James Marshall Hendrix.
In a world that feels like it's filled with more questions than answers, it's brilliant to reflect on those questions that have been definitely answered. Who is the greatest guitarist of all time? (Say it with me now) Jimi Hendrix. The debate is over. I know there are some of you inclined to disagree. Not only are you wrong, you're also irrelevant. Hendrix's place is assured and earned. Hendrix isn't my favorite guitarist — he's among them, to be sure — but he is the greatest and today we remember and reflect on his many gifts and the unique trail he blazed in such a short time and his enduring iconic status.
For starters, Sony/Legacy is now the major label home for Jimi Hendrix and that means we're getting re-issues of Are You Experienced?, Axis: Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland, and the posthumous recording First Rays Of The New Rising Sun, the album Hendrix was working on at the time of his death. All four of these albums have been remastered from the original mix tapes. I'm very curious about the sonic difference between these and the 'Experience Hendrix' versions currently available. Each of these four CDs comes accompanied with a DVD documentary about the making of the records.
In addition, we have a 'new' album from Jimi Hendrix called Valleys of Neptune. This collection of previously unreleased songs features titles that may be familiar to fans and obsessives but Valleys is being billed as a collection of songs never before officially presented in this form. That's enough for me.
A note: many Hendrix fans — myself included — have not appreciated the way the Hendrix family members who control the late artist's catalog have managed the family business. We won't feel any better about the way this re-issue campaign is being orchestrated although, in fairness to them, this stunt isn't one they invented nor is it all that rare. Target is being given an exclusive version of Valleys of Neptune that features two additional tracks not available on other releases. Guess when I found this out? After my Amazon order had already shipped. Not only are they throwing around different versions of the CD, they aren't doing a good job of publicizing who gets what. It's terrible and frustrating and just not a proper way to treat the dwindling number of fans willing to shell out the cash.
This year marks 40 years since Hendrix's death, 3 years to the day before I was born. 40 years later and what he did stands up to music still being made today. A lot of much more recent music already sounds dated. Much of the Hendrix catalog still feels fresh and contemporary. The greatest? Bet your ass.
Coco Montoya
I Want It All Back
Bluesman Coco Montoya has a brand new set, his first for Ruf Records after a very nice run at Blind Pig and Alligator records. This new set was co-produced by Keb' Mo' and finds Montoya branching out to incorporate different sounds and influences, and even changing his focus just a little.
“People know where I’m at with the guitar, but here the vocals are being concentrated on,” said Coco about the new album. “There will certainly be guitar, but the focus has been on song structure and my vocals.
Heartbreakers' drummer Steve Ferrone joins Montoya, as do Keb' Mo, Reggie McBride and Jeff Paris. Rod Piazza, another contemporary blues maestro, makes a cameo.
A couple other notables I want to mention at least in passing before we get to the full list: legendary guitarist Ry Cooder has teamed up for an album with The Chieftains, blending Latin and Irish musical traditions. That's not an obvious pairing of styles. It could really be something. Also, cartoon band Gorillaz are back with another full length. I've never understood that appeal myself, but it's yours if you want it…
Alberta Cross
Broken Side Of Time
Aloha
Home Acres
Badu, Erykah Tribute
Smooth Jazz Tribute To Erykah Badu – Volume 2
Bahleda, Mercedes
Mercy Song
Beanie Sigel & Freeway
Roc Boys
Before Their Eyes
Untouchable
Berry, Chuck
You Can't Catch Me
Besnard Lakes, The
The Besnard Lakes Are The Roar
Bled, The
Heat Fetish
Blind Witness
Nightmare On Providence St
Blyton, Carey
Lyrics From The Chinese
Bone Thugs
Bone Thugs -N- Harmony
Boss Hogg Outlawz Presents
Outlaw Season 2
Braxton, Anthony
News From The 70S
Broken Bells
Broken Bells
Bundles, The
The Bundles
Burning Star Core
Papercuts Theater
Can
Delay
Chasen
That Was Then, This Is Now
Chingo Bling
Chyne Flu, The
Coconuts
Coconuts
Cohen, Leonard
Leonard Cohen's Jukebox
Coldplay Tribute
Buddha Lounge Renditions Of Coldplay
Collett, Jason
Rat A Tat Tat
Cosmic Gate
Back To Back 4
Cross, Donnie
Law Abiding Citizen
Dark Tranquillity
We Are The Void
Darkthrone
Frostland Tapes
Daughters
Daughters
Demon Hunter
World Is A Thorn, The
Diddley, Bo
Who Do You Love
Dj Tiesto
Space Age 1.0
Dj Tiesto
Space Age 2.0
Dubois, Scott
Black Hawk Dance
Eluveitie
Everything Remains
Emanuel And The Fear
Listen
Evanescence Tribute
Buddha Lounge Renditions Of Evanescence
Excalion
High Time
Feldman: Trio
Aki Takahshi, Rohan De Saram, Marc Sabat
Fijneman, Cor
Private Party 3
Finntroll
Nifelvind
Fleshtones, The
The I.R.S. Years 1980-1985 It’s Super Rock Time!
