Rave un2 The Joy Fantastic will test the loyalty of Prince fans in that recent releases from the Prince’s vaults (on Warner Brothers and NPG records) have displayed less than the brilliance true fans have come to expect from Prince’s 15 multi-platinum and 10 gold singles. Don’t worry - Rave un2 The Joy Fantastic does not disappoint.

Rave un2 The Joy Fantastic is a well-crafted pop record. It features a completely produced sound, ranging from shredding guitar chops on rocking cuts to touching falsetto ballads to hard hitting rap tracks to plugged-in hip-hop groves. While The Artist claims that he is not interested in singles anymore, there are a few songs of special note on Rave un2 The Joy Fantastic. The title track’s rhythm is reminiscent of the Batman Theme en route to a strong jam. "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" has that sexy, down and dirty pop Prince sound that you’ll find on past cuts like "Insatiable" and "Most Beautiful Girl in the World." This cut is the first one I would go to radio with, as it will cross over to loyal (and possibly disillusioned) fans who will get sucked into this lush track. The effect will likely echo how Madonna hit big with "Cherish" later in her career.

Deeper into Rave un2 The Joy Fantastic, you’ll find guest appearances with Chuck D, Sheryl Crow, Eve, Ani DiFranco, No Doubt and Maceo Parker. "So Far, So Pleased" is an up-tempo rocking track featuring Gwen Stefani (from No Doubt) as co-lead vocalist. The Artist strangely funks all over Sheryl Crow’s "Every Day is a Winding Road." Ironically, Sheryl Crow appears on a bluesy track entitled "Baby, Knows," but not "Every Day is a Winding Road." The Artist’s collaborations continue to show off his stellar musical versatility. When you consider all of the hits The Artist has written for both himself and other artists like Sinead O’Connor, Chaka Khan, Vanity and many others, you could start to make the argument that The Artist is the greatest pop musician of all time, or at least up there with Jimi, Lennon and McCartney.

I have good feeling about Rave un2 The Joy Fantastic. I hated it the first three times I heard the record, which is a good sign. Now about 10 complete spins through Rave un2 The Joy Fantastic, I am finding more and more to love. The Artist layers in so many little musical details and hilarious double entendres that you simply can’t appreciate it all on first listen. Rave un2 The Joy Fantastic is not vault tapes. Rave un2 The Joy Fantastic is not some statement about how much The Artist is enslaved by Warner Brothers. Rave un2 The Joy Fantastic is a rock-solid pop record that leaves you feeling good and singing along.