Music Review: Prince - Batman: A 2008 Look Back

Not sure I agree with all his points but a good looking back review!

Here's the link: http://blogcritics.org/ar...092953.php


Here's the highlight's:-

The past decade-plus of mostly subpar Prince albums has benefited Batman. If the same album was released now, I daresay it would be hailed as a return to form

Primarily recorded by Prince alone in a matter of weeks (though some songs already existed in various states of completion), the production seemed hasty. This obviously wasn't the meticulously crafted product that Prince's followers had come to expect.

Fast forward to 2008, Batman sounds practically like a forgotten classic when compared to the likes of 2006's 3121 or 2004's Musicology. These days Prince seems to have largely lost his ability to compose tight, coherent songs with strong hooks.

"Partyman" was spotlighted in the movie, when Jack Nicholson's Joker gleefully defaces priceless works of art in a gallery. A Top 20 hit single, I always viewed this song as Prince on autopilot. My feelings haven't changed; "Partyman" serves its purpose as a theme for the Joker without having any noteworthy elements.

Easily the most overlooked track, by me at least, is "Vicki Waiting." The lyrics are a bit strange, having existed before the Batman project as "Anna Waiting," concerning Prince and his then-girlfriend Anna Garcia. Retro-fitted for Batman, vocal credited to Bruce Wayne, it mixes fiction with (presumed) autobiography. "All is well in Gotham City/The sound of terror is all you hear," is one of the most direct movie-related lyrics on the album. More intriguing is the final verse, in which Prince ponders the possibility of becoming a father. "Talk of children still frightens me/Is my character enough to be/One that deserves a copy made," subject matter that is clearly a bit more personal than the rest.

I agree with every word, but he could have expanded on it a bit more.

whatever peanut butter ur jelly

Sounds like the words of someone who hasn't listened to One Night Alone, The Rainbow Children, The Gold Experience, Come or Planet Earth.

I think Batman is pretty evenly weighed between the undeservedly and deservedly overlooked.

The Future, Electric Chair and Vicki Waiting are standout. Batdance is cheesy, but is a great Prince episodic suite and standout example of avante-garde pop from the era. Everything else is by-numbers stuff.

I don't think Batman deserves a re-appraisal as an overlooked classic when there's been better albums since, and far, far better albums that preceeded it that are still overlooked by the mainstream.

NouveauDance said:

Prince use to have balls....now he has religion. - Nothinbutjoy

he's right on the money. Prince used 2 be able 2 right a hit in his sleep. He wrote LOVE THY WILL... BE DONE in 20minutes!!! Prince had that edge that he had failed 2 regain love4oneanother! it's the truth. we can't deny that

rusty1 said:

L4OATheOriginal said:

rusty1 said:

he's right on the money. Prince used 2 be able 2 right a hit in his sleep. He wrote LOVE THY WILL... BE DONE in 20minutes!!! Prince had that edge that he had failed 2 regain love4oneanother! it's the truth. we can't deny that

oh boy rusty..still stuck in a time warp and refusing 2 listen 2 mature person that realizes that he's no longer in his 20's and life has taking on a new meaning 4 him it's okay rusty everybody grows up ...well some of us do

FlamingRaindrop said:

L4OATheOriginal said:

oh boy rusty..still stuck in a time warp and refusing 2 listen 2 mature person that realizes that he's no longer in his 20's and life has taking on a new meaning 4 him it's okay rusty everybody grows up ...well some of us do

Well you most certainly haven't if your childish rantings in this thread ( http://prince.org/msg/7/278521 ) are anything to go by...
rusry1 makes a valid, if arguable point - that's something you've never been able to do, that's for damn sure.
Just callin' a spade a spade is all...