CD Review

Jimi Hendrix’s Valley of Neptune: A Reinvented Collection from an Old Legend
Jimi Hendrix has been dead for almost forty years; how is he releasing a new cd in 2010? Well, unfortunately for true music enthusiasts, Jimi has been deceased for nearly forty years, but thanks to technology and his undeniable influence over rock music, the demand for his sound has not subsided. Debuting on March 9, 2010, Valleys of Neptune is a compilation of previously unreleased songs from the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Included in the album are original studio recordings of previously unreleased versions of some of the trios most sought after songs. With sounds and lyrics that could only come from one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, Valleys of Neptune becomes enchanting entertainment that reminds us what is missing from many of today’s music: originality and talent.
The first song of the album, Stone Free, opens with a chord of the electric guitar, combining sounds of rock and blues, played as eloquently as only Jimi could, with smooth transitions and entrancing chords. If this isn’t enough to pull you in, the lyrics themselves are a strong metaphor to move you and remind you of what Jimi stood for: independence and the ability of one to be unaffected by others influences. “And this is why, listen to me baby, you can’t hold me down, I don’t wanna be tied down, I gotta be free, owh!” The lyrics our simple enough but the message is commanding. The stone is the weight that holds Jimi down and because he is free of the stone he can’t be held down and he refuses to be held down. Even in the first song we are reminded of the artist’s belief in his own words. This work will inspire listeners, teaching us to be true to ourselves. Jimi is able to combine empowering lyrics with unique and stimulating sounds that please our ears and give us all we expect out of him, if not more.
The rest of the album is resonant with the first song: combining chill worthy instrumentals with meaningful lyrics. Even though many of the songs have been released previously in some version or another, we are still empowered by the sound. Written in the late sixties the music reminds us of the basics and intricate simplicity that are so missed in artist’s work today.
And even without lyrics the music is still enchanting. Track six on the album, Sunshine of your Love, is a remake of the original by the rock band Cream. Hendrix’s version of Sunshine of your Love on this album is entirely instrumental. While it is a remake we still hear a definitive difference between the styles of the two songs. Jimi reinvented music as no other artist could. The rise and fall of the electric guitar is ingeniously intertwined with the bass, drums, and percussion in such a way as to make the listener feel like they are back in 1969 hearing it all over for the first time.
Stone Free and Sunshine of your Love are just two examples on this album of Jimi’s uncanny ability to mesmerize listeners. The album in its entirety is masterfully compiled and truly enjoyable. Though many of the songs have been listened to for decades, the album is still filled with innovation and passion. Valleys of Neptune is a necessary component of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Releasing an album forty years after an artist’s death and achieving a renewed sense of awe proves why Jimi Hendrix remains a legend in rock music. Valleys of Neptune is a must have album for anyone who appreciates the importance of the inspirers of rock in its truest form and yearns for the classic sound of a twentieth century marvel.

Target Publication: Spin Magazine