AtomicCrimsonRush "Electric Ladyland" is an essential Jimi Hendrix album, one of the most discussed and revered in rock history. One glance at the track listing will provide a reason, as it boasts some of the Hendrix classics such as the bustling rhythmic 'Crosstown Traffic', the extended 'Voodoo Chile', both versions simply blaze and smoulder with infernal power, the psych rock of 'Burning of the Midnight Lamp', and wonderful lead guitar standard, the blues drenched Dylan penned 'All Along the Watchtower.' This last song is essential Hendrix, with some amazing guitar interplay with the poetic lyrics such as the infamous, "there must be some way outta here, said the joker to the thief." The wah-wah guitar lead is hugely influential and well known by guitarists.

It is also an album with some incredible psychedelic bursts such as the floating, trippy '1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)' clocking just under 14 minutes. After a haunting slow start it moves into an improvised percussion segment and some chilling celestial atmospherics, with minimalist guitar and heartbeat bass. 'Voodoo Chile (slight return)' is brilliant, and a staple for guitar enthusiasts that has blasted the radio airwaves ever since it saw the light of day. The lead break is quintessential Hendrix, with slices up and down the frets and soul chilling sustained string bends that pierce like arrows. 'Burning of the Midnight Lamp' has a recognizable guitar signature and Hendrix' voice is saturated with Acid influenced venom. There are also weird experimental pieces such as '...And the Gods Made Love' and 'Moon, Turn the Tides... Gently Gently Away' that are more confounding then welcome additions.

Some of the lesser known songs are the ultra bluesy 'Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)', uptempo fast riffer 'Gypsy Eyes', blues rocker 'Come On (Part 1)', saxophone, Hammond and guitar driven cruiser 'Rainy Day, Dream Away', the sizzling riffing Bolero rhythm influenced 'House Burning Down', and the jazzy, simmering 'Long Hot Summer Night'.

It is the last studio release for Hendrix and came out at the peak of the flower power counterculture era, 1968. The album became the soundtrack for the Vietnam War that was raging strong, and it was the album to play as one was ingesting hallucinogenic psych drugs. This was an era of immeasurable change; Man was about to land on the moon and Woodstock on Yasgur's Farm was still in its planning stages. The front cover was banned in some countries, and photographer David Montgomery's artistic license was not embraced by Hendrix who expressed embarrassment at the naked women adorned all over the cover leering at the music buying public with enticing delight. This cover was quickly replaced with the original design of Hendrix singing in close up, but of course it is the "naked ladyland" cover that everyone remembers and that appears in album cover books.

Overall, the album is a showcase of all that made Hendrix great and as a double album of considerable length, over 75 minutes, it delivers quite a bang for the buck. It features some incredible musicianship from members of Jefferson Airplane and Traffic among others. The extended improvised jam session features Steve Winwood burning gloriously on his keyboard, and there is a massive drum solo, as well as Hendrix taking control with blues power finesse, and a lot of congratulatory cheering and applause. It is moments as these that make the album a milestone of classic rock. Hendrix connoisseurs herald it as one of the best of 1968, and it has gone down in history as an essential rock treasure.

Sheavy (Original review from ProgArchives.com)

This last album shows Jimi all over the map stylistically, and also trying to put to rest about the accusations leveled at him about not being a good songwriter. This double album I think shows his songwriting skills in top form, with the only cover song being the excellent rendition of Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower. There is also a pretty impressive line up of muscians aside from the usual Experience players. For starters the is Steve Winwood, Al Kooper, Dave Mason, Buddy Miles, Brian Jones, and Jack Casady.

This also shows Jimi showing that he can do some Prog epics in studio, those two songs being Voodoo Chile and 1983. I like both of these songs, especially Voodoo Chile, which has some very impressive soloing from Jimi, and some impressive drumwork from Mitch Mitchell.

Some other stand out songs include the song which gives the album it's name. A lot of people complain that Jimi Hendrix is a very bad singer, well, Electric Ladyland shows just how wrong those people are, and that if Jimi wanted to sing "clean", he could. The closing Voodoo Child is also another standout song with more great Jimi solos.

While this album is just a bit to sprawling and un-even for it to be a masterpiece, it still needs to be heard by all the Prog heads out there.

Sheavy (Original eview from ProgArchives.com)

I am one of those people that is of the opinion that Hendrix was,is,and forever will be the greatest guitarist ever to walk this planet. Even though I worship him, that still does not mean I want a bunch of songs on some anonymous compilation that is just trying to cash in on Jimi's name. A lot of his well known songs are contained within this comp, but it fails to deliver a essential thing. Unreleased/live material, okay, fine it does the amazing Star Spangled Banner, but that is only one song. It also has a lot of my favorites, especially Voodoo Child, and every song before that one.

The lack of any real new material means that this one is not a great one, but to me, this is better than a lot of comps, so I can't but help giving this one a three star rating.