Publication: Musician [US]
Date: October 1996
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Title: Chaos And Disorder Review
Reviewed By: Craig Rosen

Just when you thought it was safe to file away TAFKAP as a formerly viable artist comes Chaos & Disorder, his final album of original material for Warner Bros., and his best in nearly a decade. Apparently, the previously Purple One needed to see red to rediscover his artistic vision, as this comes on the heels of a long and bitter public dispute stemming from the shuttering of his Paisley Park imprint and the exit from WB of key Prince supporters. Whatever the inspiration, the results are impressive. While there is nothing particularly groundbreaking on Chaos-favorite topics remain sex and salvation-Prince seems to have found his former self and his sense of humor.

He's also recalled how to rock. On the title track he plugs in his guitar, fires up the Hammond organ and sound genuinely pissed off that the world has gone awry. Yet he finds time to mock his own name game, singing, "I’m just a no name reporter." More self-effacing wit shows up at the climax of the blistering guitar-fueled sex romp "I Like It There", as he exclaims, "You know how much I love ya/More than I love my hair."

Perhaps more telling, however, is "I Rock, Therefore I Am." NPG’s Rosie Gaines holds court on a few of the song’s opening verses, sounding like En Vogue’s sassy older sister and blatantly borrowing from "Free Your Mind." But that’s just the beginning of this six minute jam, propelled by a trademark Prince synth riff. Before it’s over, we’re treated to Steppa Ranks’ Jamaican-style toasting, Scrap D’s more traditional rap, scratching, Princely guitar solos and more of Gaines’ soulful belting. Unbelievably, the hodge-podge houseparty holds together-proving that Prince or whatever you want to call him, can still mix it up with the best of them.