PRINCE: THE GOLD EXPERIENCE

SCORE: 98/100

Prince (or O(+> during the time that this album came out), a name that needs no explanation - one of the most important artists of all time and a prime example of the sheer creativity of black people in the music industry. 'The Gold Experience' has been a favorite of mine for YEARS; an album that I've needed to get to for far too long now. The album mixes elements of funk, R&B, and hip-hop primarily - showcasing the versatility of the genres that have been dominated and curated by black artists since their beginnings.

'The Gold Experience' is another lavish Prince project that showcases his diva-esque musical tendencies that came into full swing in the 90s - it's a complete shift from some of the sounds he was known for due to albums like 'Purple Rain' or his stunning self-titled debut, but it continues his bold and distinct style though vulgar lyrics, switches in genres and moods, and a well-rounded LP that does it all in one go. The album is nicely broken up into segments through various "NPG Operator" interludes, making it come together into one smooth piece that goes above and beyond into even more new horizons for the artist.

Prince was one of the absolute pioneers in music as a whole, bringing new sounds to the table and constantly reinventing his image to show just how versatile he was as an artist. 'The Gold Experience' in particular really showcases the huge soundscape of black music, with elements of funk, R&B, disco, and hip-hop all coming through during the albums long runtime - making it an album that incorporates a huge chunk of the genres that have been pioneered through black artists, Prince shows that he came to make one of his most diverse and wild projects with this album in particular.

It goes from wild to sensual in the span of just a few minutes, and the tracks are interesting enough to make the runtime of the album feel less overbearing than it would be if the album kept the same pace - Prince knew when to start and stop when it came to new things, and this album managed to be one delightful bundle of experimentation. 'The Gold Experience' is more fast-paced than you might expect, with the album coming together very quickly and making for an interesting and deeply enjoyable project with incredible instrumentation and some of Prince's most impressive vocal stunts.

Some of Prince's most underrated and underappreciated gems reside on this album - and 'The Gold Experience' is a true album experience that shocks at every turn and showcases all sides of the coin when it comes to Prince and his captivating artistry. The album opens and closes with incredible tracks, with 'Gold' being an absolute essential that I wish I had heard sooner, this album is a must-hear for any fans of the artist. It's a bit more "out there" than some of his other works, but if you aren't expecting something flamboyant & crazy; you don't really know what Prince was all about.

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