Vivid by Living Colour

Vivid

Living Colour

3.19
Rating
17957
Votes
1
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5
Distribution

Album Summary

Vivid is the debut studio album by American band Living Colour, released on May 3, 1988, through Epic Records. It was one of the most popular albums of 1988, peaking at #6 on the US Billboard 200 chart and certified double platinum by the RIAA.

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Reviews

Sort by: Top Date
Jan 21 2021 Author
3
Cults of Personality is a straight banger. The rest feels like a lesser tier of Huey Lewis
Apr 03 2023 Author
4
get a load of Muzz' bass line on Open Letter to a Landlord
Feb 04 2025 Author
5
Not sure if it's intended as such, but this just feels like such a massive middle finger up at white rock music. Like, these guys are saying we can do it just as good, if not better. Fuck you. Especially fuck you Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
Apr 16 2021 Author
5
It's like they've taken all the bits of hair metal that I like and dropped the bits I don't like.
May 03 2021 Author
5
I listened to the heck out of this album in the 90s. It still rocks, if it's just a bit dated. Great guitar and bass playing. Very high energy, hard rock with some other stylistic elements. All very good!
Jan 04 2022 Author
4
What a blast from the past. I had this cassette and listened to it quite a bit. Gotta remember late-80s mainstream music wasn’t that great, and this was an excellent alternative to hair metal (pre-grunge). Couple of great covers (Memories Can’t Wait!!). Still has bones!
Nov 18 2024 Author
5
One of the coolest records in this project that Ive never heard before, so far. Eclectic songwriting, cool instrumentations, and a rock record that still sounds quite fresh in 2024.
Dec 28 2021 Author
4
Opens with Cult of Personality which took me right back to the late 80's. I don't know when I last heard this song but all the grooves are still worn into my brain. The opening riff is worth a star all on its own. I'm not sure how much more I've heard before; I'm perfectly happy to explore further. The lyrics are somewhat hit or miss, though I definitely like the singer. The music has tons of hooks and I find enjoyable to listen to. The song Open Letter is familiar, though honestly a little hokey, but the music carries it. Funny Vibe and Which Way to America are somewhat better. Very fun Clash cover. I like Faith No More and Primus and etc and feel like this is right up my alley. I've told Spotify that I wouldn't mind hearing it again from time to time.
Mar 15 2021 Author
3
An album that is somewhat idiosyncratic and yet very of it's time. Certainly a unique combination of genres. I want to like this more than I do but I think its the vocal style (and some of the lyrics) that bring it down for me. I am more familiar with guitarist Vernon Reid from his 96 solo album "Mistaken Identify" which I enjoy much more. Even their 93 album "Stain," though generally not rated as highly, is much heavier and more interesting to me.
Jan 13 2025 Author
5
I am surprised a lot of the songs had so many less streams
Aug 15 2022 Author
5
Living Colour is one of my favorite bands from the 90s. This album is pretty bright, compared to their later albums. I personally prefer 'Time's Up' and 'Stain' to this one, but I understand why they chose this one, as it has "the hit" on it. This album has the song of theirs that I never got into, which was "Glamour Boys". Maybe it's because I'm neither a "Glamour Boy" nor do I consider myself "Fierce." The song seems different, lighter and a little goofier than their later stuff, even with Reid's guitar crunch. But despite that, this album started them on their journey, and everything comes from this album. They've really progressed from here, and you should really check their other stuff if you liked this one.
Mar 26 2021 Author
5
Amazing. From start to finish, this album is funky, rockin' and gets you moving.
Sep 15 2025 Author
4
That’s some good rock. These guys deserved more than just one hit.
Jun 14 2024 Author
4
Totally shocked by this one. I enjoyed it from front to back and loved some of the creativity they had with some tracks. Sadly not all the songs were on Spotify, but the ones I was able to listen to were great. Open Letter (to a landlord) was hilarious, and songs like Funny Vibe and Middle Man were just so catchy I couldn't help myself from having a good time. Great blend of rock and funk.
Sep 01 2021 Author
3
I expected not to want to revisit this.. i don't have great recollections about Living Colour, but Cult of Personality was way better to listen to again than thinking about it. It holds up. Unfortunately, there's a lot of okay content and then the weird funny vibe. Open Letter is also strong and i give them props for what they were doing at the time.
