Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Meh.
Vernon Reid is underrated as a guitar player. This album was released in 1988, and I actually think it was a few years ahead of its time; Cult of Personality certainly rode a wave into the late '90's. Open Letter is a personal favorite. Living Colour is also a terrific example of making a statement with your music in a good way. 3.5 - 4
Lots of funk but a little dated which hurt the fun factor a little.
I had heard of Living Color before, but I hadent ever heard any songs aside from Cult of Personality. The album is solid- I like their unique style and the politically active lyrics. I found a lot of the songs to be a little repetitive musically. Overall- decent album
Big noise in the late ‘80s. It was, it seemed about time. Unfortunately a lot of it sounded the same.
After the aural turd that was The Joshua Tree yesterday, it was nice to have a rock album that had bits I actually enjoyed on it. There are some parts where it gets quite funky and Cult of Personality is a good song, but there's still not enough to make me care about listening again. One nice point though is that, despite being American, they've spelt colour correctly, so well done for that guys.
Good, but not really my thing. Should listen to it more. Cult is great tho. 3.5/5
Another pretty decent Rock album on here, 80s rock (or rock in general really) just isn't my thing though, or at least not often. I enjoyed it and it was a fun listen but I doubt I'll revisit many of it's songs. Was by no means a bad album though!
This was definitely a pleasant listen without any songs truly standing out amongst each other for either being great or really poor. I probably wouldn't listen to the album again, but wouldn't turn off any of the songs individually if they were to play at random elsewhere. Overall, I would give this album a 3.5/5 however, it would be bumped down to 3 as it didn't separate itself enough.
Beter dan verwacht
Een wat ruwer klinkende Genesis. Althans die delen die ik oppik. Het is allemaal prima, maar het vervliegt naar de achtergrond. Ik zet het halverwege opnieuw aan, met hetzelfde effect. Voor de vorm laat ik hem nu doorspelen, maar tja....dit wordt een 3.
The production is (predictably) shaky, but I appreciate the stylistic diversity and especially enjoy some of the more melodic moments. "Open Letter (To a Landlord)" is quite effective, and in general, Reid's lyrics are excellent. Much better than most mainstream rock from 1988. 3.5/5
I did not use a private session for this one. I had this on CD, purchased not long after it came out. I listened to it a lot, because I was poor and didn't have a lot CDs. It was interesting to listen to and see how it held up. At the time, I didn't realize there was a Talking Heads cover on the album. It's rock, verging on metal, but the dude can sing so they featured that and the other dudes can play, I especially noticed the guitar work. Anyway, the album holds up, but I also understand why I gave my CD away to my friend Shawn.
Great rock album, a couple great tracks, just okay overall. But was running around listening doing chores. Crazy good for a debut album!
Wow, I forgot this was a late 80’s release. I remember when it came out it being considered so cutting edge and genre blending. I thought I would like it more overall, but outside of the classic opener it fell mostly flat to me. Rounding up for the impact of the one hit and creativity. 2.5/5
I remember this cassette circulating in high school. It seemed to have come from left field, and at the time was a breath of fresh air. A different sound for sure. And while the intentions were good with the spirit and messages being delivered (especially songs like Open Letter and Which Way to America), outside of the banger Cult of Personality…it really doesn’t hold up. Revisiting this many years later I was pretty surprised at how much 80s cheese was here surprisingly. Rating up based on musical ability and the ubiquitous Cult of hit.
Such a weird blend of styles. Worked for Cult of Personality and maybe a few others were okay, but overall this just didn’t come together for me. Dude was slappin’ da bass though. 2.75
Was Glamour Boy the original fuck boi? 2.75/5
This felt like fairly generic 80s hard rock with some funky bass lines. A couple tracks on the second half felt almost like early nu-metal influences. Overall, it was fun, but it's not really for me.
Twas ok. I appreciated it though it was out of my normal repertoire
Jamming beats to this
Never heard of Living Colour but I thought this was pretty cool overall, just a bit all-over-the-place. Generally very 80s rock without veering too much into power-ballady territory. After a couple of goes through, only the opener really stayed with me but I liked the whole experience enough. May revisit again in future.
It starts with a certified banger, and then drags for too long on some unremarkable songs. I won't lie, this album was a letdown. Still an underrated hard rock band though.
This wasn’t bad…but I didn’t love it either. I was completely unfamiliar with this band, and I think maybe if I had heard them back in the day, I may have liked it better then. In any event, I give it three stars.
Alright, let's talk about Living Colour's Vivid. I'd give this album a solid 3.5 stars. It's a great album, no doubt about it, and a huge part of the late 80s rock scene. Corey Glover's voice is just incredible; he's got so much power and range. And the band itself? Super tight, amazing musicianship all around. They can really play. The thing is, Vivid definitely sounds a bit dated now. The production is just too polished for my taste, especially listening to it today. It lacks a certain grit that I think would really make it pop. It's a fantastic listen if you want to take a trip down memory lane, but that overly clean production holds it back from being truly timeless for me. Still, it's a powerful statement, and because the band is so talented, I'm definitely going to check out their newer material to hear what they're doing now.
Bueno
Znam cult of personality, reszta średnia
I knew more of this than I expected! Some bops.
solid
Solid jammers
Knew Cult of Personality, really nice 80s rock song. Memories Can't Wait was also solid - but I believe it is a Talking Heads cover. Other than the band being quite different from most other 80s rockers, I found the record overall rather generic.
Fun album, Cult of Personality is one of the hardest hitting mainstream rock songs of the late 80's. Besides that the album is just fine. Has some good politically charged songs in it, but I feel its a little ''80's overproduced''. Not every song on here is as big of a hit as well and there's quite a few forgettable songs here.
