2006年 12月 28日 木曜日 01:36

Jimi Hendrix was dead before I was even born. That said, it took me until I was seventeen and this collection to appreciate his music.

After countless listens I can undeniably state that I love his more baladsy type tunes. Even from the first listen Castle Made Of Sand became my favorite song. It still tugs at my heart when I listen to his soft singing and his sad lyrics. Hey Joe is another with some similarities.

That isn't to say that I don't like his heavier stuff as well. Fire and I Don't Live Today are great songs to crank up and annoy the neighbours. His more funky tunes like Crosstown Traffic and Foxey Lady are also personal favorites. Of course Hendrix is also known for his acid trippy tunes like Are You Experienced? and Voodoo Chile. They are here too.

Nowadays guitarists like Joe Satriani and the like have created music where the guitars sound like they are singing to you. Jimi apparently invented this. With his guitar play rarely intruding, it always seems like Jimi is singing a duet with his guitar. It's one of a kind.

I haven't picked up anything else by Hendrix since this collection other than a BBC recording session Radio One (which is amazing!). I haven't had to. I'm not a huge Jimi Hendrix afficionado, but I do like his music and this collection has everything an entry-level Hendrix fan could want.

The Essential Jimi Hendrix is just that, essential in every serious rock fan's collection.