Jul 11 2024 Author
2
Funny Vibe is insane. Some of this was good and some of it was so weird.
Apr 28 2023 Author
2
A little known fact about this record: Living Color were such fans of the 1987 Martin Short movie “Innerspace” that they had their drummer and his drum kit shrunk down and placed inside a tin can to to record his parts, achieving the now famous reverb-laden drum sound on Vivid.
Mar 15 2022 Author
2
Funky rock like a light RHCP. Very early 90s, like it belongs in some action set piece for a Nickelodeon live action show. break out the zubaz and flat tops. I drags on at points. Extended version does not help. Standout tracks: Cult of personality Funny Vibe What’s your Favorite Color?
May 21 2021 Author
2
It’s like the 80’s and 90’s started a fight but ended up just rolling around on the floor with one another.
Sep 15 2025 Author
5
Fuck. Yes. What an album
Sep 10 2025 Author
5
>>> the Beatles
Aug 23 2025 Author
5
Finally something exciting, I was getting a bit jaded with this.
Aug 05 2025 Author
5
It's been decades since I listened to this. I was into it when it came out. The musicianship is stellar. Back in '89 I saw these guys in Oakland opening for the Rolling Stones. They played a kickass set and when they left the stage I headed to the restroom. Then I hear them start another song. When I get back to my seat my brother tells me Carlos Santana came out and played Johnny B. Goode with them. Good night nurse, something good is going down and I'm alone in the bathroom with my junk in my hand. Story of my life. Lol.
Aug 03 2025 Author
5
Day575 - i bet not many albums can mix mick jagger, public enemy and david byrne. im going to put this back into my music rotation
Jul 23 2025 Author
5
A classic that I don’t think I’ve ever listened to all the way through before. Rounding up from 4.5 to 5 stars
Jul 21 2025 Author
5
7/18/25. Somewhat criminal that I've never listened to this previously, since I love Cult of Personality. Super energetic and funky! Really loved the rhythm guitar parts as well. Will definitely come back multiple times.
Jun 19 2025 Author
5
Much like Bad Brains, you never get too far into reading about Living Color before getting the feeling that them being a black band is more important than the fact that they’re just making really great music.
May 14 2025 Author
5
What an album. This came out my Junior year of high school. It completely threw things for a loop. "Cult of Personality" shreds and is completely relevant in today's news cycle. Vernon's guitar work and Corey's voice are electric on this album.
Oct 29 2024 Author
5
That is a banger from start to finish. Say no more, say no less.
Mar 26 2021 Author
5
Funk-tastic! This is the shit.
Sep 25 2020 Author
5
Listened to half the album, surprised by how much I liked the yeehaw. Will Deff finish the other half soon.
Sep 11 2025 Author
4
Living Colour, Vivid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For the sorta second-rate radio friendly Bad Brains that they are, it's still a pretty good album. Cult of Personality is the lightning in a bottle which would they'd chase the rest of their days. Memories Can't Wait is great punk/thrash. But then you get to Which Way to America and you think.... They couldn't have done that in the internet era. This is basically I Against I in less effective capsule. Whatever they'll never have the cachet that Bad Brains had but I can't deny their debut was solid and they probably deserved more afterward.
Jul 24 2025 Author
4
I loved this album when it came out. Vernon Reid is a monster on guitar. I didn’t realize at the time how funky some of these songs are either, so that was cool to relisten to it with that perspective. This is on a cassette in my garage, so I haven’t listened to it in a while.
Nov 20 2024 Author
4
Really fun album, blends many genres together. Especially love the jazzy parts in particular. Guitar solos are cool and the riffs are good but get repetitive sometimes. Bass is quite prevalent which I always like in music too The opening track, Funny Vibe and Which Way To America are standouts Defo gonna be listening to this again
Sep 17 2025 Author
3
3.3 stars rounded down. The singles are great. The rest is a little dated. Solid singles though: Cult of Personality, Memories Can’t Wait, and Glamour Boys.
Sep 12 2025 Author
3
It's like someone munged the social consciousness of Grandmaster Flash with Van Halen - and you'd think that would be amazing but very few of the songs really resonate. There's no denying the catchiness of 'Cult of Personality' but the rest of the album struggles to achieve that same irresistibility. 'Open Letter to a Landlord' got me to double back and listen twice given the plaintive opening and relentless close, but very little else rose to that level. Listenable but very little sticks with you given the messages they're trying to land.
