Click on the great link, and thus embark on the holy quest to the main Earth, Wind & Fire page... Spear It Overall Album Score: 8.2 out of 10 Fresh off the heels of their commercial breakthrough, That's the Way of the World, Earth, Wind & Fire make this decent album. In a way it suffers from their fame --- of course, there's always the pressure to make another album after a huge hit that the public will gladly gobble up! Fortunately, Earth, Wind & Fire don't succumb to the pressure to make an album full of semi-inspired but derivative disco hits. Spirit proves these guys still had dire interest in composing and creativity. That's a nice thing!! And this album is definitely off on the perfect start --- an even more explosive start when you compare it to That's the Way of the World. "Getaway" is a perfect song --- with heavy jazz undertones and a complex but catchy melody, it doesn't get much better than that. Or does it? Its follow-up, "On Your Face," is a hugely enjoyable track --- it's modest, catchy and a pure treat from beginning to finish. They deliver a thunderous and celebratory funk-fest in the penultimate "Biyo" --- That's the one track in which these instrumentalists get to rock out and come up with some inspired soloing. They close the album with a beautiful "Burning Bush" although that manages to strikes me as a monumental lost opportunity. I love what they had there, but it seemed like they ought to have ended it on a pumped up, glorious mood instead of just fizzling it out at the end like they did. Oh well--- This isn't a perfect album anyway!! They're not trying to win a cookie when they pull off uninspired songs like "Spirit" and "Earth, Wind & Fire." Granted, both of those tracks are sincere and "spiritual," but ------- they put me to sleep. It seems like spiritual songs ought to SOAR to the heavens, but these slowly sink into the ocean... Other songs are more middle-of-the-road but pretty likable. "Saturday Night" does a nice enough of a job being upbeat, but even that should have been more spirited. I like "Imagination" but that ends up suggesting that these guys weren't quite on top of their game. That's an excellent song, but you're pretty ready for it to be over by the end... Overall, I'm happy to report that these guys aren't complacent now that they reached commercial success. This album has its mighty moments, but it's marred too much by their relatively uninspired tracks. In return, Spirit ends up being one of this band's worst albums to this point based on their pretty high standards. Overall Album Score: 8.2 out of 10 (This is worth hearing for the hits, but this album is pretty disappointing all the same...) Average Song Score: 8.5 (The gems are excellent ... but why are there so many uninspired tracks here?) Album Tilt: 8.0 (They're turning into a singles band. A few hits and filler to take up space.) Artist Rating: 8.0 (They haven't given up on creativity, and you should feel pretty fortunate that they haven't turned into a disco band...) Track Reviews Getaway 10/10 It's cool that Earth, Wind & Fire don't abandon their roots to pander to the stupid disco trends of the era, and they still come out with a huge hit. This song is a fantastic and funky hit single. It would have been so easy for them to write a generic disco tune in 1976 after they already had the public attention, but it's pretty firmly established that these guys are too awesome for that. It's not really even a normal song --- this is largely a vocal song with a heavy jazz aura about it. (You get that hint right away with the scat singing from the opening bars.) Of course, the reason we're listening to this is the funk rhythms! The guitars, trumpet chords and drums are fantastic, and even nicer is the melody, which is quite catchy. This isn't even a NORMAL song, really. This isn't just a regular funk beat that plays endlessly --- the rhythms and textures change throughout the song and they have absolutely no problem coming up with new ideas to make their song sound like its on the cutting edge throughout its running length. There's nothing better than hearing a song from talented people who enjoy what they do... (For the record, this was from outside songwriters --- who must have been thrilled to hear how this sounds. All the other songs are originals, though.) On Your Face 10/10 Two hopelessly wonderful hits in a row? What impossibly good things did I do to deserve this? This track is the sort of lightly paced funk song that you can sit back in your easy chair and soak up. This one's more soul searching and heartfelt --- naturally, it is remarkably convincing! The instrumentation is such a treat. Imagination 8.5/10 I feel a little betrayed by the song title. This is nowhere as imaginative as the previous two tracks. That doesn't mean it isn't a good song. It's even smoother than the previous one, and it's the type of song you'd might want to listen to in the bath tub or something (I don't know why I think that). The songwriting is still enormously solid, though, and they sure know how to write a nice melody. The instrumentation is only modestly pompous. It has all the benefits of the full scale orchestra (AKA Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra) except without the excess. ...Well, I find that interesting at least. It's biggest downfall is its length. It grows stale at the end-- but only at the very end. Spirit 7/10 I'm extremely betrayed by this song title. This song doesn't have much spirit. I guess they're probably talking about that in the "spiritual" sense instead of the "inspired" sense. It contains a nicely done and heartfelt vocal performance (with annoyingly in a falsetto voice, though --- why don't I find falsetto voices enjoyable like everyone else)? This is an artistic track, and you can't deny it that... But a snoozer. Saturday Night 8/10 This marks the return to the upbeat funk-pop tunes and not a moment too soon! I suppose the biggest problem with it is it isn't extremely infectious. There are some nice hooks, but nothing that makes me want to listen to this again after it's through playing. Despite all that, this track is snappy and likable. They turn in some tight instrumental performances, and I like the spirited vocal performances. Earth, Wind & Fire 7/10 Boring!!! --- Be honest, guys. I'd hope that a song about themselves would be a little more exciting and enlightening, but whatever. This is another pleasant work that's nice enough to soak up. For that reason, this is a song that's best to just listen to as background music. There's nothing particularly wrong with that, but usually these guys are capable of making me stop in my tracks and take note!! The lite-funk groove is well-written, but --- seriously guys. Departure They've reduced their African thumb piano to a 27-second track, and you can barely hear it. Betraying your novelty are we? Biyo 9.5/10 Oh, freaking finally. I was wondering where my Earth, Wind & Fire went. I couldn't find them in the track called "Earth, Wind & Fire." I found them here. This is a tight and funky instrumental. Its groove is 100 percent infectious and danceable --- and I might just come out and start dancing right now! They should invent computer keyboards that allow me to dance and type at the same time. This is where the fine members of the band finally get a chance to strut their stuff. There's some very nice instrumental solos in here! The saxophone is beautiful!!!! The sci-fi edge they give to it with those synthesizers is a creative touch. Yes! Now make all your songs this creative! Burnin' Bush 8/10 This is an epic! It's nearly seven minutes long, but they use that time mostly to their advantage. The hook is mighty, and they milk it for all it's worth. Maybe it was even worth a little bit more, and they should have taken it further. This one picks me up from the moment it starts to play and takes me along for the ride. The vocal performance has never been so soulful --- Very reminiscent of a good Stevie Wonder song. And you know comparing any song to classic Stevie Wonder isn't anything but a high compliment. The only glitch is the part around the five minute mark when they stop the inertia and it gets more sluggish and meandering. This part is tasteful in its own way, but I would have preferred something a little more THUNDEROUS. You know what I mean --- like the ending of Nashville. I think, I hope, I pray for you to send thy comments here.

All reviews are copyrighted by the author, Michael Lawrence. He can burn holes through things by staring at it. That's why I never watch TV, and I'm typing this with my eyes closed. ... OK, that isn't true! (Tee-hee!!!)