Purple Rain

Purple Rain is such a crazy good number. The rest is very experimental (in a good 80's way)

I thought I disliked or was meh about half the songs, but then I listened and that’s not true. (“Take me with u” through “darling Nikki” is a fine run that I’m now convinced only feels weak relative to the rest of the album.) Plus 3-4 classics. 5 stars.

One of the best artists ever, and this is probably his masterpiece. From the opener to the last notes of the closing track, this grabs you by the eardrum and doesn't let go. Flawless

Not much to say about this one that hasn’t already been said. Still can’t believe that Purple Rain was mostly recorded live.

I’ve never been a huge Prince fan so I’ve never fully understood the hype around him and this album. I listened to it, it was fine. I like let’s go crazy, it’s a strong opener. After that there are moments that I thought were cool, and I actually liked it more than I expected. However, it’s not one I’m probably going to come back to all that often, if ever.

Favourite songs: When Doves Cry, Purple Rain, Let's Go Crazy, Baby I'm a Star, Computer Blue

Least favourite songs: The Beautiful Ones, Darling Nikki

3/5

I'll be honest. I don't like Prince and I'm frankly sick of hearing about him. Still, I had to give this a fair listen and it's not all bad. The song Purple Rain kinda redeems the whole thing, even if it is 3 minutes too long.

I love when albums come up on this list and I can actually go over to the record collection and listen to the vinyl. This is one of my favorite albums and I've listened to it countless times.
There's so much to love about this album - as with all Prince, the musicianship is outstanding. Prince was one of the best guitar players of all time and the thing that really impresses me about how he orchestrates his music is that he rarely takes a self-indulgent guitar solo. Everything he does serves the song and not all the songs need the most amazing guitar solo ever written. Unless you knew how great he was, the average listener wouldn't hear this album and think "wow that guy can really play".
This album has what I consider to be one of the most perfect album sides in music. Side 2 of this album is utterly brilliant - the songs are amazing, they flow from one to the next perfectly, starts off with an absolute banger, stays strong, ending on another banger that is definitely in contention for the best song ever written.
I see a lot of people on here saying that this album is good but Sign O' The Times is better, and while that album is another brilliant piece of music, Purple Rain is the better album to my ears. 5/5

Feel like I'm missing something with this album, and maybe Prince in general

It was alright. One or two songs I quite enjoyed and that was about it. Never really liked purple rain! Didn't like his screeching though

3 ⭐️

Still not my all time favorite Prince record, but a masterpiece nonetheless.

It's fucking Prince, man! Need I say more?

I've always had a problem with Prince. I don't like his voice and his attitude. He's a bit too exhaled for me. There are a few quite good tracks on the album. I like "When Doves Cry" and "Purple Rain". I don't get on so well with the rest.
3/5

As crazy as it sounds, given this laughably low score for one of the most beloved albums of all-time, I’ve actually come a long way with Purple Rain. When I made my inaugural “Prince I Like” playlist a few years ago, I didn’t include anything from this record. I didn’t particularly enjoy any of the songs I’d heard a thousand times, and none of the album cuts stood out to me. If I were to make said playlist now, I’d include a few tracks, “Darling Nikki” most certain of all. I dig the dirtier sounding drums and the delightful weirdness/borderline lo-fi-ness of it all. It has climbed pretty high up my list of favorite Prince songs in recent years.

Even though I really don’t enjoy the drum sounds or synth stabs, I’d probably still include “Let’s Go Crazy” for the guitar work alone (I’d also consider throwing “Computer Blue” on there for the same reasons, though the second half of the song doesn’t do nearly as much for me as the gnarly first half does). The song I’ve come the farthest with, though, is “When Doves Cry”. Although I still don’t particularly dig the synth tone, I’ve grown to appreciate the sparser arrangement of it and the killer guitar tone.

Otherwise…I don’t know, y’all. I know I’m the weird one. I know I’m the “wrong” one. I truly, honest to God recognize, respect, and occasionally enjoy his talent, but I just don’t fully “get” this classic era of Prince. I don’t enjoy his singing voice most of the time. I have a difficult time with the sound of these records, especially the drums and synthesizers. Stylistically, I struggle with the particular brand of R&B he tends to draw from. For instance, everyone loses their mind over "I Would Die 4 U", and that makes me feel the biggest sense of disconnect, because I think it sounds terrible. Same with "The Beautiful Ones". Hell, even the title track - a song which most rational people would argue is one of the best ever - has never moved me whatsoever. I don't hate it, and was as genuinely taken with his Super Bowl performance as anyone else, but I don't care/need to hear it ever again. Especially not the laughably echoing drums on it.

When I listen to this album, I feel like I'm acknowledging and appreciating its greatness from a distance, rather than feeling immersed in and taken by it. I'm glad it reaches so many people on a deeper level, but it still doesn't have that high a ceiling for me. I definitely enjoy it much more than 1999, but I still think Sign o' the Times is the classic album that stands the best chance of rising higher in my estimations.

3/5

Now this is the one Prince album that I really can appreciate fully. Consise, consistent and several truly incredible songs. When Doves Cry in particular is top tier. I still think the production is way too light on the bass and dates the album, but I can see past that in this case. 9/10

was expecting more, never heard Prince songs before, just the high praise he gets.
but its just good 80s music imo
too good for a 3 but not a 4, giving it a 3 for the let down

Once in a while, a pop album impresses me. This is one of those times. I think the main difference is I view most pop music as being produced within a predefined, rigid framework, and designed specifically to use that to maximize its sales. Prince, on the other hand, while aware of this framework, not only refuses to let it control him or his work, but actually innovates within it, pushing the boundaries and almost comfortably redefining what other artists will need to do in the future to keep up.

I really enjoyed this album. It was exactly what I needed on an early Saturday morning start. I ended up listening to it twice, which says everything.

Purple Rain has an incredible sound. It moves effortlessly between funk, dance and rock, all tied together with gritty, emotional lyrics. It feels big and dramatic but never overblown. There is swagger, vulnerability and pure musical brilliance running through it.

Darling Nikki is wild and outrageous. You cannot help but be entertained. Most of the album is packed with strong songs, though I did struggle a bit with Computer Blue. It feels slightly less immediate than the rest.

The title track Purple Rain is monumental. Emotional, soaring and timeless. It completely justifies the album’s reputation.

Favourite song: Purple Rain
Least favourite song: Computer Blue
Album artwork: I love the cover. Iconic, dramatic and perfectly matched to the music

Classic Prince. Challenge anybody to stay still while listening to this one. Soulful, catchy, brilliant. First one on the list I wanted to listen to twice back to back.

It's incredible that so much talent could be concentrated in single person. Of the non-singles, I most enjoyed Computer Blue, but every song on here is a banger.

This album is a classic, no dull spots.