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Jimi Hendrix - The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Axis - Bold As Love CD (album) cover

THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE: AXIS - BOLD AS LOVE

Jimi Hendrix

 

Proto-Prog

4.02 | 366 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
2 stars A few months after the excellent ''Are You Experienced'' album, this ''Axis-Bold Of Love'' followed. IMHHO, it was too premature.

It holds very few of the legendary tracks that the band will immortalize during their live sets. ''Spanish Castle Magic'' is one of these and by far my preferred song from this album. It is an ocean of wildness: crying and desperate guitar and a superb rhythmic section. One of his all time best for sure.

The sound is much more bluesy and jazzy than on their debut which was a psychedelic anthem. Songs as ''Up From The Skies'', ''Wait Until Tomorrow'' definitely don't belong to the best of his repertoire.

A disjointed spoken opening track could have been easily avoided and it is a pity that ''Ain't No Telling'' is so short. It holds all the ingredients of a great Hendrix track but would have deserved to be developed a bit further. But there was maybe no time for this.

The bluesy ballad ''Little Wing'' is also a highlight from this album. Very emotional guitar solo to conclude this very short song (alas). ''Castles Made Of Sand'' is pretty much the same: a fine ballad with a romantic vocal part. Not bad. ''One Rainy Wish'' is the third and last one of this type featured on the album.

The longest piece of music here is a combination between blues, psychedelia and improvisation. Although it shows some good parts, this track is globally a bit deceiving, loose.

''She's So Fine'' is quite an exception in Hendrix's discography. It was written by Noël Redding with no contribution whatsoever from the master. It sounds very Beatles-esque to tell the truth (''Sgt. Pepper's'' period). The most psyche track of the whole and another good number as well. One of my fave actually. Along with the closing and title track ''As Bold As Love''.

This album is not very even and stands quite behind their debut one. Too many average tracks peppered this album to make it a good one. Five out of ten rounded down to two stars is my rating.

If you are a casual Hendrix fan or if you are willing to discover the work form this giant and you don't know too much from him (which is quite normal on such a site), I can only recommend the debut ''Are You Experienced''.

ZowieZiggy | 2/5 |

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