It was a decent listen, head rocking at some points but wouldn’t actively seek out this album.
like it. should've listened twice. funky rock
I love what they’re trying to do. Trying, in my opinion, a little too hard. The production seems to wash away the real heart within these songs. Nevertheless, there are a few standouts: “Cult of Personality” and “Which Way to America,” both of which remain relevant this long after the Reagan Years. Their cover of Talking Heads’ “Memories Can’t Wait” made me want the original back. Same with their cover of the Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” although I believe that is a bonus track. It only goes to show that Fishbone’s “Truth & Soul” is a monumental achievement. That funk/rock/soul fusion is untouchable…. Check it out next and see if you can’t help but agree. Not a bad album but reminds me of some
Hard Rock with an occaisonal touch of Funk - nothing special. Would this album be in this list if the band weren't all black? I'm not so sure.
Cool album love the big f u to the white rockers
Decent.
The album cover feels like the moment you've just cracked open a shrink-wrapped copy of first gen Photoshop and the art director says, "Go nuts" — and yet somehow, it's still not Vivid enough. Living Colour had been around for a while, but this was the record that broke through. And just two years later, a seemingly unrelated TV show In Living Color hit broadcast TV. Much of America in the late '80s and early '90s wanted to break out of tradition, to rupture the norms, but the social structures were more resilient than we kids knew. This album reflects that tension: there are moments that still sound fresh and boundary-pushing, and others so plodding and conventional you have to wonder if someone else hijacked the session. The first two tracks "Cult of Personality" and "I Want to Know" embody this divide. It doesn't take a genius ear to hear which is which. There's undeniable musicianship across the album, but too many of the songs lean on tired '80s hard rock tropes. It feels tempered by format. It's not entirely an album divided. Some songs like "Letter to a Landlord" live in the in-between where they're leaning on more conventional songwriting but manage to go somewhere meaningful. Overall and in retrospect, this record is more product than artistry and what once felt bold now plays like a debut too tangled up in the America it's wrestling with. Still not Vivid enough.
A pleasant listen. Sounds a little like a commercial rock album. Very upbeat. Cult of Personality is definitely a hit
Not bad
Starts with an absolute tune. The rest is solid to good but can't live up to the first song.
I imagine only guys who watch a lot of football, drink beer, and never get off the couch listen to this. Is that the fan base?
Interesting to find a black rock band I didn't know about, but to me sound a bit too 80s. I liked "Memories Can't Wait" more than the other songs
Un peu générique à mes oreilles, mais je me doute que c’était précurseur en son temps et que ça annonçait le rock des années 1990
It’s ok
I like the message in their lyrics.
More evidence that metal bands have some of the most interesting music. Lacks a bit of a hook here and there though.
3.5 Cult of Personality carried this one.
War okay, aber Rock ist oft nicht mei nDing
Dated sound but a fun album I remember listening to them in my friends brothers truck in junior high
It was okay
Interesting, fun, but clearly of it's time. Never really sold on Living Color though. I didn't hate it, and it's clearly streets ahead of Morrissey. Three stars.
Good stuff. Very good at playing the instruments. Not my cup of tea but good anyways
Man, what a mix of emotion about this album. First of: Cult of Personality is an absolute banger, which is, I think, a problem for this album. The intro track is so good that the rest pales in comparison. The bass sounds great throughout. The guitar licks on a lot of the songs are lackluster and ok’ish. Buddy has a great voice with, sometimes, corny lyrics. Drums are good. I just don’t know where to land this one. It’s like 80s metal fused with 70s funk in places.
# Album Name: Living Colour # Artist: Vivid # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Pretty Average. Good opening track and that was that. # Top Tunes: Cult of personality # Would I listen to it again? No
Cult of Personality is great. Rest of album is pretty good.
Pretty meh late 80s glam metal. Not too interesting.
I remember liking this stuff when it came up and I think it still holds up.
Nem rossz apuka rock
2,5
3/5
Fun listening but I don't like it that much
I’ve never heard of them and will listen to this again, this must have inspired the early RHCP and sounds a lot tighter and more polished than them
an all african american group is pretty rockin but this album wasn't
It's like metal but with funk vocals instead of screaming? Can’t be terrible. Favorite Track: Cult of Personality
Solid rock album but I don't see much special in it.
eu sou mto fã de cult of personality de resto é issai nem ruim nem ótimo
cult of personality é um clássico do guitar hero 3 tirando isso, é uma grande mescla entre rock oitentista e noventista. definitivamente um album.
Great album, I have never heard the whole thing and I really enjoyed it. Excellent mix of musical styles, there isn't any other band quite like this. Would be good to listen to when you need some hype.
The only Living Color song that I'm familiar with is "Cult of Personality," which I think is a really great song. If “Cult of Personality” is any indication as to how the rest of Vivid will be, then I have really high hopes that I’ll enjoy this. Overall, this album was fine. I thought Vivid was at its best when Living Color had some social or political commentary, like on “Cult of Personality,” “Open Letter,” and “Funny Vibe.” Sometimes the delivery of that commentary could be a little bit cheesy, but the critiques that the band vocalized sill had plenty of merit. The guitar playing on this album was really great and enjoyable to listen to, and there was a wide variety of sounds and influences to take in. I enjoyed the vocals as well, and it was a nice surprise to hear Chuck D and Flavor Flav pop up on “Funny Vibe.” Vivid has that distinct late eighties sound, where various influences are melded together, and while a lot of the songs on here didn’t make a lasting impression on me, there’s a fair amount of fun to be had here. “Cult of Personality” is the standout track on this album. Out of everything on Vivid, it’s the one song that’s weathered almost forty years to still be a notable moment in rock music history. This isn’t the type of album I’d listen to again often, but it would be fun to have on by the pool on a hot summer day.
