Search - Living Colour :: Cbgb Omfug Masters: August 19 2005 the Bowery Collection

Yes, they're still around, and yes, they still deliver the g

zlh67 | Austin, TX | 05/31/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"To many music fans, Living Colour are the "black Led Zeppelin" band that delivered "Cult of Personality" to MTV and rock radio back in 1988, then did another album or two and disappeared. But while 1990's followup to their smash debut may have fallen short in the hit single dept, it was a huge step forward for the band and remains their best work to date. After a 3rd cd in 1993 and extensive touring, the band were frazzled and worn out, so aborted an attempt at a 4th cd in 1995 and disbanded. Fortunately they reunited on stage in 2000/2001 and give us another release of new material in 2003, the highly underrated "Collideoscope" cd.



Their reunion also seems to have opened the floodgates to a number of "best of" compilations and live albums. As of today (May, 2009), we have no less than 4 live albums released in recent years: a 1989 CBGB's concert was released in 2005, an "Instant Live" release recorded in Boston in 2004 was also released and a more comprehensive 2cd live set, The Paris Concert from 2008 was released earlier this year. Then there's this set, a 2005 NYC concert released late last year.



While I'm a big enough fan to want all these, most people probably are not, so the question is: which of these live albums stands out?



On the plus side, the Bowery cd offered here gives us live takes on two of the stronger cuts from the new "Collieoscope" cd ("In Your Name" and "Sacred Ground") as well as a new song they have yet to record, "Terrorism".



On the down side, the new song "Terrorism" is a rare misstep from Living Colour, so it's inclusion here is not worth much. It's just not much of a song and would easily be the worst song on any one of their 4 studio albums if they'd offered it up on a studio release. So, apart from live versions of the two newer songs from Collideoscope, this particular live cd offers little not available elsewhere.



If you like the older Living Colour (their first two albums), the 1989 CBGB's concert offers a healthy helping of live performances of songs from that era when that material was fresh and Living Colour were at their peak. It also contains two songs not on any of the studio albums, "Little Lies" and "Soldier's Blues," both of which tower over "Terrorism". So th 1989 show is a great live release and a must have for anyone that already has the studio albums and still wants more (particularly if the first two albums are your favorites, and they seem to be for most fans).



If you want more recent renditions of those classics and a few newer songs, pick up "The Paris Concert" which is more of a complete show that this Bowery cd. The Paris title is two cd's and includes most of the same stuff on this Bowery cd, plus great covers of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone," and the Jimi Hendrix classic "Crosstown Traffic" (which Living Colour recorded for a 1993 Hendrix tribute album) and a drum solo from their masterful drummer, Will Calhoun. It also includes a healthy dose of their early hits, including "Type," "Middle Man," "Cult of Personality," "Middle Man" and "Love Rears Its Ugly Head".



So much as I love this band -- they are easily my favorite band of the 80's/90's -- I have to say this live release of a 2005 show is only for the hardcore fans who simply must have everything. I still give it 4 stars, because it's great for what's here, but if you want live Living Colour, there are better titles to explore first."

"You can tear a building down, but you can't erase a memory.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 11/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Living Colour's "Open Letter to a Landlord" seems no more poignant then as a reflection of dearly departed CBGB's, a New York City institution closed down as part of the net effect of gentrification of the Lower East Side. Being a bit too young to have seen the punk shows that made the club a legend, I nonetheless have fond memories of the venue, including seeing Living Colour there shortly before the club's closing. Like any live music buff, I was ecstatic to see that performance seeing a release.



One thing I've said over the past few years is that Living Colour is one of the best live acts I've ever seen, far overshadowing their studio albums. And one thing that's nice about them is that you can feel the energy flowing off the stage, even on a live record, something that often gets missed on live records. Right from opener "Type", the band is cutting loose, fierce and explosive. "Type" is also one of those pieces that always come off better live than on the album, with the band surrendering punk for reggae on the bridge before completely uncorking the piece.



The record continues on in this vein, touching pieces from all four of the band's albums-- the band maintains a level of energy throughout that really carries the performance, whether it's the tongue-in-cheek reading of "Funny Vibe", the graceful forcefulness of "Open Letter to a Landlord" or the assertive elegance of "Love Rears Its Ugly Head". I could come up with hyperbolic descriptions for every piece-- the truth is, the entire record is fantastic, start to finish.



Fans will also appreciate unreleased track "Terrorism"-- a live feature around this time, the anti-Bush song gets a great airing.



My only complaint-- they left off a significant amount of music-- I recall the band opening with "Memories Can't Wait" and distinctly remember an explosive "Go Away" and a lovely "Flying" that all didn't make the cut. The show was over two hours to my memory, I would have been much happier with a double album and no edits!



Nonetheless, this is a fantastic live record, highly recommended."