September 15th 2009 was the release date of "The Chair in the
doorway", Living Colour's latest album. Its cover art was chosen by the
band due to a contest on the Internet. It was a clear upgrade from
Colleidoscope, a die-hard meant album, criticized and created during the band's
rough patch.
We've been waiting for this moment for almost eight years, craving for
the new album in social media, among Sacred Grounders (the LC fan group),
stalking @vurnt22 in Twitter while faving his pics in Ig. During that
period I had the opportunity of seeing them live in the Vivid 25th Anniversary
tour. Moreover, I was at ND Ateneo when Vernon Reid performed with his power
trio.
In order to quench my LC musical thirst, I revisited live shows in youtube,
a little bit afraid that Shade would not hit the lights due to some contractual
issue, just like 2002
Obras Show during the Sanctuary Records dispute.
Finally, at last, the time came, just between touring, a month before
Foo Fighters Concrete and Gold, some Shade tunes popped up in setlists for some
time. And then, paradoxically, the light was made...and Shade is here!
Let's check Shade up "Freedon of expression" is
a molotov cocktail of rhythms (rock, funk, metal). Living Colour at its best. A
killer riff, a virulent bass line, strong drumm rolls and high pitch inhuman
vocals. A great start. Then comes "Preaching Blues". A
Robert Johnson's, a true blues legend, classic. They started playing it in RJ
tribute and I believe that it was the time when the whole Shade concept was
forged. It's great to hear Glover singing and Wimbish exchanging vocal an bass
glimpses to see who reaches the higher note. The label Blues Metal, if a new
genre can be defined for this song would be more than appropiate.
The third song of this album is "Come on". The
hit, I hope american radios are playing it in heavy rotation . A couple of
weeks before, Late Night with Seth Meyers performance put this song in national
audience and it was amazing. They deserve every bit of the media hype they can
get.
After all the mainstream frenzy, we get "Program," a fast paced and furious funk. I'll
be more than happy to check it when they perform live. "You cannot
escape the program". In my opinion, LC installs the bug to avoid the
Program and enter in a deep web of insane tunes. An amusing song. To me, it's a
direct relative of Cult of Personality, one of LC's most renowned hits.
While Program has a small rapped excerpt, "Who Shot ya" sets us definitely in "Rap Mode". This is a
cover of a Notorious B.I.G song which was released as a single last year. It
deals with gun-shoot-first-ask-later issues, while mostly African Americans are
clearly being the most affected part.
With an intro that reminisces of "Lost Halo", a tune of
Colleidoscope, "Always Wrong" comes along. That's
when Drum Master Will Calhoun displays a set of his famous hi hat and cymbal
magic performing that hypnotic effect during most of the album, but especially
in Always Wrong. One of the aspects of Living Colour I enjoy the most is the
possibility of disecting the song into each instrument + vocals part or listening
as a whole better than the parts. Like a musical autopsy, but instead of a dead
song we get it alive! It's alive!
Then its time for Corey Glover's virtuous
gospel vocals to shine. In "Blak out" he pays homage to the
artist former known as Prince funkronking all over the place with a high octane
power up. I love it when LC takes a genre and provides their unique way of
playing it. I'm biased, I know.
"Pattern in
time" comes next. A
futuristic tune where a repetitive chorus bangs over and over again, like
a Tibetan mantra. A sort of musical moebius in crescendo.
"Who's that", with an impecable intro by Mr
Vernon Reid, is a straight up blues with a brass section and bluessy keyboards.
The mix could not be better. I am not very keen on blues, but when LC plays a
song, I immediately dig it. The drum part of this song is also out of this
world.
Immediately after, we get "Glass
teeth". Its A simple straight up rock
song. A little bit commercial, like "I wanna know" in its first album
named "Vivid". Great tune, not amazing, but intense enough to be
consistent and a part of Shade.
Another blues
set, refurbished, with ear catching spatial effects is called "Invisible".
In my opinion, it is far from invisible, more like Noticeable.
"Inner City
Blues" is an awesome display of Soul.
Now I briefly stop and wonder: Is there any genre they aren't able to
cover? The answer is NO. ICB starts and ends with a preaching sermon sermon to
being and to end which provides
the proper frame to smile as if it were a selfie.
Finally, they bring "Two Sides" An
awesome ballad, it states that there are two sides to every story. This could
be the perfect tune to present each member of the band in a live show. I hope
it lasted 20 minutes.
Subliminal message to LC, PLEASE COME TO BUENOS AIRES . This time I will
really like to take a pic with you and shake hands. Of course I will not wash
mine anymore.
And you, fellow readers, please listen to Shade—its an order, don't say
I didn´t tell you.
I don't mind waiting if the next album reaches Shade levels.
Let's see
who the runner-up for Album of the year is. Shade has already won.
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