Music Review: Living Colour cranks music blender

Living Colour, "The Chair in the Doorway" (Megaforce)

Living Colour chose a location near Prague to record its first studio album in five years, yet decided against including any Czech folk or Dvorak covers on "The Chair in the Doorway."

That's a surprise, because as hard-rock bands go, Living Colour has always displayed an unusual ability to mix many influences. The musical blender is at work again on "Doorway," an album that rivals the NYC quartet's seminal early work two decades ago.

Living Colour snarls like Metallica on "Out Of Mind," wallows in Seattle sludge on "DecaDance" and does a flashback on "Not Tomorrow," which would fit - and stand out - on the Woodstock soundtrack. The lyrics borrow from the blues as Corey Glover sings of burning bridges, heaven on fire and flames in his head.

An unlisted 12th track with unprintable lyrics is hilarious R-rated power pop unlike anything the band has done before, and there are the more familiar references to R&B, especially on "Young Man" and "Bless Those." Glover emits a mighty roar throughout, and the only problem with Vernon Reid's guitar solos is there aren't more. Bet he could do wonders with Dvorak's Ninth Symphony.

CHECK THIS OUT: "Bless Those" has a lot going on. Call it New Gospel Swing, with a crunchy minor- to major-chord guitar riff over a fat bass, Reid channeling Jimi Hendrix and Glover seeking supplication for people who are ambidextrous. "Bless ... those that can go either way," he sings.