Publication: The Hartford Courant [US]
Date: September 1, 1994
Section: Calendar
Page Number(s): 5
Length: 278 Words
Title: "Young Is Heavenly; Public Enemy Mad; Amy Grant Inspired"
Written By: Roger Catlin

Prince has hinted a bit of method to his maddening name-change in recent interviews. He said his former name would go on his backlog of old material as it is released on his old label, Warner Brothers. His newer stuff, already proven commercial with his No. 1 "Most Beautiful Girl in the World," would go on his new NPG label using his new, unpronounceable symbol of a name.

It's a contractual thing.

Whatever he's called, the little guy from Minneapolis shows in these two releases that he's able to turn out more pleasing r&b effortlessly than anybody else around.

That doesn't mean "Come" isn't mostly problematic. As his most explicit album since his unreleased "Black Album," it produces as much discomfort as it does musical pleasure.

Slurping, for example, has long been discouraged in polite society. And so should it be from the recording studio, especially in the context of the title track. Besides, the sound gets in the way of the inventive horn arrangements.

Most of "Come" follows the naughty funk of his hit "Sexy M.F." But there are some surprises inside too: his own Roseanne-like revelations of child abuse (in "Papa") and the bubbling confection of his new single "Letitgo."

His Jerry Brown-style call to new product, "1-800-NEW-FUNK," is a compendium of many stars with whom he has worked, from George Clinton and Mavis Staples to Nona Gaye and the new group MPLS. All of it is either written by, produced by or has the clear stamp of the former Prince, giving a good idea where he's going with all of this. Overall, it seems to be a better place.