Rest In Purple : The Top 10 Prince Songs

Up until Christmas of 1984 the only albums I owned were Kiss, Ozzy, Alice Cooper and Twisted Sister, the first album that I owned which was not metal...yes even before Bowie for me was Prince's "Purple Rain". While this doesn't hit me as hard as Bowie, since "Crystal Ball" was the last Prince album I was really spell bound by I still caught him a couple of times in concert and continued to be one of the best if not the best guitarist I have seen live. Rather than rattling on about what he did for music or who he was I'll let his music do the talking and give you my top ten Prince Songs. Given the Purple One's rigid control of his songs, in some cases the original versions of these songs could not always be captured, so we are going for covers in some cases.

10- Something in the Water Does Not Compute

Off "1999" in any arrangement this song works, though the new wave funk of the album version is always the best in my book.
  9-"Thieves in the Temple"

The vocals and the groove are what push this to the top of the heap. The beat is pretty heavy. This was when he started getting into more conventional pop ad became less guitar oriented. 8-Raspberry Beret

 Around the World in a Day was heralded as his Sgt.Peppers as the follow up to Purple Rain the bar could not be any higher. Lighter in tone than "Purple Rain" it sounds a little dated, it's impossible for me not to get this one stuck in my head when I hear it, as it stuck with me over the years.


  7-" I could Never Take the Place of Your Man"

 One of his more straight up rock n roll songs, he was one of the few soul/funk artists who could convincingly cross over into rock and really rock.

  6- "When U Were Mine"

Sure "Nothing Compares 2 U" could easily be on this list, but lets face even the songs Prince wrote for other people be it Joan Osborne, Kate Bush, TLC or Sinead O' Conner feel like Prince covers because they have his finger prints all over them and when he decided to play them after the fact they became Prince songs.

 

  5-"the Cross"

 Off of Sign O the Time, It might be surprising one of his Jesus songs, made my list, but I never considering him going from masturbating with a magazine to saving my soul being too preachy in this context nor did I ever take it that seriously,I was always like you are going to get all church on me after I just saw you in a blouse and a jock strap? Any way Chino from the Deftones had his side project Crosses ironically cover this.

 


  4- "Anna Stesia "


 The best song off of "Lovesexy", this live version finds him really killing it and showcases his under rated guitar playing that all of you mother humpers are now on Facebook saying you have always been a fan of since he died.
 


  3- "Darling Nikki"


 This was some down and dirty next level shit , I had no clue what masturbating was or what lil Nikki was starting to grind, but the intention behind his words reminded me of when Ginger would whisper naughty things in Gilligan's ear. Even teaming up with Cee-Loo Green this is not something that the Foo-Fighters could really capture, but this version is worth hearing. "

  > 2- If I Was Your Girlfriend Androgyny was his thing as much as it was Bowie's and that fact wasn't conveyed any more convincingly than on this song, which is another example of his immaculate song writing.





2- "If I Was Your Girlfriend" 

Androgyny was his thing as much as it was Bowie's and that fact wasn't conveyed any more convincingly than on this song, which is another example of his immaculate song writing.While the cover below carries strong elements of the original these girls can't capture Prince's raw sex magick that oozes from his voice.




  1- "When Doves Cry"

It might seem cliche that number one is off Purple Rain, but that album is in my top 10 albums of all time and while the bulk of his work is strong up until he started bat-dancing, "Purple Rain" can't be touched. This song is what first caught my attention and has everything I could want from him from the wildly passionate guitar playing to his falsetto.

the Top 10 Pop Albums of 2015

I think we know that pop music is my favorite palate cleanser to start the day off with before I spend the rest of the day listening to blacksludgepostdeathcrust metal. Granted my taste is pop is generally darker, and many of these albums would have been battling it out in the over crowded goth list, one of the artists even self identifies as goth.

