The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Are You Experienced
The debut the first Rolling Stone critic called violent and inane
Released in the UK on 12 May 1967, Are You Experienced introduced the Jimi Hendrix Experience's fusion of psychedelic rock, blues and acid-drenched guitar innovation. A contemporary hostile review, alongside chart results with their dates.
The verdict at the time
Landau dismissed Hendrix as neither a great songwriter nor an extraordinary vocalist, calling the songs poor quality and the lyrics inane. He found the record 'unrelentingly violent, and, lyrically, inartistically violent at that', concluding he would rather hear Jimi play the blues.
Chart peaks
European positions are listed by country. Later chart entries are labelled separately.
Sources & context
One critic's opinion, summarised from the original Rolling Stone review of 9 November 1967 — the magazine's very first issue. The album is now ranked #15 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and recognised as a foundational psychedelic-rock document.