Unavailable, sad, I know it’s good stuff.
Okay but not notable for me.
01) Cult of Personality - 6,5 02) I Want to Know - 6,0 03) Middle Man - 6,0 04) Desperate People - 5,5 05) Open Letter (To a Landlord) - 5,5 06) Funny Vibe - 5,5 07) Memories Can't Wait - 6,0 08) Broken Hearts - 7,0 09) Glamour Boys - 7,0 10) What's Your Favorite Color? (Theme Song) - 6,5 11) Which Way to America? - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,14 (61/100) Current ranking: 383/499
This has some decent skill and sound. I'm enjoying a dash of funk in the songs. Not the deepest but a good debut album and well executed.
This isn't working for me. Comes off like a really solid local bar band. Not thrilled by the opening track being a wrestlers theme song. Some good energy and a pretty cohesive album.
In 1988, Living Colour burst onto the scene with a mix of hard rock, funk, and social commentary that was as bold as their neon-colored album cover. At the time, I was far too young to hear it. I later discovered Cult of Personality through a Grand Theft Auto in-game radio station—a track so powerful and immediate that it felt like a wake-up call. Fast-forward to today: I listen to plenty of heavy music and have a soft spot for funk, but the hybrid of funk-metal has never been a natural fit for me. There is no denying that Vivid is an ambitious, high-energy fusion of hard rock and funk, powered by Vernon Reid’s intricate guitar work—an unpredictable mix of shredding, jazz phrasing, and groove-heavy riffing—and Corey Glover’s powerhouse vocals, which swing between soulful grit and full-throttle belting. Even after all these years, Cult of Personality remains a monster of an opener, anthemic and razor-sharp, but the rest of the album oscillates between moments of brilliance and a kitchen-sink approach that doesn’t always stick the landing. Funny Vibe careens between manic slap-bass funk and straight-up speed metal, a wild juxtaposition that’s exhilarating in concept but slightly disjointed in execution. Glamour Boys, on the other hand, leans into pop with ska-inflected verses and a bright, almost jangly guitar tone—a stark contrast to the heavier tracks but emblematic of the band's refusal to be boxed in. In comparison to other genre-blending, funk-leaning rock of the era, Vivid stands apart in its political urgency and raw intensity. While Faith No More’s The Real Thing (1989) had a more sardonic, theatrical approach to genre-mashing and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Mother’s Milk (1989) leaned heavily on party-starting funk grooves, Vivid felt more confrontational. It tackled race, identity, and power structures head-on, something few rock bands of the time were doing so explicitly. If there’s one thing that holds me back from fully embracing Vivid, it’s the production. The album is unmistakably ‘80s, with its glossy, gated drums and occasionally over-polished mix that dulls some of the raw energy. Still, it’s clear why this record is considered a landmark. It shattered expectations for what a hard rock band could look and sound like, pushing boundaries in ways that echoed through later acts like Rage Against the Machine and Sevendust. I’m glad I finally gave Vivid a full listen. It’s a landmark album, no doubt. But will I ever wake up and think, “Yeah, today’s a Living Colour day”? Probably not—and that’s okay.
Funky
Peaked at #6 in 1988. One of the most popular albums but actually 2nd most popular band. Houmous & Chutney were #1-5. That in itself is a record that’s only ever been repeated by Houmous & Chutney. In ‘90, ‘91 and ‘01. 3.1
Past Cult Of Personality it’s pretty mid
Cult of personality is a great song, remember bopping to it on the game GTA San Andreas. The others are avarage 3/5
This one shocked the music world and MTV when it came out. African American hard rockers, outside of Hendrix no one had seen that for decades. Instant hit, we all went out and bought it because of "Cult Of Personality" which is a kickass song and still getting airplay to this day. Influential, for sure. Popular & talked about, for sure. Bu only one huge hit with a couple minor ones ("Open Letter" & "Glamour Boys", neither of which you'll ever hear on the radio today) but overall it wore out quickly as the songs weren't that great from top to bottom. Songs like "Funny Vibe" and "Which Way To America" don't sound great today. It didn't age gracefully. It was kinda good at the time but it doesn't hold up well today. 3 stars for impact in the late 80's and influence but the quality of the product is subpar.
Great singer. They obviously knew what they were doing. I'm sure it sounds exactly the way they wanted. I don't hate any of the songs. However, they sit in that uncomfortable spot where it's not high enough energy to be high energy music and it's too high energy to be anything else. Favorite song: funny vibe.
As an important precursor to some of my favourite music, I'm not surprised that there are elements of this that I thoroughly enjoy. But there are also parts that sound pretty dated, especially the vocals. Definitely enjoyable, but I'm not sure this will be where I return when I'm looking for something in this space.
Trailblazing rock that did not age well. Not classic
appreciated how funky it was but idk if i'd come back.
a little more technical/proggy 80's dad rock/hard rock. Cult of personality is a classic. I also enjoyed open letter to a landlord and funny vibe but got bored otherwise during
A couple of good tracks cult and middle man, I think it's the lyrics they sound very angry 15 year old very obvious with little suitably Polymath
“Cult of Personality” feels like a well-deserved hit for 1988. But I can’t judge Living Colour based off of the nostalgia of that song’s ubiquitousness on late 80s rock and pop radio (or it’s second life as CM Punk’s theme song). What else does “Vivid” have to offer? I kept wanting it to show me something besides the one-note wailing hard rock. Then they did with “Broken Hearts,” and I quickly regretted my desire. They never hit that same note again, for better and for worse. First the worse comes with “Glamour Boys,” but by the end they find a blend of styles that works better on “Which Way to America.”
I feel like their hard rock songs carry the album more so than the funk inspired stuff.