 10- Camouflage : "Greyscale"
 In the same club as Twin Shadow , but coming from a much more Euro vibe. Think Depeche Mode. Well I don't have to tell you to think anything because if that doesn't come to mind when you hear this I'm not sure what blog you are normally reading. This is however better than anything Depeche Mode has done since "Ultra". They are not totally stuck in the 80s as a song like "Laughing Proves". No wonder the title is "Greyscale" as that is how dark this album is.  So not goth, but it will appeal to goth's who have "Violator" in heavy rotation, as this is which era of Depeche Mode this projects draws inspiration from. They do tend to ride some of the grooves into the ground, but it allows the songs more of a drone.It goes in a chill wave sort of direction, so you have to be in the right mood.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2015/05/report-to-dance-floor-camouflages.html

9-Lana Del Ray : "Honeymoon"

 When I'm not making a pop list she is obviously more mainstream the majority of the artists I cover, but has enough melancholy to her sound to have her place along side some of the other female artists covered here. She said this album was going to be filled with muddy trap energy and inspired by late night drives listening to Miles Davis. She employs elements of sound to make the album feel like a 60s western soundtrack. Her voice glides with her typical cool croon like it is business as usual. She closes the album with a cover of the Animals " Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" that retain in the organ some of the trippy 60s feel. Overall this album might not be "the Ultra-Violence" as the lyrics are not as biting and the ballads are sleepier, but she excels when she does what she does best.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2015/11/lana-del-ray-honeymoon.html

8-Prince: "HITNRUN Phase Two"

 Once upon a time the only artists I listened to who were not metal were the Violent Femmes , David Bowie and Prince. I got "Purple Rain" X-mas of 1984 and hung tough with him despite changing his name to a symbol and the Bat Dance not parting ways with him until fifteen years later with  s"Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic", though the last I saw him live was on the "3121" tour. The opener might have the social commentary similar to his "Sign O the Times' album,  so it no surprise the upbeat opening remind me of a slower paced "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man". His guitar  has a jazzy Frank Zappa like cadence  following the chant of "if there ain't no justice there ain't no peace" . His voice sounds like he hasn't aged a day. The only sign of age is in his mellowed approach to rock, which finds his guitar using a cleaner jazz tone and forsaking the wild man Hendrix wail of feedback.In some ways it is unfair to compare this album to "Around the World in Day" which is a place in time that he can never get back to but where he is finds the Purple One at a much better place than I expected and makes me want to back back and listen to the albums I missed out on , because if they are as good as this one it will be time well invested.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2015/12/report-to-dance-floor-princes-hitnrun.html
 
7-Puscifer : "Money Shot"

 Before you balk at this album being on the pop list, first ask yourself what are you doing reading this in the first place if you don't like pop music. Tool used to be one of my favorite bands. A Perfect Circle was up there as well. Puscifer seemed like Maynard's stab at doing his own Massive Attack , but heavy on the jokes. The first album he mainly used his lower range and further separated himself from being the voice of Tool.  First off the album sounds great but sounds best through head phones. More focused on songs and less focused on jokes , with more of an emphasis placed on songs. Closely harmonized with female voices it sounds like this could have been written for a Perfect Circle album that never happened.Even though Former Ministry bassist Paul Barker lays down the grooves this is not industrial, nor is it dark enough to be goth or organic enough to be rock, it is what is good catchy songs, do you not think that what defines pop, it's just low on the sugar.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2015/10/puscifer-money-shot.html

6-Madonna: "Rebel Heart"

 Me and the Fabulous Ms. M have been out of touch. After "Music" we parted ways, she went on to have a mid-life crisis and released four albums none of which had anything that entered into my consciousness, but then again when I quit doing drugs, I also quit frequenting gays bars. The first song on Madonna's new album "Rebel Heart" makes it apparent gays bars are where she has been hiding out making music. This is perfect for my climate so there is a bit of a nostalgic edge to this which gives me a appreciation for this album which in it's initial sales haven't impressed the rest of the world , but what do those sheep know about good music any way?Oh, well it is what is, don't believe the hype saying this is a bomb, because it's not creatively , try to get the expanded edition there some songs that are actually better than some of these , but this still is getting a 9.5 as Madonna is back in biznasty.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2015/03/report-to-dance-floor-madonnas-rebel.html

