Alicia Ferraiuolo
Ads Manager
Jimi Hendrix has been dead for over 40 years, but that didn’t stop him from releasing a “new” album that exemplifies ‘70s rock and roll at its heyday. The album, People, Hell & Angels, is filled with tracks that have previously been unreleased—alternative takes on songs set to be released after the commercial success of his album, Electric Lady Land.
The album is a must-have for Hendrix fans; it depicts Hendrix in his natural state—a man who made the guitar an extension of himself.
Legacy / AP Photo
This CD cover image, released by Legacy, shows People, Hell and Angels, by Jimi Hendrix. The album is the last of Hendrix’s unreleased studio material, ending a four-decade run of posthumous releases by an artist whose legacy remains as vital and vibrant now as it was at the time of his death.
He pushed boundaries with his previous albums, and this is no exception. The album, available on vinyl, is able to stand amongst the albums that made Hendrix famous, such as Are You Experienced?, Axis Bold As Love, and the album that every college student in the 1970s owned, Smash Hits.
Fans of Hendrix and young people looking for new music can both enjoy this album—the tracks are consistent with the kind of music one would expect from Hendrix.
This album, released on March 5 by the Experience Hendrix estate, is a prime example of the music that made Hendrix a legend in life and most importantly, in death.
The whole album is a tribute to the music of the late 1960s and early 1970s—rich guitar, psychedelic melodies and lyrics that are both poetic and thought provoking.
The best song on this entire album is hands down, “Earth Blues”—a raucous chorus between melodies of pure 1970s funk.
This song sounds stripped down compared to the iconic songs that made Hendrix famous.
Similar to an iconic Hendrix tune is the instrumental song, “Inside Out”—full of guitar and bass riffs similar at times to that of “Purple Haze,” the song made this listener close her eyes and really focus on the music. A new respect for instrumental classic rock was found in this one song.
Similarly, the jazzy, distinct sounds of the song “Easy Blues” form a melody that steadily builds up from guitar and piano and gradually integrates drums and bass. It is a slow and carefully crafted jazz song that is distinctive from the rest of the album.
Overall, the album exemplifies the ranging styles that Hendrix was comfortable with overtaking—his iconic guitar playing and distinct vocals make this album a must-have for all Hendrix fans.
But it is the alternative takes of his songs and the long, mellow instrumentals that make this album different.
Of course, the album is not infallible—some songs sound like classic Hendrix while some are obviously placed on the album as filler.
But, in general, the album is a fine piece of work for both fans of classic rock and those who are new to Hendrix.
The album, despite being released the spring before what would have been Hendrix’s seventieth birthday, is fresh and vibrant yet classic and what one expects from the legend that is Hendrix—dead or alive.
Best Songs on the album:
“Earth Blues”
“Inside Out”
“Izabella”
Alicia Ferraiuolo can be contacted at
aferraiuolo@keene-equinox.com
