Are You Experienced? Review: A Guitar Revolution
9/10 — The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? (1967)
Pros
- Hendrix's incredible guitar playing
- Mitchell's dynamic drumming
- Classic songs
Cons
- Dated production
- Varying UK and US versions
Are You Experienced? introduced Hendrix to the world, backed by bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell. The UK and US versions differ in track listing.
What works
The playing is staggering, from the squealing feedback of ‘Purple Haze’ to the blues crunch of ‘Foxy Lady’ and the dreamy ‘The Wind Cries Mary’. Mitchell’s jazzy drumming gives the trio their lift, and the title track is a psychedelic adventure.
Where it falters
The production feels dated, and a few songs sound like period pieces. The sound is more raw than later work.
Verdict
A thrilling, groundbreaking debut that rewrote guitar music.
