Review Summary: Sign 'O The Times is an album that will completely leave you blown away, confused, then blown away again. With serenades, anthems, and sweet cooing, this album is one of the greatest projects ever released. It's simply perfection.
Never has there been a pop artist who cares more about his music than his PR. On Sign 'O The Times, Prince shows us how musically inclined he truly is. Most of the time on your "Favorite Prince Albums" list, this usually comes second to Purple Rain. And there's only one reason why it does: IT WENT HARD. No doubt Purple Rain was one of his best efforts, but I can definitely say that Sign 'O The Times was a much better record.
What this album truly captures is Prince's ability to do the impossible. He took that funky R&B sound and combined it with an unbelievable, super-mad-crazy-hype rocker vibe that continues to give us an 80 minute joyride. Opening the album with the socially conscious "Sign 'O The Times", Prince worries about the then newly founded disease, HIV/AIDS, "...a big disease with a little name...". He then goes on to lift our spirits with the light and poppy "Play in The Sunshine". "Housequake" is definitely the funkiest track on the album. Like if James Brown Soul was given a dose of "Darling Nikki" Rock, that's what their coughs would sound like. "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker" ties for second for the best track with "Adore". "TBoDP" is possibly the coolest track on the album, reinforcing the idea that One Night Stands ARE cool! The sexually oriented "It" is this funky power-rock anthem for... sex. Hey, it's a Prince album, isn't it? With the ode to a mentally-challenged girl, "Starfish & Coffee", the album takes a weird twist, only to be brought down to earth with the 2nd most beautiful track on the album, "Slow Love". Attraction has never been so passionate until "Hot Thing", a serenade to...well...a Hot Thing. "Forever in My Life" takes a new twist for romance for Prince, stating that "If You Were His Girlfriend", he'd never have "It" for "Dorothy Parker", and he would completely "Adore" you, cause "U Got The Look". The next track, "Strange Relationship" is probably the best R&B cut on the album, musically designed to be that Saturday afternoon R&B jam. "U Got The Look" makes you wanna dance uncontrollably with that upbeat 80s vibe. Layering in some guitar work only helped it become one of those club hits. Artistically, "If I Was Your Girlfriend" is the best track on the album. It's so abstractly weird that you're forced to put it on your "Prince" playlist. "I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man" channels the pop power from "I Would Die 4 U" and turns it into a 6 and a half minute pop rock anthem. "The Cross" is one of the conscious tracks on the album, declaring "...soon all of our problems will be taken by The Cross." "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" is a 9 minute long music party, showing off horns, impeccable vocal work, and of course, a smashing drum beat that has everybody and their cousin dancin' into the night. Finally, Prince ends the album on a wonderful and smooth note with "Adore", a serenade that after nearly 25 years, still leaves women in a romantic trance with him.
Altogether, this makes Sign 'O The Times an impeccable album that sounds old, futuristic, modern, and strange. This album still has music fans everywhere mesmerized by the immensity and artistic greatness that is, Prince.
