Is it Purple Rain 2? (Around The World In A Day - Prince)

Member Name: Grindhouse87

Product:	Around The World In A Day - Prince
Date:	26/05/09 (6 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Prince's ever changing style brings a few surprises. Raspberry Beret & Pop Life are amongs his best.

Disadvantages: Less accessible than Purple Rain

Released in 1985, this album, the sixth release by the Purple One, would probably be more highly regarded than it is if it wasn't the immediate follow up to 1984's groundbreaking 'Purple Rain'. With this album people who were expecting more of the same from Prince were to be disappointed.
To compare it to its predecessor seems a little unfair.

If this album had been released by anyone else it would have been considered a classic. Being released with almost zero publicity this wasn't the Purple Rain 2 that everyone wanted.

The reason for this is the songs just aren't as accessible as Purple Rain. That said the album does hold two bona-fide classics in Raspberry Beret and Pop Life.

There is a definite eastern flavor to the record and Prince again experiments with a variety of different styles and instrumentation which is apparent from the very beginning of the opening title track.
In summary this is not Purple Rain 2 and given Prince's track record at experimenting musically it seemed foolish to expect that it would be, but it is still well worth a listen. The two tacks mentioned above are worth the price of admission alone.

Best Track - Raspberry Beret

Rating 4/5

Summary: Its no Purple Rain but it was never going to be. A solid album though with two genuine pop gems.