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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have to say, I don't understand how anyone could give this album a poor review - it's a classic! Okay, so the reliance on synthesizers dates it somewhat, but isn't that how pop music works? Can anyone honestly say that Sgt. Pepper's sounds as fresh now as it did back in the day? Of course not. Forget the production,listen to the songs and experience an artist at work.
Controversy finds Prince in something of a transitional phase, making a deliberate step away from the heavily R&B rooted sound of his earlier works towards the "whiter" rock sound of 1999 and Purple Rain. Whereas before he had sung exclusively falsetto, His Royal Badness really begins to stretch out as a vocalist on this album. It also features Prince's first use of the Linn LM1 drum machine that would become an important part of his trademark sound throughout the rest of the 80's. The title track is great funk/rock number led by the purple one's tighter than tight rhythm guitar. "Do Me Baby" remains one of his best seduction numbers and "Annie Christian" shows he was never afraid to experiment.
The subject matter of much of the album is summed up by the second track, "Sexuality". According to Prince, "Sexuality is all we'll ever need" - well it served him well at least. Much of the lyrics are rather silly and far less contoversial than Prince seemed to think. In fact, even in the early 80's we'd heard it all before. The fact that he believed it would be shocking may show just how conservative Prince really is. Daft rhymes aside, this is a funky, fun (and slightly eratic) album that would make a worthy addition to any collection. So shut up already, damn.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As if in response to criticism towards the androgynously sexual theme of its predecessor Dirty Mind, Prince's fourth album (Controversy, '81) is quite often seen as a personal response to an unfair attack. The title track alone lyrically epitomizes this fuss. Yet despite various personal statements here and there...., the album manages to deliver a small yet ingeniously experimental handfull of confidence, with stylistic diversity that would become a trademark Prince idiosyncrasy in years to come. From the contageous grooving pop-funk riffs of 'Controversy' and the dynamic, impulsive kinetics of 'Lets Work' to the sexually sweet and seductively melodious 'Do Me Baby' - the latter often thought of as one of his finest ballads - this album is a fine example of an early Prince discovering the multiple facets of his musical abilities. Although by no means his strongest album, elements of Controversy smell of a raw fundamental Prince style that is only occassionaly revisited in subsequent albums.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This lovely slab of funky pop-rock succeeds in the risque songs like Jack U Off, Sexuality and the sensual ballad Do Me Baby but doesn’t do it for me when it comes to politics, as in the title track, Ronnie Talk to Russia or Annie Christian, although these last-mentioned aren’t dismal failures either, since they’re saved by the beat. The secret of this early period Prince was the urgency in the songs, a type of nervous tension reflected perfectly in the mix of urban styles and his voice. He created and refined a brilliant blend of dance and rock that went down well in both the disco and the lounge. Controversy is not usually highly acclaimed by the critics, but to my ears all the Prince magic is here, and it has aged remarkably well.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
One of his best
Great album, one of his best, I like his early albums and if your a hardcore Prince fan you will love it.
Published 18 months ago by Daniel Divine
an underrated, exellent record
I like this as much as dirty mind. I think the songs are just as good as that album but it just sounds more cheesy and gay. Read more
Published 23 months ago by jamo
Prince on the cusp of mega-stardom
'Controversy' - Original Release Date: 14 October 1981
Controversy, Prince's fourth album, and the very last one before Prince became an international superstar. Read more
Controversy, Prince's fourth album, and the very last one before Prince became an international superstar. Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2006 by The Bride of Dr. Funkenstein
Not as good overall as Dirty Mind...
Although lacking the overall class of 1980's "Dirty Mind" there are two classic moments on this album that make it a worthwhile sequel.
1. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2001 by "essence_uk"
Not bad, but not brilliant
Im sort of unsure about this album. Not as good as its predecessor "Dirty Mind" or by no means its succesor "1999". Read more
Published on 20 July 2001
A few great moments.....but nothing more.
While the pounding funky title tracks promises much, the following songs largely fail to deliver. "Do Me Baby" has always been overrated, and "Private Joy" is... Read more
Published on 16 May 2001
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