Electric Ladyland

Crosstown Traffic is a bonafide classic. As is Voodoo Child. As is his version of All Along The Watchtower.

I am on record as being unmoved by long periods of guitar noodling... But Hendrix's guitar noodling is just better. Funky and soulful and just perfect for the track it's on. And I find it so interesting he was critical of his own singing voice, because it's perfect for these songs.

However, as a record this is too long to sustain my interest over the full album, and for every great song, there's a forgettable one, meaning this can't get more than:

3/5

A fair to middling Hendrix album that is propped up by the last two songs, which just happen to be some of the best in music history. Favorite track: Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

1001 Albums Vol. 0007: Electric Ladyland
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Introduction: From this point on, I'm going to stop with extremely lengthy reviews of every single track off of an album. I will still give a few sentences or a paragraph for each song, but my main focus will now be on the introduction and conclusion segments.

Jesus Christ, I'm sure I'm going to have a lot of positive things to say about this album. I've heard some Jimi Hendrix songs in the past, yet I don't believe I've ever heard anything off of this album. The Hendrix songs I have heard have all been amazing though, especially the guitar work. So, with the knowledge that many acclaim this as Hendrix's best work, I'm sure that I'm going to have absolutely nothing but positive to say about it. I'm sure nobody needs it, yet I'm still going to give a small introduction to this album anyway. Electric Ladyland was Jimi Hendrix's final work before his unfortunate death in 1970. Like I said above, many consider it to be his absolute best work. Furthermore, it is generally considered to be one of the best albums of all time by casual listeners and critics alike. Now, this appraisal may come from the fact that Hendrix probably perfected every track off this album as much as possible to his standard of perfect. What I mean by this is that Hendrix himself is credited as both a performer (obviously) and producer for this album. Right away, without even hearing the album, this is something that I find incredibly impressive. I know that a few songs off of this album are often cited as some of the greatest songs of all time, and I also know that this album continues to be extremely influential for certain rock movements even to this day, so I'm expecting nothing but absolutely sublime songs from this album. Anyway, as I said, Hendrix himself was the producer of this album, so he was allowed as much creative freedom as he wanted for these songs. I mean, he was the writer of these songs anyway but you know what I mean. Like I said above, Hendrix being the producer allowed him to be as experimental and perfect the songs as much as he wanted as well. From the few songs from Jimi Hendrix that I've heard, allowing Hendrix as much creative expression as he wants is an extremely good thing. Even before this point he was creating songs that were so unique and otherworldly compared to what was being released at the time. Like I said, despite not hearing a single song off this album before, I already expect it to be one of my highest rated albums by the end of my journey through this site. Anyway, with that all said, let's get into the legendary Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix
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Track 1: ...And the Gods Made Love - This song has a lot of weird production and no real melody. It's pretty unpleasant to listen to, but for 1968 it sounds pretty damn cool. It's pretty short and doesn't overstay its welcome. It's just the right length to get the listener into the vibe it wants to.
...And the Gods Made Love Score: 7/10

Track 2: Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) - This and the last track serve as two good opening tracks that get the listener into the general vibe of the album. There's a pretty disorganized feeling here, but that adds to the psychedelic vibe of the song. Hendrix's voice is extremely pleasant as well. Production on this song such as the guitar that alternates between channels is extremely nice as well. Very dreamy lyrics here as well which add to the psychedelic feel. Very ahead of its time. Took a few listens for me to truly understand and really like, but this song is really great.
Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) Score: 9/10

Track 3: Crosstown Traffic - Well, this song has a much more kick-ass vibe to it than the last two. It's really, really catchy as well. I'm not going to lie, I'm still kinda in shock because of one of the instruments used in this song. A freaking kazoo is used in tandem with Hendrix's guitar to make a very kick-ass riff heard during the intro and chorus. Hendrix made some home modifications to this kazoo as well. Really freaking cool. The production on this song is nice. Voices alternate from left to right and reverse. The intro and kazoo guitar moves across channels as well. Really good stuff. Hendrix's voice is much more aggressive and sounds really nice as well. Very aggressive and deeply metaphorical lyrics here about a relationship being compared to crosstown traffic. It's extremely clever and I honestly wouldn't have picked up on this metaphorical meaning had I not looked it up. Really, really great song.
Crosstown Traffic Score: 10/10

