Prince - Controversy

Definitely Prince's more 'out there' releases from his early catalogue. While I'm glad he discontinued his funkier origins for a more anti-stereotypical blend of music (which the album's title track and others clearly present lyrically as well).

There's still a lot of funkiness to some of the tracks though, which mix into a great combination with the more sterile and abrasive synths of an early new wave sound; I think of this album as a pre-mature 1999, where Prince's signature 80's sound really starts to bloom. The one problem I have with 1999 is that Prince, in my opinion, kind abandoned potential for melody in exchange for pure electronics (take for instance the lengthy bouts of electronic percussion). Controversy, however, is all about clever melodies with a taste of funk and new strengths in his song-writing skills that his earlier 3 albums only hinted at.

There are a few dull moments for me though; some of the instrumentation gets a little predictable, and the long ballad 'Do Me, Baby' is one track I usually avoid. A lot of the album's finest moments for me are the more experimental ones, like, of course, the 7 minute title track, 'Ronnie, Talk To Russia', and 'Annie Christian'.

Controversy is definitely a favorite early Prince album of mine, and while I can't give it a perfect score, it's challenging nature is what really attracts me to it.