For You

 

    Kicking off 2022's holiday album rush is Prince's debut album, For You. I've heard that he was a perfectionist when making the album, and it shows. Every facet of the music seems fine tuned to be as excellent as possible. Prince's style of funk/soul mixed with an absolutely decadent wave of synth make the tracks have an incredibly funky driving force to them and gives them Prince's impeccable unique sound. All of the elements mix very well and everything plays off of everything else in a way that effortlessly elevates every piece. And this is due in part to the notable audio mixing, which is just superb on every song. Every element is brought in, raised, lowered, emphasized, etc. in a way that helps every part contribute to the overall piece. I also want to give a spotlight to Prince's stunning falsetto, which manages to hit that high and energetic feel of strong Tenor to give the vocals a bombastic energy, while remaining smooth and gentle enough to keep it in line of being very nice on the ears. The track list is great, if a little wonky from how many slower, almost "ballad"-esque songs there are (I'd say maybe half of the tracks) and having too many of them together, but it's balanced out with the more energetic tracks that are more emblematic of what Prince is known for. Prince's style is in full force on this album and gives a strong start to his discography. 

    Highlights: In Love, Soft and Wet, Just as Long as We're Together, My Love Is Forever, I'm Yours.

Rating: 5/6