Impressive. While it may have been a failure as, you know, product, Time’s Up rocks in a manner that I’ve never heard before. It’s refreshing to find something so uncompromising, and even eleven years after its release it sounds wholly original. Living Colour pulls no punches on this album and is much harder-edged than their monstrous debut Vivid. As much as I enjoy that album, Time’s Up definitely stands a little bit higher.

Instead of relying solely on vocal hooks and Vernon Reid’s guitar mastery, the band settles back and allows each instrument to find its own voice. The bass lines are crystal clear and add a lot of depth to Will Calhoun’s precise drumming. Also, the other band members get a little more of a taste of the songwriting credit (bassist Muzz Skillings and vocalist Corey Glover each get two solo credits and drummer Will Calhoun gets one). The focus in the band, however, is still Vernon Reid. He is a stylistic anarchist. He truly is an artist, as much as I hate using that word to describe musicians. He is beyond a typical guitar hero in that he challenges the listener to think.

The way the title track opens up the album is an assault upon your ears to say the least. The bass guitar is all over the place and definitely takes the lead over the guitars. That’s not to say that Vernon Reid doesn’t add one of his usual stellar solos. But this song borders on falling into chaos throughout. Yet they are a tight enough band that they are able to pull off this hard-hitting funk metal track with ease. Also, they are loose enough to allow themselves the kind of freedom required to write this kind of improvisational music. Although it may seem a bit heavy-handed, the second track “History Lesson” shouldn’t be missed. It is a mix of sound bytes relating to African music and the treatment of Negroes back in the day.

The next song is a midtempo rock delight straight from their first album. It confronts issues of racism head on. I’m not going to be some hipster liberal doofus that pretends to understand their pain. However, I really admire their approach, and think their unpretentious lyrics are a breath of fresh air. These guys don’t want Bono or Sting singing on their behalf. Of course, the vocals sound great and the riffs are hot. It’s everything that Living Colour was known for. Although their artistic approach alienated them from the mainstream, they have left an indelible mark upon rock’s landscape.

“Love Rears Its Ugly Head” is a funky ballad with a touch of sardonic wit to the lyrics. Its laidback groove is interrupted by an anthemic chorus and flowing, furious guitar solos. The dynamics of the song are quite intriguing and you’re never sure what they’ll hit you with next. It might not have had hit single potential, but shouldn’t be missed. A hard-hitting track that really plays off the band’s strengths is “New Jack Theme”. Vernon Reid’s brilliant use of tremolo dives makes his guitar cry. The rhythm section provides a great backdrop for Reid’s mastery. The snare drum is so tight that it sounds like Will Calhoun is bouncing a baby off it.

“do you remember the time of laughter
children playing, life was sweet
before our city forgot us
and let the druglord take our street
pacify me politican
pacify me with your lies
blind to the people suffering
deaf to the children’s cries

but I know what to do
with someone like you…”

One of the most powerful tunes lyrically is Muzz Skillings’s “Someone Like You”. It covers a number of themes and pulls no punches. Basically it points out how most people have a nonchalant way of ignoring the plight of families, especially black, in the inner city. We need more spokesmen like Living Colour instead of those like Jesse Jackson. Addressing issues head on is much better than shifting blame. It’s pretty standard musically, and the guitar riffs don’t satisfy quite like “Elvis is Dead”, the next track. The song that isn’t exactly a flattering one for Elvis is nonetheless a highlight. The funky riffs and great lyrics stand out even amongst group of such great tunes. It has a tasteful saxophone solo, which is always welcome…

Singer Corey Glover plays some rhythm guitar on the single “Type”. It’s a pretty rocking tune with some great riffs, so this isn’t some lame attempt by a singer to pretend he’s a guitar player. Watch Bono on the Rattle & Hum video to see what I’m talking about. It’s just so cute that the Edge lets him play a few chords. This is another stellar track from all aspects, and really can’t be described in any manner to do it justice. If you’re familiar with Living Colour’s sound, this track will both satisfy and surprise. Somehow, they’ve managed to improve and tread new ground on Time’s Up, which is surprising with how broad their horizons were to start with. It’s time to guerdon these guys with some record sales. Go pick this up at a used CD store; I’m sure you can find it for cheap.

