Publication: New York Daily News [US]
Date: July 16, 1996
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Title: "Sour Deal Finally Ends In 'Chaos'"
Reviewed By: Jim Farber

The self - destructive tendencies of The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (TAFKAP) just reached a dizzying new plateau. Not content simply to erase his name , undermine his record company and release scads of substandard songs , he's now letting the world know he never even intended his latest albu for release.

Tucked inside the cover of his latest platter is a warning that the LP was "originally intended 4 private use only. This compilation serves as the last original material recorded by (TAFKAP) 4 Warner Brothers.May U live to see the dawn."

Translation : "Songs this junky should've never made it out of the studio. But since I can't stand my record company , and I couldn't care less about my fans , I put them out anyway - the better to give Warners one last reason to be sorry they ever crossed me.

True to those sentiments, "Chaos & Disorder" ranks as the worst TAFKAP album ever released. Worse than the "Batman" soundtrack, worse even than "Come". It's a forced , overwrought mess. So terrible is the album that listeners with a refined sense of camp . and cash to blow, may want to race out and pick up a copy before it inevitably vanishes from shelves in weeks.

At least you can't fault the thing for lack of consistency. While TAFKAP labled the work a "Compilation" ,implying multiple sources, it reeks of one tragic brainstorming session. The album proposes to be a guitar -rock opus,allowing few nods to funk.But don't expect a rock classic, a la "Dirty Mind" Expect instead a kind of geeky "rock-opera." All the songs feature the garnish arrangements , ersatz guitars and overenunciated choruses you'd find in the most spine -tingling of theater rock. "Into the Light" could have come straight from thedepths of "Godspell", while "Same December" offers R&B as conceived for Las Vegaas show - stoppers.

Such things make TAFKAP's ridiculous lyrics all the more mind - boggling . God save us all from another of hi political diatribes, like the title track - one of those evidence-free, "the-world-is-a-going-to-hell " assessmnts. He crams it with lines like "gay used to mean he's happy /nowadays happy aint allowed."What , exactly, does that mean?

In the singularlysilly "I Rock Therfore I Am", TAFKAP even takes time out to bitch about losing royalties to record clubs. Like we care.

Unfortunately, the silliest of TAFKAP's new words and music reflect not just a passing perversion but something rooted in his character-a lingering '80's part of him evident in his still - frilly clothes and cheesy - sounding synths. Never before, however , has TAFKAP's tacky side been allowed to rule a project wholly unchecked by soul ot conviction.

The question is: Did this happen simply because TAFKAP wanted to whack Warners or because he's finally gone completely insane? May we all live to find out.