Sign "O" The Times
by Prince

From Boltzmann 03/02/2026 02:51 | #313400

There's always something weird to this album, like something is off constantly. Be it the rhythm (or rather the duration of sounds which don't seem to fit in the rhythm), be it the tone that sounds like synths are gradually winding down and losing their correct pitch as they're sounding. Or they're just incredibly stripped down like Sign 'o' the Times or Housequake, and well... then there's It. Many of these songs would be quite standard (and honestly, boring) if it weren't for that strange "woosh" sound, or that odd synth noise. You would almost miss it, or call it bad tuning/recording/whatever, but once you learn to appreciate it, you are reminded that Prince is above all an electronic artist; he was experimenting.

The strangest thing however, is that he breaks this subtle pattern by sometimes not having anything "off" in the music. Some of these tracks are absolutely a bore, and some absolutely a bliss, like Play in the Sunshine, U Got the Look, I Could Never Take the Place of your Man and Adore, which are quite classic examples of pop/funk/soul... which makes them sound off between the other songs that all seem to push some boundary.

But is this on purpose? Am I experiencing this album as it was envisioned? Or was it just a classic example of filling an album until you get enough for a double album? But knowing that he had a TRIPLE album planned with a lot of bangers on it that would be released later, it must've been well thought-out. But no one could seriously think that 9 minutes of "ohh-wee-ohh oooohhh" would make anyone happy, right?

The album lingers in a mist of constant mystery while still being incredibly accessible. But one thing is for sure, and that is that this is a snapshot of Prince's most creative era.

From CaptainPain 02/18/2026 09:28 | #313193

One of the most difficult albums! But, for those who get the hang of it, it will be one of the most beloved.

Shortlisted for album of the year at the Grammys in 1988. The winner was The Joshua Tree by U2

A Genius at work, his music is sublime!

"Prince's ambitious double album 'Sign 'O' The Times' is an eclectic mix of genius and experimentation. While it showcases Prince's unparalleled ability to blend genres—from funk to rock to soul and beyond—some tracks feel more like creative experiments than fully realized songs. The album's standouts, like the eponymous track and 'If I Was Your Girlfriend,' are undeniable classics, capturing Prince at his most introspective and innovative. However, the album's length and diversity, though impressive, can be overwhelming, leading to a somewhat disjointed listening experience.

The way Prince tackles different genres is extremely impressive on this release. He sounds just as comfortable in R&B as he does in Soul and funk and he does a great job in fusing the three whilst maintaining his pop style as well. However, this is a long record and it does drag especially with the elongated conclusions to his songs like on Hot Thing. In my opinion, there isn't a double album worth of content on here with there being a lot of filler and slower moments. Despite this, the opening track is fantastic along with Starfish And Coffee and a few others that elevate this album significantly. Overall, this isn't my favourite Prince record and he does have better releases that are much more consistent and cohesive for me.

Impressive album, but I'm not as crazy about it as Purple Rain. I feel that it has a lot of bangers, but could have been shorter, because there are some weak ones too. I really like genre fusion that he does here it makes the album more entertaining.

This album is just the best album of the 80s maybe even of all time it's so expansive, prince hits new heights with this album.

A mild personal dilemma, as I listen to this record.

On the one hand, I don’t like double albums and there’s not two albums worth of great songs.

On the other hand, Prince is so comfortable in so many different musical genres, that he almost needs all 16 songs to cover all that he’s capable of. Said differently, not every song is very good, but none of the songs drag.

Album Rating: 80.44
(1,287/16)

1. "Sign o' the Times" 4:57 - 91
2. "Play in the Sunshine" 5:06 - 80
3. "Housequake" 4:40 - 71
4. "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker" 4:03 - 81
5. "It" 5:10 - 84
6. "Starfish and Coffee" Prince, Susannah Melvoin 2:50 - 78
7. "Slow Love" Prince, Carole Davis 4:22 - 80
8. "Hot Thing" 5:39 - 70
9. "Forever in My Life" 3:32 - 71

Total length: 40:19

CD 2 / LP 2:

1. "U Got the Look" 3:46 - 90
2. "If I Was Your Girlfriend" 5:04 - 79
3. "Strange Relationship" 4:01 - 84
4. "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" 6:29 - 88
5. "The Cross" 4:49 - 85
6. "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night" Prince, Matt Fink, Eric Leeds 9:02 - 71
7. "Adore" - 84