I
can't even describe why this CD is so good, everything about it just
makes me giddy. The first track, 'Freedom,' is just littered with
funky riffs and solos. 'Drifting' is slower and more vocal heavy,
with his laid-back-yet-forceful cadence dominating. 'Ezy Rider' is
hectic, with each instrument fighting for dominance, yet it doesn't
feel cluttered or mashed together. 'Night Bird Flying' features a
solo that almost reminds me of 'Freebird' – I need not add anything
else to this sentence. 'My Friend' has a distinct blues feel to it,
down to the clink of glasses and bottles in the background. 'Straight
Ahead' feels just the slightest bit disjointed, but I can't honestly
say that this wasn't done on purpose, and I love the song either way.
Then there's 'Astro Man'. This is an absolutely beautiful piece of
music. It's a great example of Hendrix' trademark weirdness, penchant
for narrative lyrics, and mesmerizing performance on the guitar, and,
really, is representative of the album as a whole. The drums are
perfectly executed, and both lead and bass guitar go completely wild.
'In From the Storm' features Hendrix' wailing guitar, crashing
hi-hats, and his own vocals that just sound like they were fun to
record. It reminds me a little of some of White Zombie's music, only
much better. The final track, 'Belly Button Window,' goes back to a
more traditional blues style, with the instruments queued down,
focusing more on the vocals. It ends rather abruptly, with no final
hurrah, no wind-down, just the end of the last verse before the song
ends, leaving me wanting more. “Are You Experienced” is still my
favorite Hendrix album, but this one is not far behind.
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