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Before Rage Against The Machine and Korn, before the many trivialities that came after with the useless 'nu-metal', there were bands that defined the coordinates of that musical crossover, an omnivorous creature capable of encompassing rock, metal, funk, psychedelia, and pop melody at the end of the controversial '80s: great bands like RHCP, Faith No More, and, indeed, the much-underrated Living Colour.
The four from NYC had a peculiarity of which they were, rightfully, quite proud: being the first TRUE hard/rock band composed exclusively of black musicians, and what musicians.... Indeed, if the Bad Brains were already precursors in that sense (but in the realm of punk/hardcore), Vernon Reid and company operated on their own personal and much broader musical scheme, one that could include both the hard/blues of Zeppelin and a rhythmic section reminiscent of the 'funky-drummer' lessons from soul godfather Mr. James Brown, or the memories of certain New York new wave from TH and the metal coined by California's Metallica at the start of the decade. Reid was quite a character, a guitar-man capable of starting from god Hendrix, moving through notes with a geometric solo à la Fripp, and ending with the funky embellishments of an Ed Hazel from the Funkadelic. No less talented were the other members, from the monstrous versatility of drummer Will Calhoun (one capable of playing 'Battery' and then perhaps 'Contusion') to the virtuous bass strings of Muzz Skillings, and finally, the singing infused with anger and soul passion of frontman Corey Glover.
Thus, from 1985, the year of birth of the 'Black rock coalition', Reid's deus-ex machina dream is finally realized, and three years later, under the good auspices of admirer Jagger, struck by their incendiary live set at CBGB's, this dream is named 'Vivid'; 'vivid', pulsating with rock energy just like the music it contains. And it perhaps remains the most glaring case of reappropriation of the word Rock borrowed from the blues cultural roots by African Americans, a bit like going to Graceland and happily urinating in front of the huge gate (because we know, for a long time 'Elvis is dead'...). Introduced by the voice of Malcolm X, the granite riff of 'Cult of Personality' anticipates the conscious and disillusioned political lyrics of Glover: 'I know your anger, I know your dreams - I've been everything you wanna be... I'm the cult of personality. Like Mussolini and Kennedy... Neon lights, Nobel Prize - When a mirror speaks, the reflection lies...'. After the memorable opener, 'I Want to Know' combines power and catchiness in a successful mix that ends with Reid's guitar in evidence, while the Hendrixian 'Middle Man' remains memorable for the bitter lyrics of a man in between, on the margins of the U.S.A. social context of the late Eighties embodied by the Reagan government, glamour, success at all costs, and that damn yuppie lifestyle. And the poor, the weaker classes of blacks, Hispanics, etc., who populate the U.S. ghettos? Screw them, I have to go out with my new Armani jacket to drink a Martini... 'Desperate people' talks about this social illusion, the media as promoters of false life models that from TV, like a hypnotic drug, want to make us believe that 'Everything is possible...' - But nothing is real, I add, and Tom Morello must have had the angry notes of this song well stamped in his head, for sure. 'Open Letter (to a Landlord)' makes clear from the title LC's utopian commitment with a sharp melody supported by Skillings' vital bass: 'Now you can tear a building down, but you can't erase a memory. These houses may look all run down, but they have a value you can't see...' - Will the 'landlord' understand? 'Funny Vibe' is a supersonic funk/heavy blow (complete with a cameo from Public Enemy) that is more than enough to humiliate the Chili Peppers of the time, while the vibrant cover of 'Memories Can't Wait' re-establishes the connection with New York of the Talking Heads, and once again demonstrates how our band enjoys reshuffling the cards of their varied influences. 'Glamour Boys' was the ultra-melodic single that broke the charts, made them known, and that's enough. Mick Jagger himself got involved producing (and playing harmonica) on the ballad 'Broken Hearts' and in the finale between Led Zeppelin and Sly Stone of 'Which Way to America': the wise old fox had understood the potential of the four, which will literally explode in 1990 thanks to the amazing and innovative 'Time's Up'.
...WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE COLOUR, BABY?!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Cult of Personality (04:54)
(And during the few moments that we have left
We want to talk right down to earth in a language
That everybody here can easily understand...)
Look in my eyes, what do you see?
The Cult of Personality
I know your anger
I know your dreams
I've been everything you want to be
I'm the Cult of Personality
Like Mussolini and Kennedy
I'm the Cult of Personality
The Cult of Personality
The Cult of Personality
Neon lights, a Nobel Prize
When a mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You won't have to follow me
Only you can set me free
I sell the things you need to be
I'm the smiling face on your T.V.