I fear that during the first half of this album I was, dare I say, a little sick of the guitar instrumentals. The last few songs were much better in my opinion and I might go back to some.
What’s Your Favorite Color? is an indisputable BOP. The rest of the album is alright.
3 st
Instrumentals were pretty good, most of the lyrics not so much
Starts off with the MASSIVE “Cult of Personality” and tails off almost immediately afterwards. Basic rock and roll by numbers but if it’s good enough for CM Punk, then it’s good enough for me!
Didn't really enjoy this at first, I thought the second half was better. On second listen I liked it more - but I think this just might not be my genre. I quite liked Memories Can't Wait, especially the ending. Cult of Personality is good as well. 3
Living Colour delivers quality funk-metal riffage and stands as a crucial breakthrough for Black artists in rock's white-dominated landscape, even if the album’s quality is less vivid than its importance.
Not bad. Sort of a weird hybrid version of hard rock. Reminds me s little like The Tubes. A bit of pop, glam, and hard guitar. Vocals heavy. Not my thing, but didn’t make me cranky either. That’s a win.
3.5
A ton of energy, blistering guitar, blistering politically-charged lyrics, grooves, a dose of humor, and range. Love it. I saw them in concert in 1989 and they totally ripped. Vernon Reid’s guitar and Corey Glover’s vocals are standouts. A 3.5 in my new rating system - I like it, even a lot, but don’t feel the need to go back to it.
A petty good opening song, nice classic rock music from 90s. The rest of the album is a little bit underwhelming, it's just too bland and average. Whole record passed through on my headphones without me noticing anything out of the ordinary. But again, cool opening song.
ez szerintem kevésbé érdekes az előzőnél zeneileg, cserébe sokkal jobban szerethető. három és felet adnék neki, ha lehetne.
It's like a time capsule taking me right back to my childhood. Cult Of Personality is still a certified banger! A lot of the album is kinda generic for the time it came out (I mean that in a positive way), but they manage to throw in something exciting here and there like the wild syncopated drums towards the end of Open Letter, the driving and funky bass lines throughout the whole album, to the almost country tinged Broken Hearts. Then you have songs like Glamour Boys which is the second most streamed song on the album but feels like a ill advised attempt at a Fine Young Cannibals song. All in all, it's a fun listen but not sure I'll intentionally be coming back to it. If it comes on, I'll be tapping my toes and bobbing my head, but I don't see myself playing the whole album on purpose. I'd give it a 3.5/5 if I could
ok different kind of rock 3/5
De zanger klinkt een beetje als Lenny Kravitz en vreemd genoeg ook Phil Collins, de band klinkt een beetje een glammy Red Hot Chili Peppers. Ik denk ook dat ze niet helemaal onbekend zijn met het fenomeen Prince. Prima drums met uiteraard dikke 80s reverb, een funky en lekker aanwezig basgitaartje, de gitarist mag iets te regelmatig z'n momentje pakken, maar de zanger is prima. De jaren 80 druipen er wel vanaf en 'Funny Vibe' is voor mij op dat vlak ook geen hoogtepunt, maar ik probeer me er tegenwoordig wat minder aan te storen. Dikke shoutout naar die graflelijke albumhoes wel. Tering jantje. Alle elementen zijn er voor een goede score, maar iets houdt me toch tegen om een 4 te geven. Theoretisch waardeer ik dit album meer dan praktisch. Ik ga dit nooit meer aanzetten. 'Memories Can't Wait' is ondergewaardeerd.
I really like Vernon Reid’s playing but the songwriting is ok. Probably a 3.7 for me.
3.2 I knew the opener from guitar hero 3. The next couple of songs were all ok, bit Pearl Jam-ish which given these were a couple years earlier is a big compliment. The second half of the album seems to go off piste, the funk bit doesn't work as well as in my opinion. Sounds dated and, well, a bit shit. Shame as I was tapping along to the first half but then by the end I was relieved.
"Vivid" is good enough example of heavy funk rock. You can see them being incredibly cool in the 80s. It's still a good album, but it doesn't exactly stand above the crowd, save a few songs. "Cult of Personality" is still undeniably catchy. The two songs that are oddly missing from Spotify ("Desperate People" and "Broken Hearts") are some of the stronger tracks. Dig into the album credits a bit and you'll find some surprising names like Mick Jagger and Chuck D, further suggesting that this band was pretty big during their heyday. But a lot of the album feels like its shine has dulled by the passage of time and doesn't really hold up today. I accidentally let the album continuing playing into the bonus tracks and found a remix featuring Prince Paul to be my favorite song. There's still something kind of great about Living Color, but I think it's more nostalgia (and one very strong single) than anything now.
Cult of Personality is definitely a banger. The rest is very enjoyable but it all seems a bit outdated so I probably won’t put it on anytime soon
#473. Starts out very strong, but isn't able to maintain that throughout. 3/5: acceptable.
Probably a 3. Not bad but not worth another listen.
La mitad del álbum es vibrante, no más.
I always thought cult of personality was a faith no more song. Guess I need to learn not to white wash my bands. It feels like listening to a lot of these pre nirvana alt bands they are very much looking for the single and the album is just whatever is left over. Might just be me though? It's solid and some of the songs at the end really start rocking.
Pretty generic solid rock outside of that opening track... Cult of Personality ups this to a 3, what a ripping song
Cult of Personality is a PHENOMENAL song. Never heard the rest of the album. It was fine. Had I been a bit older when this came out in the late 80's, I probably would have worn this out. Now it's just "of its time" and probably not something I'll listen to. But...thank you for reminding me about Cult of Personality. That's gone straight to my "liked songs" play list.
Enjoyable listen.
Probs would have loved this at the time, but I never got round to buying it. Not really my thing now, but it's a perfectly decent late 80s rock album.
