For Week Ending:
3 June 2023

Jimi Hendrix - First Rays Of The New Rising Sun (1997)

[Classic Rock]

Compiling an album posthumously will always be a tricky endeavour, as who knows what the artist's final vision may have been? A number of attempts have been made over the years to compile Jimi's final recordings into the album he was working toward. The first (and best known) was 'The Cry Of Love' in 1971, and although it is an amazing album in its own right, greed ensured it was not the double album that was planned, with key tracks held off for future releases. Another well-known version was the 'Voodoo Soup' album from 1995, but to most this came out feeling more like an interpretation or reimagining. To my ears. I think this is by far best possible representation, constructed from multiple hand written notes from the man himself. The sound quality is amazing, and the song writing is light-years beyond 'Electric Ladyland'. In the two years since the recording of that album there is no doubt from these recordings that Hendrix was now at his best in a studio - laying carefully constructed overdubs over overdubs. Songs like 'Night Bird Flying' reveal where his mind and soul were taking the music, sounding more like a guitar orchestra than one man with a Fender Stratocaster. There is rock a-plenty here with songs like 'Izabella' and ' Ezy Rider' grooving along, and some funk and soul also buried in the mix with songs like 'Freedom' and 'Earth Blues'. Although some feel the soul of the music is a little lacking here due to the studio gimmicky, the songs themselves - and the immense talent of the man - still can't be denied.

Arist Information
James Marshall 'Jimi' Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, songwriter and singer. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as the greatest and one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music."

Anthrax - Persistence Of Time (1990)

[Thrash Metal]

Charlie drum intro on the first track. Frankie kicking in with that bass. It's 'thick' once you bring in Scott and Dan before you have Joey introduce himself on point with the tempo. You only need to indulge in the first 30 seconds of the first song to realise that, within 2 years, they have matured immensely from the 'State Of Euphoria' era. This band means business and they take every opportunity, in just over an hour of music, to make this point. No 'Not Man' or any other comic suggestions. No kicking out the jams and SK8'er references or behaviour. These guys had something to say to the world in the early 90's and did a hell of a job doing so. Highlights for me are the lead track 'Time', 'In My World', 'Gridlock', 'H8 Red', 'One Man Stands'. The last 2 being at the end of the album which says a lot to the quality of the music on this record. This recording is easily in my all-time Top 5.

Arist Information
Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The group is considered one of the leaders of the thrash metal scene from the 1980s and is part of the "Big Four" of the genre, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. They were also one of the first thrash metal bands (along with Overkill and Nuclear Assault) to emerge from the American East Coast. Anthrax's lineup has changed numerous times over their career, leaving guitarist Scott Ian as the only constant member of the band. The band has sold over 2.5 million records in the United States, with worldwide sales of over 10 million.