Sep 05 2022 Author
1
A bad version of Extreme. And that's a low bar.
Nov 28 2025 Author
5
This is awesome
Nov 20 2025 Author
5
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE COLOUR!
Nov 13 2025 Author
5
Ich liebe Metal, ich liebe Funk, diese Platte fusioniert beides. Was soll da schiefgehen? Dazu noch sozialkritische Texte und diese großartige Stimme. Liebe alles daran. Der Nachfolger ist auch ein Banger!
Nov 13 2025 Author
5
Absolutes Brett. Hat mich von Anfang an bis zum Ende hin einfach abgeholt.
Nov 13 2025 Author
5
Ist ja nur geil. Richtig abwechslungsreich und instant GTA Vibes. Dazu ein Cover von Should I sty or should I go.
Oct 30 2025 Author
5
Exactly why I like this list
Oct 26 2025 Author
5
9/10 Cool 👍
Oct 21 2025 Author
5
Hooky riffs and powerful vocals drive an infinitely catchy 1980s rock record.
Oct 20 2025 Author
5
10/10 absolute hits
Oct 15 2025 Author
5
Esse é um álbum 5 estrelas! Divertido, enérgico. Instrumentais e vocais entregando tudo de melhor. TRN Conch.
Oct 07 2025 Author
5
Remember seeing these guys live my freshman year in college. They rocked then, they rock now. You're better off with this album in your life. Some of the best lead guitar and bass work you'll ever hear. Vern and Muzz were just dynamite together. Desperate People and Memories Can't Wait are the deep cuts to try. (The latter being a Talking Heads cover.) It was fun in the late 80's. Still fun now.
Oct 03 2025 Author
5
Yes amazing album
Oct 02 2025 Author
5
Killer guitars. Funky bass lines. Catchy hooks. It took me many years before I listened to this album beyond Cult of Personality, but once I did, it was an instant favorite. And it still is to this day.
Sep 28 2025 Author
5
I know the first song, but I didn’t know the name of the band who’s playing it.
Sep 24 2025 Author
5
The album is mostly a very strong 3 star album but after hearing Cult of Personality I don't see how anyone can go below 4. It's enough for me to go 5
Sep 12 2025 Author
5
Shaped my musical evolution as much as any jazz classic. This goes into my Top Ten easy.
Aug 30 2025 Author
5
One of my favorite rock albums of all time. Just an absolute classic from start to finish! And fuck CM Punk. I refuse to let him ruin this band for me. Lol.
Aug 22 2025 Author
5
Didn't know this is who wrote "Cult of Personality"! What a great rock band. Some of the tight vocal harmonies remind me of my favorite band, Queen. The themes of each song are clever, especially the aforementioned track and the "open letter". Of course, the music itself is badass. Love the heavy influence of blues, metal, early hip-hop, and funk. And "Funny Vibe" is wild! No base like 80s base. Great album.
Aug 20 2025 Author
5
Really enjoyed this, Glamour Boys the best track
Aug 19 2025 Author
5
Good debut album. "Cult" of course is their anthem but "I Want to Know" is a good one, "What's Your Favorite Color" is right there. "Glamour Boys" is a fun one to rock to, and it is always funny to sing along to "Funny Vibe" ... The cover of "Should I Stay or Should I Go" is a good one.
Jul 10 2025 Author
5
A vibrant and energetic album. A mix of early grunge and punk with lyrics still relevant to today. These guys definitely deserve more recognition.
Jul 02 2025 Author
5
When I was a teenager I listened to "Cult of Personality" and thought it was one of the most boring and overrated songs ever. And I lived with that prejudice for decades... I was so goddamn wrong. This is, so far, the best album I've heard during this challenge.
