Jimi Hendrix's Guitar Playing Criticized in Article
 

Can you believe some dude would write these articles criticizing Jimi Hendrix's guitar playing? Electric Ladyland "is the most overrated album in history?" Not my opinion, personally, but I cringe when I think that this guy Marcus Singletary makes these statements talking about Robert Johnson simply "nicked" all of his blues from others and Hendrix brought nothing new to the table.

www examiner com / article/the-innovations-of-jimi-hendrix

www examiner com / review/jimi-hendrix-electric-ladyland-review-1

It's tough for me to believe that anyone at all would mock Hendrix. Never seen it before, but sad to say now.

Know-it-all critics will always criticise someone, and the famous and revered are always a target. Helps too that Jimi's passed on and can't defend himself. Hell, my advice is ignore this twat, who probably wouldn't know a riff from a ruff; some people just have to drag our icons down, makes them feel better about themselves.

As you say, sad. But we know the truth!

Even Hendrix himself thought there were better guitar players than himself back in the day. Terry Kath (Chicago) comes to mind as a guitarist that Hendrix considered his superior.

The thing with Hendrix is that while he was innovative, he was not the be all end all to the instrument. It's just as foolish to dismiss him as overrated as it is to worship him as infallible. For every awesome part on Electric Ladyland there's a part that sounds like a leftover from Axis.

Well the reality was that Jimi Hendrix made his own sound and he was able to do his own thing. People don't like it when you stand out from the general mass.

I once looked at him as the be all end all of guitar, but I've moved past that. Nonetheless, I think he's one of the greatest. Anyone who receives so much praise from so many great guitarist Is obviously something special. But that has nothing to do with it. Technically, he was very limited, although I think he was pretty good compared to most rock guitarists of his time. However, the sky was the limit when it came to his creativity and style. There was really nothin like it before he came along. Technical ability will become more proficient with enough practice, but a one of a kind style can't really be learned. When you combine that with how great of a songwriter he was (which is overlooked because hes so notorious as a guitarist), you have one hell of a musician.

:clap:

That's all very true. As much as I love him, he has a lot of music that I simply don't like.

Can someone before they agree with what Marcus Singletary said, please tell me if this song by him is better than any Jimi Hendrix song he rips aparts. I like to know if he has any room to speak.


It only has two veiws on youtube at the time of posting.

There's no doubt Jimi was a great guitarist. I don't like his music, but there's a reason he's still revered after all these years.

^Sounds like canned pop bull**** to me.^

While I'm a pretty open-minded person, I can't help but think his trampling on the popular opinion may be an attempt at getting some views on the net. Which seems to be working for now, and will probably backfire on him at some point.

Haha wow. What a pretentious *******. This guy is criticizing Hendrix? By the sounds of it, he couldn't write a song as good as Hendrix in his wildest dreams.

Good point Blastings. Regardless Hendrix was one rare talent.

:banghead:
This is a horrible argument and is one of my biggest pet peeves. Lacking talent in one art form has no bearing on a persons ability to asses another's work. If this argument had any validity the only people who could hold any views on music would be people who are good musicians. If someone was praising Hendrix would you say "what do you, know you can't write a good song"? Of course not, but somehow people seem to think this is a viable counter-argument to criticism of their favorite artist's.

Ok I wasn't even going to acknowledge this thread cause the main topic is just laughable and absurd. However the above mentioned is one almost as ridculous imo. How in the hell could someone with no talent in a certain area of life be more inclined to tell someone who does, anything about their profession? You think as a musician I'm going to listen to some doosh who cant play or sing a notegive me advice over someone who can and is an accomplished musician? Uhh no..thats effin retarded dude if you ask me and I just dont see the logic in it.

:laughing:

But if he has such a keen ear for talent in other people's musi why doesn't he aplly the high standards to his own music. If he expects Jimi to be flawless why isn't he flawless? That is what I was getting at, I really don't think he room to talk bad about Jimi Hendrix without implicating himself into the same type of ridicule. He might be a better critic because he's more brazen in who and what he's tackling, still I don't think he has room to speak based on the level of his own musicianmanship.

Purple Haze, from reading Marcus Singletary's article maybe he missed the point of the song. Jimi was an avid reader of Sci-fi and the song is based on a paperbook he read. To me, Jimi bridge the gap between two art forms (fantasy and music) which is often done in Prog and Metal. So in that sense Hendrix was an innovator (or one of many innavators).

