Search - Weather Report :: Heavy Weather

"Heavy", whether you like it or not...

Squire Jaco | Buffalo, NY USA | 04/22/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Remember when "heavy" was common slang used for "fantastic" or "hip"?

This album is it...



As a self-proclaimed prog head coming out of the 70's and appreciating more of the jazz sound in music, fusion groups like Weather Report were a natural fit for me when I discovered this album during the early 80's. (Hey, it was either fusion or groups like Wham! - I made the right decision... ;-) "Heavy Weather" made enough use of synthesizers to soothe my prog yearnings, while I reveled in the jazzy excursions on which these masters took me. Just fantastic songwriting from all members of the band, and clever execution as true virtuosos on their respective instruments. My only regret is that it entertains us for a mere 38 minutes!



For a bass lover like myself, of course I was additionally drawn to the unique and jaw-dropping craftsmanship displayed by Mr. Pastorius. With the exception of some of his work with Joni Mitchell, this may have been his best stuff.



Others here have already lavished suitable praise in critique of this album. I wish only to add my voice to the throng - not just because this was a great album, or because it was the first album I ever purchased on cd (yes, I remember the moment!); but since this is the last review that I foresee ever writing here (it is my 150th - other shtuff to get to, ya know?...), and I wanted this last review to be of a special cd in my collection.

This album is it. It's heavy, man.



I value interesting music that is played and recorded well. This cd's rating was based on:

Music quality = 9.1/10; Performance = 9.5/10; Production = 9/10; CD length = 7/10.

Overall score weighted on my proprietary scale = 9.0 ("4-1/2 stars")

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