Living Colour Songs Ranked

Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. The band currently consists of guitarist Vernon Reid, lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Doug Wimbish (who replaced Muzz Skillings in 1992). Stylistically, their music is a creative fusion influenced by heavy metal, funk, jazz, hip hop, punk, and alternative rock. The band’s lyrics range from personal to political, including social commentary on racism in the United States. Living Colour has released six studio albums so far. The band rose to fame with their debut album Vivid in 1988. Although they scored a number of hits, Living Colour is best known for their signature anthem “Cult of Personality”, which won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990. They were also named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards and won their second Grammy Award for their follow-up album Time’s Up (1990). Their third album, Stain (1993), was also well received by music critics. After disbanding in 1995, Living Colour reunited in late 2000 and has released three more studio albums since then: Collideøscope (2003), The Chair in the Doorway (2009) and Shade (2017). The band has been in the process of working on new material for the follow-up to Shade. Here are all of Living Colour songs ranked.

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10. Pride (Pride, 1995)

“This is a truly amazingly talented heavy funk rock group, made up of all black guys and with intelligent songs about racism, hatred, love, written in a soulful heavy funk way with amazing guitar work and funky bass lines next to the passionate stunning vocals.”

9. Open Letter to a Landlord (Vivid, 1988)

“The most preachy song on the album, which should come as no surprise from the title – but it still feels feels rather arbitrary, choosing to elaborate on practically every word that ends a line in whatever way he naturally feels like doing (i.e. not in a purposeful or thematically-related sense), as if that inherently makes those words more potent. What’s supposed to then lend to the authenticity makes it even more insincere.”

8. Information Overload (Time’s Up, 1990)

“I think this is the album that expresses Living Colour’s musicality at it’s finest. Their fusion of styles, their lyrics strength, everything is really crude. And that’s good, for sure.”

7. Go Away (Stain, 1993)

“Living Colour is the kind of band I want to hear all over the place because they’re capable and good at it. Living Colour is supposed to be fun funk metal incorporating all sorts of musical influences, with melodically addictive choruses.”

See more: Living Colour Albums Ranked

6. Solace of You (Time’s Up, 1990)

“Its about faith in yourself and your own abilities, I think. Nobody is totally independent but when you reach a certain level of understanding you’re able to trust yourself & have solace in yourself. If everybody could reach that point… it would make life a hell of a lot easier.”

5. Who Shot Ya? (Who Shot Ya, 2016)

“30 years or so down the track, Living Colour issue a song that doesn’t only show they still are incredible, but they’re able to transcend decades, loved them 30 years ago and I think they’re getting better…”

4. This is the Life (Time’s Up, 1990)

“This song is telling people to quit dwelling on all their problems that they cant change and start making a better life for themselves.”

See more: Architects Songs Ranked

3. Nothingness (Stain, 1993)

“This is a perfect illustration of a state of mind that adheres to something only long enough to let it go, even the idea of nothingness or loneliness. The acoustic version has more power than the original.”

2. Type (Time’s Up, 1990)

“It’s the first Living Colour song I listened to and still have fond memories of from the early 90s in my late teens. However I strongly believe that C.O.P. should be No. 1. “We are the children of concrete and steel. This is the place where the truth is concealed. This is the time when the lie is revealed.”

1. Cult of Personality (Vivid, 1988)

“A damn sweet guitar hook, some political lyrics that apply to any faction and any leader who gains too much traction, a driving rhythm, a passionate vocal delivery, and plenty of pure rocking power. I just want to point out that Vernon’s second solo on this is one of the greatest things that’s ever happened in the history of our species.”