An all-black rock band from Brooklyn forming in the 80's that were earnestly pulled along by the chain of the mainstream music machine as a hot new unit well-deserving of fame and fortune, Living Colour is probably simultaneously the most recognizable band of all time and the most forgettable. The story is so cliche its almost too trite to recount: a group of small-time Berklee notables under the stewardship of guitarist Vernon Reid, who was cursed to have his style always described as "eclectic" and nothing more insightful, along with drummer Will Calhoun, bassist Muzz Skillings, and frontman Corey Glover backing him up. Reid's regular presence on the international jazz circuit caught the attention of Mick Jagger who took a shine to the group and became interested in producing their first album, which was released in 1988 to critical and commercial acclaim, chiefly off the ample carrying capacity of lead single "Cult of Personality", which sits lazily at rest up there in the clouds next to "Highway Star" and "Career of Evil" in the pantheon of legendary opening album tracks. The rest of the album is unfortunately a bit light on the ground as the excellent "Funny Vibe" and so-good-I-didn't-even-realize-it-was-a-cover "Memories Can't Wait" do what they can to prop up the more quizzically played-straight numbers like ballads "I Want to Know" and "Broken Hearts". The groove is definitely real on the more metallic pieces ("Middle Man", "Glamour Boys") but there is feeling of the band holding back throughout Vivid, but that could just be me projecting. Regardless, Vivid remains a solid introductory effort thanks to the strength of a couple of choice singles which seemed to have given the band the time and budget they needed to fully realize their sound on disc numero dos.
B-
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