Released: 1973
Tracks: Birds of Fire; Miles Beyond; Celestial Terrestrial Commuters; Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love; Thousand Island Park; Hope; One Word; Sanctuary; Open Country Joy; Resolution
Best track: Hope
Tracks to skip: Sapphire Bullets is completely useless and One Word is just a wank-fest
I know some people will just freak about me saying to skip One Word. I could really care less about hearing Jerry Goodman (violin) and Jan Hammer (keys) swap solos back and forth, and I could care less about Billy Cobham’s drum solo. I can’t possibly perceive how this album and music were taken back in 1973. It’s impossible for me to approach it from a 1973 perspective, as I wasn’t alive yet. So I have to approach it from a 2004 view, one coming from a musician who loves to jam and solo, but still a modern one. I don’t like wanking. Pure and simple, whoever it is, if they get into that territory of wanking I want to get out of there as quickly as possible. I really just don’t even find One Word remotely interesting, regardless of how talented of players they are. There, I feel better.
OK, so, besides that, I mostly like this album. I’m confused why it’s still put in the Jazz section in music stores, because this isn’t jazz. I know it’s technically “Jazz Fusion”, but to me it sounds like Rock. Insane, Nutty-Ass Rock, but still Rock. You’ll find it in Jazz if you go to your local music store, though. Eh. If it isn’t obvious from the previous wordings, these guys are players in the truest sense of the word. This music isn’t about selling a million albums or getting laid, it’s about playing. Playing fast, playing ferocious, playing like this is your final statement to the world. I really like side one (through Hope) a lot. Sapphire Bullets is the exception, but hey, it’s only 21 seconds long. These other 5 songs are just excellent. The songs are great and John McLaughlin and the Boys just rip it up. For some reason Hope just connects with me. Man, I just get this feeling all over me when I hear that. To me, this track is true spiritual music. It really affects me in such a massive way every time I hear it. I so wish it wasn’t just 2 minutes long. I want it to go on longer, but it has to end. Just like a small glimpse of Heaven that I can’t get to yet.
Birds of Fire is the main hit from this album and I can’t think of a better title for the song. It sounds like McLaughlin’s guitar is shooting out flames every time he plays those licks. It’s out of this world, that’s for sure. So yeah, I love side one, don’t really care for side two. Open Country Joy starts to get good near the end, and Resolution has some cool bits, but overall side two is such a let down. Maybe they just couldn’t keep that same intensity that occurred on side one. Whatever it was, it’s there for all to hear. I’m curious to check out the Inner Mounting Flame, the band’s first album from ’71, because I know most fans of the band prefer that one.
Rating: 85
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