Spin Douses Teh Internets With "Purplish Rain"

My sister got a subscription to Spin for Christmas a few years ago. After she moved out a few months ago, she never got the address changed and she never picks up the issues when she stops by. Which is great for me, because Blender closed it's physical publishing doors about the same time and they didn't send me a replacement magazine to fill in the remainder of my subscription.

This month's issue features a cover story on the 25th anniversary of Prince's seminal 1980s soundtrack album, Purple Rain. We didn't listen to pop music like Prince when I was a child, so my familiarity with the soundtrack is limited to the hits, "When Doves Cry", "I Would Die 4 U", "Let's Go Crazy" and the title song. In addition to the article, Spin's website features a download of an all new covers collection of all the songs on the album entitled Purplish Rain.

You have to have an email address and a copy of the magazine to download the collection, but if you just wikipedia a certain member of The Time you'll be able to answer the question and get the zip file. Just a tip, from me to you...

Anyway, a few of these songs are unfamiliar to me so I can't really say how they stack up in comparison to Prince's originals. But The Twilight Singers' version of "When Doves Cry" is actually quite magical, the arrangement creates a moody and tense slow-building reading that I think Prince would approve of. Of course, Apollonia provides guest vocals so Prince would have to approve! Riverboat Gamblers' "Let's Go Crazy" is useless, the genre switch does nothing to improve the song and they don't try anything new with the melody. But Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings tackle "Take Me With U" and really work the song into their retro-pop sound. I don't want a purple boot smashed into my face, but they may have improve the song. Of Montreal provide an instrumental take on "Computer Blue" and it's a valiant effort. While I don't know that the world needed an Mariachi version of "I Would Die 4 U", Mariachi El Bronx give it all they got and it's a bit of fluffy fun. I would totally play it at a summer picnic, it's bright and summery. Of course, "Purple Rain" is almost untouchable. But Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark just kills the vocals, and the 80s inspired synths are a great touch. A real beautiful tribute to the source material.

Basically, if it wasn't free I'd only purchase Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and The Twilight Singers variations on a purple theme. But since it is free, give it a spin. Download here.