At the
age of 18, I remember a group of friends coming over to my house, and me
playing an original gatefold copy of this album on vinyl, and feeling frankly
like the dog's.
This was
the first album produced by Jimi Hendrix himself, which came about due to his
perfectionism in the studio driving the original producer, Chas Chandler, away.
Whilst the album was not a critical success, with many stating that the album
sounded overly muddled and dense, it sold well commercially, reaching number
one in the US and number six in the UK. It is now almost universally acclaimed,
appearing in numerous greatest album ever lists, including those from Rolling
Stone and Q magazines.
The UK
album cover was highly controversial, featuring a photo of 19 naked women, and
it was not sanctioned by Jimi Hendrix himself, who wanted a more Alice in
Wonderland themed cover. The naked version was banned by some sellers, and
nowadays it is the red and yellow photo of Hendrix that is most commonly used
to represent the album.
And the
God's Made Love is an opportunity to show off the new recording studio effects
available, and is frankly one that is missed. It just sounds a bit ridiculous
to modern ears. Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) has some decent
elements, but is so swirling and discombobulating that it is hard to
appreciate. Crosstown Traffic is far superior primarily due to its more
accessible and traditional song structure. The lyrics are more coherent and the
guitar is clear enough for the listener to appreciate the technical skills on
show. Voodoo Chile has a lovely bassy feel to it, all textures and soundscapes.
It comes together into coherence for the chorus, but is slightly too drawn out
for my liking. There are also some slightly problematic lyrics about
"making love to you in your sleep"; consent isn't even implied in
that situation, dream-state or nay. Little Miss Strange is percussively pretty
explosive, and has a guitar tone that is engaging, but again just falls into
the trap of too much distortion, and not enough clarity. Long Hot Summer Night
is a touch too tinny for me, however catchy the chorus may have been, whereas
Come On (Let the Good Times Roll) has a great, meaty sound, and proper Hendrix
solos, in all their intensity and rawness. Gypsy Eyes has a great riff, but
doesn't quite do enough with it for me, and there are some annoying studio
effects applied to the sound too. Burning of the Midnight Lamp is simply trying
to do too much, and none of it very well. Rainy Day, Dream Away is pleasant
enough, but actually being able to see the band working together would improve
it markedly. 1983... (I should be a Merman) has some fragments of greatness,
like the guitar riff after each chorus, but the overall piece is too muddled.
Still Raining, Still Dreaming starts well but descends somewhat, in contrast to
House Burning Down which, as a more conventional song, has a real cohesion to
it. All Along the Watchtower is one of the rare occasions when a cover
surpasses the original, albeit only just. Bob Dylan's lyrics, coupled with some
more stripped back solos, lends to an exceptionally focused track, especially
amongst some frankly bloated company. Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) is a
masterful demonstration of guitar playing, but I'm left wondering if I
primarily feel that way because it is a song I know so well. Whilst many of the
criticisms applied to other songs could be levelled here, it feels much more
driven and musical, rather than just technically impressive.
I
expected to love this album, and was really disappointed that I didn't. The
great songs are truly great, but repeated listens could not bring the rest of
the album to life for me. It's too psychedelic and lacking in an overall focus
to be completely enjoyable. Whilst readily apparent that there is a huge amount
of talent on display, it is lost in a fog of studio effects in an attempt to
push the envelope too far. The album is also far too long - there are songs here which simply add nothing but some
effects.
Chloe's
album rating: 6
Chloe's
favourite track: 15. All Along the Watchtower
Olly's
album rating: 5
Olly's
favourite track: 15. All Along the Watchtower
Next week
is the less-effects laden 208. Coat of Many Colours by Dolly Parton.
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