Music
Store

I have been listening to this album for about a year now, and I still haven't found all the little subtleties and nuances, so I won't dive into those too deeply, but they're there, believe me. The opening cut, "And the Gods Made Love" shows that Jimi was a master studio technician as well, mixing odd sounds and backwards tapes to give us something that sounds like wind blowing at first listen, but subsequent listens reveal odd sounds that weren't quite noticeable before, and there is even a tape of Jimi's voice that is slowed down and played backwards (rumor has it that he is saying "Ok, one more time" or something to that effect). Next we move into the second intro track, "(Have You Ever Been) to Electric Ladyland", in which Jimi soothes us with his voice, preparing us for the mind-blowing journey that lays ahead, which all comes crashing down on us with the blues-pop jam "Crosstown Traffic."

From here on, this album takes many twists and turns. The 17-minute blues jam "Voodoo Chile" sits next to a nice Noel Redding piece, the psychedelic pop "Little Miss Strange," on which Noel even gets the lead vocal. "Gypsy Eyes" and "House Burning Down" show a more fiery Jimi, while the cool-jazz/blues hybrid "Rainy Day, Dream Away" shows Jimi once again stretching his famous blues chops.

Amidst all of these diverse types of songs, there are a few which really stand out as not only masterpieces in Jimi Hendrix's repetoire, but also posess a beautiful, ethereal quality which cannot be expressed in mere words. The most obvious example of this is "1983...A Merman I should Turn Out to Be" which opens with a guitar intro that is blissfully beautiful in quality. If Jimi had always been a bit "spacey" musically, he really outdid himself here. After its initial reading of the introductory verses, the song gives way to an open, expansive, 13-minute psychedelic jam which features little of Jimi's guitar histrionics, but makes up for that in terms of feel and overall quality. This is Hendrix at his best and a definite highlight of this album. Another highlight would have to be, of course, Jimi's famous reading of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," which was the biggest hit from this album, and it's easy to see why since this is one of Jimi's best moments. When that guitar intro starts up, I always see a montage of Vietnam War footage in my head, as well as images of the counterculture that was going on on the homefront. Never before has a song so captured the element of its time and yet remained a timeless listen at the same time. Absolutely breathtaking. The final track, "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" is one of Jimi's best rockers and one of the best songs in his entire canon. Every time I hear this, I see images of Jimi performing this at his legendary Woodstock concert (if you haven't seen it, then you're missing out). "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" is another one of Hendrix's best songs; I can't tell if that's Jimi's guitar or a harpsichord from hell being used in that memorable intro. In fact, it's vaguely reminiscent of the intro to "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds," which was issued the previous year.

If you are a fan of classic rock, hard rock, art-rock, or great music in general and you don't already own this, then I pose the question "Why not?" This record has everything, great songs, great guitar work, great production effects and above all, a fantastic musical vision. So don't hesitate to pick this masterpiece of an album, an album which is a true testament to Jimi Hendrix as a musician, and as a creative force in the studio as well. This is one of my all time favorites now, and I'm willing to bet that it will be one of yours too if you give it some time and a few good listens.


Not his best - not a masterpiece   April 12, 2007
 24 out of 59 found this review helpful

Ok - most of you can just skip down to the "no" button and trash me before you read on since I'm not bowing down at the altar, but for those of you who do read on, I'll try my best to tell you why it's three stars and not a flat out "But, it's Jimi!" five stars.
First, it is not his best studio album. That would be his first. I would put this after Axis: Bold As Love as well. My biggest gripe with this, as with much of the sixties music, is that it is so dated and trippy sounding that it just wears away at you. Buried beneath stoned lyrics about breathing underwater and psychedelic (yech!) trickery is some brilliant guitar work, it's just a shame that you have to wade through the dopey stuff to get to the nugget below. I'll no doubt piss plenty of folks off, but I don't consider Jimi a particularly great songwriter. He had the riffs, no doubt, but his lyrics tended towards the silly sixties b.s. that I truly can't stand. Still, he did put together some beauties and there are some on this album as well.
The first four songs are solid, mostly because the first track is short and to the point despite not really being much of a song as much as a lot of effects. The soulful Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) is sweet and Crosstown Traffic simply rocks, ala Fire and so many of Jimi's most inspired moments when he cuts the crap and just lays down the rock. Voodoo Chile is a slow blues that just simmers like a delicious stew punctuated by Jimi's hummingbird wail that about shatters glass. From there, the next five songs are good, as well, with the only questionable inclusion being Noel's Little Miss Strange. Burning of the Midnight Lamp is very good and the guitar work on Gypsy Eyes and Come On (Let The Good Times Roll) are pure Jimi brilliance.
The biggest problem I have with Electric Ladyland begins afterward, on what used to be the third side of the record. Despite a nice guitar melody on 1983, the lyrics, studio/psychedelic silliness, and the whole dated sixties vibe just kills anything else that is contained on these three tracks, and there are some nice guitar moments at the tail end of Moon, Turn the Tides, just to mention one spot. This whole section is little more than self-indulgence and filler, something left for headphone orgasms and acid trips.
The fourth section of the recording might be the best with the second half of Rainy Day (called Still Raining, Still Dreaming) kicking it off, followed by the final three strong cuts which culminate in one of Jimi's crowning achievements, Voodoo Child (Slight Return).
This is a mixed bag of stuff. I love Jimi Hendrix - at times. But there are reasons I won't just carte blanche this five stars. This album seems to lack direction, as if no one was there to tell him (or no one had the courage) "Hey Jimi...what is that crap?" It was all so groovy and so hip and so trippy, man, that no one bothered to question Jimi's self-indulgence in the peace, love, and grooviness of the times. If you want proof that perhaps even Jimi realized the excesses herein, look at the songs he recorded after this one. Those songs were concise and much more straight ahead lyrically and structurally. There is much to love on this recording but there is also much that I don't care for at all. For this low price, you won't regret the purchase, but I wonder how spectacular this often sprawling document might've been had someone cut away the trippy filler and stuck to the meat.
Okay, now you can click "no." Peace, man.


