[Pet Health Admin]

If not for the Mahavishnu Orchestra's first album, The Inner Mounting Flame, this second, 1973 outing might well be considered the greatest of all jazz-fusion essays. Both are staggering calls to celestial coursing and reckoning, and to resolution. All is breathtakingly purposeful and assured, with vast group cohesion, and phenomenal contributions by keyboardist Jan Hammer, violinist Jerry Goodman, bassist Rick Laird, torrential drummer Billy Cobham, and foremost, by the leader, guitarist John McLaughlin. One hears all the elements of his musical makeup: Tal Farlow; Django Reinhart's stunning single-note runs; flamenco guitar; sophisticated Delta blues; way-over-the-top arena-rock distortion, feedback, and power amplification; and Indian classical and folk music. All that, plus childhood lessons in classical piano and violin and recent studies with spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy, set the cosmic stew to boil. -- Peter Monaghan
Customer Review: Sublime Experimentation
The first time I heard Mahavishnu Orchestra's second studio album, I had no idea what to think. I didn't know if I hated it or loved it- all I knew for sure was that it bowled me over. Another listen convinced me it was good, and by the third listen, I was (and still am) certain that this is one of the single greatest achivements of the fusion era. Make no mistake, though- despite its "fusion" label, Weather Report this ain't. Imagine if Jimi Hendrix and John Bonham started a band with Joe Zawinul and John Entwhistle. Then imagine they played in 19/16 or 13/8 on every track. Specifics aside, that's the basic sound. Purists will surely scoff, but an open minded listener can't help but be consumed entirely by the scorching, molten tracks contained herein. Birds of Fire indeed.
Customer Review: If You're Thinking of Upgrading Your Old Copy...
...Don't. This 2000 remaster is no better than the original from the 80's. In fact, if you still have the vinyl and a turntable, you're probably better off than those of us with the CD's. I was so disappointed with the sound quality of this remaster that I removed "The Inner Mounting Flame" from my wish list. I'll wait until someone remasters these right.


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