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Axis: Bold as Love

(Track Records (1967, UK); Reprise Records (1968, US); Currently out on Experience Hendrix/Geffen)

Side A

  A1. “Exp”
The outer-space fetish is indulged here via a fake interview and Hendrix’ guitar sounding positively otherworldly.

  A2. “Up From the Skies”
The bouncy beat is just there to stay out of the way of Hendrix’s wah-wah experimentation. The lyrics are decidedly downbeat and don’t quite fit with the playful tone of the music.

  A3. “Spanish Castle Magic”
This is the first evidence of the blistering Experience sound that was prevalent on the first album. Though based on a real place from his youth, the Spanish Castle of the title is more like imaginary real estate in the song.

  A4. “Wait Until Tomorrow”
Distinguished by some rare Experience backing vocals, this number is a fun but relatively inconsequential breather from the heavier songs on the album.

  A5. “Ain’t No Telling”
The signs of a hasty recording process show themselves on this track, which closely resembles earlier successes like “Stone Free” and “Fire” but doesn’t have the same spark, although the siren-like effect Hendrix coaxes from his guitar is pretty cool.

  A6. “Little Wing”
There is an undeniable melancholy present here, as the fairy-tales promised in the lyrics seem unreachable. It’s barely more than a snippet of a song, but the brilliant guitar intro is worth the price of admission.

  A7. “If 6 Was 9″
Hendrix takes a waltz on the wild side on this astoundingly ingenious track. He renders himself independent of all scenes that would like to claim him. Redding gets a rare chance to shine on bass, and Jimi’s guitar seems to be coming in from all angles, as if refracted through a prism. No way those mountains will fall on him, protected as he is by this gorgeous music.

Side B

  B1. “You Got Me Floatin’”
The Experience sound proves a little bit claustrophobic here, especially when you add in all the studio trickery that only detracts from the solid groove.

  B2. “Castles Made of Sand”
Hendrix’s lyrics are outstanding here, as he tells three detailed and affecting short stories while multiple guitar effects fight for attention.

  B3. “She’s So Fine”
Redding got the chance to pen this number, but it ended up sounding like third-rate Who.

  B4. “One Rainy Wish”
This track is fascinatingly disjointed. Lilting guitars at the open are accompanied by lyrics featuring Hendrix’s familiar color-influenced imagery. But it turns into a stomper when the woman so lovingly described at the start turns into a heartbreaker. The fade-out is dark and moody, as Micthell rumbles away while Hendrix’s guitar floats in and out. A lot going on; maybe too much.

  B5. “Little Miss Lover”
Fierce would be the best way to describe this one. Redding lays down a chunky core as Hendrix barks out his lyrics. A strutting solo clears the air briefly before the main riff reclaims the scene.

  B6. “Bold As Love”
Hendrix sees all the emotions roiling inside of us as different colors, but they’re all necessary, forming the core that is “bold as love.” This is a great song even if you take away the typically stunning fretwork. And the soaring closing moments are the perfect way to end this album.

The Bottom Line

Axis: Bold As Love contains some thrilling peaks, but Are You Experienced is the more consistently brilliant of the two. What they prove is that Jimi Hendrix’s skill as a guitar player, brilliant as it was, only reached the large audience it did because Hendrix wrote some damn great songs to show it off.

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