Mind Splattering

I generally do not drop any out-n-out recommendations on this blog (you know stuff like “must buy”, “not to be missed”, “go get it”, etc). One reason is that few people who drop in, know about the stuff already. But today I’ll use phrases exactly like these for an album I heard this Saturday for the very first time in my life (I don’t care if I’m years behind). And that album is Miles Davis’ On the Corner.

I am pretty familiar with other Miles/McLaughlin albums. Some of the most kick-ass stuff one can come across. On albums like ‘In a silent Way’, ‘Bitches Brew’, and ‘Tribute to Jack Johnson’ , McLaughlin was just way too sophisticated, structured and brilliantly subtle. He would pop out of nowhere with an absolutely mind-numbing riff. But on ‘On the Corner’, he plays like a motherfucker. As if this was going to be his last album. This stuff is nothing like the other three. This album is not Jazz. NO FUCKING WAY. This is a full-on electronic album. An album for people who love distorted stuff. Every fucking instrument is twisted to the fucking core, especially the master’s trumpet.

Wikipedia says that critics hammered this album. Panned even by those who hailed his electric albums. I can fully understand why. It was 1972, for fuck's sake. This album sounds like stuff right out of the 1990’s. Believe me it does. To use a cliche – an album at least 20 years ahead of its time. No wonder people just could not get it back then.

Go get this album. Go get your mind blown to pieces.

P.S: First listen will knock out even those who think they have heard enough 90’s electronica.

Damn, did this guy ever go wrong?!