Apprehensive at first as started off very hard rock, like the change in tone throughout the album.
Lively album, love the riffs in it, with a couple of hits that I’d recognized. 3.0
the first song is false advertising for the rest of the album
Overall solid rock. 1st track is the best!!
I remember these from back in the day, the fuss being “wow black rock band” people obviously forgetting Jimi Hendrix and Phil Lynott methinks! Still sounds pretty good all these decades later. Enjoyed it.
It started off strong, but then dwindled pretty quickly by the end.
One absolute banger, the rest meh
I’d never listened to Living Colour outside of the big opening track before. I liked it - a good mash up of styles, though all the additional tracks at the end I should have skipped as they brought it down a tad.
Fun 80s pop/rock with the classic "Cult of Personality" - highly enjoyable
slightly funky, metal/hard rock, plenty hooks, political in places, too. very much of its time
Not bad. Enjoyed it in the 90s 3/5
3.5/5
The hits are great and the rest is only ok. It has an 80s sound but it works well compared to other albums I've heard.
Always enjoyed parts of this album and skipped others Cult of Personality, Open Letter to a Landlord and Funny Vibe are great Glamour Boys is a weird but fun song. The rest is fair to middling at best
This record deserves 3 stars just for Cult Of Personality. One of the greatest songs ever written. The rest of the songs were ok, but none of them can raise to the level of that one.
Idk what I expected but this was fun.
It's a band and an album that I haven't known before this challenge. Musically it's quite good, not as heavy as I thought it would be. The songs are not too memorable but not bad either. The late 1980s production sounds dated. It is a 3.5 rounded down to 3.
A bright and heavy rock album with some funk influence mixed in. Nothing special, but a fun listen. Best song: Cult of Personality
Cult of living colors
I kinda like this. It's fun! But none of the songs are wildly memorable. It's just good background grooves.
never had heard of this band but enjoyed the sound on this one. not necessarily my thing but well done.
really cool sound, i am disappointed that ive never heard of them before. definitely have to hear more from them!
Cult of Personality will forever be linked in my mind with Guitar Hero 3 (no bad thing; what a game, what a soundtrack). There’s nothing else on the album that matches CoP but overall it’s a decent listen. I enjoy the plentiful riffage and the metallic, serrated edge sound of the lead guitar parts. I also appreciate that it distinguishes itself from the 80s hard rock world by exploring more disparate lyrical and musical ideas. Having said that, when it strays *too* far from rock (i.e. into fully fledged funk), I’m not the biggest fan. 3.5
Cult of Personality, but not much other than that.
dislike the majority of the vocal performance and there's an extra-80s sheen to how this sounds that i don't fuck with but the instrumentation really goes
check back later
my favorite color is orange
It's their debut album. The very first song is a banger. Their Spotify profile somewhat says they are a one-hit-wonder band. But the other songs are simply enjoyable for my taste. It sounds fresh and right in time for 1988.
I was surprised how many songs I recognized on an album that I've never listened to.
Decent rock, but nothing special. Voice felt kinda soft to the music perhaps or something about it did not hit the spot for me.
Never got into this album
Dated. Bit flat.
Mostly average rock on a foundation of funky bass here and there. ~2.5
It was pretty fun, but I'm sure there are a lot of bands doing this but better
I’m shocked I’ve never heard of this before. I thought I ventured into every crevice within the 80’s rock genre there was to explore, but this record is about as 80’s as it gets. Which has its good and bad of course. I like the solos and prowess, as well as the introspective lyrics I wouldn’t expect from the time. However, it is still just your pretty unoriginal blob of guitar and drums packaged into a collection of hits sent off to the audience of adults who miss “the good stuff” or the kids who also for some reason miss “the good stuff”. That is to say, it’s fine.
Pretty average tbh.
Interesting mix of music styles
I always thought this was a hip hop band. :shrug: Didn't expect a rock sound. Didn't hate it either.
3.5 rounded down why are these guys called living coloUr if they’re american.. highlights: cult of personality, desperate people, funny vibe, which way to america? (feb 26 2026)
Some absolute classics, some less solid tracks, but a good vibe overall.
Highlights: Glamour Boys, Cult of Personality, Which Way to America
Sweet album, cult of personality is a clsssic tune. Always feel like I want a bit more funk and less classic metal in this funk metal band though. Felt myself tuning out at points.
When the album started I my initial thought was: oh no not another 80s hard rock album. But actually after the first 3/4 tracks this was so much more than that, infusing funk into the mix and having more interesting lyrical themes. Was NOT expecting a talking heads cover which was very cool. However I’m giving only a 3 because it was a little bit bland
Yeah real weird mix, thoroughly enjoyed though
I hadnt listened to that in full in decades. More stylistically diverse than i had recalled. Solid. The singles are fantastic.
Los vendieron como los RHCP negros y eso ya creo que te fastidia progresar o seguirlos, te deja sin personalidad en el grupo. El disco empieza con el "Cult of personality" que es su mega éxito con diferencia y solo por escuchar rock desde el lado afroamericano merece la pena conocer este disco.
Fresco, piacevole. Sul fine estate mi smuove bei ricordi.
Riffien riffi... Noh.. Kii nosta tollaset albami aika napakka jos silenceä ennen bonus trackkeja respectiä
mid
I know many people who love Living Colour and I have never really listened to them. Somewhat surprised at how many of these songs I recognized. Super fun record, cool to finally check it out.
I was mean and called this "unflavored rock music" when I was talking about it while listening. There's much more to it lyrically than I gave it credit for, but the nature of the music is .... rock .... and a whole album of it was too much of the same thing. 2.5
good and I enjoy it but I wish it was More
who's coming to Orillia with me to see these guys at casino rama on sept. 27th?
