THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE: ARE YOU EXPERIENCED

One of the best collection of stunning rock numbers ever put together on record.The four star rating simply reflects the fact than it isn't prog by any means,but doesn't take away the merit of the album.Fresh and original songs like Foxy Lady,Manic Depression and Fire receive a rock n' roll treatment that only Hendrix could give,making them sound strong and provocative.Are You Experienced is what rock music is about,or at least should be.All the LSD-driven testosteron of this album culminates in a series of priceless stage-written numbers that were destined to become classics.And it's also worth mentioning,this is something of an electric guitar bible,in the same way Kind Of Blue works for Jazz.

When Hendrix wants to rock,there's no one in this planet who can do something as expressive and powerfull as him(not even Clapton's Cream,the Experience's greatest contender back in the day).Every compass of this debut is filled with precious guitar fills,driven by some of the best drumming of the 60's(Mitch Mitchell,of course).If ,however, he thinks the time appropriate for a blues workout,no one will be able to match him either:just listen to the sheer brilliance of the wonderfull Red House and you'll understand.Every tune is a gem,from the fast and rocking Can You See Me,to the psychedelic perfection of Third Stone From The Sun.

The fact that this album is so powerfull is indeed remarkable,seeing as it doesn't cotain(at least not in the original UK version)any of the band's hit singles,unmatchable classics like Purple Haze or Hey Joe.And with The Wind Cries Mary,also released separatedly by the time the album came out,Hendrix showed just how soft and sweet he could be if a piece of music demanded him to.

1967 was perhaps the year of rock n' roll,but this album stands out as one of the most rewarding and strong efforts of that year(also it has aged as well as very few works from that period).It helps that the trio of musicians were perhaps unmatchable in their instruments,but Are You Experienced remains as the thrilling sound of an era,encapsulated in a brilliant and classic album.A masterpiece.

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