I adore Jimi Hendrix.

But why shouldn't anyone criticise him? Criticise away.

What you are positing is a completely separate scenario than what's occurring here, of course if you're looking for constructive criticism and suggestions while creating a piece-a person who knows nothing about music would be the worst person to ask.

Art is meant to be experienced on a non-technical and more subjective level, it's about experiencing something and not about how somethings done. We all have the ability to absorb a piece of art and come to a conclusion about how effective it is. Yes a knowledge of music theory can enhance enjoyment and alter your perspective on others work. That doesn't mean your opinion is somehow better or the lack of that knowledge invalidates another's opinion.

Well of course anyone has the right to criticize whatever they want, he's entitled to his opinion. And my opinion, after listening to his music, is that his opinion isn't worth ****. It's just rude and foolish. It would be different if he were a musician of very high caliber and respect, but he's not.

Anytime I criticize someone I always remind myself that I don't have much room to speak. I think this guy should do the same.

I didn't even give it a second thought after reading the opening to this thread. I didn't listen to the song either cause after reading what he stated there was no reason too. Someone who makes remarks like that about arguably two of the biggest music icons of all time could not be capable of making very good music of his own. The only thing his music could hope to reflect is his ignorance and lack of musical intuition. As judging from the responses in this thread he accomplished.

It's not just that he's entitled to his opinion, his opinion can be just as valid as a musicians. while I do disagree with him(Hendix has never been a favorite, but he's an amazing player and a good songwriter), Saying that a lack of musical knowledge invalidates his ability to make a reasonable and cogent argument about a piece of music or a musician is so to miss the point of music altogether.

While that may be true, it doesn't mean that this guy knows what he's talking about. Guitarists like satriani, vai and buckethead have praised Hendrix and have shown his influence in their music. I'm definitely going to give them more credibility than this ass.

It's true that enjoyment of music can transcend all things, age, gender, culture, and social status. Everyone can have an opinion, and can express an opinion that is their own. But even opinions can tend to be more valid or less valid. An opinion is subject to opinion and it can be accepted or reject.

I read his article before I knew he was a musician, and I didn't agree with it. I head somewhere that the rhythm guitar player had a difficult time nailing the acoustic guitar part in Wind Cries Mary. So they he made it seem any guitar player can execute that song no problem doesn't settle right with me. I think they can fake it. But maybe not get it down exactly as was actually played. I think that besides what you brought up, it is ironic that he is a musician and saying the junk does.

("...well now, as with most things there are the first and the best where the best is alway open to conjecture here, and yet the first, well isn't that obvious by what went before it..." mentioned the goblin thinking that there wasn't that genre before hendrix came along, adding "...so rate him as you will, his place in history is untouched by your conjecture today...")

So should this forum ban anyone who isn't a musician from commenting about music?

No but why would I let someone tell me how to compose a piece of music who cant play, sing, or write? Thats what I thought he meant by that originaly. Having an opinion on whether or not you like a piece of music is something completly different. Telling me how or trying to give me advice on what I should do...well you could do that too. However it would just go in one ear and out the other. Now if you knew what you were talking about and were a respected musician it would carry more weight than someone who didn't. I think the same could be said for any proffession.

There's quite a lot of Hendrix stuff i find to be quite standard competent but not brilliant blues rock.

But then there's some things he's done that still surprise and delight me.
I like his voice as well - i know the man himself says he didn't.

I guess some of his performances were spoiled by ridiculous touring schedules & drug abuse (?).

I agree with that.

Marcus Singletary - Shame (Live) - YouTube

Wanted to throw this in there. But I think the fact he has fairly limited musical ability doesn't really invalidate his opinion on another's work. But his assessment seems way too one sided to be taken seriously. He literally had nothing good to say and tried to strip everything everyone had awarded Hendrix.

That said, I think Hendrix is a little overrated. xD

This guy is really no different than anybody else who has talked **** on any other musician. Only difference is, he took on one of the biggest giants I'm music and were talking about him here. Plus, he somehow got this **** published online.

I think the biggest fault people make when criticizing musicians is speaking like they're right. There is no right or wrong when it comes to this. I could say thy dream theater is a terrible band, but I'd at least admit that they're much better musicians than I am or will probably ever be.

This guy just needs to admit he's a schmuck and he could never even walk in Hendrix's shadow, then maybe he won't come of as such an ass.