Has its moments
Have always loved Cult of Personality and the band themselves are brilliant, but the songwriting generally is average
Flirted with a 4, but it takes some wild turns in the home stretch. Glamour Boys, I’m looking at you
Not bad, but gets a little repetitive and kinda boring by the 4th track ("desperate people"). 3/5
Remarkably varied throughout. Kept on surprising me.
This was ok in a mediocre way. “Broken Hearts” was what I liked best.
Great album.
Such a powerful opening track. I vaguely remember owning this album back in the day. Vernon Reid shreds on guitar, but he does it in a way that's somehow melodic, and not just a bunch of fast noodling notes, which is unlike many lead players of the time. Props to the solid rhythm section too. Having said all this, other than the songs listed below, I don't see myself revisiting this. The musicians and messages are great. It just doesn't move me. Liked songs added: - Cult Of Personality - Funny Vibe - Funky Vibe Mix
"Cult of Personality" is a classic. The rest of the album just falls flat unfortunately.
Pretty unremarkable funk rock. There are better versions of this type of thing - give me Faith No More any day.
Couple of tunes missing, but overall fairly decent. Few good tunes, easy listen. 3?
Massive talent in the guitar and bass department, but without the songs to back it up. Still, an easy listen. 3/5
I appreciate the energy and the Talking Heads cover, but it’s just a bit too cheesy for me.
Very mid for me. Nothing offensive, nothing particularly exciting.
Surprisingly fun. Had never heard of them.
It’s just “okay.” I was never a fan of this rock production style even back then.
decent enough album. i felt my interest in this one waned as the album went on. nothing here was bad, just strictly down the middle for me. i'm not sure i totally enjoyed the sound of what they were going here for - funk-metal? i guess? sounds pretty corny and not totally for me. but that being said, still listenable.
3 - I really like the first two songs and the first really felt a bit red hot chilli peppers/john frusciante. But felt a bit to jam session in the end for me
I dunno about this. Kinda fun, kinda naff, not sure I'd want to revisit but I've certainly heard worse in the genre. 2.7/5
Opening up with Cult of Personality feels like both an error, and their only option. It stands head and shoulders above everything else on this album, which is just mid-level 90s lite-metal, albeit produced incredibly well. If I ever listen to this again I expect I'll stop after track 1.
What a weird album. Some absolute bangers. Some experimental stuff. Was hoping I’d like it more.
Very politically conscious band of course. Wasn't really hard rock but then again the classification of what's hard rock never is so simple. Epic records you say. Interesting
This album had lots of highs and lows for me. Cult of Personality has been a favorite since I was a kid, but it’s unfortunately the peak of the album, and only a few tunes were similarly good. I wouldn’t listen to this often as an album, but bits and pieces of it I would for sure spin often. 2.5/5
3.5 Liked this more than I thought it would. Started off a little hard for my taste but there are softer elements from other genres woven in throughout (especially Glamour Boys). The expanded edition I listened to had a cover of Should I Stay Or Should I Go which doesn't count but I still loved.
Walked so Lenny Kravitz could run.
Liked: Cult of Personality, Glamour Boys, Which Way to America.
I did like it more and more as I listened.
Funky groovy stuff here, but also without real direction, which I am missing
I like this one more than I expected.
first listen it's rockin but i ain't knockin
My favorite color is living color. It teeters on def leppoard vibes but it is nice and funky I like the vocals and the back half while much worse it still sucked me in and I have to say I really really like the guitar work again here. I probably wont visit this but I understand the impact of a black rock band and cool that is.
Skillful and heavy, it feels like I should have liked this more than I did. Alas, I did not.
One giant hit...but not much more.
not as good as i remember
I’m pretty sure some of my tinnitus comes from listening to Cult of Personality too loud.
I only know this for Cult of Personality, which is an absolute banger. The rest of the album, uhhhhh hit or miss. Some things are great others kinda feel blegh.
6 / 10 Rock facilón de finales de los 80. Tiene algunas guitarras de hard rock que le dan un puntito más.
The whole funk metal thing has never been my area other than a few bands like Primus, Bad Brains, and Fishbone. Living Colour writes good songs with good grooves and solid musical talent. This is hard rock! Guitarist is a shredder in solos and gets some crazy sounds from his axe. Really Strong rhythm section. Powerful vocals. They’re not afraid to be both conscious and silly. I don’t have a lot of specific criticisms of this album, but it’s also just not something I care to listen to much. A few solid songs, just not super memorable to me. Surprising Talking Heads cover.
A landmark album for fusing funk and metal / hard rock. While not the first to approach the genre, Living Colour was one of the more memorable, particularly with the opening track Cult of Personality. Any my god, what an unbelievable track that is! Unfortunately, nothing else on the album quite reaches the same heights as Cult of Personality. While still mostly good, I can't fully get into Vivid. Too bad!
A bit Led Zep, a bit RHCP. It's ok.
Obviously, Cult of Personality is a banger. The rest of the album was alright, but nothing amazing. It was a little watered down in some areas and a bit too over the top in others.
Cult of Personality is a fantastic song and even better album opener. Iconic guitar riff and powerful solo. I Want to Know makes me think of Huey Lewis and the News for some reason. Plenty of 80s cheese on Open Letter, but that silky smooth bassline and distorted guitar are fantastic. Elements of it remind me of Umphrey's. Funny Vibe is a loose, seemingly improvisational jam. I dig all of the instrumentals on display and the somewhat punky atmosphere of it all. Memories Can't Wait is another ripper propelled by some excellent bass work. A bit moodier than other songs on here and a high water mark for me. I would say that this album is very eh for me. It has some really awesome highs, but the lows for me were really low and filled with cheese. Clearly talented instrumentally with great vocals, but several songs were actually sort of challenging to get through. 3 / 5
Cult of Personality was a GTA staple. This feels like some standard heavy metal/rock, but it oddly has a few songs that feel like pop songs? The bass lines made me think of Primus at times. A fine album.
