I am doing a deep dive into the work of the musical artist Prince. Each week until December I will post my thoughts on albums released by Prince (and his bands and side projects) focusing on one year of his career.
This week takes us to 1995 for the releases of The Gold Experience by 
and Exodus by The New Power Generation.
Album: Exodus
Artist: The New Power Generation
Release Date: March 27, 1995
Label: NPG
Favorite Tracks:
- Get Wild
- Cherry, Cherry
- Return of the Bump Squad
- Big Fun
Thoughts: An annoying trend of the 90s were segues or skits between songs with spoken words and sound effects. Rarely do they put forward a coherent narrative and this album misuses this trend to the extreme. Of the 21 tracks on the album only 9 of them are actual songs. The good news is that NPG dives into pure funk with a definite P-Funk mixed with contemporary R&B feel to the album. Bass player Sonny T. takes over lead vocals on this album, although Prince can be heard singing at times, as well. If you skip past the segues you have the best Prince album of the year.
Rating: ***
Album: The Gold Experience
Artist:
Release Date: September 26, 1995
Label: Warner Bros., NPG
Favorite Tracks:
- P. Control
- We March
- Billy Jack Bitch
- Gold
Thoughts:
Prince is recording under a new name but there’s nothing really new about this album. Because Prince is a talented and versatile artist, his music is going to be enjoyable. But it feels like Prince’s days of pushing the envelope at the vanguard of pop, rock, funk, and R&B are long in the past. Musically this is a rehash of Prince’s earlier work mixed with the musical zeitgest of mid-90s R&B. It also feels too long. I don’t think I’ve ever felt there’s too much Prince music before, but here we are. It’s also marred by too many segues.
Of the good songs “P. Control” is juvenile but catchy. “We March” catches Prince in a moment of broader social consciousness. The age of classic funk is revisited on “Billy Jack Bitch.” Attempting to capture the spirit of “Purple Rain,” Prince’s “Gold” is soaring and optimistic but lacking in greatness.
Rating: **1/2
| For You | 1978 | *** | |
| Prince | 1979 | ***1/2 | |
| Dirty Mind | 1980 | **** | |
| Controversy | 1981 | **** | |
| 1999 | 1982 | Prince and the Revolution | ***** |
| Purple Rain | 1984 | Prince and the Revolution | ***** |
| Around the World in a Day | 1985 | Prince and the Revolution | **** |
| Parade | 1986 | Prince and the Revolution | **** |
| Sign “☮︎” the Times | 1987 | ****1/2 | |
| 8 | 1987 | Madhouse | *** |
| 16 | 1987 | Madhouse | ***1/2 |
| Lovesexy | 1988 | ***1/2 | |
| Batman | 1989 | *** | |
| Graffiti Bridge | 1990 | ***1/2 | |
| Diamonds and Pearls | 1991 | Prince and the New Power Generation | ***1/2 |
| [Love Symbol] |
1992 | Prince and the New Power Generation | ***1/2 |
| Goldnigga | 1993 | The New Power Generation | **1/2 |
| Come | 1994 | **1/2 | |
| The Black Album | 1994 | ***1/2 | |
| The Gold Experience | 1995 | **1/2 | |
| Exodus | 1995 | The New Power Generation | *** |
| Chaos and Disorder | 1996 | ||
| Emancipation | 1996 | ||
| Kamasutra | 1997 | The NPG Orchestra | |
| Crystal Ball | 1998 | ||
| The Truth | 1998 | ||
| Newpower Soul | 1998 | The New Power Generation | |
| The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale | 1999 | ||
| Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic | 1999 | ||
| The Rainbow Children | 2001 | ||
| One Nite Alone… | 2002 | ||
| One Nite Alone… Live! | 2002 | ||
| Xpectation | 2003 | ||
| N-E-W-S | 2003 | ||
| Musicology | 2004 | ||
| The Chocolate Invasion | 2004 | ||
| The Slaughterhouse | 2004 | ||
| C-Note | 2004 | ||
| 3121 | 2006 | ||
| Planet Earth | 2007 | ||
| Indigo Nights | 2008 | ||
| Lotusflow3r/MPLSound | 2009 | ||
| 20Ten | 2010 | ||
| Plectrumelectrum | 2014 | with 3rdeyegirl | |
| Art Official Age | 2014 | with 3rdeyegirl | |
| HITnRun Phase One | 2015 | ||
| HITnRun Phase Two | 2015 |
Panorama of the Mountains 