Track 4: Voodoo Chile - This song is absolutely amazing. I may be a bit bias to jam songs, because I really found myself liking At Fillmore East as well, but I freaking love this song. There's weirdly good production, amazing guitar, drum, bass, and keyboard work. This all cultivates into a fifteen minute song that is just amazing. The use of crowd effects to encapsulate the feel of listening to a live recording is a very nice and artistic touch by Hendrix as well. Hendrix's voice is spot on and fits the blues jam theme of the song really well. They lyrics are very dreamy and the supernatural theme fits perfectly for the mood the song was trying to encapsulate. They have a nice connection to the general concepts blues songs would speak of at the time. From beginning to end, this song is just great and kept my attention all the way through. There wasn't a single section or time where I was bored.
Voodoo Chile Score: 11/10

Track 5: Little Miss Strange - This song is nowhere near as good as the last. There isn't much weird production here. It's just a much more typical psychedelic rock song. The musical work on this song is absolutely amazing though, especially the outro. I do have a bit of a problem with the vocals. Hendrix clearly is not the one singing, and I wouldn't care all that much if they singer of this song didn't sound objectively worse than Hendrix. I guess their voice fits a little bit better with the faster pace of this song though. Lyrically, this song speaks about Hendrix's complicated relationships. It has good lyrics, but that's it. It's a great song.
Little Miss Strange Score: 8/10

Track 6: Long Hot Summer Night - This song feels pretty directionless at times. It may take me a few more listens to truly get used to this song, but it feels a bit directionless for now. This isn't really a bad thing with this song since it adds to the psychedelic feel. The production is good, the guitars are good, and Hendrix is singing again. The backup singer's voices sound extremely nice as well. The song's lyrics are extremely well-written and speak of the joy one feels when their lover returns to them. This can reflect back on Hendrix himself due to him complicated relationships. This is a pretty good song, better than the last.
Long Hot Summer Night Score: 8/10

Track 7: Come On (Let the Good Times Roll) - This is another song that just screams kick-ass rock in the 60's. The production, especially the guitar-work in the bridge, is amazing. Hendrix's voice sounds just as good as before. The song's lyrics are good as well. It speaks of one's desires to continue having fun with their loved one. I guess one could interpret the song as having a sexual meaning as well, but this is a bit more far-fetched. Either way, this song is great and maintains the psychedelic feel while feeling a bit more focused than the last song.
Come On (Let the Good Times Roll) Score: 9/10

Track 8: Gypsy Eyes - There is some seriously great production on this song. There are segments, particularly in the intro, where the guitars straight up sound like a laser. The segment in the bridge where Hendrix's voice sounds oddly centered between channels is extremely well-produced as well. There is just so much amazing about this song. Hendrix's vocals have an odd subdued sound to them which add to the song's psychedelic feel. The lyrics are pretty depressing and genuinely kinda touching as well. This entire song is just great, one of the best so far.
Gypsy Eyes Score: 10/10

Track 9: Burning of the Midnight Lamp - I've not said this so far, but it is genuinely kinda hard to get a grasp on most of these tracks. This isn't a bad thing. Every song just has such a deeply psychedelic and otherworldly feel to it that getting a grasp of it is genuinely difficult. That being said, every song manages to feel contained and not lose itself in random sounds and guitar screeches that make no sense. This song is no exception. It would take a lot of listens for me to truly grasp each song. Anyway, this song is great. It has a dramatic tone to it while being excellently produced at the same time. Hendrix's vocals have a nice subdued tone to them as well. The lyrics have a pretty nice depiction of loneliness as well. This fits well with the grandiose tone of the song. It's great.
Burning of the Midnight Lamp Score: 10/10

Track 10: Rainy Day, Dream Away - This song is very two-sided. The first half of the song feels as if we're listening to someone's thoughts about relaxing on a rainy day. The second half feels like someone is describing the factors of rainy day alongside the fact that they can relax. This song's lyrics are pretty simple. There is some extremely good production here, especially the circling guitar during the outro and the groovy intro. Hendrix's vocals are pretty normal on this song. This song was apparently meant to be a reflection from Hendrix on the cancellation of a festival he was supposed to play in. It's a great song, yet still one of the weakest.
Rainy Day, Dream Away Score: 9/10

