Musically, this is an experimental, but very good album. The styles Prince performs confidently range from funky soul, to techno, power ballads, even reggae. This does however, present the album with its only real problem, consistency.
The album begins with probably one of the best album openers I've ever heard, in 'My Name Is Prince'. A funky, relentless track that is so intense it could literally blow your headphones out of your ears. Lines like "I did not come to funk around / 'till I get your daughter I wont leave this town" are an instant reminder of why Prince is the man, and a perfect introduction to the album.
The albums next track, Sexy MF is a good progression from the first, and has the listener thinking that, actually, this could be a really good album. This carries on to the third track, Love 2 the 9's, a silky RnB song, confident in its direction and in traditional Prince style, completely effortless in its delivery.
As the album moves on, however, problems with consistency arise. With Princes creative mind going in so many directions, it can sound a tad incoherent all on one album, the tracks jumping from guitar laden power ballads to techno inspired dance tracks without any real warning. Numerous tracks are also spoiled by the needless addition of Tony M's capable, but sometimes over extended raps. Tracks like the sublime '7' and 'And God Created Woman' however, reassure just how good a songwriter Prince is.
Whatever direction Prince chooses to go in, he does it well. Perhaps this album is a little less commercial than his previous works, however it is no less great. This is 'Prince to the extreme', a less marketable but musically accomplished body of work, perhaps not a great introduction to Prince the rock star, but a good introduction to Prince the musical genius.