Mistaken Identity
Studio album by
Vernon Reid
ReleasedJune 1996
GenreInstrumental rock, jazz fusion, funk, hip hop
Length62:45
LabelEpic, 550 Music
ProducerVernon Reid, Prince Paul, Teo Macero
Vernon Reid chronology
Mistaken Identity
(1996)		 Known Unknown
(2004)

Mistaken Identity is the debut solo album of American guitarist and Living Colour-member Vernon Reid, released in June 1996 on Sony Music-imprint label 550 Music. It features contributions from his backing band Masque,[1] and production was handled by Reid, hip hop producer Prince Paul, and jazz producer Teo Macero.[2] The album's title was inspired by Reid's experience with cultural identity in his life.[3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Billboard(favorable)[2]
Boston Herald[5]
Muzik[6]
Robert Christgau(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[7]
Entertainment Weekly(B)[8]
Los Angeles Times[9]
Rolling Stone(favorable)[10]
Vibe(favorable)[11]
Washington Post(favorable)[12]

Sandy Masuo of the Los Angeles Times described the album as "more personable" than Reid's recordings with Living Colour, and wrote: "Instead of compressing the elements into a rock construct, they're allowed to glide and collide in varying configurations... Happily, it seems Reid has found himself with Mistaken Identity."[9]

Billboard's Bradley Bambarger praised the "meeting of eclectic minds" on the album, stating that it "has something for nearly everyone." He commented: "it's the surfeit of indelible melodies and crunchy textures... that could give Reid his new 'Rockit' - a rock hit for a new age."[2]

In a review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine stated that for "guitar fanatics... Mistaken Identity is well worth a listen," but remarked: "not one of the songs on the album makes an impression as a song, only as an instrumental showcase."[4]

Jacqueline Springer of Muzik Magazine called the album "an assault on the senses," featuring "the feral crashing of Reid's guitar strokes, the fervent banging of his drummer, and sheer wallop of his sagacious commentary and wry humour."[6]

Writing for Rolling Stone, David Fricke noted that Reid "is anything but mistaken in his leap of faith into fusion music," and praised the "risk, ambition and reward in full effect" on the recording.[10]

Track listing

  1. "CP Time"
  2. "Mistaken Identity"
  3. "You Say He's Just A Psychic Friend"
  4. "Who Are You [Mutation 1]"
  5. "Lightnin'"
  6. "The Projects"
  7. "Uptown Drifter"
  8. "Saint Cobain"
  9. "Important Safety Instructions! [Mutation 2]"
  10. "What's My Name"
  11. "Signed Fictitious"
  12. "Call Waiting To Exhale [mutation 3]"
  13. "My Last Nerve"
  14. "Freshwater Coconut"
  15. "Mysterious Power"
  16. "Unborne Embrace"

Personnel

  • Vernon Reid – guitars both real and imagined, whispering
  • Don Byron – clarinet, bass clarinet
  • DJ Logic – turntables
  • Leon Gruenbaum – keyboards, theremin, melodica,
  • Hank Schroy – bass, fretless bass
  • Curtis Watts – drums

References

  1. ↑ Pareles, Jon. At an Annual Festival for Jazz, Music That Strictly Isn't. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-06.
  2. 1 2 3 Bambarger, Bradley. "Review: Mistaken Identity". Billboard: 11, 105. June 1, 1996.
  3. ↑ Robson, Britt. Some Words with Vernon Reid's Multiple Identities Archived 2010-03-12 at the Wayback Machine. City Pages. Retrieved on 2009-12-06.
  4. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Review: Mistaken Identity. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-12-06.
  5. ↑ Columnist. "Review: Mistaken Identity". Boston Herald: 48. September 8, 1996. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  6. 1 2 Springer, Jacqueline (August 1996). "Vernon Reid: Mistaken Identity" (PDF). Muzik. No. 15. p. 112. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  7. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Mistaken Identity". The Village Voice: July 23, 1996. Archived from the original on 2009-12-06.
  8. ↑ Hajari, Nisid. Review: Mistaken Identity. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-12-06.
  9. 1 2 Masuo, Sandy. Review: Mistaken Identity. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-06.
  10. 1 2 Fricke, David. Review: Mistaken Identity. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-12-06.
  11. ↑ DeCurtis, Anthony. "Review: Mistaken Identity". Vibe: 149. June 1996.
  12. ↑ Joyce, Mike. "Review: Mistaken Identity". The Washington Post: June 30, 1996. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
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