Track 11: 1983...(A Merman I Should Turn to Be) - This is the second and final extremely long song off on this album. It's insanely good. The music seemingly contributing to the overall narrative that this song goes for is extremely nice. The production is extremely nice, the lyrics are extremely well-written and depressing, Hendrix's voice is spot on as well. Everything off of this song is great. The song speaks of a man and his lover turning into creatures that have the ability to breathe underwater. They do this to escape the constant war on the surface. The depressing nature of the song up until the final few minutes, which speak of happiness in Atlantis, is genuinely great. The nine minute wait you have to go through before hearing the first happy lines of the song are genuinely great and make for a great buildup. This entire song is just perfect.
1983...(A Merman I Should Turn to Be) Score: 11/10

Track 12: Moon, Turn the Tides...Gently Gently Away - This is another song which is simply pointless ambiance. It's more pleasant to listen to than the first song, and one could argue that it has a connection to the previous song, yet it's still something I wouldn't choose to listen to on a re-listen of this album. It doesn't overstay its welcome, however. The song has a pretty peaceful tone and almost sounds like waves crashing down on a beach. It's fine, but still not something I consider good.
Moon, Turn the Tides...Gently Gently Away Score: 7/10

Track 13: Still Raining, Still Dreaming - This song has the same subject matter and extremely similar lyrics to the previous song with a similar name. That being said, this song simply has better production and is more musically enjoyable. The pristine guitar-work is present in the entirety of this song, that alone helps elevate this song. There is an especially pristine section of guitar in the middle of this song. There really isn't all that much to say. This song is amazing.
Still Raining, Still Dreaming Score: 10/10

Track 14: House Burning Down - This album simply does not stop. There isn't much to say about this song that hasn't already been said, but that's completely fine. It has a less intense psychedelic feel than the previous few songs, and I assume that it has a deeply metaphorical meaning about exploration of the world, yet it doesn't do too much we haven't heard before. It's lyrics are nice and it feels a bit weird to get a song that tells a cohesive story that's not too vague. We haven't gotten one like this in awhile. I know 1983 had a cohesive story...I mean a story that wouldn't take multiple listens to understand.
House Burning Down Score: 9/10

Track 15: All Along the Watchtower - This is the one song from this album that everybody knows. It's truly as good as everybody says it is. I would go so far as to call it the best song I've heard off this site so far by a long shot. It feels as if this song is the perfect mix between the hard psychedelic and contained nature of previous songs from this album. I mean, it's legitimately perfect in every way. I would go so far as to say that everything that has made this album great is at its absolute peak in this song. The melody is great, the guitar-work is great, the vocals are just right, the drumming is great, the lyrics, while not written by Hendrix, are perfect, literally everything is perfect. I expect this to be my favorite song from this site for a very long while.
All Along the Watchtower Score: 11/10

