12 PERFECT Hard Rock Albums With No Bad Songs

When Jimi Hendrix first blasted onto the London club scene, most rockers were left delirious. Hendrix was still rooted in the blues traditions of other guitarists, but the innovations he brought to the guitar opened up a whole new world of possibilities for rock music.

From the first shot of "Foxy Lady" or the American "Purple Haze," Are You Experienced just announces itself right out of the gate. With the heavy distortion on Hendrix's guitar, you knew that you were in for quite a headtrip from the very beginning. Together with Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding, this album is a tour-de-force in hard rock music, as it mixes blues standards like "Hey Joe" and "Red House" with more psychedelic freakouts like "Purple Haze" or "Highway Chile."

There are even moments on here where Hendrix blends in a healthy dose of R&B like on the infectious "Fire" or the slinky groove of "Manic Depression." Once the last strains of the title track wind down, you realize just what you have been listening to this whole time. This was not just a mere guitar player but a spiritual music entity who graced the rock world with his magnetic riffs and tear-inducing solos. Many guitarists are still trying to ape this sound, but it's nearly impossible to accomplish this kind of god-like playing.