Fowlis, Julie
Uam
Frightened Rabbit
The Winter Of Mixed Drinks
Gibson, Jon
Two Solo Pieces
Gonjasufi
A Sufi And A Killer
Gorillaz
Plastic Beach
Hans Zimmer, Geoff Zanelli And Blake Neely
The Pacific (Soundtrack)
Hawkwind
Minneapolis 1989
Hendrix, Jimi
First Rays Of The New Rising Sun
Hendrix, Jimi
Valleys Of Neptune
Hendrix, Jimi, The Experience
Are You Experienced?
Hendrix, Jimi, The Experience
Axis: Bold As Love
Hendrix, Jimi, The Experience
Electric Ladyland
Hendrix, Jimi, The Experience
Smash Hits
Iannis Xenakis: Works With Piano – Eonta, Akea, Etc.
Aki Takahshi, Rohan De Saram, Jack Quartet, Callithumpian Consort/Stephen Drury
Immolation
Majesty And Decay
Imperium Dekadenz
Procella Vadens
Jj
Jj No 3
Katatonia
The Great Cold Distance ( Stereo & 5.1 Mix )
Keane, Tommy
The Piper S Apron
Kidz In The Hall
Land Of Make Believe
Knife With Mt. Sims, The
Tomorrow, In A Year
Kurosky, Miles
The Desert Of Shallow Effects
Lady Antebellum Tribute
Piano Tribute To Lady Antebellum
Larkin, Patty
25
Lawrence Arabia
Chant Darling
Laxmikant Pyarelal
Bollywood Remembers Laxmikant Pyarelal
Lee, Brenda
Sweet Nothins
Liars
Sisterworld
Liars
Sisterworld – Ltd Ed Deluxe
Lymon, Frankie And The Teenagers
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Mac Duncan
Live At The Lord Napier 1973
Manegarm
Nattvasen
Mcmorrow, Brenda
Ameya
Menace
Exposing Studio Gangsters
Method Actors, The
This Is Still It
Miguel Yisreal (Lute)
Court Of Bayreuth, The: Lute Music Of Hagen & Falckenhagen,
Mimicking Birds
Mimicking Birds
Mitchell, Anais
Hadestown
Coco Montoya
I Want It All Back
Morning Benders, The
Big Echo
Mortemia
Misere Mortem
Morton, Jelly Roll
Oh Mister Jelly!
Mr. Lil One
Boxset
Murder Death Kill
Fuck With Us And Find Out
Myrath
Desert Call
O'donnell, Daniel
Daniel O'donnell Early Memories
Of Mice And Men
Of Mice And Men
Ohlson, Curtis
Better Than Ever
Ortolan
Time On A String
Pavement
Quarantine The Past: Greatest
Perry, Lee
Mad Alien Dub
Peter, Paul & Mary
Peter, Paul And Mary: With Symphony Orchestra – The Prague Sessions
Pop, Iggy
Anthology Box – The Stooges & Beyond
Putumayo Kids Presents
Jazz Playground
Robbins, Marty
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You / I've Got A Woman's Love
Ronstadt, Linda
Simple Dreams
Rotta, Rudy
Blue Inside
Rotting Christ
Aealo
Rouse, Josh
El Turista
Schiller, Alan
Piano Moods And Seasons
Selby, Mark
Live At Rockpalast – One Night In Bonn
Serj Tankian
Elect The Dead Symphony
Shop Boyz & C-Murder
Community Service 2
Soundtrack/Cast Album
Cold Souls
Speed Caravan
Kalashnik Love
Stefano Bagliano (Recorder); Collegium Pro Musica
Fiorenze & Mele: Recorder Concertos
Stellar Kart
Everything Is Different Now
Sterling, Suzanne
Blue Fire Soul
Stewart, Al With Dave Nachmanof
Uncorked Al Sterwart Live
Ted Leo And The Pharmacists
The Brutalist Bricks
Titus Andronicus
The Monitor
Totalt Javla Morker
Sondra & Harska
Trae
Incredible Truth 1.5
Tuki
My Life
Van Canto
Tribe Of Force
Varg
Blutaar
Various
The Little Ballerina! The Greatest Classical Ballet Music For Children
Various
Rock Of The '80S
Various
Elevator Music: Vol. 1
Various
Secondhand Sureshots
Various Artists
Forbidden Planets – Music From The Pioneers Of Electronic Sound
Voom:Voom
Mixes
White Hinterland
Kairos
White Wizzard
Over The Top
Zero Db
One Off's, Remixes & B Sides