Less consistent but more varied than its predecessor Vivid, Time's Up is in some ways like the Use Your Illusion(s) was to the lean and mean Appetite For Destruction. Lousy with sanctimonious interludes and blockhead lyrics, it sometimes feels like the sophomore slump. For every worthy riff-rocker like "Pride"**** and big single "Type"****, there is tuneless Prince aping "Under Cover Of Darkness" and half-ass rockers like "Someone Like You". Opener "Time's Up"**** does up the rock ante with thrash tempos and blaring stacked chords. And Reid shines again with a beautiful riff in the Caribbean-inspired "Solace Of You"****. And "Love Rears Its Ugly Head"**** balances the metal and funk pretty well, and "Elvis Is Dead" is an amusing throwaway. As opposed to most of the album, grand closer "This Is The Life"**** would fit right in with the rise above the ghetto spirit of Vivid, coming closest to a profound message as the album gets, a triumphant ending to an uneven but interesting album.
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