Axis: Bold As Love review

The second studio album from Jimi Hendrix. This is generally seen as the weakest of the 3 albums but is still well regarded. I'll always be up for more of Jimi's innovative instrumentals.

Tracks:

1. EXP: 8/10 despite being made up of an interview and then loads of screeching guitar sounds, it still sounds artful and controlled. It's getting an 8 for that alone.

2. Up From the Skies: 6/10 the instrumental retains a unique edge even with the relatively quiet playing and the lyrics are intriguing, but this song is phoned in and it doesn't do anything particularly interesting or different.

3. Spanish Castle Magic: 8/10 it's no award winner, but it's a very enjoyable rock song.

4. Wait Until Tomorrow: 8/10 it's still not connecting enough, but it's an impressive song which tells a story well against a funky instrumental.

5. Ain't No Telling: 8/10 a short but energetic burst of concentrated and heavy guitar music which is pretty darn entertaining and doesn't outstay its welcome, which is a relief as the lyrical content wouldn't have been enough to sustain the song for much longer.

6. Little Wing: 8/10 an entertaining psychedelic dream which Jimi fills with enough instrumental tricks and attractive imagery to make the listener slightly sorry to leave.

7. If 6 Was 9: 8/10 it's yet another 60s counterculture album but it's incredibly well played.

8. You've Got Me Floating: 7/10 it's not bad at all but the repetition means it runs out of gas quicker than it should.

9. Castles Made of Sand: 7/10 mature and touching but the music is a bit dull.

10. She's So Fine: 6/10 this one is fine. The lyrics are fine. The music is fine. But it doesn't go above fine.

11. One Rainy Wish: 7/10 mostly ditto but this one has bits where it really gets going.

12. Little Miss Lover: 6/10 seemingly composed entirely from elements of the album's other songs, this is as well played as ever but probably worth skipping.

13. Bold As Love: 8/10 after a lacklustre second half, the album concludes with a solid mix of lyrics which connect and the excellent guitar playing.

Best song: If 6 Was 9
Worst song: She's So Fine

Summary: The truth is, Jimi Hendrix's guitar playing is his selling point. This psychedelic album has its moments, but it just doesn't connect and you never truly care. It was the same with his first album, but that had better songs on it. This is an entertaining showcase of guitar wizardry with some strong lyrical moments but the second half isn't great and everything the album tells you has been told to you before by other artists from the 60s in a more interesting and absorbing way. Still, not bad overall.


Final rating: 7/10