People, Hell and Angels
by Jimi Hendrix
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
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  1. The Wire
    Apr 24, 2013
    90
    The posthumous tracks that have emerged are among the best of Hendrix's late work. [Apr 2013, p.50]
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  2. Slant Magazine
    Mar 1, 2013
    90
    People, Hell and Angels offers the clearest sense yet of how Hendrix was preparing an evolution of his own.
  3. Boston Globe
    Mar 5, 2013
    80
    The Hendrix estate, along with Newton-based archivist John McDermott and producer Eddie Kramer, have done themselves proud here.
  5. BBC Music
    Mar 5, 2013
    80
    This latest collection offers a tantalising glimpse of how Hendrix's genius might have progressed.
  6. Rolling Stone
    Mar 5, 2013
    80
    Hendrix left us so much but in precious little time. Every shred counts.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    Mar 4, 2013
    80
    This collection has a tantalising flavour, the sense of an alternative history of rock.
  8. The Guardian
    Mar 1, 2013
    80
    Most of the dozen songs here have been released before in other forms, and 1997's First Ray of the New Rising Sun remains the definitive set of "building blocks" for what would have been Hendrix's fifth album. However, these 1968-9 recordings (mostly with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles) are free of overdubs, and the playing is incendiary.
  9. Sputnikmusic
    Mar 7, 2013
    74
    As entertaining as this album may be, a lot of these songs, needless to say, feel rather parched of vitality.
  10. Classic Rock Magazine
    Jun 6, 2013
    70
    There's enough here that's new to renew your love of Hendrix. Yes, there's blood in the stone yet. [Apr 2013, p.94]
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  11. PopMatters
    Mar 8, 2013
    70
    What remains are fragments that got worked into more refined compositions, and enticing snapshots of ideas and visions that never had a chance to reach fruition. For Hendrix enthusiasts, and the historical record, this latest (and hopefully not last) installment is priceless in its way.
  12. AllMusic
    Mar 1, 2013
    70
    People, Hell and Angels certainly isn't the place to start your Hendrix collection, but collectors will surely want to hear this and it provides an interesting perspective on where Jimi's music was headed post-Experience.
  13. American Songwriter
    Mar 1, 2013
    70
    Even if there is a sense that we’ve heard a lot of this before, People, Hell, And Angels is still a well-chosen and finely-presented collection that should not be blamed for that familiarity.
  14. Blurt Magazine
    Mar 1, 2013
    70
    By definition, they're not as classic as his first three albums but because of the amazing guitar plus the soulful grooves and songwriting (and thankfully no overdubbing), there's still some good quality material found here for fans and even some agnostics.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. ChrisElliott
    Mar 18, 2013
    2
    Inferior Versions Of Already Released Songs For Completists Only

    1. Earth Blues John McDermott, Hendrix catalog manager said in his book    Inferior Versions Of Already Released Songs For Completists Only

    1. Earth Blues John McDermott, Hendrix catalog manager said in his book Ultimate Hendrix this song was “loose” & non-cohesive, being ultimately abandoned. Now he’s changed his opinion to calling it “stripped-down funk.” Interesting change of heart when it comes time to put together a “new Hendrix album.” The studio version mixed by Jimi was released on First Rays Of The New Rising Sun. This version is inferior and just a demo that lacks the overdubs Jimi later added to the version released on First Rays.

    2. Somewhere Jimi’s guitar work shreds on this song but listening to the song carefully, it’s easy to notice the amateurish “cut and paste” work by Eddie Kramer. During the breaks after Jimi’s verses, you can hear how his vocals were inaccurately pasted into this song, most noticeably at the break around 3:00, his vocals don’t match up and aren’t in time. The vocals are from an entirely different take of the song, which isn’t a problem itself, but Kramer’s mixing of the song is horrible. Jimi’s guitar breaks out of the field of sound field in places because it was a studio rehearsal, not a “new studio recording,” as advertised. A version that is actually “in time” was released on the Jimi Hendrix Experience Boxed Set in 2000 in better quality.

