JOHN MCLAUGHLIN & MAHAVISHNU: ADVENTURES IN RADIOLAND

This was the second album by the 1980's "Mahavishnu" (notice no orchestra in the name) band. There are some fine musicians in the group, but I still get the feeling that the name was used as a cynical was to just sell records. McLaughlin's performance is good, as are the performances of some of the sidemen, especially Bill Evans and Mitchel Forman. Where the album lacks is in composition. Where the classic seventies Mahavishnu Orchestra albums excelled was in the bold and exciting, and extremely powerful jazz rock fusion. None of those adjectives would I attach to this album, which appears to be an effort to cash in on Pat Metheny's success with light, airy guitar fusion. There is even a preponderance of that breathy synth sound that Metheny was overusing in the 80's.

At least it's better than Inner Worlds

2.5 stars.