5- Dr. Dre : "Compton"

 Things have changed in the hood. While working on the film "Straight Outta Compton" Dre was inspired to make this album, only his third full length. This album does not feel like a  companion piece to the bi-opic about the rap crew that put Dre on the map, which he produced as well. This is not a retro homage to his days in NWA and perhaps to a fault finds it's place in the modern hip-hop market. While I wore out my copy of "the Chronic" in high school, when I quit smoking pot thirteen years ago rap listening took a decline. Post -Tupac rappers got krunk and began writing twerk anthems because truth be told they just didn't have anything to say as it became harder to distinguish hip-hop from pop-music. The lyric " we load up pro-tools" on Dre's first team up with Kendrick Lamar explains one of the things that has changed in how Dre assembles his beats.The last song finds Dre doing what he does best without having other mcs crowding him. At times This album feels like it is serving two masters he is trying to make sure at 50 he can still sell albums to kids of today while doing what he does best, however this is better than any other hip hop album that came out...the Dr is in.
 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2015/08/dr-dre-compton.html

Karin Park : Apocalypse Pop"

She already has two Grammy's in Norway and this is her fifth album, so if there is any doubt as if the six foot three fashion model knows what she is doing , this album is a resounding yes. The album opens with a driving pop song with rough and tumble beats pumping under the otherwise carefree vocal.My finance drew Lorde comparison in her fleeting listen to the first single off the album "Shine" which I can hear in her phrasing that sometimes rides the rhythmic line between singing and rapping on a you be be as broke as you want/ you can be as drunk as you like". The lyrics on this album are incredible and often explore her dysfunctional relationships.Needs to be played while driving fast on dark roads...high on coke optional.

abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2015/05/report-to-dance-floor-karin-parks.html

 3- Chvrches: "Open Every Eye"


 Funny enough I decided to break down and give Chvrches a shot a few weeks ago after hearing them brought up on the State Of the Goth Scene panel at this year's Dragon-con. While not what I consider goth they do have a more serious lyrical tone than most of today's pop music and much like Twin Shadow are an act that proves pop doesn't have to be a bad word. their last album some reviews compared it Taylor Swift's "1989". They took that as a compliment. And this might come as a surprise to readers here who normally click on for the goth/metal/ punk reviews, but I have gained an appreciation for Swifts last two albums. The hooks are addictive and the same can be said for Chvrches. Lauren Mayberry continues to ooze with the same youthful glee that Swift also possesses, the difference being more lyrical as Mayberry doesn't always have to be the protagonist in her songs. She has little regret for not always being nice claiming on "Leave a Trace" that she is as sane as she ever was. Mayberry might make you dance , but she didn't show up to the studio trying to start a party. Fans will not be disappointed if they liked the last album.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2015/09/report-to-dance-floor-chvrches-open.html

2-the Weeknd : "Beauty Behind the Madness"

 Abel Makkonen Tesfaye goes about things in a manner darker than your average r&b singer  and has been known to sample both Siouxsie and the Cocteau Twins, his drug use might explain for this taste in music .He gives many winks to another addict...Michael Jackson. Lyrically the album has bi-polar moments, either he's a pimped out playa or hopeless romantic in the tug of war his pimp side is lyrically more interesting. He is a master of hook and they keep me returning to this album.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2015/12/report-to-dance-floor-weeknds-beauty.html

 1- Twin Shadow: "Eclipse"


 This album caught me by surprise I'll tell you right off the bat it's a strong contender for album of the year. From the first song he shows you how to make a chorus carry the most emotional impact possible.Who said pop music has to be a bad thing? More common with the 80s he sings in an urgent baritone, think Corey Hart but with a larger dose of soul injected in the phrasing. It's a crime not to check out this piece of greatness. Every vocal oozes like a hook in it's own right, one of the most perfect vocal performances.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2015/03/report-to-dance-floor-twin-shadows.html

The Weekly Shuffle

The second installment where I put my iPod on shuffle and review what ever pops up.

