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Valleys of Neptune took forty years to release and still feels rushed, but Hendrix reminds why he’s a rock god
Hendrix's iconic Woodstock moment. Photo courtesy of The Official Jimi Hendrix Site
Written by J.N. Rosepapa- Arts & Entertainment Editor
Those who haven’t been enlightened by the soul and passion of 60’s rock mega star, Jimi Hendrix, have yet to experience a milestone in music history. Hendrix is much more than a musician or guitarist; he is a figure of musical enlightenment, representing the catharsis of rock music. Hendrix’s divine uniqueness sat him upon an unworldly scale, untouched by the norms of society. Hendrix’s common musical themes, space and time, were both conquered by him, as he stood the test of time, by using his guitar to screech far beyond the depths of space, well into the heavens, to echo amongst his spirit. 2010 elaborates not only the forty-year anniversary of Hendrix’s death (Hendrix died at the age of twenty-seven on September 17th, 1970), but also a wealth of prerecorded material and celebration in tribute to the singer’s brilliance. Without further due, I will pay tribute to Hendrix by articulating his genius, condensing his mythical, short lived career, giving the highlights of the tribute tour in his honor, and reviewing his newest album, Valleys of Neptune, which contains previously unreleased material.
Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone Online
Jimi’s career was incredulously short lived, yet he managed to record three albums (Are you Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland) in a two-year period, all of which were major milestones in Rock music. What Jimi did in the short three years of his career exceed the greatness that most musicians can do in a twenty-year career period. The most mythical moment of Jimi’s career (and the history of Rock music) was his Woodstock performance. Every aspect of Jimi’s Woodstock set was bizarre. The fact that Jimi was high on Acid, it was eight in the morning, and he had not slept in the three days prior to his Woodstock set added to his mythical image. Even though only three albums were released during the three-year period of his career, massive amounts of unreleased material locked in a closet at his estate exist, which detail the evolution of his skill. As an artist, Jimi constantly challenged himself with new innovative techniques, which he often showcased at shows by adding improvised solos into his older songs. To sum up his legacy, Jimi created the Heavy Metal genre by incorporating revolutionary new guitar techniques into his music. Jimi is widely regarded by critics and music fans as the single greatest guitarist that has ever lived. If Jimi were alive today he would agree by simply letting his guitar do the talking.
Photo courtesy of The Official Jimi Hendrix Site
In light of Hendrix’s sacred musical legacy, bassist Billy Cox, (the only surviving member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience), is reviving Jimi’s musical passion with an arsenal of A-class musicians on tour. Eric Johnson, Ron Isley, Brad Whitford, and Living Colour are just a few of the big names paying tribute to their hero. Guitarist Joe Satriani stated (on experiencehendrix.com), “I finally get to pay tribute to my hero the right way, on stage with an amazing, once in a lifetime, line up of musicians!” Fans who were too young to experience Hendrix during the counter culture era are in for a rare treat. Even though Hendrix isn’t around to perform his songs, it is exhilarating to celebrate his legacy amongst a wealth of individuals who have the same deep appreciation for his music. Though the tour has less than twenty stops in the United States, it is enlightening to see gratification and tribute paid to musicians with an actual legacy. The Experience Hendrix tribute tour is just one of the many ways that musicians around the globe are paying tribute to Hendrix.
Valleys of Neptune review (9/10)
Genre(s): Psychedelic Rock, Blues Rock, Classic Rock
Photo courtesy of The Official Jimi Hendrix Site
Though Jimi Hendrix’s legacy was created in less than three years, Hendrix, like many other creative madmen recorded songs until the day he died. Hendrix lived music and most likely was buried with his guitar. While listening to Hendrix’s newest release of previously unreleased material, I have been trying to figure out whether I am more insulted, or impressed by relevance of the album. Of course Valleys of Neptune is nothing less than amazing, the tracks bleed with the same syrupy acid rock greatness as older Hendrix albums do, but nevertheless, it sounds incomplete, lacking the Hendrix production style. It is expected that Valleys of Neptune is not going to sound the same as Hendrix produced albums would; obviously the dude is dead. Why even charge us for an album that is not going to fund Hendrix’s legacy? Every Hendrix fan knows that his estate is corrupt, which is contradictory to his creative genius. Hendrix was a strong advocate for practical peace, yet it seems that peace is abolished, as the profit of the album is only going to feed the hungry mouths of greedy record executives. One must ask if the wait for new Hendrix material is worth the wait of well over thirty years. That is for the listener to determine, but in my opinion, the album is worth another ten years of patient waiting. Although the songs sound great- the title track (Valleys of Neptune), sound is excellent, with a bluesy feel which reflects the artistic change in Rock music of the late 60’s, yet they seem to lack soul. Releasing songs that have already been featured on numerous-Hendrix albums is a bit sketchy. Was Hendrix’s estate really that hesitant to give fans more of his music? Or was this just a marketing technique to keep the listener wanting more of his music? Though the title track was the cream of the crop, Jimi’s cover of Cream’s guitar epic, Sunshine of Your Love, breeds an excellent six and a half minute instrumental cover, which expands Hendrix’s guitar ability well past the horizon, though it doesn’t measure up to the genius of Eric Clapton. Valleys of Neptune in a word, is “incomplete”, yet one can’t expect too much, obviously Hendrix has been dead for forty years. Though one can’t really expect perfection from Valleys of Neptune, it will not epically disappoint. The title track and a couple others, (Hear My Train A Comin’, and Ships Passing Through The Night), finely portray the aura of Hendrix’s musical enlightenment- even without the cutting edge style Hendrix produced when alive. My final note regarding Valleys of Neptune is it doesn’t sound bad at all if one ceases to think about the corruptness of Hendrix’s estate.
Concept: Is resurrecting Jimi Hendrix with half-assed production an insult to his genius? You tell me. (7/10)
Sound: Does the title “Guitar God” sound familiar to you?
(8.5/10)
Lyrics: Hendrix’s lyrics still remain pure and untouched by greedy record executives. (10/10)
Overall: Valleys of Neptune seems at times rushed and incomplete, yet the vibrance and enlightenment of Jimi Hendrix’s musical soul surpasses excellence. (9/10)
Justin’s song pick: Sunshine of Your Love, Valleys of Neptune, Hear My Train A Comin’
Recommendation: Everyone.
April 5th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Sexy article, really diggin your song pick!