Publication: Miami Herald [US]
Date: November 22, 1996
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Title: "Former Prince"
Reviewed By: Fernando Gonzalez

The Artist Formerly Known As Prince
Emancipation
NPG

After a drawn-out battle -- and little more than four months after the 11-song, 39-minute kiss-off Chaos and Disorder -- The Artist Formerly Known As Prince is marking his independence from Warner Bros., his long-time record company, with Emancipation, a three-CD, 36-song collection on his own NPG label. The celebration should be cautious and brief: Emancipation is neither a dud nor a classic. It is mostly a solid work by a prolific artist who, increasingly in recent years, sounds more ingenuous and crafty than inspired.

Much of Emancipation -- which includes some tight funk, rich ballads, even a hint of disco and faux jazz -- might sound familiar to old Prince's fans. While there is still some venom to spare (the sarcastic White House, the dramatic Slave, the celebratory Emancipation) the newly married TAFKAP, now a father, is mostly in a romantic mood. He longs for serious relationships in Somebody's Somebody, convincingly remakes Betcha By Golly Wow! and La, La, La (Means I Love U), pours it on in Saviour and Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife, coos sweet nothings in Dreamin' About U. Now and then he also tackles other issues (unemployment, violence, drugs in the neighborhood in Da, Da, Da; communication and hope in My Computer; responsibility in The Love We Make); and ponders God (in a compelling reading of Joan Osborne's hit One Of Us).

There is a lot of music in Emancipation and TAFKAP has said there will not be more releases for some time. It might be his wisest silence. Rather than a new beginning, Emancipation sounds like the end of a cycle.