Jimi Hendrix Music:

Axis: Bold as Love Track Listing:
1. EXP
2. Up from the Skies
3. Spanish Castle Magic
4. Wait Until Tomorrow
5. Ain't No Telling
6. Little Wing
7. If 6 Was 9
8. You Got Me Floatin'
9. Castles Made of Sand
10. She's So Fine
11. One Rainy Wish
12. Little Miss Lover
13. Bold as Love

Editorial Review:
Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Universal. 2008.

Description of Axis: Bold as Love:
Jimi Hendrix's second album doesn't resonate through rock history the way its gatecrashing predecessor, Are You Experienced?, does. In places, it almost seems as if Hendrix is cruising, albeit sublimely. Yet it's a vital album, containing some of rock's molten milestones. There's the fluid psychedelia of "Castles Made of Sand," the viciously funky "Little Miss Lover," and the so-beautiful-it-hurts "Little Wing." Hendrix really hits altitude with "If 6 Was 9," where he waves his "freak flag high" over a tidal wave of guitar and a cacophonous army of Moroccan flutes, and he ends with "Bold As Love," based around Hendrix's typically far-fetched hankering for the axis of the planet to be tilted, thereby transforming life on earth. It works up into a head-melting frenzy of distorted guitar, a precursor to the staggeringly expansive leap forward he would take with 1968's Electric Ladyland. Hendrix dreamed the impossible and achieved it on his guitar. --David Stubbs

Axis: Bold as Love Reviews:
Jimi Hendrix - Axis, Bold as Love
2009-11-27 - Who knows where this guy would have taken his music if he'd lived a bit longer?

The Hippest Sophmore Ever
2009-11-24 - As a follow up to his monstrously great debut release, Jimi's "Axis: Bold As Love" proves itself to be the greatest 2nd album in the history of Rock. Or Music. It's packed with even more of the mind blowing sonic virtuosity that seemed to ooze from his every pore. We are treated to a phenomenal array of styles, tempos, and techniques. Opening with the quirky wild chirps and screeches of "EXP", we are on notice that there's some mighty strange magic to follow. "Up From The Skies" declares that Jimi wasn't just a great Rock & Roller, but a sincerely proud Soul Brother. "Spanish Castle Magic" again has an announcement of its own, that this guy can get as syncopated and off-beat as any breathing jazz man. "Wait Until Tomorrow" is perhaps a throwaway nod to Brit Pop but still has a very heavy bottom and flashy riffs. "Ain't No Telling" gets R&B tones into the mix and rocks briefly before giving way to the gloriously simple and gentle masterpiece "Little Wing". "If 6 Was 9", a jewel in a funk jazz mood comes next. "You Got Me Floating" almost defies description, part funk, part rock, part soul. The combination is pure power. "Castles Made Of Sand" picks up where "Little Wing" leaves off, telling a bitter sweet tale of pain and loss by way of a funkified ballad. "She's So Fine" has Noel Redding's fingerprints on it and is a weak stab at Brit Psychedelic Pop, relieved only by Jimi's tight strumming and Mitch's rad beats. "One Rainy Wish" is great for its soulful waves of guitar laid over a mellow Mitch Mitchell patter. "Little Miss Lover" sears a scorching swath of molten rhythm over heavy, thumping bass. Real Heavy. And then, finally, it all culminates in the sprawling glory of "Bold As Love", a grand dense composition highlighting Jimi's growing prowess in the studio. Where the first album is a fantastic collection of classic Rock and Blues songs, "Axis" is a more sonically unified statement. There is something of a flow to the tracks, a dramatic progression. And, you get a sense of what he thinks and feels about other great albums, like "Sergeant Pepper", or "Pet Sounds". Making comparisons between Hendrix and The Beach Boys may sound absurd, but if you listen closely it's in there. In fact, it sounds like everything's in there. It's a melting pot, no, a Cauldron of American Music.

jimi,s great 2nd album axis!!
2009-09-06 - jimi hendrix was an amazing muscian!!axis bold as love was his second album which was recorded and released in the last part of 1967.well december of 67 in england and january of 68 in the u.s.1967 was not only an amazing year in music, but a very busy and creative year for jimi hendrix,as earlier in the year jimi released his amazing debut; are you experienced,which in my opinion is one of the strongest debut albums any hard rock artist ever came out with.also in the summer of 67 jimi played the monterey pop festival which was filmed and i would recomend getting that dvd!it was a great performance for jimi!!any way for me the stand out cuts on axis are;up from the skies,spanish castle magic,you got me floatin,bold as love,she,s so fine which bassist noel redding took lead vocal on, and if 6 was 9!!this is a great cd if you are a hendrix fan get this!!!!

