Electric Ladyland

I so want to give it a 5. An ode to the guitar

3
One i expect I'll listen to again in 10 years and wonder what I was thinking, but two listens this time round and it hasn't clicked. Some good songs (watchtower especially) but mostly just blended together for me

Some stuff on here is alright but I think I had my expectations too high. 6/10

More traditional blues than experimental – and the experimental pieces are really where it shines, but still it’s Hendrix. It’s innovative, sprawling and timeless.

Not to mention, the cover of all along the watchtower is just an all-time classic!

The last Hendrix studio album, an absolutely crazed masterpiece. He never stopped experimenting, never shied away from truly out there musical ideas. He constantly improved as a guitarist, and yes he is probably the best electric guitarist ever. Also, really grew as a singer, and his falsetto sounds gorgeous here. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: a perfect power trio with a perfect trio of albums.

I don't like all bluesy-style rock n rock music, but Jimi Hendrix just hits differently. I can only describe it as blues that's not too overpowering and very much not repetitive. I've already had "Are You Experienced", and while I liked it a lot, I like this album a lot better. The sound is more clean and well-defined, but those amazing guitar sounds, dark undertones, and song structures are still there. All in all, the music is unique and sounds ahead of its time.

I probably hadn't heard this whole album since the 70s, and I don't know if I've ever paid close attention to it track-by-track rather than hearing it on the radio or in the background of some party. I thought I might give it a 4 because of its length, but on listening to it closely, I can’t see giving it anything less than 5 stars.

Hendrix was such an amazing guitarist that even material that in other people's hands wouldn't be all that interesting, like “Little Miss Strange” and “ Let the Good Times Roll,” are set on fire here.

I’ve always loved "Crosstown Traffic,” with its very consistent string of traffic metaphors.
And Voodoo Chile of course is very solid electric blues. I love that it's 15 minutes long, with the drums, organ, and guitar interweaving in that mesmerizing way.

1983 (A Merman I Should Be) is another good tune with the spacey jingly percussion break. And whoa I didn't remember that "Still Raining, Still Dreaming" was on here too.

Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" to me is the definitive version. Wait, you say Bob Dylan wrote this song? Huh

Finally, wikipedia reminds me of “as was common with multi-LP albums, sides A and D were pressed back to back on the same platter, likewise sides B and C.” That drove those of us who just had regular manual turntables nuts.

Probs the pinnacle of Hendrix. Still some moments of blues boredom for me but the insane productions carries it

Three albums in 14 months is crazy enough, and all of them hitting such heights is mind-blowing — but honestly this is the worst of the bunch. There are a few good songs on this album, but it feel disjointed and meandering in a weird way. Like it doesn’t know what kind of album it wants to be.

Hendrix knows how to sing, with his vocal chords as much as with his guitar. Unfortunately, the audio recording/mixing is quite bad at times, and it becomes distracting when you're wearing headphones. Couldn't they just test the sound quality with their 1968 AirPods or something??? Smh

My first reaction whenever I think of Jimi Hendrix is always the same: phenomenal guitar playing, but mostly rather uninspiring songwriting. "Electric Ladyland" undoubtedly features some outstanding tracks—the funky "Crosstown Traffic," the two extended pieces "Voodoo Chile" (with Steve Winwood on Hammond organ) and the epic "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)," as well as the legendary cover of "All Along the Watchtower." But it also contains a great deal of fairly ordinary blues numbers.

"Electric Ladyland" is, of course, a landmark album in rock history. It offers a glimpse of where Hendrix might have taken his songwriting had he not tragically died at such a young age. But if we're being honest, the album also contains plenty of filler that is simply quite average.

In my view, Hendrix never made a consistently great studio album. His guitar playing revolutionized rock music, but his formulaic blues jams quickly became something of a dead end as rock evolved at a rapid pace.

So my final rating is best understood as an average between the album's two-star moments and its five-star highlights.

Not terrible, but definitely didn't resonate with me. The guitar went crazy though

I dunno, I just can't get myself to like old stuff, the guitars are too noodly and go on too long, the blues styles aren't for me.

Wildly creative and hugely influential. This isn’t one I listen to very often but it’s a certified classic.

Hendrix is one of those artists that I can go years without listening to but I love whenever I do. I was flipping between a 4 and a 5 for this one but ending with Watchtower and Voodoo Child sealed the full 5 stars.

Top Track - All Along The Watchtower

voodoo child slight return

Excellent showcase for one of the best to ever pick up a guitar. The other members of the band also get their own time to shine here. Just a fantastic double album. The extended songs feel meaty. And who can forever his version of All Along The Watchtower.

The Good: We get to visit Ladyland!
The Bad: No tom-foolery to be had there…
The Ugly: Turns out an electric lady just isn’t the same thing…

Okay, that was pathetic… not the album, just the above.

I would argue that Jimi is the reason I started playing electric guitar. Hey Joe was my first song, Wind Cries Mary was my second…
There’s a good chance that I purchased a wah-wah just so I could try to play the opening to Voodoo Child…

This album is not one that I had ever listened to… at least, not that I recall. I know the last two tunes of this album all too well, as they undeniably some of the greatest guitar songs out there.
Yet, like many other peeps have said in the comments, this album just kind is a hit and miss thing…

Did I enjoy the listening experience? Sure, but I don’t have the desire to listen to the album again… and that is sad.

So, I should rate this 3*, regardless of Jimi being a God!

Its not bad or boring but its forgettable.

E x t r e m e l y f o r g e t t a b l e

This was getting 3 stars until the last two songs. There’s some great stuff on here. But you can really feel that no one is raining him in at all on this one.