Vernon Reid’s guitar introduction to “Information Overload” puts him in company with Eddie Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix. In fact, he’s my favorite of the three because he’s a better songwriter than Eddie (by far) and doesn’t rely on noise and gimmicks as much as Hendrix did. The fills will certainly remind most listeners of early Van Halen, but they aren’t as forced. This is a song that has an enjoyable midtempo groove, and you don’t even notice that it is over six minutes long. Corey Glover’s “Under Cover of Darkness” is a real treat. His soft vocal just floats over the funky bass line with ease. The earnest lyrics and guest vocal by Queen Latifah fit in to this rock album as odd as it may seem. Although he’s not the focus, Vernon Reid nevertheless delivers a stunning performance. His understated guitar solo gives this song a bit of the rock attitude it might have otherwise lacked.

“Touch without seeing
love with no feeling
stealing a moment
under cover of darkness

I’d like to kiss you, let my lips embrace you
Sending sparks of passion up your spine
But doing so means saying no and even
The thought would be a crime

I like to touch your skin, even if it is a sin
I’d rather burn than not touch you
I might just go mad thinking what I might’ve had
And all the things I’d like to do…”

Good stuff.

Muzz Skillings’s instrumental “Ology” is really bizarre yet cool. It had me thinking, “All of those sounds came from a bass?” It shows his talent, but also shows the depth of the band. Living Colour was much more than the band with the guitar wunderkind that stormed the charts with “Cult of Personality”. The impression I get from this album is that Living Colour felt they had something to prove. They certainly proved that they were true artists and a great band, although commercial success was fleeting. However, just in case I haven’t praised Vernon Reid enough I have to gush about how great the guitar tone on “Fight the Fight” is. The intro has an Eddie Van Halen crossed with Joe Satriani vibe. He just makes it sound so easy. The lyrics aren’t as strong as other tracks on the album, but the verse is really rocking.

“Tag Team Partners” is pretty much an old school hip hop deal that’s a little under a minute long. It doesn’t add much to the album, but I suppose does fit in when evaluating the album as a whole. Track 14 of this epic is titled “Solace of You”. This song of faith, love, and redemption has an infectious Caribbean vibe. The percussive feel of the track in conjunction with the soulful vocals is a very catchy combination. The album’s closer is the powerful “This is the Life”. Its message is a strong one. Wishing and dreaming has its place but you must remain grounded. This is the life that you have. The opening jam is incredible and settles down to become a very rocking tune. The walking bass line weaves around the nimble guitar riffs in such a way you wonder who is providing the melody and who is providing the bottom end.

Hmm. I never thought I’d ever list a song with Queen Latifah doing vocals as one of my top picks. But, did I mention that these guys are good?



Song Selection:
1. Time’s Up
2. History Lesson
3. Pride
4. Love Rears its Ugly Head
5. New Jack Theme
6. Someone Like You
7. Elvis is Dead
8. Type
9. Information Overload
10. Under Cover of Darkness
11. Ology
12. Fight the Fight
13. Tag Team Partners
14. Solace of You
15. This is the Life

Top picks: New Jack Theme, Elvis is Dead, Type, Under Cover of Darkness, This is the Life

Band Members:
Corey Glover: vocals, rhythm guitar on “Type”
Vernon Reid: guitars, vocals
Muzz Skillings: bass, vocals
Will Calhoun: drums, percussion, vocals

Additional Musicians:
Alan Friedman: programming
Queen Latifah, Doug E. Fresh, Derin Young, Little Richard: vocals
Black Swan String Quartet
Don Byron: saxophones




Discography

ALBUMS
Vivid (1988)
Time’s Up (1990)
Stain (1993)
Collideoscope (2003)


SINGLES
Auslander (1993)

COLLECTIONS
Biscuits EP (1991)
Pride (1995)
Super Hits (1998)
Play it Loud (1998)


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving