Tag: living colour (Page 1 of 2)

Although Living Colour have technically never split up, they have taken huge gaps in between releases and we had to wait eight years before album number six surfaced after The Chair In The Doorway came out.

There is a big heavy blues vibe right from the get go with Freedom Of Expression’s groovy and heavy 70’s riff. Preaching Blues is an old Robert Johnson tune given the Living Colour treatment. Come On mixes traditional sounds with some hip hop elements, and a hint of gospel in the vocal. Program feels like an older LC tune with a great funky groove and riff from Vernon, and a very poignant rap in the middle. The Hip Hop vibe is strong in Who Shot Ya, which contains some very startling facts indeed. Always Wrong is a more laid back groove showcasing the amazing voice of Corey Glover. Black Out closes out Side 1 with a stripped down, slow, funky groove with the power turned on in the pre chorus.

Pattern In Time opens up Side 2 and I would say it’s the heaviest tune on the album. A groove that is almost punk rock with a wild and wonderful riff. Glass Teeth follows and the riff is quite simple. The song would be forgettable if it wasn’t for the harmony and backing vocals on the main melody. Who’s That is next, but not if you read the track listing. A dirty old school R’n’B riff and groove with added horns. Invisible is up next and we are again knocking on the door marked blues with just a hint of funk. A cover of Marvin Gaye’s Inner City Blues is up next and this is my favourite track. I mean, the original is stellar so you have to make it your own by doing it different and I think they pull it off, especially with the Hip Hop segments. We close out the record with Two Sides and another powerful vocal performance. 

So, is it as good as the first two records? I would have to say no, as those two records are superb and classics, but it’s a very hard hitting album and one to listen very closely.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

There was a huge burst around this band and album – mainly due to them supporting the Rolling Stones and Mick Jagger getting behind them. For me, it was the lead off track, Cult Of Personality, that dragged me in. Everything about this track I loved. The riff, the groove, Corey’s vocals, and Vernon’s crazy solo just dragged me in. 

I caught them a couple of times on this tour, and they were killer. The bringing together of all these musical styles was a sure fire winner, with only Fishbone doing anything similar. I Wanna Know is basically an RnB vocal with a rock groove and vibe on top. Middle Man, which today is my favourite track, has a killer riff a ripping funky groove and man this just smokes. Desperate People brings together a punky main riff with a funky under groove. Open Letter To A Landlord is Corey’s finest hour, a superb vocal with a topic close to his heart – and that main riff!

Funny Vibe kicks off Side 2 with a very metal riff before the most funky of grooves takes over. Memories Can Wait follows, and man what a tune. It begins again with a heavy funk groove with Vernon seriously wailing, then a very delicate and beautiful middle eight that drops into a fast punky riff. Broken Hearts has a very hip hop main beat with a country guitar over the top – it shouldn’t work, but it does – plus there is a beautiful solo from Vernon. Glamour Boys, which was produced by Mick Jagger, is funk mixed with calypso until the main hook. The band’s theme song follows with What’s Your Favourite Colour? – a seriously groovy funky vibe with the title just repeating. The album closes out with Which Way To America, another social commentary piece. A killer heavy funk groove and vibe with a very metal main riff. A great band  and superb album.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the band’s follow up album to their super successful first album, Vivid. This record is all over the map musically, as varying styles and vibes are explored throughout the album. It’s much a continuation from the first album.

The title track kicks things off with a very eclectic tune that goes from jazz, to metal, to pop, and funk all in the space of 3 minutes. Pride has a great funk rock groove with a great vocal from Corey Glover. Love Rears It’s Ugly Head has a killer slow blues/funk vibe with a superb vocal and great guitar from Vernon Reid. New Jack Theme is a superb metal/groove crossover monster of a tune.

This album was looked on as a bit of a let down after the success of the first album, but I really like it as it goes a lot of places the first album didn’t – plus it has a groovier feel to it. Elvis Is Dead is just such a fun track and grooves hard with a killer beat. The best track on the album for me is Type. This tune just makes you want to bounce around the room of doom, and the melody and hook are superb – such a great feel! Hard on the heels of Type, is the pure beauty and groove of Under Cover Of Darkness with the Prince style funk.

Not as immediate as the first album, but it’s still a killer album.

9.5 /10 from The Grooveman.