Prince (October 22, 1991) – “Diamonds And Pearls: Prince Features New Style, Band” Album Review - The Austin Daily Herald
This four-star Austin Daily Herald review examines Diamonds And Pearls as an important new stage in Prince's career, with particular attention given to the introduction of the New Power Generation. Reviewer Brett Erlandson praises the album's mixture of dance, funk, jazz, gospel and balladry, regarding it as Prince's most mainstream work since Purple Rain and predicting renewed commercial success.
Publication: The Austin Daily Herald
Date: October 22, 1991
Country: United States
Published under the headline “Diamonds and Pearls: Prince features new style, band”, Brett Erlandson awards the album four stars out of a possible five.
The review describes Diamonds And Pearls as Prince's thirteenth album since For You and immediately identifies the most important change as the arrival of the New Power Generation. According to Erlandson, the new band gives Prince a sound unlike that heard on his previous albums.
The article also highlights another change in presentation: the hologram used on the CD cover. Erlandson describes this as an expensive undertaking and notes Prince's increasing accessibility to the media during this period.
Musically, however, the reviewer finds Prince's familiar desire to explore new territory very much intact. One characteristic singled out across the album is the extensive use of bass, which Erlandson regards as giving the record an exciting additional dimension.
The album opens with “Thunder”, described as a fast-paced dance track driven by a booming bass-drum sound. “Daddy Pop” continues that momentum before the title track, “Diamonds And Pearls”, slows the pace with what the reviewer regards as a strong ballad.
The contemporary single “Cream” is described as possessing a classic Prince combination of lyric and beat.
A MIXTURE OF STYLES
The review emphasises the considerable stylistic variety across Diamonds And Pearls.
“Strollin'” is characterised as a dramatic change of direction, with a slow jazz rhythm that evokes walking through downtown New Orleans. That jazz atmosphere continues into “Willing And Able”, where gospel-style backing vocals are highlighted.
Prince then changes direction again with “Gett Off”, which the reviewer calls a “trademark bumper-and-grinder.”
“Walk Don't Walk” is singled out for its unusual use of car-horn harmonies, while “Jughead” brings New Power Generation rapper Tony M. into the foreground. Erlandson notes the irony of Prince incorporating rap after previously criticising the style.
“Money Don't Matter 2 Night” is described as bringing the record back into a comfortable groove, before “Push” returns the listener to the dance floor.
The reviewer identifies “Insatiable” as the album's major ballad, placing it in the tradition of earlier Prince songs including “Purple Rain,” “Do Me, Baby” and “Scandalous.”
Finally, “Live 4 Love” closes the album dramatically, bringing back the heavy bass sound that helped establish the record's character at the beginning.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Erlandson identifies Diamonds And Pearls as Prince's first non-soundtrack album since Lovesexy in 1988.
Although the reviewer has no difficulty recognising the record as Prince's work, Diamonds And Pearls is described as his most mainstream album since Purple Rain. Erlandson also notes that the album carried no parental advisory for explicit lyrics.
The review closes by describing the record as another important crossroads in Prince's career. Its mixture of styles and strong potential singles leads Erlandson to predict that the album would return Prince to substantial commercial success.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Review of Diamonds And Pearls
Era: 1991 Diamonds And Pearls / New Power Generation era
Rating: ★★★★ out of five
Tone: Positive, analytical and commercially optimistic
Photography: No photograph appears in the supplied clipping; the review is presented as a three-column text feature
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
• Four-star review of Diamonds And Pearls
• The New Power Generation identified as a significant new element in Prince's sound
• Discussion of the hologram CD cover
• Reviews of “Thunder,” “Daddy Pop,” “Diamonds And Pearls,” “Cream,” “Strollin',” “Willing And Able,” “Gett Off,” “Walk Don't Walk,” “Jughead,” “Money Don't Matter 2 Night,” “Push,” “Insatiable” and “Live 4 Love”
• Tony M.'s contribution to “Jughead” highlighted
• Diamonds And Pearls described as Prince's most mainstream work since Purple Rain
• Prediction of renewed commercial success
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
Comments