    3. Hear My Train A Comin’ Studio versions of this song have been released nearly a half-dozen times on releases by the Hendrix estate, including their last “new Hendrix studio album,” Valleys of Neptune, just a couple of years ago! The song was released twice on the single disc Blues release, again on the Martin Scorsese Blues album, on The Jimi Hendrix Experience Box-set, etc. This version is inferior and NOT a studio version, but from a practice run-through session they are mis-labeling as a studio version. This recording is of the first time Jimi got together with Buddy Miles and Billy Cox to practice songs. Keywords being “first time” and “practice.” Jimi’s vocals distort in places.

    4. Bleeding Heart Released as a SINGLE off of the Valleys Of Neptune album they released just a couple of years ago and they release it again already, two times in a row? Another studio version was released on South Saturn Delta. Here we get an inferior studio rehearsal.

    5. Let Me Love You One of the “new” songs on the album and Jimi doesn't sing a word in the song. This is actually a Lonnie Youngblood song that Jimi just plays guitar on. A good song though.

    6. Izabella The definitive studio version was released on First Rays of The New Rising Sun. An alternate version from this same recording session was released on The Experience Hendrix box-set in 2000, and another version on the Burning Desire album. The version we have here is far inferior to the already released versions.

    7. Easy Blues This is a purely instrumental song released on the Nine To The Universe album. Experience Hendrix claims that this “new extract” is nearly twice as long as the Nine To The Universe release, which is untrue. The Nine To The Universe release was 4:30 and this version is 5:57, a mere 90 seconds more instrumental..

    8. Crash Landing Released album Crash Landing, with original instrumentation replaced. Here we get the original version, but Jimi’s vocals have been pasted from another take, and one beat behind, not in time! How did this pass quality control? John McDermott (catalog manager) said how horrible this song was in his book Ultimate Hendrix, stating this song was “uninspired.” Now they want to release it as a “newly found gem,” McDermott changes his position to “it’s really good.”

    9. Inside Out Another early instrumental version of Ezy Ryder, no vocals. They released two more early Ezy Rider jams on “new studio album,” Valleys Of Neptune, and the Fire CD single from that same album just a couple of years ago! More Ezy Rider jams were released on Hear My Music & Burning Desire albums. More alternate versions of recently released early versions of songs?

    10.Hey Gypsy Boy Released on the Midnight Lightning album with Alan Douglas overdubs, here we have the original version as Jimi intended it, which is nice to hear.

    11.Mojo Man Yet another song that Jimi has no vocals on. A Ghetto Fighters song with Jimi guest appearing on rhythm guitar. And when I say “rhythm guitar,” I means exactly that because there are not even any guitar solos by Jimi on this song.

    12.Villanova Junction John McDermott, Hendrix catalog manager said in his book Ultimate Hendrix this song was “disjointed,” but in a recent interview flip-flopped saying it was “a sweet way to bring the record to a close.” This is merely a 1 minute & 45 second excerpt of this instrumental that fades out in the middle of the jam. A 5 minute version of this was released on the Burning Desire album.    … Full Review »
  2. ThatBrianW
    Mar 5, 2013
    9
    I enjoyed this album immensely, Hendrix continues to impress 43 years after his death. They cleaned up the audio so it's crisp and clear andI enjoyed this album immensely, Hendrix continues to impress 43 years after his death. They cleaned up the audio so it's crisp and clear and feels like your in the same room as the Experience.… Full Review »
  3. BrianDiAl
    Dec 30, 2013
    8
    Great album, my favorite tracks are Hear my train a comin' and Hey Gypsy Boy although i preferred the other versions on "First rays of the newGreat album, my favorite tracks are Hear my train a comin' and Hey Gypsy Boy although i preferred the other versions on "First rays of the new rising sun". I enjoyed the other recordings as well.… Full Review »
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