Miles Davis - Get Up With It (1974), 6/10

Get Up With It covers an impressive variety of musical ground and successfully blends ambient with fusion. All of this success yields a record that’s very psychedelic and hypnotic, yet not as thrilling as many of Miles’ other work. Still, "He Loved Him Madly" could be it's own release and would remain worthy of many repeated listens. It is supremely effective as an ambient, yet charged piece that feels almost haunting despite its pickup and flirting with funk. Luckily there are ninety-three additional minutes of bold statements here. There are sounds buried in the record like the flute in "Maiysha" that add spiritual nuance to an already breathtaking soundscape. Get Up With It is essentially a trip of unprecedented jazz-rock-funk-sex. As with many of Miles’ more ambitious recordings, you must grant the album time and patience, and while some moments will be immediately recognizable, the moments that build over vast stretches of time are the most rewarding and important to anticipate. The album will have the biggest impression on fans of funk and the surreal, especially on tracks like the appropriately titled “Honky Tonk” and the maniacal “Rated X”. Common issues with the experience are typically rooted in personal taste rather than validity of substance, for most it represents a worthwhile tonal and thematic shift during a key moment in Davis' career. One of Miles’ most ambitious, fun and important recordings.