Hell yeah Cult of Personality rules. The amount of times I've played this on Guitar Hero... This album was all over the place. Funny Vibe was certainly a song to put on this album. Honestly reminds me of some older RHCP. Not convinced this is the same band from Cult of Personality by the end. Middling 3.
2.5 rounded up to 3. Glad I listened to this but can't see it happening again
Definitely in the upper half of 80s/90s funk rock I’ve heard in my life. Probably a 2.5, rounding it up because I read the guitarist recruited the singer after hearing him sing happy birthday. That’s a good bit of lore.
First song is really good yeahhhh. Me hitting on a girl: “what’s your favorite color baby?”
solid, but not rock solid
Levyn hittibiisi oli kova ja muuten ihan kuunneltavaa settiä
It's a great blend but felt over produced.
A very fun surprise, ended up liking this album much more than I thought I would.
The musicianship gets an A+, and production a B. It's the songwriting that brings this record down a bit. There are really no GOOD songs here, but we'll played and fun.
this is not it, unless..... wait.. if this is intentional.... the fellas might have been onto something
First two tracks will filter the haters, Open Letter into the back half is so good
Un album qui est un peu contradictoire, car le mélange de sons rock alt et de funk est très propre à Living Colour, mais en même temps ça ne sonne pas tellement original ou innovateur. C'est un peu monotone aussi comment la même formule est utilisée tout le long de l'album. Loin d'être un mauvais album, mais je m'attendais à être un peu plus impressionné considérant le succès de Cult of Personality. 6/10
Þessir gaurar virðast vera ofboðslega hressir og uppfullir af sjálfum sér sem er stundum gott ef maður hefur efni á því. Þessir eru samt svo mikið miðjumoð að það er engin sjálfsdýrkunarinneign. Ég mun ekki sjálfur sækjast eftir að hlusta á þá en ég myndi alveg hlusta á þá ef þeir væru í útvarpinu eða eitthvað.
Meh, okay
mid
Comes in hot, then cools down. Enjoyable time though and Cult of Personality is a joy
Cult of Personality is a great track. The players in the band are all good in their own right. But overall I didn't hear much worth coming back for.
Decent music while not being entirely memorable.
Fun, but not earth-shattering. 'Soundtrack rock'. A few shallowly explored social commentary pieces (Funny Vibe, Open Letter), but seem a bit... lost in the context of the rest of the album.
Story time: During Jazz week in NOLA we went to a show that was G.Love and Cory Glover. the show was supposed to start at 1 or 2 am, but it didn't start until 4 or something. (it was light out on the walk back to the AirBnB.) They called the show The Glove Love and they were throwing condoms off the stage into the crowd the whole time. It was the perfect epitome of late night jazz fest and one of the most memorable shows ive ever been to. This record is important, but unfortunately its not the best. the cult of personality would get 5 stars as a single.
Had this cassette when I was young. I always thought it was super cool that the case was red. Cult of Personality is somewhat of an iconic song. I remember the video on MTv and was always drawn to the raw, if not sloppy, guitar. I like how the drums and bass lock in in this one as well. Otherwise, I remember the cheesy “Glamour Boys” tune (also from the video). The rest of the album felt brand new. Not in a refreshing sort of way, but more of a “when did they put these songs on this album” kinda thing. I musta missed it. Oh, well. A 3 is a 3.
Funky rock tunes
The opening track is a GTA and Guitar Hero classic tune. Rest of the album is enjoyable, but not quite good enough for four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
mnjeh unremarkable
The back half of this wasn't bad, but I didn't really get what makes it special
Cult is amazing. I didn’t find anything else on this album even close to that though.
its pretty much dad rock/hair metal. not terrible but your getting what youre getting. Cult of Personality.
A couple good songs, nice wild yet masterful guitar work. Lyrically I like the themes, they carve a great space missing in Rock but it also seems lacking in poetry, almost the opposite of the guitars.
Hard rock. I'd never heard of Living Colour before so it's an interesting addition. The music is solid (esp. the guitar playing) but I don't hear a lot that differentiates it from most of the stuff that came out around the same time, except for the lyrics. The song themes and lyrics are definitely interesting with a heavy dose of social commentary and those elevate this band above a lot of their peers.
This was politically interesting
Funky metal, slappy bas grootjes
Pretty good but can't remember too much now.. listed again I guess?
Album 2/1001 I think I went into this album thinking it was going to be one thing and it ended up being entirely different.
Hard rock band with social themes... pretty interesting listen. 3/5
This is a Mötley Crüe situation where the guitarist is over qualified for the job, except that Mötley Crüe had personality. 3/5
Not a fan of late 80s rock because they always have weird echoey voices and slow percussions. The guitar riffs are really good tho
It's ok
No experience with this album other "Cult of personality." Great musicianship throughout. Mix of rock, hip hop, funk. It's got some Red Hot Chili Peppers meets Faith No More vibes.
Enjoyable if instantly forgetable
This fall somewhere between two and three. Glamour Boys pushed it up.
Unsure how to rate this one. On a personal level, I admire this more than like it. Reid's a killer guitarist, especially when he gets atonal. In fact, the weirder they get the more i like them. (Also, the bassist is great.) But Glover's not a compelling singer, and the lyrics are pretty trite. I dig that they cover a lot of stylistic ground, but it doesn't always work. (Also, the production does nothing for me, especially the drum sound.) So, I'm going with a 3. It seems a little low but I can't bring myself to give it a 4.
