Customer Reviews:
 Groundbreaking August 17, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This was easily Hendrix's most influential album, shaping what hard rock and heavy metal would sound like. Most people would say it was Led Zeppelin I, but I think THIS is the first (and best) heavy metal album. It's also the one that defines Hendrix for me: short, catchy, well-written songs with great guitar. Of course he would later move outside those limits and create what I deem his masterpiece (Electric Ladyland), but this is an excellent way to start an all-too-brief, revolutionary career, influencing everyone from top-of-the-heap bands like The Who to bottom tier groups such as the hilariously bad Limp Bizkit.
The whole thing begins with what is easily Hendrix's most recognized songs, the psychedelic hard rocker Purple Haze. I believe this song, with its classic riff, explosive guitar solos, and trippy lyrics (he claimed it wasn't about drugs - riiiight...), requires no further introduction. Other classics abound too, such as the slightly poppy but still rockin' Manic Depression; simple blasts of heavy guitar, pounding drums and horny lyrics like Fire and Foxey Lady; the reworked blues Hey Joe; and my personal favorite, his mellow ballad The Wind Cries Mary, with lyrics that Dylan could've come up with if Dylan took as much acid as Hendrix did.
Just as good are a few of the more experimental tracks: 3rd Stone from Sun isn't a radio staple like Purple Haze, Manic Depression, Hey Joe, The Wind Cries Mary, Fire and Foxey Lady, because it's an insane seven-minute experiment that uses the studio as a fourth instrument. That's too bad: not only is it a hugely daring piece, it actually succeeds in its ambitions, which is very cool. It's the album's lone love-it-or-hate-it track, and I love it. The insanely trippy title track is also excellent. In truth, I've never been "experienced" in the sense that Hendrix is talking about (my drug of choice being peanut butter and all), but I can't deny the power of this selection. I Don't Live Today isn't as good as it's made out to be, but I still enjoy its trapped, doomy atmosphere and the coda. Even the two lesser tracks have something going for them: solid tribal drumming on May This Be Love (Mitch Mitchell deserves to be credited as one of the greatest drummers of all time, the way Hendrix gets his due credit as the top guitarist), and a solid guitar part on the Purple Haze rewrite Love or Confusion. And the chemistry between the trio is undeniable: Noel Redding doesn't have total mastery of his instrument like Jimi and Mitch do (or did, or whatever), but he does his job quite well and thankfully chooses not to sing.
Jimi Hendrix was a fine example of a man who died too young, and in his prime, no less! Remember the man: pay him some tribute by throwing this on and rocking out. Then buy Axis: Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland, Band of Gypsies and First Rays of the New Rising Sun, and please do try to stay away from those stupid Alan Douglass albums (The Cry of Love; War Heroes; Rainbow Bridge; Voodoo Soup; etc.) - while I think they're out-of-print now, they're also an insult to Hendrix's memory, so if you see them stay away from them. Jimi always struck me not only as a great guitarist (not to mention singer and songwriter), but as a great person, which means he deserves all the praise I can give him.
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