Living Colour's 'Cult of Personality' back in the late 1980's got me interested in this New York based band. The band put together an amazing debut album with Vivid which I promptly purchased. I was suprised both a the depth of talent and styles of writing beyond the more rock oriented Cult.
What impressed me then and even more so now in my older age is the level of social commentary present in their songs. Vivid featured songs about racism (Funny Vibe), slum lords (Open Letter to a Landlord), and the dichotomy between rich and poor (Which Way to Your America). Later albums continued with the theme of incorporate rich musical styles with social commentary in the lyrics. The combined talents of the musicians, as well as their varied musical backgrounds, made sure that each album was a mixture of musical styles. While music as social commentary was not new in Living Colour's early career, hard rock with commentary did not start with Rage Against the Machine, as some of my contemporaries think.
I was sad when Living Colour disbanded in 1995 after some very successful albums. Imagine my surprise when browsing through the racks at Border's I found a new disc by the foursome called Collideoscope. With this new disk, their first in like 10 years, the band continues to comment on the social situation around them and the disparity between rich and poor, white and black, the haves and have nots. Several of the songs take a long hard look at society and politics, both national and international. "Sacred Ground" takes on environmental issues, "Choices Mash Up" rampant consumerism, and "In Your Name" takes on militarism, all with different musical formulations.
The tragedy of 9/11 informs many of the pieces on the album and as a New York based band, Living Colour perhaps occupied a special reality in the incident. The powerful "A ? of When" talks about the government's pronouncements that another terrorist attack on the United States is inevitable and the fear it causes. As a vibrant counterpoint, the beautiful "Flying" (a song no doubt inspired by the photo of the man falling having jumped to his deaht) takes a massively personal view point of the day and how his dreams of meeting a woman ends up nowhere near what he expected.
Musically, Living Colour can rock with the best of them. Vernon Reid's crunching, gravelly guitar work melds well with Will Calhouns solid drum work and the funk of Doug Wimbish's eclectic bass lines. But stealing the show is the massive vocal versatility of Corey Glover. Glover handles the beatific smoothness of "Flying" and the powerful punch of "Song without Sin" with equal skill.
I can't let you go without a huge kudos on two great covers. Living Colour takes on the AC/DC metal rock anthem "Back in Black" with amazing dexterity and a courageous take (think about the lyrics), plus the fact that it is kind of cool that a black band is playing that song. Equally skillfully, the band covers The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows" and with melodic charm.
So now for my favorite tracks:
"Song Without Sin" A great lead-off track. Powerful guitars, in your face vocals and stunning delivery sets the mood.
"Flying" A beautifully done, more mellow and melodic tune, Living Colour really shows their range on this peice.
"Sacred Ground" has some spectacular lyrics and this version is more cleaned up musically than the original release on their greatest hits colleciton Pride.
"Back in Black" simply superb. Glover's vocals make Brian Johnson seem like an amateur.
If you like your rock with a message and you like variety, go get Collideoscope.
