Reviewed by lan McLarty PRINCE has devoted one CD/long play tape/tour sides of vinyl to what really appears to matter in his life This is a concept album (read: same subject (read: iust), and furterme Just), and furthermore based on a relationship involving the Princess of Cairo' and - would you believe it -move you. The collected Prince.
In the past, Prince at least managed the occasional stab 'Ronnie Talk to Russia' and even 'Sign O' the Times'.
Now we are offered a range of duff titles such as Wanna Melt with U, boa created Woman' and The Sacrifice of Victor, interspersed with mind-numbingly infantile spoken sections. When Prince asks, 'we got seven hours baby, so watcha wanna do?, the obvious temptation is to reply: "Anything but listen to this album again.
And musically? Formula runk, prowy sooa bar dere ly less than innovative. In the rass chorus of 'Sexy MF, which runs 'You sexy motherfucker.
Verdict - worth taping if they bring out an instrumental version, but not much more.
Just because REM have a name with three initials in it don't be fooled into thinking they are another irrelevant Trot sect. They are now fully-fledged stadium rockers.
Their new album, 'Automatic for the People', apparently takes its name from the catch --Miners' supporters need... phrase of the owner of the group's favourite cafe haunt t is an impressive follow-ur to 'Out of Time' - anything ut an east CISK Out of Time' was hailed by the pundits as finally putting REM on the map, even as an epoch-making album. In fact if was neither, but a slightly more mainstream (less psychedelic?) version of what he band have been doing for years.
'Automatic is more of the same in a more subdued and laid back format. The first single from the album, Drive', is a relatively typical track and as such a logical choice.
If the record company has any taste, or the band any control, the songs Monty or Man on the Moon' should follow.
REM are a distinctive taste. If you hated them before, Automatic is not going to convert you. And if you have not heard their material before - what planet have you been living on?
This album reeks of succss. If the next one is in the same mould, the risk is there that success will turn into complacency.