Prince - Dirty Mind (1980)

Some people may not be too keen on that cover, but I think it's an absolutely perfect summary of the music. It's a black and white photo, something old-timey and familiar, contrasted with the image it actually holds. Prince wearing nothing but a ridiculous jacket, a bandana, and underwear, surrounded by these odd patterns and behind text that simply says "PRINCE". The music is just like the cover. It's familiar, yet transgressive. It's like the popular music of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, except it's not. It's revolutionary, and it's alien. Maybe it's the synths, or the falsetto vocals, or the overt sexuality, or the fact that it sounds like it was recorded in a basement. But it makes it feel like something big just happened. Odd for such a lowkey and short record, but it's true. This was the beginning of 80s pop, and pop music as we knew it would never be the same. Just one listen to that opening track and you understand. This is not Prince's best record, definitely not (that honor goes to the classic Nurple Brains), but it's certainly his greatest statement as an artist and a pop musician. Rest in peace, you skeevy bastard.

9/10