REVIEWS:
Post your comments about the Mahavishnu Orchestra
(reviewed by Robert Grazer)
HIGH POINTS: I Wonder, Stepping Stone, Dream. LOW POINTS: John’s Song.
You know, it’s a shame how people treat the Mahavishnu Orchestra. It seems every time a group of musicians can play their instruments well and choose to use this talent while writing their music, they always get the label of ‘wankers’ slapped on them. This is, of course, a complete untruth, often told by punk fans who are just pissed because the musicians they listen too can't play their own instruments worth shit. And so when they hear someone who can indeed be classified as a first-rate musician, they get assume that they must be recording albums for the sole purpose of showing off with no energy or excitement to their music at all. So then they run back to their ‘all attitude no substance’ punk releases to make themselves feel better. Well here’s the Mahavishnu Orchestra, arguably the most technically proficient group of musicians I've ever heard, who, for anyone who has a decent attention span for instrumental music (even though some of the songs on here are just over three minutes) combine catchy, complex riffs with effective energy to create a great jazz/fusion sound.
Anyway The Lost Trident Sessions were recorded in the early seventies but only released in ’99, and it delivers more Mahavishnu for those looking for it. Like me. Needless to say the album is on a technical level that make Rush or Yes or whoever else look like Green Day, with McLaughlin’s insane guitar playing spread all throughout the album, playing just as well as ever. Billy Cobham also gives a solid performance, doing one of his drum rolls that’s so fast it just sounds like fuzz. However, I am slightly, just slightly disappointed with bass god Rick Laird, he doesn't really disappoint, but he doesn't have that many lines on the album at all. What he does play is fantastic, though, I just wish he played more of it.
But top-notch performances are nothing new for the band. And come to thing of it, great riffs aren't new either. And just because these riffs are great and very complex is no reason to hate them. Even so there are plenty of little riffs here and there that are rather simple, like my favorite track on here, “I Wonder,” which is dramatic jamming built around a very simple riff – just like some King Crimson. My favorite actual riff comes in the following track of “Stepping Stones” where the violin repeats the complex riff over the rest of the band going crazy. The 11 minute epic opener “Dream” is also a highlight, from its slow peaceful beginning into energetic highs toward the end on the song, with enough riffs and such elsewhere to earn its length
Probably my only complaint about actual songs would be that the closing “John’s Song” isn't really bad or anything, but much less interesting than the better tracks on here. Still, one misstep and five good tracks isn't that bad. And for a band that has the ability to do anything they want with their instruments, The Mahavishnu Orchestra prove to be able to use that ability wisely to create a highly interesting and exciting set of songs, with great riffs and chops all over the place.
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