BIRDS OF FIRE

Nobody does it better. Mahavishnu Orchestra is the jazz fusion sound that defined the 1970's. Their 1972 release Birds of Fire refined the meaning of perfection from their first work, The Inner Mounting Flame. There is no low point on this album; Birds of Fire is perfectly formulated like the ideal hamburger in a hungry man's mouth. A tightly-knit, well rounded fusion album topped off with John McLaughlin's ridiculous shred solos that bring a hard rock edge into the fray, complimented with the uneasy unisons of Jerry Goodman's violin, Jan Hammer's brilliant keyboard work, Rick Laird's groove-oriented basslines, and the thundering of drum beast Billy Cobham's percussion. A thrill ride from start to finish. BE FOREWARNED! This album, while representing a pinnacle of progressive music, is not for everyone. The rapid time signature changes and odd meters present may conjure irregular bodily reactions for some listeners, forcing them to spontaneously depart to the restroom while listening to this album. If this is the case, I would recommend sticking to more mainstream progressive music. But for seasoned musicians and listeners alike, Birds of Fire achieves new heights in terms of listening experience and contemporary music. A must for any prog fan.