Living Colour: Stain (Epic)

BASS LOVERS of the world, this one's for you. Every track on Stain, Living Colour's third record, is a journey to the deepest ends of the groove. New partner Doug Wimbish's performance marks his graduation from session vet to superstar; the sheer size and elasticity of his sound frees Vernon Reid — that rare heavy rocker who can think and play at the same time — and Will Calhoun (ditto) to defy the traditional frustrations of progressive power trios from Cream to Rush.