(Jazz/Fusion) Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds Of Fire
 

[b][u] Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds Of Fire (1973)[/b][/u]

[img]http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/images/tMO-BoF.jpg[/img]

Mahavishnu Orchestra -
John McLaughlin - Guitar (Miles Davis, Solo)
Billy Cobham - Drums (Miles Davis)
Rick Laird - Bass
Jerry Goodman - Violin
Jan Hammer - Keyboard

Formed in 1970 by McLaughlin, per recommendation by Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra was the first truly Jazz-Rock group. They combined Indian Rythms with Jazz, complete with blazing riffage and insane soloing.
Here is a track by track analysis of Mahavishnu's groundbreaking album [i]Birds Of Fire[/i].

Although 1971's Inner Mounting Flame was possibly more controversial, by Birds Of Fire, Mahavishnu had honed themselves into a much more incindiary group, truly Birds Of Fire(s). 15 weeks on the charts followed, as well as grammy nominations.

1._ Birds of Fire — 5.41
2._ Miles Beyond (Miles Davis) — 4.39
3._ Celestial Terrestrial Commuters — 2.53
4._ Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love — 0.22
5._ Thousand Island Park — 3.19
6._ Hope — 1.55
7._ One Word — 9.54
8._ Sanctuary — 5.01
9._ Open Country Joy — 3.52
10._ Resolution — 2.08


[u]Birds Of Fire[/u]
The album's first and title track, this song wails. Starts out with a basic riff in 9/8, then culminates early with McLaughlin and Goodman doubling up on the incindiary riff that's the back bone of the song. Blazing solos follow, with a completion after 5 minutes of jaw-dropping musicianship. This song gives a feeling of soaring and possibly never ever playing guitar again because it's just not fair that McLaughlin's THAT good.
9/10

[u]Miles Beyond[/u]
This second track starts with an almost [i]In A Silent Way[/i] vibe (hence the title), but it's a serious jam song. It's one of the strongest on the album, shown as soon as Goodman's riffage comes in. As repeated countless times on this album, McLaughlin's compositional skill is enviable, and his ability to overlap parts in conflicting times is absolutely mind-boggiling.
9/10

[u]Celestial Terrestial Commuters[/u]
By far the albums most flashy song, it's in 19/8 time. The is one of those songs that's so amazingly technical that it's simply difficult to listen to, because it's just so hard to tell what the [i]fu[i][/i]ck[/i] McLaughlin and company are doing. This song is sonic embroidery, something that members of Mesugga, Dream Theater and Planet X have obviously listened to obsessively. This song starts with the "basic" groove, which really isn't very basic at all, and climaxes in an incredible trading off between McLaughlin and Goodman of riffs.
10/10

[u]Sapphire Bullets Of Pure Love[/u]
Although at first listen this song is nothing but white noise, it's actually McLaughlin's first experimentation with a guitar synthesizer. That being said, it's really not that exciting. Interesting, but not fantastic. A decent filler though, but it's the albums only downside.
3/10

[u]Thousand Island Park[/u]
The prettiest thing Mahavishnu ever did, this song, despite the exterior shell of almost cheesy diatonic beauty, is insanely technical. McLaughlin's finger style gives DiMeola a raping. Not my favorite song on the album, but it's really good. Very flowing, almost lyrical, despite the instrumental nature.
8/10

[u]Hope[/u]
Surreal is the best word for this track. Synthesizer with violin and finger style guitar, with plenty of cymbal crashes make this an extremely successful song. Abosluetly nothing wrong with it, but it's not the strongest song on the album.
9/10

[u]One Word[/u]
Hands down the strongest song on the album. Starts off with just a simple bass lines, but launches into something best described as epic. Over a truly driving riff, each member of the band takes a solo. Goodman simply shreds, making the listener think that nothing could show it up. Then comes Cobham and Laird, and well, all I can say is that Cobham is one of the best drummers ever. He's simply insane. Laird is no Jaco, but he's a seriously solid bassist, and can lay down a mean solo. Then comes McLaughlin and all I can say is "wow". He starts, time and time again, a soulful, firey riff that builds to such speed at such a rapid pace, and then continues to build, and continues, and finally finishes in something that makes Steve Vai look like a fool. Finally, the whole band joins back in, and culminates this seriously fiery song.
10/10

[u]Sanctuary[/u]
Eeire. Strange. Out. But very very very soulful. This is a song to put in the category of "That's the Way" (Zeppelin) and "Behind Blue Eyes" (The Who) as a soft song on a rocking album that's almost more moving than any solo-fest or groove-fest. It's an amazing song, with a huge amount of emotion. McLaughlin's composition shines through again.
10/10

[u]Open Country Joy[/u]
Lives up to it's name. It's a free song, a firey song, and a real "Birds Of Fire" song. It's a groove, but we see the side that McLaughlin and Goodman have been hiding until now. The more Hendrix or Gilmour side, of much more [i]free[/i] soloing. Really letting out the gain, and holding bends and playing some seriously soulful stuff. Starts out as an almost country-oriented song, but then the incindiary soloing comes in. Another classic.
10/10

[u]Resolution[/u]
Slightly slower, but it really shines. It's definitely a resolution to this album, and has more of a feel of the soon to come [i]Last Trident Sessions[/i].
9/10


Overall: 9.5/10

This album speaks for itself. It's truly great. I can't even begin to explain the effect this music has had on me. Get your hands on it!!




