Tag Archives: Music

Something Wrong with the Machinery: How Prince Created and Was Doomed by the Sound of the ’80s

While he’s grown into an internet-hating technophobe, in the ‘80s, Prince embraced new technologies with enthusiasm. He was one of the first to buy the LM-1, a $5,000 drum machine innovative for its use of sampled sounds. The LM-1, designed in part by the drummer from Toto, was a revolutionary device. Previous drum machines madeContinue reading “Something Wrong with the Machinery: How Prince Created and Was Doomed by the Sound of the ’80s”

Dig If You Will the Picture: Track by Track with Purple Rain (Side 2)

When Doves Cry Prince blazes out of the side two gates with a jarring guitar solo set over a weird industrial beat and horror movie sounds in the last and greatest of the album’s fake-out openings. Then we get into an irresistible keyboard hook and Prince starts singing nonsense real smooth and electronically over aContinue reading “Dig If You Will the Picture: Track by Track with Purple Rain (Side 2)”