitar playing. His songs are totally not for me, I wish he spent more time shredding and less time rabidly obsessing about sex The ratio of "how much I enjoyed this album" to " how acclaimed it is" is extremely low
I don't get Prince. I don't get why he's such a huge deal. Glad for people who get it, but this is EXTREMELY not for me.
Nice.
Not my favorite prince... can be top cheesy and lack of funk