"Technocratic Manipulators" by Voi Vod. This band was so far ahead of their time it's ridiculous. I think Dimension Hatross was their creative peak as they started going in a more Floydish route on Nothingface. for those who say good music is just matter of opinion I think that can be argued, as how well it stands the test of time gives it a more definable quality and Voi Vod is a good example of this. Think they mistepped on Angelrat or they would have gotten the recognition they deserve.

"Mandatory Suicide" by Slayer. I think South of heaven is my favorite Slayer album, the songwriting is more balanced blend of melody and groove with the teeth to it that these guys are known for. This album wasn't the heaviest thing even back when it came out but it was more well written than their peers at the time. Sure Tom came closer to singing on Seasons but I think the spoken word section at the end of this one is just as effective and Dave's double bass underneath it rules.

"VI" by Mgla. I haven't been able to give this "With Hearts Toward None" album a solid enough listen its on my reviewe before the years end list, which I need to get cracking on. The drums stand out as they deviate from what you expect from this sort of death/black metal hybrid. In Poland dreaming of Sweden must be this guys mantra though as its in the same color spectrum as old Dissection.

"Hello Space Boy" by David Bowie. There is more than likely going to be a Bowie song on the Shuffle every week because my iPod is just loaded full of it as he is my Elvis. If I was going to introduce Bowie to Metal head this is one of the songs I would play for them as it has the industrial pound to it. This is one of the rare cases where Bowie jumped on a bandwagon rather than create, but when you take Scary Monsters into consideration he was just revisiting ground he already laid. The piano underneath this is incredible. Reeves is getting it done here as well metallic in the guitars slicing through the song but keeping texture what an awesome player I miss him.

"the Gateway" by Cult of Youth. I already reviewed "Love will prevail" it's no secret I hold it in high regard , I like where the vocals sit in the mix on this and the drums are getting it done as well, the guitar is a little lost but the song has drive to it an interesting layers keep being introduced through out.

"Figurative Theatre" by Christian Death. Speaking of standing the test of time I can't tell you how many times I have blared this album since high school, most of those I was high out of my mind so this album always holds things on it that sound new to my ears, some of the best lyrics ever penned. Rozz Williams albums with these guys are iconic.

"Void Hanger" by Darkthrone yes there is a band named after this song because that's how awesome Darkthrone is . I like the post cvlt years. The singer of eyehategod said "Plaguewielder" is his favorite album. The lyrics on it seem more mature and less hoary than the stuff that came after this which has more of a Venom feel to me. I like those punches in the verses. The gallop section is pretty rocking your face off as well. The blasty mcnasty at the end winks at what you first loved them for without apologizing for where they were going at the time.

"Life Eternal" by Mayhem, another case where it might not be their cvltest moment but I like it. This is pretty melodic for these guys. The vocals on this one are an acquired taste they work for me like early Celtic Frost. The drums are really where it is at one this song. Though the bass work is audible and pretty damn good to compliment the drumming, allowing the guitar to drone on top of this. Until today I never realized how long this song is as it normally takes a hypnotic throb in the background. Of course when these guys go blasty they do it well.

"Look at you Over there Ripping the Sawdust from my Teddy Bear" by Alice Cooper. A hidden gem from the Special Forces album, it reminds me that Alice could at one time really sing, I like his croon on the chorus. Like disco Kiss , new wave Alice is a favorite of mine, Still I don't think he belongs on the Dio tribute album coming out as he doesn't have the chops in this day and age to pull it off.

"Little Red Corvette" by Prince. Hey there is no shame in my game,not only am I glad this came on but it reminds me to put more Prince on my iPod. He is one of the best guitarists out there, with a impeccable tone. Sure this is a pop ditty but he does pop ditties better than any more...well maybe not better than the "Let's Dance" album but close. You can be as brootal as you want but can't deny the mans talent. An unreal voice as well and he knows how to use his range to serve the song.