"Rave un2 the Joy Fantastic" contains some of Prince's best work ever. One of the first things I noticed about the album is the breadth of musical styles. Prince effortlessly jumps from dance-funk to sweet, beautiful ballads, pop/rock, even a touch of reggae.

This album is impressive in several other ways. There are several top level cuts -- old school Prince Dance music (Rave), Hip-Hop (Hot Wit U), Euro-Rock (So Far, So Pleased), Reggae (The Sun, The Moon and Stars), soulful ballads (Man O' War), blues rock (Baby Knows) and even 80's-made for a Top Gun/The Breakfast Club! soundtrack rock (Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do). Pure 80's cheese, man!

The album flows well, is eccentric, accessible, funky and fun. While people may not like every song (will rock fans get into the hip-hop stuff? will hip-hop/soul fans get into the blues?), this album is a shining example of Prince's master of music.

Add to that great guests like Chuck D, Gwen Stefani, Maceo Parker, Larry Graham, Sheryl Crow, Ani Difranco and you've got a must have album. The albums' best song is "I Love U, But I Don't Trust You Anymore." A stunning, cryptic, heartfelt piano ballad with Ani Difranco on acoustic guitar. Words can't describe the beauty of this song. An instant classic that you can listen to all day and it'll still get to you. One of those rare songs were you just stop and listen, feel it in your soul, and appreciate life more. I haven't even mentioned the Joni-Mitchell like "Tangerine," or some of the other solid cuts on the album... check this album out and escape the mediocrity of today's chart-topping, empty music (Mariah Carey, BSB, N'Sync, Puff Daddy).

If this release didn't come after the worst release of his career (NewPowerSoul), his remaining fans would realize how bad this is. In fact, it is hard to tell who is more out of touch: Him or his fans. Giving this release the same 5 stars that 'Exile on Main Street' or even 'The Gold Experience' deserve is blasphemy. There's not even one 5 star SONG on the album! And despite Arista's best efforts, none of these songs will be in the top 10.

'Everyday is a Winding Road' sounds like a cheesy house-remix that you'd put as the 4th or 5th song on a CD single. 'Hot Wit U' - a song which the old Prince would have taken to the top 5 - is ruined by the terrible rap by Eve (and I thought Prince couldn't rap). 'Pretty Man', despite the welcome presence of Maceo Parker, is an unfortunate parody of James Brown and uses the annoying voice from 'Man in a Uniform.' 'Baby Knows' is another song that the new Prince messed up whereas the old Prince would have taken it to the top. 'Undisputed' is another lame attempt to proclaim himself the king of pop. There was a time when Prince didn't have to proclaim it because everyone else was. 'Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do', despite being one of the most pleasant songs he has written this decade, is a rip-off of Richard Marx's 'Right Here Waiting' (play the two back-to-back) in much the same way 'Tick, Tick, Bang' was a rip off of Jimi Hendrix's 'Little Miss Lover.' The title track - like 'I Rock, Therefore I am' from 'Chaos & Disorder' has a very cool title but little else. In both cases, it is too bad that he couldn't write a good tune to go with such a cool title. This song, as with all the others I haven't mentioned, should have either been left in the Vault, or given to Warner Brothers as kiss-off material.

If you are excited about the guest appearances of Ani DiFranco, Sheryl Crow, etc., don't be. They are barely noticeable (these are not duets). Had he truly colloborated with them he might have made a killer album. Instead, we are left to wonder what might have been. At least he is still good live.

First thing's first: the other CD available now, "The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale", is not an Artist CD. It's a compilation of older Prince material from Warner Bros., and it's unlikely the Artist had much, if anything, to do with producing it. Dismiss it. That said, this CD is by the Artist on the NPG label - an important distinction. What's it like? Mostly it's of the slow-jam, r&b-based, more synth and drum machine than grinding guitar sound that you heard way too much of on "Emancipation" and "Crystal Ball". But it's a little better, perhaps just because it's one cohesive CD instead of 3 disjointed catch-all's. Interestingly, it's not an Artist & NPG cd; it's just the Artist and some guests. Prince is credited with some of the work (stuff the Artist did when he was Prince if you don't follow), and the NPG contribute only a little. Finally, don't let the words "Enhanced CD" put you in a tizzy; all it does in your PC is connect to the Artist's web-sites. In fact, hidden track 17 is an ad, which is a pretty obnoxious "sign of the times". Hidden track 18 is pretty good, though. Here's the upshot: if you're a die-hard fan, you'll buy it anyway; if you're middle of the road, sample all you can on the Web or listen to your friend's disc first; if you're the average listener who normally doesn't buy Prince/Artist music, you're gonna be bored by this one. I'm somewhere between hard-core and middle of the road and I know that buying Prince/Artist music is tough these days - hope this helps! wrockage@home.com

It is interesting reviewing the comments of the previous reviewers of The Artist's newest CD, RAVE UN2 THE JOY FANTASTIC. I have to admit I was very suspect of the value available to this album since best efforts by The Artist in recent years was not in my opinion his highest quality. This is not to say that they were not creative or imaginative; rather, they did provide the commerical kick needed to make money. As an respectful admirer of The Artist's work over the years, I enjoyed this work very much. This is not a CD where one genre will meet the needs of a monolithic listener. However, it meets the multiple tastes of the popular music scene. There is everything available to the taste bud except country and latin music. This is probably an example of his limitations rather the value of those genres.

Nonetheless, the music proves to be well thought out and inviting to the ear. I sang along to many of the songs. Some came out immediately as enjoyable and very singable with ballads, catchy tunes while driving a lonely highway, and poetic heart-felt words that fill the soul. However, The Artist does not spend too much time trying to force feed some higher message except for a blurb on the inside jacket of the CD.

Songs that come out immediately for me: Unidsputed; Hot wit U; Tangerine; So far, so please; The sun, the moon and the stars; ironically titled, ManOWar; Silly game; and the very inspirational, Wherever U go, Whatever U do.

These are my choices. They are not necessarily objective, but opinionated pieces that have been consistently supported by other fans and non-fans introduced to The Artist. All my friends, prince fans or not have enjoyed this album as did folks with DIAMONDS AND PEARLS back not too long ago. However, RAVE UN2 THE JOY FANTASTIC provides far more meat to an industry that continues to lack any substance.

Thanks for reading KP

Prince (I can't call him the Artist) has finally done it. His new album is awesome, fun, and groovy. I have been a huge Prince fan since I was 14, and have almost every album, but this one is his best of the late 90's for sure. I especially love when he collaborates with other artists, especially Sheryl Crow. If you are a long time fan, this album will remind you of his old stuff. You'll love it.