The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Are You Experienced

THE REVIEW

...Indescribable shapes and colors never seen before take shape for the first time in history...

Hello to all DeBaseriani and others! This is a true test for me, after having reviewed 4 decent albums, I am attempting the big leap, trying to review an album that made Rock History (a bit rhetorical, but effective): "Are You Experienced?" by Jimi Hendrix Experience. This album represents the Big Ben of the Rock guitarist figure, with Hendrix, the world of music undergoes a revolution that will lead to the pure and hard Hard Rock of the early '70s, all guitarists have Jimi Hendrix as their idol and model; think of Iommy, Page, and Blackmore, they are all the evolution (some in genre, some in style, and some in stage presence) of James Marshall Hendrix. Consequently, the album is tailor-made for Jimi, who has "carte blanche" in composing music and lyrics.

In 1967, the Jimi Hendrix Experience consisted, besides the leader, of bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell. These were the years of the supergroup Cream with Eric Clapton and were also the years in which Hard Blues evolved. However, Hendrix goes beyond and creates an explosive mix of Blues, Rock, Fusion, and even a bit of Jazz that leaves the audience stunned by such mastery. The album was preceded by the single "Hey Joe", a Billy Roberts cover, and it is perhaps the first case where a cover is more famous than the original.

This is a crazy album, technical and psychedelic. Try closing your eyes while listening to songs like "Are You Experienced?", "Love Or Confusion", "Purple Haze", or "Third Stone From The Sun", around you, psychedelic forms, colors of all kinds will start to dance. A mystical journey in art. Music that evokes visual forms, the purest form of synesthesia.

Along with the purest experimental and psychedelic forms, there are also excellent blues tracks, the genre loved by Hendrix of which he becomes a leading exponent. "Red House", the slow and masterful "The Wind Cries Mary", are absolute masterpieces of bluesy technique.

Obviously, in this album, there are also historical riffs, who has never heard the beginning of the fast, immediate, and overpowering "Fire"? Just as impactful is the vibrato-laden entry full of pathos in "Foxy Lady", with its chorus almost sighed by Jimi's warm voice. Yes, because besides being a fantastic guitarist (playing a right-handed Fender with the left hand!), Hendrix possesses a unique voice, which perfectly matches his music, forming an inseparable duo. A perfect symbiosis, without one of the two elements any cover attempted by some teenage band makes it banal and sterile.

After finishing listening to the album, one feels the urge to re-immerse in that fantastic world, that unparalleled psychedelic dream, but now is not the time, there are still other Jimi albums to listen to.

Thanks for your attention, greetings to all DeReaders!

P.S. I apologize to the authors of other reviews on this album and to the readers who find themselves with yet another duplicate, but since I believe everyone has the right to express their opinion (this is precisely a review, a judgment, a subjective critique), I felt the need to describe the emotions that this album gave me.