THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE: AXIS - BOLD AS LOVE

Of the three albums the Jimi Hendrix Experience did, this one seems a bit overlooked compared to Are You Experienced and Electric Ladyland, but you know what, I really have a hard time saying which of the three are the best. For some strange reason, I didn't buy his albums until recently, maybe some of the songs I've heard too much on the radio, but I started getting more and more curious of the stuff you don't hear on the radio. Axis: Bold as Love is the second album, with Indian artwork. While Jimi himself liked the cover, it wasn't exactly what he had in mind, the Indian he was thinking of is Native American, not Hindu, as Hendrix was part Cherokee (from his grandmother's side). To me, I believe this album needs to be just as recognized as the other two. "EXP" is a ridiculous opening cut with Mitch Mitchell acting like a radio announcer debunking flying saucers, then tons of guitar distortion and feedback. The first real song is "Up from the Skies", it's a great mellow piece, with lots of wah-wah guitar. "Spanish Castle Magic" is more hard rocking and could have easily fit on Are You Experienced? "Waiting For Tomorrow" is nothing short of incredible, I liked many of the high pitched vocals included. "Little Wing" has been covered by many people, including Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan (in instrumental form) and Sting. "If 6 Was 9" is familiar to anyone who seen Easy Rider, but the most exciting part is the part you don't hear on the movie, where Hendrix gets more experimental, going after the conservative establishment and letting his freak flag fly high. "Castles Made of Sand" is a rather mellow piece, and is probably the most recognized song on the album. Noel Redding gives us "She's So Fine", and like "Little Miss Strange" from Electric Ladyland, is the least Hendrix-like piece on the album. No surprise, it's not Hendrix's song, so it has a much more 1967 pop/psychedelic feel to it.

I don't think I can really add on what everyone else says about the sheer groundbreaking innovation of Hendrix and how inspired generations of hard rock, heavy metal, and blues guitarists, even Krautrock guitarists (there's no doubt that Guru Guru's Ax Genrich, as well as Manuel Göttsching had heard their fair share of Hendrix). What I can easily say is how well his music stands up to this day and don't sound dated (minus the Noel Redding composition). This was certainly music that blew the Lemon Pipers and the Strawberry Alarm Clock right out of the water. While those groups have became psychedelic pop curiosities of a bygone era, Jimi Henrix is still fondly remembered today and have new admirers to this day.

Axis: Bold of Love needs to be placed as one of the all-time classic rock albums with Are You Experienced? and Electric Ladyland. You can't go wrong with this album!