Anthology: 1995-2010

During the 16 years this collection covers, Prince churned out near-classics, self-indulgent fan fodder, and no fewer than three triple albums. But by placing choice cuts from relatively obscure releases—the fiery Hendrix-indebted MLK tribute “Dreamer” off 2009’s sprawling Lotusflow3r, the straight-up funk workout “Northside” from the NPG Music Club entry The Slaughterhouse, “Muse 2 the Pharaoh” from the experimental The Rainbow Children—alongside highlights from great, if under-celebrated, albums like The Gold Experience, 3121, and Planet Earth, Anthology feels revelatory. Prince may have fought hard for the freedom to create without restraint and oversight he enjoyed during this period, but from a fan’s perspective, this thoughtful culling of his output is a godsend.