The Musical Schizo

Living Colour’s album “Time’s Up” is one of my favorite albums of all time. It’s the album that fully convinced me it was okay to play whatever the hell you wanted (likely creating “The Musical Schizo”). And it taught a little privileged white kid in Bakersfield, California (me) countless lessons about the experience of being black in America. It came out August 28, 1990. It is a classic, and features diverse and wonderful songwriting, virtuoso playing, and timeless production. Sadly most of the themes it covers have barely been dealt with in 30 years, but it set me on my path to be anti-racist and opened my eyes to a wider world both in thought and spirit and in musical groove and harmony, and I’m a better person and a better musician because of it. Thanks, fellas, and happy anniversary! (more below)

Corey Glover – vocals
Vernon Reid – guitar
Will Calhoun – drums
Muzz Skillings – bass
Ed Stasium – producer
Paul Hamingson – engineer

Notes on each track:

1. Time’s Up – full-on NYC hardcore, Living Colour-style. Like Bad Brains went to jazz school. RIPPING bass playing on this one.
2. History Lesson – more of an ambient piece with samples, but definitely included a lot of little bits of history I never knew.
3. Pride – Will Calhoun with THE POCKET on this one. He wrote it, and it’s a direct message to white America in how they relate to black people and about how history is whitewashed to make things look less terrible for the white conquerors of “primitive” societies.
4. Love Rears Its Ugly Head – One of the best “love” songs ever. Featuring one of the coolest guitar riffs ever and the biggest dynamic shift from clean and funky verses to “big rock” anthemic choruses. Also one of the jazziest guitar solos I’ve ever heard in a pop song.
5. New Jack Theme – Crack ravaged urban communities in the late 80s. This tells that story. In the context of a manic rock song with some really great riffs and clever production.
6. Someone Like You – Direct lessons of the urban black struggle in this country. Doesn’t pull any punches against anyone who hasn’t helped change things. And the second verse always made me profoundly sad. Moreso now since we’re still dealing with the same bullshit and people STILL refuse to accept the reality of structural racism against black people in this country. Black Lives Matter.
7. Elvis Is Dead – seems like a silly concept on its face, but directly addresses the sad reality of the whitewashing of music – about how black music was only palatable to certain white people when it was delivered by a white face. And how even though black people are the reason for so much of Elvis’ great music (and he personally always acknowledged his influences, mind you – so this wasn’t really Elvis’ fault), the white racists who loved him still refuse to accept that reality or black faces in general. Featuring a great cameo from Little Richard and an amazing sax solo from Maceo Parker.
8. Type – First single, probably the song you might know from the record (along with Love Rears Its Ugly Head). Slamming guitar riff with really cool harmonics (I like to think that Billy Corgan got the idea for the harmonics in the “Zero” riff because of this song…but who knows), and that perfect Living Colour blend of funk and hard rock, with an atmospheric, melodic, almost poppy-sounding chorus. “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…everything is possible, but nothing is real.”
9. Information Overload – Could have easily been written in the age of the internet, but instead was amazingly prescient. With one of the most discordant, ridiculous, noisy intros on a “normal” rock song EVER. (Oh, that Vernon…always painting abstract art with sound…)
10. Under Cover Of Darkness – Jazzy and sexy and nothing like anything else on this record. Amazing groove, amazing guitar solo, and a really great guest feature from Queen Latifah.
11. Ology – a crazy bit of bass exploration from Muzz Skillings. Incredible use of different bass tones (including overdrive) and techniques to support the groove and the melody. A nice and inspiring (to bassists) little piece of music.
12. Fight The Fight – Another song that sadly tells the same story that hasn’t really changed much since 1990, touching on the structural privilege of being white, and of being from means. It’s a lot easier to buy a ticket to the party of the “American Dream” when someone can front you some of the cash. Money begets money in our society, and those of us who started with none of it will most likely struggle to even get by.
13. Tag Team Partners – A little quickie beat box/vocal improv groove featuring Doug E. Fresh.
14. Solace of You – A beautiful, African-inspired song that is inspiring and hopeful and, to me, reminds you to dig deep into your essence when the outside world is pulling you away from who you know you are. Featuring one of my favorite guitar chord riffs EVER. And the first time I ever heard someone slide a natural harmonic. (Bass nerds will think that’s pretty cool – it’s a great little trick that only works really well on a fretless bass.)
15. This Is The Life – Super atmospheric intro kicks into a heavy verse with another killer Vernon riff, segueing into a melodic chorus. Corey adapts his vocal to fit the vibe of the different parts of the song perfectly. Admonishes you to appreciate the life you have and work to make it the best it can be instead of living in a fantasy or being upset about what your life is not.

Wear your mask, wash your hands, don’t support fascists, Black Lives Matter, and be GOOD to each other.

Thanks so much for checking it out, and peace be the journey!

TMS