ARE YOU EXPERIENCED

It's difficult to put into perspective how influential and unique this album was when it was released in 1967. Please check out Chicpah's review and also the excellent biography on this site. I was surprised to read Hendrix played bass with SOFT MACHINE in concert at times, and jammed with Robert Wyatt a lot. The guitar playing of Jimi is what sets this album apart from anything that had been released that year though. Sure you could mention "Disraeli Gears" by CREAM as Clapton is very upfont on "Sunshine Of Your Love", but that's one song. And besides no one played like Hendrix. I like how psychedelic this album is as well, including the cover art. Jimi once said that the songs on this album were a "collection of free feeling and imagination". I have the remasterd U.S. version from 1997 which gives me an hour of Jimi Hendrix.

"Purple Haze" opens with those big riffs that won't be heard again until Iommi shows up in 1970. This song and "Foxey Lady" both have attitude to burn. All I know as a teenager these two tracks mean't so much. "Manic Depression" has some great guitar 1 1/2 minutes in and the drums from Mitch Mitchell are all over it. Mitch really shines on this album. "Hey Joe" was the only track Jimi didn't write. He wrote the lyrics and music for every other song on here. I love "Hey Joe", always have. I really like the raw sounding guitar on "Love Or Confusion", just the whole vibe of this track draws me in.

Some other highlights are "I Don't Live Today" which rocks out pretty good. I like the guitar before 1 1/2 minutes as the drums pound. More great drumming on "Fire" and Jimi lights it up 1 1/2 minutes in. "Third Stone From The Sun" is a very cool Psychedelic / Jazz tune. It turns spacey at times with spoken words. Great tune. "Are You Experienced ?" yes Jimi I am. What an incredible Psychedelic tune this is. A top three for sure. "51st Anniversary" sounds very sixties-like and I really like it a lot. "Highway Chile" is a fun song with some aggressive guitar at times.

4 stars but that doesn't seem like enough for such an influential album. I guess it reflects my enjoyment of it in 2009 I suppose.