Are You Experienced
by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

From HoldenM 02/13/2026 18:58 | #313127

One day, I might come to love this. Right now, I like it a great deal.

The originality of the songwriting and the stupendously inspired and breakthrough-style of guitar playing pushes this album to classic status. 9.5/10!

Excellent album which demonstrates Hendrix amazing talent with a guitar. In my book, not a lot between this album and Electric Ladyland. My personal favourites are Foxy Lady, Can You See Me, Third Stone From the Sun and the title track.

A hugely important record with some of the most influential guitar work ever recorded. Hendrix throughout this whole release is amazing and the potential he had at this stage of his career was massive. The peak of his abilities comes on The Wind Cries Mary and I am also a huge fan of the softer side he shows on May This Be Love. There are the obvious classics on here as well which helps to bring up the quality and add more depth to the release. Overall, a solid debut record with lots of good songs and some outstanding guitar playing.

This album was a sensation when released in 1967. Noone had ever played the guitar like this before; and actually nobody has ever been able to convingly adapt his unique style. But it`s not all about musical skills. "Are You Experienced" contains so many great compositons written, except for "Hey Joe", by Hendrix himself. The European and American versions of the album differed a little, but here you have all 17 songs ( including the early singles ) A few comments the songs:
"Foxy Lady" timeless Hendrix classic, "Manic Depression" may sound a bit dated today, "Red House" - 12 bar classic Hendrix blues - great track, "Can You Hear Me" - Lots of Energy, "Love Or Confusion" and "I don`t live today" - Experimental songs - pointing towards later recordings, "May Be This be Love" - melodic beauty, "Fire" - Jimi rocks, "Third Stone From the Sun" - is a beautiful instrumental with Jimi recitating.and creating all sorts of strange sounds on his guitar, "Remember" and "Are You Experienced" - probably not the most memorable tracks, "Hey Joe" and "Purple Haze" are both rock classics, "51st Anniversary" - a fun track - quite a good B-side, "Highway Chile" even better.

And then for me the standout track, "The Wind Cries Mary" - Hendrix when he`s at the most melodic. Magic, mystery and beauty.

https://www.angelfire.com/nv/Badfinger/BANDjimihendrix.html

Great album

This comment is beneath your viewing threshold.

This comment is beneath your viewing threshold.

I listen to this as the 17-track version with Purple Haze f.ex, and will rate is at such. Jimi impresses with his guitarwork, and all songs hold up nicely. 1967 is probably the best year in music history (Sgt. Peppers, This album, The Doors, Velvet Underground etc). This album does get weaker towards the latter half, but it's still an amazing work of art. 9/10

I am going to review this as the seventeen track version which is how I listened to it. The talent of Jimi Hendrix can not be questioned but what this record shows when you look past the guitar skills is that he is a talented songwriter that has clear influences but uses his talent to push the genre forward. Otherworldly.