Purple Rain (soundtrack album) by Prince And The Revolution

Shortlisted for album of the year in 1985. The winner was Can't Slow Down by Lionel Richie. This should have been the winner

Fanstastic

Prince at its best, great sound, great music and lyrics, it has Funk, new wave and some dark wave probably the best album of 1984.

From JoaoMoreira 02/09/2024 01:06

Great record!
Tight and eccentric.
Just like Prince ?

This album seems to divide opinion. I am on the side that likes it. Excellent musicianship. The title song is a classic, other tracks like 'When Doves Cry' and 'I Would Die for You' add diversity. This album was a soundtrack which is why there is so much diversity of styles. As with many musical genius, Prince died before his time.

Not a fan. Maybe it was groundbreaking at the time (although Thriller was released 2 years earlier which wipes the floor with this) but in 2023 it really isn't anything special to me. Very overrated. When Doves Cry is good. I don't get the love for the last song.

I don't get it. While the album disjointedly skips around different genres, each song is almost unbearably repetitive. The lyrics range from the overly simplistic ("Purple Rain, Purple Rain") to the painfully cringeworthy ("You - I would die 4 U").

While it was cutting-edge for its time, the synthesizer sounds and drum machines now come off as clichéd and overdone.

This is the Prince album with the greatest consistency of memorable songs. The highlight, for me, is "When Doves Cry," a song that ingeniously combines synthpop, punk, rock, new wave, soul, and funk to create a piece unlike any other I've heard in popular music. The lyrics detail a trauma that many experience, subconsciously reliving (through one's romantic relationships) the unresolved problems one had with one's parents.

The rest of the album cannot measure up to that level of genius, but it has some songs that come close. "Purple Rain" is a highly original modern gospel piece with superb guitar work. Many consider this the best song on the album. I would put it as the second best on the album, and, if I could, I would rate it somewhere between a 90 and a 95; maybe a 92.

"Darling Nikki" is a humorous story set to music. Many do not care for this song, but I found it an unusual exploration of an idiosyncratic character. "Let's Go Crazy" is an enjoyable rocker while "I Would Die 4 U" delivers the best of '80s synthpop.

This album is essential in the history of modern music: 9/10!

This is a solid album from Prince that feels like his most cohesive work with every song matching in style and tone. This leads to an enjoyable listen that keeps you entertained throughout. Prince's voice is the major selling point behind the music on here with his displays across the whole record being fantastic. He makes every song fun even if the music backing him up isn't as strong. In my opinion, this record does sound dated when listening in the modern era with its distinctively 80's sound making it feel cracked and rough. I am not a fan of the drum work on here either. Overall, this is Prince's best work with him shining on every song but he unfortunately isn't backed as well as he could be.

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