Forget reading the morning papers, Mike and Nathan break down Prince's most ambitious recording project yet, 1992's simultaneously amazing and frustrating [LOVE SYMBOL].

Fans earnestly debate how Prince's early 90s work stacks up against his 80s golden period, but there's little disagreement that his cinematic output was a straight arrow down -- from the exhilarating heights of Purple Rain, to the lovable oddity of Under the Cherry Moon, the clunky Graffiti Bridge, and finally here: the largely embarrassing 3 Chains o' Gold.

3 Chains might be tough to defend as a movie, but it helps us understand where our hero is at -- artistically, professionally, personally -- as he moves into his 36th year...

After the triumph of DIAMONDS AND PEARLS, our hero continued to bet on his instincts with the perplexingly untitled (self-titled?) album we now know as [LOVE SYMBOL]. Featuring on massive hit alongside refinements of the the hip-hop inspired funk and adult contemporary R&B explorations of D&P, the Love Symbol finds at the peak of his powers but treading somewhat familiar ground. What would this augur for the years ahead?

(Jump to 35:00 for album talk)

By 1991 the music video as a commercial and artistic medium was in full flourish. Could Prince -- master of the recording studio and stage, and sometime movie star -- compete with music video powerhouses Michael Jackson and Madonna? Or were his DIAMONDS AND PEARLS era videos early signs of his anti-commercial instincts?

Join Mike and Nathan for a conversation about every single official (and unofficial) D&P music video, including confirmation of their thesis that Diamonds & Pearls is Prince's Gulf War album.

NOTE: all videos discussed should be easy to find on YouTube -- viewing these ahead of time is recommended.

Prince may have been departing his true "golden period" by 1991 but he was as prolific as ever.

Mike and Nathan take a deep dive through the vault (aka the DIAMONDS AND PEARLS SUPER DELUXE box) to carve out bonus albums from the dozens of tracks left on the floor of Paisley Park.

Don't call it a comeback? After two soundtrack detours in 1989 and 1990, Prince returned in 1991 with his first proper album since LOVESEXY with DIAMONDS AND PEARLS.

Recognizing that hip hop was no fleeting fad while also dipping his feet into smooth adult contemporary sounds, the Purple One entered his 34th year with a brand new band, all new material, and determined to stay on the cutting edge. How does D&P hold up? Listen as Mike and Nathan break it down.

(Jump to 50:00 for album talk)

Rival Michael Jackson may have been the king of the music video, but in the 1980s Prince was a bone fide movie star.

As the 90s dawned, Prince -- and his fans -- were into some choppy waters with the release of GRAFFITI BRIDGE.

Join Mike and Nathan as they explore this endlessly frustrating and fascinating film and ponder how Prince's movie career might have taken a better turn.

(Jump to movie discussion -- 19:00)

Renaldo and Clara: https://www.cinefilevideo.com/renaldoandclara

House of 1,000 Corpses trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbRRD-cD7h4

Prince kicked off the 1990s with his fourth soundtrack album, this one for GRAFFITI BRIDGE, a sequel to Purple Rain that reunited Prince with Morris Day and the Time, and added stars both established (Mavis Staples, George Clinton) and up-and-coming (Tevin Campbell).

Unlike the peerless PURPLE RAIN album, Prince crams in multiple guest songs and subpar tracks alongside some of his finest work. The end result? Listen to the album for yourself and come join us for the breakdown...

(Jump to album discussion -- 40:30)

Rare among era-defining pop artists, Prince spent his entire career creatively and personally anchored to a secondary market -- his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Resisting the lure of LA or NY, Prince doubled down at the height of his career by building a world class recording and film production facility in the MPLS suburbs near his home.

How did the construction of Paisley Park change Prince's career and sound of his music? How did his deep attachment to Minnesota impact his work?

Joining us for this wide-ranging conversation is the Minnesota-born host of the hit podcast The Spark Parade, Adam Unze. (Jump to 55:00 for his interview).

THE SPARK PARADE PODCAST: thesparkparade.com

PAISLEY PARK TOURS: paisleypark.com

Did the 90s start on January 1st 1990 or 1991? Neither, they began on June 23, 1989 with the release of BATMAN, the first modern blockbuster, with a dizzying array of cross-promotions, product tie-ins, and of course a hit soundtrack by PRINCE.

Prince left his imperial decade behind and embarked on the strange journey of the 1990s with this unforgettable album.

Join the Crystal Ball Club as we revisit this pivotal turning point in Prince's career.

(Jump to album breakdown -- 36:30)