I like the idea of Living Colour and this album more than the actual music. The cover is a time capsule for 1988 that did not age great.
very solid 80´s (Funk-/Hard-)Rock with relevant lyrics best-known: Cult of Personality and Glamour Boys similar to the band Extreme
I'm digging this one. Some great tunes I've never heard before. The bass driving groove and guitar on "Open Letter to a Landlord" ... wow!
This is a very decent album, although it’s not exactly my type of music
Surprisingly good. "Cult of Personality" is a banger. Head nodding almost all the way. Really nice riffs and solos. Funky. Metal. Still lacks that certain something and more standout tracks to justify more than 3.5 stars.
The guitars, the bass, and even the drums are really nice at some places. But in general, it gives off a "Pearl Jam lite" vibe.
I liked the opener and Which Way To America as a dig at the reality of life in Reagan's America but most of it was a bit too much for me. I can see why it's on the list but I can't see me ever listening again in full.
I missed the initiation ceremony but I see the appeal
This is Rock & Roll's response to the beastie boys. And i love it.
Hard rockfunk metalheavy metal. Rock pop ochentero.
vivid is a great descriptor for the album, the grooves and riffs are brimming with energy, the vocals are fun and the drums sound great too. The first two tracks pack a very nice punch. Middle man is decent, It has some nice riffs but nothing really holds my attention which makes me want to return to the track. Desperate is another great track - the group really does a great job balancing the thrash hard rock elements with the softer melody-laden parts. The bridge of desperate people is fantastic. landlord is fine. neither the riffs nor the melody really stuck to me. funny vibe though instantly throws a catchy riff at you and then 1 min in turns into pure funk with a nice groove and it's a great track. i love talking heads and i just couldn't vibe with their rendition. broken hearts is a great hard rock ballad and it has some great writing as well which i really liked. it's a strong 3 from me.
huh..?
Unexpected variety, not quite my thing but glad I listened
After a strong opening the album deteriorates, only to revive in the second half.
This was fairly enjoyable, but also a bit forgettable? A bit generic? It didn't blow me away but I did listen to all of it...
Meh.
Standouts- "Cult of Personality," "Funny Vibe," "Open Letter (To a Landlord)" Lyrics- 3.5/5 Vocals- 4/5 Instrumentals 3.5/5 Vibe 3/5 Overall 3/5 This was a pretty decent album, with "Funny Vibe" being I think the best track purely for its social commentary. "Cult of Personality" was a familiar song, although I genuinely cannot tell you where I've heard the song before. It was by no means a bad album, but it really didn't click with me like many others.
Pretty generic 80s rock, big snares and cutting guitars. Not too exciting though
- Should I Stay Or Should I Go
\\m//
outside Cult of Personality I am unfamiliar with this band. whats interesting is how different so many of the songs sound from one another. Glamour Boys for example sounds like something from an entirely different band.
As a die hard wrestling fan I was excited to see this album pop up. Cult of Personality is great! The rest of the album is funky and heavy and for some reason it didn’t really click with me. This is definitely an album I’d like to give another chance
Rock on. Surprisingly listenable
Cult of Personality
3 - because the album is alright but Cult Of Personality is amazing & brings up the whole rating.
What's so outstanding about this album to be on this list? Very generic and dated, the only song that made me feel something different was "Funny vibes". (I don't like numeric ratings, I just give 3 to anyone)
Heard this album many times. Some excellent songs and some that drag
It was fine, but it didn’t particularly engage me. Songs like Which Way to America and Funny Vibe (Funky Vibe Mix) are good, but then you have that followed up by them absolutely butchering Should I Stay Or Should I Go. I don’t think I’ll be revisiting this.
hard rock from the 80's, enjoyable only at specific times
Not my bag, but pretty solid. Isn't strictly metal - covers some other ground. Totally forgot about Glamour Boys (produced by Jagger). 3.5 (star ranking updated)
A decent listen but Desperate People is the only track that gets close to the quality of Cult of Personality, and CM Punk is a cunt so I can't like it as much as I want to.
Great start - Cult of Personality is familiar (think it was on a Guitar Hero game or something?). The rest is just a pale imitation of that, really, it's mostly quite samey but not as good. Decent amount of energy throughout, fun, doesn't take itself too seriously, 3/5.
A very 80’s rock album but the song lyrics still feel modern.
It really came alive in the second half of the album for me, the first half was a bit of a snore
some bangers, very samey but ok
A mix of hard edged rock and funk that predated the nu metal that came in the next decade it starts with the more distinctly metal classic Cult of Personality and maintains that edge throughout while exploring other soundscapes. Corey Glover's seering vocals with the controlled chaos of Vernon Reid's guitar work with a tight rhythm section makes this a powerhouse of an album. On this expanded edition I really like Funny Vibe--Funky Vibe Mix, but I also like Desperate People and Open Letter (To a Landlord).
A proper mix of styles. Some good music with a message. Quite enjoyed it
3.5/5 Love the guitars.
Todo dia o mesmo estilo, tá difícil Isso estando dito, gostei
Classic rock. Made me think for the first time ever that rock is mainly white, and that's a pity.
It was okay.
A nice rock album from the late 1980s that shows an eclectic array of influences. Great bass lines throughout.
One great song, but everyone overreacted to the idea of a hard rock band composed of black dudes, and immediately thought they were the second coming of Jimi Hendrix. Turns out, there's only one Jimi Hendrix, and there were and are better hard rock bands with black people. I'm also not sure I'd even call most of this hard rock. But Cult of Personality slaps, it's such a banger that it alone merits this album being on this list. Grading up a notch for the inspired Clash cover on the expanded version.
Good album but got a pretty average vibe from it
Cult of Personality is good, the rest eh
Never heard of them, but I was into it.