Prince was a 57 year old singer/songwriter, musician, producer, dancer, actor & filmmaker from Minneapolis, Minnesota known for pioneering the Minneapolis sound. Dirty Mind, 1999, the soundtrack to his theatrical debut Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day & Sign “☮︎” the Times under Warner Records would all become some of the 80’s most celebrated LPs although The Gold Experience through his own label NPG Record can certainly hang with them. This spring marked a whole decade already since his passing & his estate has dug up his 2nd posthumous solo LP albeit the 42nd in his deeply massive discography succeeding Welcome 2 America.
“I Am You” opens up with this soulfully funky intro interestingly dating back to the For You sessions whereas “Heaven” comes through with an Around the World in a Day outtake singing about the pearly gates coming to Earth itself. “I Wonder” was recorded around the same time as the soundtrack to Batman & the soundtrack to Graffiti Bridge respectively pondering if this woman really knows how much he loves her while “With This Tear” covers the Celine Dion track of the same name.
Kicking off the 2nd half, “Stone” keeps it funky asking who can say why he & this woman are cold with nothing left just before “Calabama” predates the n•e•w•s sessions for a disco/pop rap crossover showing the world how he got down. “The Guilty Ones” embraces a funk rock direction singing about winning people over without having to say a single word while “Bestest Friend” ends Timeless addressing someone he once considered an extremely close ally, proclaiming every painter needs a muse
Timeless retains the same lasting power Welcome 2 America had showcasing the extraordinary consistency, curiosity & creative ambition that defined his work throughout his life, tracing the late Prince’s remarkable artistic evolution across nearly 4 decades from his teenage prodigy days to one of his last recorded performances. Neither Piano & a Microphone 1983 or Originals count as posthumous albums since both of those were comprised of demos, but this 2nd rare opportunity of hearing previously unheard chapters of his creative journey.
Score: 3.5/5
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