:thumb:

19/8 time! holy ****!

ive heard birds of fire before (Bobby Shew did a version of it) but unfortuanely i couldnt get a hold of any songs off kazaa so i will get it off my fried who is madly in love with them. nice review nonetheless.

Thanks so much for getting me interested in this album BoFs. After reading this I went and asked Dad if he had heard of John McLaughlin, he said he was a big fan, and went on to say that he actually bought this album on vinyl when it was released in 1973! And sure enough when I looked through his old record collection it was there, so now I've got an original copy of the album on vinyl. :)

Wonderful review. Great detail.

Keep the Jazz/Fusion reviews coming.

Great review. :thumb: This album blows me away every time I listen to it.

One of the best albums I own

Cant stop listening to it.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Frodo [/i]
[B]Thanks so much for getting me interested in this album BoFs. After reading this I went and asked Dad if he had heard of John McLaughlin, he said he was a big fan, and went on to say that he actually bought this album on vinyl when it was released in 1973! And sure enough when I looked through his old record collection it was there, so now I've got an original copy of the album on vinyl. :)

Wonderful review. Great detail.

Keep the Jazz/Fusion reviews coming. [/B][/QUOTE]

I'm doing [i]Inner Mounting Flame[/i] next so no one else do it. :angry: :o ;)
Also, doing some Miles Davis and maybe some things I have on vinyl.
Speaking on vinyl, I have my dad's copy of [i]Inner Mounting Flame[/i] that he bought the day it came out. Wanna know how he knew about them?
[i]Yes, he saw The Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1971, approximately 5 months after they formed[/i].

Wish it had been me :(.

Heh.

Your dad = Super :cool:

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by BirdsOfFires [/i]
[B]I'm doing [i]Inner Mounting Flame[/i] next so no one else do it. :angry: :o ;)
Also, doing some Miles Davis and maybe some things I have on vinyl.
Speaking on vinyl, I have my dad's copy of [i]Inner Mounting Flame[/i] that he bought the day it came out. Wanna know how he knew about them?
[i]Yes, he saw The Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1971, approximately 5 months after they formed[/i].

Wish it had been me :(.

Heh. [/B][/QUOTE] Great review BoFs and a great album.

This is actually the third time I'm gonna ask this in the last week (I apologize to everyone for that), but seeing as how you're very familiar with Miles Davis' work, do you by any chance own A Tribute To Jack Johnson? And if you do, would you recommend buying it?

Sorry, I'm actually not familar with it. I'll ask my dad later though.

This album is amazing. BoF sent this to me ages ago and I can't believe I didn't review it. It is truly a masterpiece.

5/5

Mahavishnu Orchestra was a great showcase of talent. John McLaughlin always blows my mind. This was also a very important piece of music history. Birds of fire expanded "jazz-fusion" to a broader audience. Mahavishnu lifts you to another paradigm with this album.

I got the album due to this review, so thanks BoF. Excellent example of jazz fusion, the use of Goodman's violin in particualr impressed me.

Does John "shred" on this album.

Actually, I interpreted BOF to be 20/16 or 20/8 (8+12), and "Celestial..." is most definetly 19/16, not 19/8. Although you can theoretically phrase it either way, it makes alot more sense as a /16 meter, as it's basically 4/4 with an extra 3 16th notes on the end. Other than that, great review! "Sanctuary" is my favorite track off of the album. I remember that the first time I listened to it, I was in my school's library, with these giant headphones on, making the whole atmospheric feel work really well. That song hit me SO freakin hard, though...if I were standing at the time, I have no doubt that I would have hit the floor. :lol: One of the most powerful pieces of music ever recorded.

I donwloaded "Celestial Terrestial Commuters." Good song. :thumb:

I must say, every time a review by BirdsOfFire is bumped, I'm impressed with how good they are, considering how old they are.

I need this album.

Birds of Fire sent this to me ages ago before he left, and I still listen to this cd frequently to this day.

I have this on vinyl, it's one of my favourite pieces.

This is a totally mindblowing record.

Such a great cd. Teh gong in BoF > everything. :D

This album proved Mclaughlin is the man.

If you're into McLaughlin's guitar playing more than Mahivishnu Orchestra's music, I thoroughly recommend Friday Night In San Francisco. It features Al Di Meola, and Paco De Lucia too. It's dynamite.

Or his album "Extrapolation."

I haven't heard this particular Mahavishnu album, but I have always assumed it's as much a pissing contest as "Inner Mounting Flame," so I've stayed away.

Can anyone send me the song "Celestial Terrestial Commuters" on aim? I want to hear this song and i cant find it.