Jimi's final epic studio album...   June 12, 2003
 23 out of 25 found this review helpful

(Although some might say First Rays of the New Rising Sun is his final album, which is true to some extent, it was never fully completed).

Tired of listening to the mindless garbage that invades 80% of the radio airwaves these days, about a year ago I took a pretty big step in starting a little collection of "classic" albums by different artists from various decades. For some unexplained reason, "Electric Ladyland" happened to be my first selection. Some of you may laugh at this, but it was probably fate that brought me to this album, because Jimi Hendrix still remains my favorite artist and this album still remains my favorite CD to listen to (not just of his, but of any artist). Since then, I've gotten 10 other Hendrix CD's, all of which are immensely great, but I still find myself returning to this one the most. Biased since it was my first Hendrix album? Perhaps. But according to most, this was his crowning achievement in the studio. A solid masterpiece.

... And the Gods Made Love is a very cool, bassy, weird intro that sets you up for what follows.

Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) is basically the first real song on the album. An R&B flavored electric lick of bluesy perfection.

Crosstown Traffic is one of the few radio friendly songs on Electric Ladyland, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's very catchy and the stereo effects during the chorus will spin your head in a whirl.

Voodoo Chile is one of my favorite Hendrix jams. A 14 minute blues session that oozes brilliance. When Hendrix's guitar coincides with that organ, watch out.

Little Miss Strange seems to be the only song that people are down on about this album since Hendrix's vocals are nowhere to be found, but it's a welcome break after the sweat-inducing finale of Voodoo Chile.

Long Hot Summer Night. I love this song. Very melodic and catchy.

Come On (Let the Good Times Roll) is one of those songs that makes your feet stomp the ground into oblivion. One of Hendrix's few "feel good" songs.

Gypsy Eyes is Hendrix's dedication to women. A fun, head-nodding song with terrific guitar riffs (as always).

Burning of the Midnight Lamp. WOW. Ever wondered what an electric guitar would sound like under water? Well, here's your chance to find out. This is another one of my favorite Hendrix songs. Amazing. The finale of this song will make you sweat.

Rainy Day, Dream Away starts out jazzy, then builds itself up into one of Hendrix's signature riffs. Outstanding.

1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be) is the second epic song on the album (after Voodoo Chile). Weird, mysterious, brooding, atmospheric and wonderful. If you feel nothing during this song, check your pulse. You might be dead.

Moon, Turn the Tides... gently gently away is a one minute windy track with no music whatsoever to, I guess, reflect on 1983 and prepare yourself for the next song.

Still Raining, Still Dreaming. BAM! After the relaxing sound effects of Moon, Turn the Tides, this song starts out full throttle with the guitar riff from Rainy Day, Dream Away. One of the few sequels that lives up to it's predecessor (heheh).

House Burning Down is slightly blues, slightly rock. Whatever the case, it's a great listen. Hendrix's guitar effects at the end of the song are simply amazing.

All Along the Watchtower is the cover of Bob Dylan's song of the same name that, unless you've been living under a rock for the past 30 years, everyone has heard by now. The first of the two final masterpieces that, unfortunately, brings Electric Ladyland to it's close.

Voodoo Child (Slight Return). Do I really have to say anything about this? Aside from Machine Gun, it's my absolute favorite Hendrix track. A brilliant, searing, remarkable, influential end to an album consisting of sheer brilliance and inspiration.

If Jimi Hendrix were still alive, or if he had been born late enough to break out into today's music scene, he wouldn't be very successful. You see, he actually made terrific music. And because he made terrific music, you think the kids of today would want to hear his stuff as opposed to Britney or Creed? Ah, well. So it goes. At least we have his extensive posthumous catalogue to remind ourselves what true musical genius is.