Prince

It begins as a great book would, with the setting. "In France, a skinny man died of a big
disease with a little name." In 1987, when Prince's double-album masterpiece Sign 'O' the
Times was released, no one had to be told he was talking about AIDS. The title track syrups
on, mentioning crack and nuclear bombs -- painting the Eighties as if Revelations had
arrived and no one had realized. The direct political address recalls Marvin Gaye'... More >

No formal breakthrough, and despite the title/lead/debut single, no social relevance move either, which given the message of "The Cross" (guess, just guess) suits me fine. Merely the most gifted pop musician of his generation proving what a motherf*cker he is for two discs start to finish. With helpmate turns from Camille, Susannah, Sheila E., Sheena Easton, he's back to his one-man-band tricks, so collective creation fans should be grateful that at least the second-hottest groove here, after the galvanic "U Got the Look," is Revolution live. Elsewhere Prince-the-rhythm section works on his r&b so Prince-the-harmony-group can show off vocal chops that make Stevie Wonder sound like a struggling ventriloquist. Yet the voices put over real emotions--studio solitude hasn't reactivated his solipsism. The objects of his desire are also objects of interest, affection, and respect. Some of them he may not even f*ck. (Grade: A+)