Jimi's BEST songwritting...fair production due to rush release
2009-08-11 - This second album by Jimi features I feel, his best songwriting, very scenic and poetic songs, dreamy, very excellent use of words, true work of art, just listen to "Castles made of Sand" or "One Rainy wish".
The downside is, back in 1967, the record company rushed Jimi and crew for a new album and he had very very little time to record and mix this album, infact one side of the albums original mixes were lost and had to be re-done and another rush job. Jimi stated in interviews it couda been so much better. But its a great album, sounds at times a bit bare, and at times truely shrines, one of his best.

Modern sounding but moody, bluesy, experimental album.75/100
2009-07-29 -
This album didn't impress me much as their debut album, which I also reviewed here. In a sense, it sort of reminds me of Led Zeppelin's "Houses of the holy" album, in that is alright, but it may have the potential to grow on you more in future.

On my first listen, the one song which I put a dot next to in my notes (signifying that I find a song interesting in some way...a tick means I really like it) was:

You got me floatin' - features some experimental sounds which are generated in a studio. It has a modern rock sound and I liked the cool sound and playing of the bass guitar. This song makes me think that Lenny Kravitz may have been influence by this kind of material. The song also has backing vocals. Eric Clapton's song which features the lyric "tearing us apart" was also brought to mind listening to this song.

On second listen, some more songs got dots next to them in my notes...chronologically:

Spanish castle magic - has a heavy metal/hard rock kind of sound to it. The drum sound is chunky and I like the catchy vocal melody. Bass noticeable.

Wait until tomorrow - the bass is in your face, so to speak. The vocals are of the sing-song variety, and the lead guitar is 'chatty', if you know what I mean. The guitar sound was sort of familiar to me, though I can't pinpoint what other songs it reminded me of. American born Australian "Diesel" has a song called "Cry in shame" which this song made me think of. The drums are chunky on this song too and I like the cute falsetto backing vocals on this song.

Little wing - easy going song with nice lead guitar. I like the tone of the guitar as well. Sounds like glass objects are used for percussion too.

Next best songs:

Castle's made of sand - reliant on studio effects, features a guitar playing a melody in reverse (having recently started listening to Hendrix, I'm beginning to wonder if he beat The Beatles into innovating in the studio). Vocals are catchy and the lyrics are chatty. Lead guitar and bass guitar also play a part in this track. At 2:32 into this track, I hear a click, which may be a problem with the source tapes.

She's so fine - more chunky drums and in your face bass. Features falsetto backing vocals, and the main vocals are catchy, in a Beatle-esque kind of way (I don't think that Hendrix sings in this song). The outro features distorted hard rock guitar playing.

The rest:

Exp - an experimental sounding track with heavy, distorted guitar sounds...it sounds like they are imagining what a U.F.O would sound like! Also features an radio announcer with an Australian sounding accent. This year, I think, a British movie called "The boat that rocked" covered this time frame in music history. A criticism that I had come across here in Australia was that the movie didn't really reflect the number of Australian voices on pirate radio...there is one New Zealand actor in the movie. Just guessing, but maybe this Australian sounding voice is recognition of the fact that such voices were common in Britain on the radio, at this time.

Up from the skies - features brush drumming. A rootsy, bassy track with a twangy sounding guitar and sing-song mellow vocals. Reminded me of The John Butler Trio in style. John Butler is an American born Australian roots artist. Great song in "Zebra"...anyway...

If 6 was 9 - the guitar and bass intro part reminded me of Led Zeppelin's "Living loving maid". You can hear Jimi chewing gum in this song, which is sort of cool! The middle part of this track has some intense drumming and the mood as a whole can be described as 'moody, bluesy rock'. But it does seem psychedelic at times, too. Song features a solo too, and I found the stereo quality in this song to be excellent, which I don't usually associate with music from this period, which often sounded 'faux' stereo, if you know what I mean.

One rainy wish - has a velvety guitar tone, mellow in parts, but rock at other times (quiet, loud, quiet format). Features wailing lead guitar and noticeable bass.

Little miss lover - I like the drum pattern at the start, as the track goes into a funky bass and lead guitar groove...a bit Red Hot Chili Peppery, in other words. Has a driving bass guitar sound. At 1:46 there seems to be a glitch in the vocals, which may suggest that the master tapes aren't perfect.

Bold as love - another song which reminds me of Diesel's "Cry in shame". Think that the outro may have a harpsichord in it, and the drumming gets quite spacey.

Generally I like the textured sound of the instruments in this album...from the crisp drums to the tone of the guitars and back to some chunky drumming. For the first time, I think I can hear the influence of Hendrix in Australian acts like Diesel, John Butler, and overseas acts like Lenny Kravitz.

Like I said before, the music on this album does sound modern, but with a moody, bluesy, experimental rock bent.

This album might be a grower for me.

Recommended albums from this period in time:

The Jimmi Hendrix Experience: "Are you experienced?" and "Electric Ladyland".

Cream: Wheels of fire.