1001 Albums Summary

Prince is one of my favorite artists of all time, so going back to this album is always an exciting prospect. For me, this is the closest that we see Prince at his full powers as an artist. Every single song is memorable, the production is sublime and goes in directions that still throw me for a loop every time I listen to it, and his performance on all the tracks is nothing short of incredible. Even more impressive is that the records that bookend this are 1986's Parade, a soundtrack album that was based on his film Under the Cherry Moon, and 1988's Lovesexy, an album that I have just as equal love for. Would I say it's the best Prince album to get a first-time listener into? No, I believe Purple Rain does an outstanding job at that, and is probably the first album that most people trying to listen to Prince should go for first, but once you understand his processes behind making music, the themes that he tends to touch on, and of course the musicianship behind each of his records, Sign 'O' The Times shines brighter than every single album in his catalogue after gaining that understanding.

Don't know what else can be said about this album that hasn't been said. Easily one of the best - if not the best album ever made. An album that I go back to all the time, an album that has defined key moments in my life, and an album that brings tears to my eyes every time it plays.