Prince – Rainbow Children

Review: While this album may have gone unnoticed to the general public, hardcore Prince fans were shocked at the release of Rainbow Children which had Prince all over the musical map, but clearly displayed Prince’s musical prowess.  The album is blended with a good dose of jazz and pop with only a minor funk infusion, so for true funk fans, you’ll like the album, but it won’t give you your funk fix.  However, this album not only delivers a good dose of funky, it literally takes you on a fantastic journey unlike any other.  Headphones are required to truly appreciate the vastness of this album.

This album was Prince’s dive into the religious arena to speak more passionately about his newfound faith as a Jehovah’s Witness. The album is actually a masterpiece with a lot of great song writing that was obviously meticulously poured over note by note to polish every crack and crevice. There is a deep gothic booming “God-like” voice that tells a story throughout to maintain a good continuity though some listeners found it to be distracting. The title track is like a sonic roller coaster with highs and lows and ethereal guitar, and his female fans will most certainly love tracks such as Mellow and She Loves Me 4 Me.

And while it may not have funk fans frothing at the mouth, what funk it does offer is amazing. 1+1+1 is 3 is a funkafied gorgeous groove and Everlasting Now has super funky breaks that reminisce back to the days of Baby I’m a Star.  The off kilter well thought out placement of these songs truly remind everyone of just how powerful of a musician Prince truly is.

Long story, short, this is one of Prince’s best albums in many years and worthy of picking up at whatever cost. We debated about giving this album our highest possible 5-Afro rating because of its lack of full-on funk, but this album doesn’t have any weak points to be found. Even on the bizarre diatribes like The Digital Garden and Deconstruction, they all work together to create one of Prince’s best masterpieces since Purple Rain and even ups the ante further. Get it now.