Jimi Experience Hendrix
Are You Experienced

The first album of the greatest guitar virtuoso of all time (and his band) bears the proud title “Are You Experienced?”. A genius asks us if we are experienced. His knowledge and professionalism leave no doubt already, I think, when we look at the cover of the album, which has an acidic look. Already here Jimi proved to be a talented artist (in the broad sense of the word) and a stuntman; He is recognizable, but is able to create dissimilar compositions. I would single out 3 directions of his work: classic rock, blues, psychedelia. This album was glorified by such hits as “Hey Joe”, “Purple Haze”, “Foxey Lady”, “Fire” ... From the rest of the numbers I would like to mention two magic lyrical songs “May This Be Love” and “The Wind Cries Mary ". The title composition “Are You Experienced?” Very much reminds me of Beatles “Tomorrow Never Knows” with their chips. In “Stone Free,” I note an interesting rhythm that sounds like the ticking of a clock. Finally, one of my favorite tracks on this album - “Highway Chile” pleases with a memorable riff and excellent guitar solos (of which there are so many in the album). As many as 17 tracks on a record are an indicator of extraordinary creativity and inexhaustible creative potential. At first, I doubted Jimi’s vocal skills, but then I realized: this is not just a guitarist, this is an artist with a capital letter: everything is very whole and organic. Hendrix's skill in terms of guitar work, of course, is not discussed. But it is worth noting that very strong musicians got into his team - drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding. As evidence of the excellent teamwork of this team, I especially recommend the psychedelic opus “Third Stone from the Sun”, which, apparently, should be considered as an instrumental. “Are You Experienced?” Has only one drawback - some roughness of the material and its implementation. In conclusion, I want to say that this album has incorporated the most characteristic features of the sound of that time. Hendrix had then only one competitor - the Cream group with Eric Clapton on the guitar. Very strong debut!

Fantastic album. Good sound, beautiful booklet. The debut album of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The album showed the highest skill of Jimi Hendrix as a guitarist and innovator, composer, and made him a superstar.