I'm the Cult of Personality
I exploit you
Still you love me
I tell you one and one makes three
I'm the Cult of Personality
Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi
I'm the Cult of Personality
The Cult of Personality
The Cult of Personality
Neon lights, a Nobel Prize
When a leader speaks, that leader dies
You won't have to follow me
Only you can set you free
You gave me fortune
You gave me fame
You gave me power in your God's name
I'm every person you need to be
I'm!
The!
Cult!
Of!
Per!
Son!
Al!
Ity!
I'm the Cult of
I'm the Cult of
I'm the Cult of
I'm the Cult of
I'm the Cult of
I'm the Cult of
I'm the Cult of
I'm the Cult of
Personality!
(Ask not what your country can do for you...)
(The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!)
03 Middle Man (03:47)
�Middle man'
I don't have a need to be the best
Don't want to be just like the rest
Just stay who I am
Just an ordinary middle man
Give me the happy medium
Don't want to be the one whose leading them
I've got no master plan
Just a simple Middle man
Standing on a fine line between this and that
Just biding my time waiting for a sign
to tell me that I'm something special
My ideas are mine alone
Not yours, not theirs, but I care
I hurt for you, but not with you
I love that thing that's inside you
but I'm not your fan
I'm a stranger in a strange land
I'm your middle man
But I'm not your fan
I'm a stranger in a strange land
I am your middle man
Middle man yeah, yeah
I'm not your fan
I'm just a middle man
yours, theirs, but I care
I've got no master plan
Just stay who I am
Just a middle man
05 Open Letter (to a Landlord) (05:32)
�Open letter (to a landlord)�
Now you can tear a building down
But you can't erase a memory
These houses may look all run down
But they have a value you can't see...
This is my neighborhood
This is where I come from
I call this place my home
You call this place a slum
You wanna run all the people out
This is what you're all about
Treat poor people just like trash
Turn around and make big cash
chorus:
Now you can tear a building down
but you can't erase a memory
These houses may look all run down
but they have a value you can't see
Last moth there was a fire
I saw seven children die
you sent flowers to their family
But your simpathy�s a lie
Cause every building that you burn
is more blood money that you earn
We are force to relocate
from the pain that you create
Chorus
We live here for so many years
Now this house is full of fear
For a profit you will take control
Where will all the older people go?
There used to be when kids could play
Without the scourge of drug�s decay
Now our kids are living dead
They crack and blow their lives away
Chorus
You've got to fight
You've got to fight
you've got to fight for your neighborhood...
You've got to fight
For your neighbor.
06 Funny Vibe (04:20)
(V. Reid)
No, I'm not gonna rob you
No, I'm not gonna beat you
No, I'm not gonna rape you
So why you want to give me that
Funny Vibe!
No, I'm not gonna hurt you
No, I'm not gonna harm you
And I try not to hate you
So why you want to give me that
Funny Vibe!
09 Glamour Boys (03:39)
The glamour boys swear they are a diva
The glamour boys have it all under control
Always dancing and always laughing
The glamour boys are playing the role
The glamour boys never have no money
The glamour boys wear the most expensive clothes
The glamour boys are always at the party
Where the money comes from heaven only knows
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy - ooh
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy
The glamour boys live off their ambition
The glamour boys have it all figured out
A very, very dubious position
When you got no clout
The glamour boys' whole life is a gamble
They might get over or fall flat on their face
But if one does, there's no need to worry
Another G-Boy will take his place
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy - ooh
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy
The glamour boys don't think about tomorrow
The glamour boys just need tonight to play
But just like things you can't afford on credit
Time catches up and you have to pay
The glamour boys are always on the guest list
You'll always find them in the hottest spots in town
They'll be your friend if you have fame or fortune
If you don't they won't be hanging 'round.
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy - ooh
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy - ooh
I ain't no glamour boy - I'm fierce
I ain't no glamour boy - no no!
(What do you mean my credit's no good?)
11 Which Way to America? (03:41)
(V. Reid)
I look at the T.V.
Your America's doing well
I look out the window
My America's catching hell
I just want to know which way do I go to get to your America?
I just want to know which way do I go to get to your America?
I change the channel
Your America's doing fine
I read the headlines
My America's doing time
I just want to know which way do I go to get to your America?
I just want to know which way do I go to get to your America?
Go west young, go west young man
Don't want to crossover
But how do I keep from going under?
Where is my picket fence?
My long, tall glass of lemonade?
Where is my VCR, my stereo, my T.V. show?
I look at the T.V.
I don't see your America
I look out the window
I don't see your America
I want to know how to get to your America
I want to know how to get to your America
America
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Other reviews
By Rooftrampler92
Cult of Personality ranks among music’s top 100 solos.
An album that stands among the pillars of ’80s black music; a band underrated and almost ignored by the European audience.