Jun 27 2025 Author
5
Terrific debut! Vernon Reid's guitar work puts him in league with Alex Van Halen and his lyrics are as timely as Elvis Costello's
Jun 06 2025 Author
5
Absolute powerhouse of musical chops across the board. Not much like it before or since. Vernon Reid is a god
Jun 05 2025 Author
5
Big guitars. Big drums. Big Bass. Big vibes. What a strange little bridge between 80s hard rock and 90s alternative this turns out to be. It punches like metal but sings like pop, and works better than it should. There's something theatrical about it, and slightly cheesy, but not in a corny way if that makes any sense at all. Honestly kind of refreshing. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions: - Cult of Personality - Glamour Boys - What's Your Favorite Color? - Which Way to America - Should I Stay Or Should I Go
Jun 01 2025 Author
5
Oh man, this will take me back to the Easter of ‘89 when my mom got me this tape and some baseball cards. Yeah, my mom was awesome! The only knock on this album is that their take on Memories Can’t Wait loses the haunting feel that the original Talking Heads version has.
May 18 2025 Author
5
one of the most consistent, cohesive rock albums i've ever heard. every track jives with the one before it both in vibe and sound. really rad vocal melodies, and the instruments absolutely fuck.
May 02 2025 Author
5
5/5 - excellent - whatever happened to these guys?
Apr 24 2025 Author
5
I’m glad to see that Vivid by Living Colour made this list. This is such a great album. When this came out back in ‘88, there was really nothing else like it. It kind of blew my little fifteen year old mind. All these years later and Vivid holds up like a champ. I listen to this album regularly. There are no bad tracks or funny vibes either. I feel like Living Colour should’ve been a bigger band too. Vivid is an easy one to rate. This is a colorful, slamming, and glamour 5. With a wicked guitar solo to boot! 5/5
Apr 06 2025 Author
5
Loved it
Apr 02 2025 Author
5
A classic. Opened the world for Living Colour and I still listen to this all the time, possibly only bested by Times Up, the next release
Mar 30 2025 Author
5
Funk!!
Mar 24 2025 Author
5
This album is so much fun. Opens with a song that could be mistaken for Alter Bridge covering Nickelback, then flies straight into Rush had they written a song for the GTA Vice City soundtrack. It's forgivably cheesy, isn't trying to be something that it's not and even the weak songs are vey listenable. An easy 4, but a somewhat worthy 5
Mar 06 2025 Author
5
With the exception of Body Glove shorts, I was all-in on Living Color's Vivid and even moreso Time's Up. This was released just before height of my adolescence, still living at home, but working two jobs and staying out all night. There are two things that make this album special, Vernon Reid's guitar and Corey Glover's voice. I saw they were playing a casino about 90 mins. from my house on a school night and I seriously making the trip.
Nov 12 2024 Author
5
I'd forgotten how much I loved this group. Thanks for reminding me!
Nov 11 2024 Author
5
Vernon Reid is one of rock’s underrated guitar heroes.
Oct 25 2024 Author
5
Haven't started yet, favorite from my teen years. Love the commentary from black voices, it's great having it present in hard rock from this era. Big thumbs up from me personally, I'm still just a visitor when it comes to sick guitar licks, but Cult of Personality's been close to my hear for many years and more to come
Oct 07 2024 Author
5
Absolute masterpiece
Oct 04 2024 Author
5
I was afraid this one wouldn't be much more than just Cult of Personality, so happy I was wrong. More great riffs, great drums, and just a great energy all around
Oct 03 2024 Author
5
Good rock, would listen again
Sep 07 2024 Author
5
Concious rock that rocks as hard as it hits
Sep 03 2024 Author
5
A band I discovered through guitar hero - like many others I expect. A great album, which sounds like a band who have been going for years (rather than a debut from a bunch of new artists).
Aug 28 2024 Author
5
5/5. This is awesome. It's got a strong Aerosmith vibe, and although that's not my favorite, the soulful vocals and distorted riffs and solos make it stand out. Plus the lyrics of anti-politics, homelessness, the removal of the third place, housing prices, the black experience in Amercia, creates a more powerful album than just heavy music, it's heavy lyrics. I think it is important to note that all members are black. If anyone's got a right to be angry about way life is, it's them. The guitar riffs really shine here, inspired by Rush and Motorhead as well. Just feels like a culmination of every good thing about heavy rock in the 20 years leading up to this made into an album. It rocks. Best Song: Cult Of Personality, Middle Man, Which Way To Your America?, Open Letter (To a Landlord)
Aug 28 2024 Author
5
Oh yes oh yes! Ooh a talking heads cover oh my this is good. Oh it's over. This album made day go faster by being really fun! I will return for this album! I fully like this album a lot!
