DESCRIPTION:
5 Stars = Masterpiece

"Times Up," is one of those rare albums that at first just did not grab me a lot, especially when it was love at first sound with "Vivid". As a matter of fact it sat for many years virtually un-played. Then I was on the road going back home & tossed in the cassette copy I used to have. The song, "Times Up" came on in all its lightening, thunder, & speed, & I was like WOW, where did this come from! It just was not this song, but all the songs; it was like a light turned on in my ears & mind that had been shut off for years. I just could not believe it. Never was I struck so hard by an album that I had more or less written off for years! It was like waking up to a new & beautiful landscape! A true "Twilight Zone" moment if I've ever experienced one!

"Times Up," is a more varied effort than "Vivid," (though I still love "Vivid' the most), it has many of the same ingredients that made "Vivid" so great, but is also much harder record to penetrate overall. It cuts down on the funk/metal I so loved in Vivid, & is just a heavier album in many ways. The funk on this album is more obtuse than that of "Vivid", & often mixed with jazz. I'm not saying "Vivid" did not have jazz elements, it certainly had, but it was more accessible. There also is more rap on "Times Up, which is not my forte, but it is not to the point of being overdone, & as a matter of fact, fits in nicely. Sometimes, especially with Vernon Reid's guitar histrionics, there is an almost Van Halen like quality to some of the songs, much of this do to Vernon's leads being unsupported by rhythm guitar, much like Eddie Van Halen's leads. Still, there is some great funk/metal to be found here, "Elvis is Dead" comes right to mind, with it's funny take on all the dead Elvis sightings. "Love Rears it's Ugly Head" is a good combo of R&B, & rock, with Corey's silk smooth vocals frosted on the top. "This is Your Life" with it's middle eastern intro, could almost sound like a Led Zeppelin take on things if Led Zeppelin was a post 1990 band. The namesake song "Times Up," as I said earlier is just an incredible express train of heavy punk/rock motion, & the guitar lead in the middle may be the fastest I've ever heard & still make sense to the songs structure. "Fight the Fight, beautiful guitar intro just mesmerizes me, & it just keeps getting better as the song takes a mean guitar & drum dominated twist. "Ology 1" is just a cool funky jazzy short instrumental. "Under the Cover of Darkness" is a heavy funked/ up jazzy ditty about post aids sex in America."Pride," a epic heavy rocker! The same true of "Type."

"Times Up," other songs are full of unexpected twist & turns, each song a true individual of a greater whole. An album, that is at once dense, complicated & obtuse, but light and airy also. An album, that is not readily accessible, but once access is gained, opens up like a kaleidoscope of different sounds, textures, & colors, showing limitless imagination!

1. Times Up
2. History Lesson
3. Pride
4. Love Rears It's Ugly Head
5. New Jack Theme
6. Someone Like You
7. Elvis Is Dead
8. Type
9. Information Overload
10. Under Cover Of Darkness
11. Ology
12.Fight The Fight
13. Tag Team Partners
14. Solace Of You
15. This Is The Life