The Ultimate Experience

Surprisingly well chosen for a best-of assembled from the results of a fan poll, The Ultimate Experience brings together the major singles with a stack of majestic album tracks and career-defining live shots on a fat 20-tracker. While best used as a sampler to direct new listeners to the immortal Are You Experienced, Electric Ladyland, and so on, the record does hang together as a listen. Its blend of Hendrix-the-rocker and Jimi-the-underrated-soul-man is suggestive, painting a picture of a multifaceted genius and transcending its plainly mercenary origins. In the end, its effect--like that of all Hendrix's best records--is to remind us of a Jimi very, very much alive. --Rickey Wright