At its best, Prince's biggest seller of the '90s is an archetype of seemingly casual inspiration, thanks mainly to the ease tracks such as "Cream," "Money Don't Matter 2 Night," and "Willing and Able" exude. Of course, he's working as hard as ever, whether in a mellow groove or an aggressively funky one ("Gett Off"). Compared with the masterpiece Sign o' the Times, Diamonds and Pearls is a minor creation, but it's one for the long haul. --Rickey Wright