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Purple Rain

Music From the Motion Picture
Jun 25, 20144B39B22330E8 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
On the 30th anniversary of the release of this album, it is worth remembering it as one of the greatest recordings ever. The breadth of musical styles, pacing, rhythm and lyrics mark it as one of the most transgressive pop masterpieces of the 20th century. The context includes Prince updating the "bad man" on guitar symbolism of Jimi Hendrix, responding to the pop supremacy of Michael Jackson and referencing Avant Pop Queen Laurie Anderson. Not too many people have covered as much ground or even dared to try. Audacity, brazen confidence, frenzied Freudian Id-isms run-amok, the heightened energy of a live show, this album has it all. The film is a little dated and the not-so-veiled misogyny makes it tough to swallow today, but there is no doubt that the film doubled as a nice cinematic vehicle for the songs which are still rewarding in their own right.