THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE: ARE YOU EXPERIENCED

Are You Experienced by the Jimi Hendrix Experience is another one of the albums that I heard quite a few times during my adolescent years. Since I don't remember which of the two versions of the LP we had in the household I might as well review the complete 60 minute CD reissue that features the complete experience.

Let me be straight with you from the get-go and state that I've never been a huge fan of this band and Jimi Hendrix's revolutionary guitar licks that have probably driven me away from the early electric guitar sound more than they enhanced its possibilities. This doesn't mean that I don't consider the band to be highly influential for their time but it does surprise me when people of my age actually consider Jimi Hendrix Experience to be highly superior than any of the experimental rock bands that we have today. Yes, I'm saying that most fans of this band are definitely in it for nostalgia factors but one can't really blame anyone for digging this music when it came out.

This debut album features quite a few classics like Purple Haze, Hey Joe, Fire,Foxey Lady and Red House but there are also a few highly underrated compositions like the groovy The Wind Cries Mary or the experimental title-track that plays around with the reverse guitar sound. Surely you'll find at least one track or two that will tickle your fancy but that automatically brings up my reason for why I never really cared much for it. I don't enjoy the combination of straightforward blues rock material mixed together with a few experimental performances here and there. It's as if the band wanted to do many things at once but ended up making the final product lack any kind of direction.

Jimi Hendrix Experience's debut album was definitely a powerful statement for its time but the rapid development that they started hasn't been all too kind to neither the band's material nor the production quality. I honestly can't see a reason why any of the future generations would want to explore this album aside for extinguishing the curiosity that have been hyped up by purists that always urge us to go to the roots in order to truly appreciate something.

***** star songs: Purple Haze (2:51) The Wind Cries Mary (3:21)

**** star songs: Manic Depression (3:42) Hey Joe (3:30) Love Or Confusion (3:13) Fire (2:44) Foxey Lady (3:19) Are You Experienced? (4:16) 51st Anniversary (3:16) Highway Chile (3:33) Red House (3:50)

*** star songs: May This Be Love (3:10) I Don't Live Today (3:55) 3rd Stone From The Sun (6:44) Stone Free (3:36) Can You See Me (2:33) Remember (2:49)