Released: 1988
Tracks: Cult of Personality; I Want to Know; Middle Man; Desperate People; Open Letter (To a Landlord); Funny Vibe; Memories Can’t Wait; Broken Hearts; Glamour Boys; What’s Your Favorite Color?; Which Way to America; Funny Vibe (Funky Vibe Mix); Should I Stay or Should I Go; What’s Your Favorite Color (Leblanc Remix); Middle Man (live); Cult of Personality (live)
Best track: impossible to pick
Track to skip: I Want to Know
This is excellent. The only thing on here that really isn’t hot is I Want to Know. Every other song on the album is great, with excellent lyrics, but I Want to Know is really weak. Every other lyric on this album is good though. Really good. You can get a lot of these songs from compilations, but when I listen to Vivid as an entity to itself, it stands out as a REALLY strong album. As far as their recorded work goes, Living Colour were excellent right from the first note. Not many bands can claim that.
This version is obviously the 2002 re-release of the album, thus the 5 bonus tracks. Even without the bonus tracks (which I enjoy), this version of the album is essential if you’ve already got it because the sound is drastically improved. There are actual dynamics now! Yeah, the first issue of the CD had pretty poor sound quality. The reissue is fantastic sounding though. So, we have great songs (lyrically and musically), restored production, originality, eclecticism, attitude, bonus tracks, and overall excellence at every spot. What’s not to like? This is essential.
Rating: 96
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