Track 16: Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - This song isn't as good as the last, yet I consider it to be the second best I've heard off of this site so far. It manages to take the fifteen minute song we heard way earlier in the album and transform it into a heavy, fast-paced, psychedelic rock masterpiece that sounds absolutely insane for something released way back in 1968. Lyrically, it seems to cover the exact same themes as the first version of the song. I do find its meaning to mix a bit better with the more heavy version of the song, however. I mean, the guitar work is so freaking incredible that I thought I was listening to a bass for most of the song. It's perfect in every way. It's weird to find an artist that puts the best two songs of their album at the end, yet here we are with the artistic Hendrix doing just that.
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) Score: 11/10
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Conclusion: I am literally blown away by this album. This is seriously unbelievable for 1968. Like I said, I had heard a few Hendrix songs in the past, and they sounded pretty damn unique compared to most other songs being produced at the time, yet this album was on another level compared to those few songs. Again, like I said, this is Hendrix's most true artistic vision in this album due to the fact that he was the producer of it. Speaking of which, the production in this album is simply sublime in almost every aspect. I couldn't even list how much I find to sound amazing off of this album, yet a highlight is obviously the guitar-work. This is what Hendrix is most known for, it it not? The guitar-work is simply sublime and sounds so unbelievably good in every song. Another factor that I love is the use of channeling effects throughout the entire album. There are some moments where channeling is used that can be described as nothing short of genius. It's just so good. Hendrix's vocals are extremely nice too and are extremely adaptable to fit the general mood a specific song is going for. Besides that one song where Hendrix isn't the singer, I love the vocals on every track of this album. Even the track where Hendrix wasn't the singer still sounds great, but the singer's voice just sounds a bit...nasally I guess....Anyway, cool production is not just limited to the various instruments used throughout the album. It's applied countless times to Hendrix's voice and backup singer's voices as well. Of course, every scenario for it just adds to the overall vibe of a specific song or is just genius. As for the various lyrics that can be found throughout the album, they're great as well. They have a depth to them that isn't seen in many artists. The themes this album covers are very nice too. I specifically am a fan of both the commentary and story provided by 1983. It's just touching, relevant, and well-written. Now, how could one possibly talk about and review this album without mentioning its highlight. I shouldn't even have to name the song I'm going to talk briefly about, but it's All Along the Watchtower just in case. Oh my God! This genuinely has to be one of the greatest songs ever made. It sounds great today, so I can only imagine how great it sounded back in 1968. I mean, everything I said above is present here in a way that literally can't be changed for the better. The innovative guitar work of this song, Hendrix's additions to the song, the production, literally everything about this song is perfect. And I feel that this song should honestly speak for the entirely of the album. I mean, there are a few songs that may be a bit weak, but you're generally going to hear some of the absolute top tier stuff that you can possibly hear off of this album. I'll be honest, it's not an album that I consider beyond perfect, yet it comes damn near close to that point. I feel as if there are very small critiques that I could make throughout the album, and there are certain songs that don't really have much of an impact on me at all. Despite this, this album is still genuinely one of the best I have every heard. It truly, truly does deserve all of the praise it gets. (Reevaluated my first twenty-five albums and decided to bump this one up from a 10/10 to an 11/10)
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Electric Ladyland Score: 11/10
Song Average: 9.4/10

YES.

Quite frankly, it was tiring.

Good but not great … i preferred the Electric Landlady album (RIP Kirsty)❤️

Alright. I'll bite. Jimi Hendrix is pretty legendary, and I've never had a rough moment during my listen to this, even if the length is exceptionally long. Damn good guitarwork.

It's fun, interesting, and with a variety of styles, though it does kinda drag towards the end, even if the quality stays the same or improves.

𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 captures Jimi Hendrix at his creative and technical peak. Across sprawling jams and carefully layered studio work, he pushes the guitar into new dimensions of sound. The extended 𝘝𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘰 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 is pure electricity — a masterclass in blues improvisation — while his take on Dylan’s 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘈𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 remains one of the greatest cover versions ever recorded. Hendrix was the best rock guitarist of his time, and this album is still proof that nobody has quite matched his vision since.

Jimi Hendrix was obviously an incredible guitarist who I don’t think gets enough credit for how distinctive his voice was too, and when this is good, it’s amazing. But swathes of it are kinda dull.

Really liked All along the Watchtower and Voodoo Chile but overall I didn't find it interesting, and I didn't feel emotionally involved. I also, strangely perhaps, thought that some of these songs sounded like others of his.

I also do not think he is the greatest guitarist of all time (soz Rolling Stone mag)

Саме цей альбом Хендрікса щось мені зовсім ніяк. Кавер на Ділана звісно гарний, але чесно кажучи більшу частину альбому мені слухати було просто нереально скучно: "джіпсі ууу бейбі джипсі" -> *10 годин пентатоніки*

This was one of the first cds I got as a kid so I’ve listened to it repeatedly. Needless to say I love all of it, even the longer meandering songs I grew to love and enjoy every second

A few long winded jams but a few tracks that hit hard. All around positive. 3/5

It's such a cliché, but half the tracks could be removed from this double album and it would be top-tier. Sorry Jimi!

Not too bad, but does overstay it's welcome a bit.

Standout track: All Along The Watchtower

Already being one of my all-time favorites, it was a pleasure to listen to “Electric Ladyland” again. “All Along The Watchtower” and “Voodoo Chile” are among the most important Jimi Hendrix references, but The Jimi Hendrix Experience line-up was so strong and well-rehearsed in 1968 that every song becomes a very special experience in its very own right. As said before - always a pleasure.

Guitar. Lots of it. The sound quality could be better, but then again, this was 1968.
The songs in the beginning are not as good as the last ones. All along the Watchtower is amazing and Voodoo Child is also a great finisher.

4.5

The album is a scattered mess, so much so that their produced quit halfway through recording.

And that's what makes this album a good one!