Aug 23 2024 Author
5
A breath of fresh air in a world of big hair. 5
Aug 02 2024 Author
5
ENERGY
Jul 23 2024 Author
5
A little dated but pretty awesome honestly. Part Huey Lewis, part Faith No More/RHCP funk.
Jul 21 2024 Author
5
A unique sound with tremendous playing. Definitely seek out “Desperate People” on YouTube because it isn’t on spotify. It’s one of the best tracks.
Jul 09 2024 Author
5
Cult Of Personality is a great track. Desperate People is great. Which Way To America is killer. I loved this.
Jul 04 2024 Author
5
This album goes HARD. I knew 1-2 songs, but it took listening to the whole album to realize how unique this sound was for that time period.
Jun 27 2024 Author
5
One of the best albums I've got in the past couple of months I'd say. Was familiar with Cult of Personality from tearing it up on Guitar Hero 4 but the rest of the album absolutely blew me away.
Jun 14 2024 Author
5
Living Colour were far ahead of their time and show how much more dynamic they were and are as a metal band with this album and its myriad influences. Not only do they show their ability to shred with "Cult Of Personality", but there are other genuinely pretty sounding melodic songs on the record as well like "Glamour Boys" and "I Want To Know". Both of these styles are on full display with Corey Glover's epic vocals, which are among the best in rock and surely metal history. Not only that, but one thing that strikes me on many songs on this album is the band's use of rest notes for guitars with the rhythm section still keeping emphatic time. The space between riffs and hooks only make them more impactful, and it's effective throughout the record. Like I've said with other highly-rated albums on this project of mine, this album beautifully blends gorgeous melodies with heavy rock, so this album hits that upper echelon for me. Living Colour is an all-time underrated band in my opinion. Notable Tracks: - Cult Of Personality - I Want To Know - beautiful melodically - Middle Man - Desperate People - Glamour Boys - What's Your Favorite Color? - my favorite funk-forward song on the album 9/10
Jun 14 2024 Author
5
A rare perfect album. Than you 1001albumsgenerator. I loved every second.
Jun 13 2024 Author
5
this is almost... pop metal. it's very bold, brash... there's absolutely no doubt it's the loudest craziest metal you've heard but it's very uplifting and oozing with a certain kind of cheese that only the 80s could have. it's like if phil collins wrote rock. it's kickass.
Jun 06 2024 Author
5
Let's Rock :-)
Jun 02 2024 Author
5
There's music that sounds cool, and artists that exude cool. Living Colour does both here. Every song is full of personality. Like, an entire cult's worth. 🤭 Standouts are Cult of Personality, Middle Man, Open Letter (To a Landlord), and Funny Vibe.
Apr 12 2024 Author
5
This album was incredible. I loved the energy. The Talking Heads cover, yeah so much energy. Incredible album and musicianship all around.
Apr 12 2024 Author
5
I loved this. So fun, great energy, really unique. Another banger from 1001 albums I wouldn't have found on my own!
Apr 12 2024 Author
5
i only knew cult of personality going into this (thank you guitar hero 3) but i ended up really enjoying this album. it's funky, it's metal, it shreds hard, and has a good message. these guys have serious chops and a cool sound that's somehow simultaneously very unique and very 80s. favorites: i ended up liking all of these on spotify. of those, the favorites are probably cult of personality, open letter to a landlord, what's your favorite color, which way to America, and should i stay or should i go
Apr 03 2024 Author
5
I honestly really enjoy this. Cult of Personality is a banger of an opening track. Open Letter (To a Landlord) is cool as well. It's all great stuff and I'd love more of it.
Mar 29 2024 Author
5
Class
Mar 21 2024 Author
5
Sumarið 1988 hjá mér í hnotskurn. Ein af mest spiluðu plötum í vínilsafninu mínu. Elska þessa orku frá upphafi til enda.
Mar 08 2024 Author
5
Cult of Personality melted my face off to start this album. What an incredible opener. This album had lots of other highlights to me - going back through the tracklist I also loved Middle Man, Open Letter, Funny Vibe, Memories Can't Wait, What's Your Favorite Color, and Which Way to America. Just a fun, jammy, funky hard rock album that I really enjoyed the whole way through. 4.5 rounded up to 5.