This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
After selling his CDs over the Internet for four years, The Hermaphroditic Squiggle Formerly Known As Prince comes in from the cold with this major-label return.
And not surprisingly, he tries to party like 1999 here, turning in another assortment of freak-you-all-night soul and neck-snapping funk you know, love, expect and want. But like the middle-aged guy he is, His Hieroglyphicness isn’t the party animal he once was. Instead of the hepped-up James Brown beats and searing Jimi Hendrix licks of old, Rave tends to rely on laid-back, P-Funky grooves and Stevie Wonderish melodies. Even with the help of guests like Sheryl Crow, Chuck D, Gwen Stefani and Ani DiFranco, none of these tunes will knock Purple Rain or When Doves Cry off the greatest hits list. Still, it’s nice to be able to buy a you-know-who album without having to log on.
