Horses

queen of punk

Some I loved, some I didn’t

I didn't fully appreciate Patti Smith until I saw her live about 10 years ago. Her passion is electric. One of the all-time great performers. This is her Mona Lisa, but not always easy on the ears if you're coming in cold.

She’s very passionate but a lot of the songs just didn’t speak to me.

i like it.

I wanted more from this.

No. 55/1001 Gloria 3/5 Redondo Beach 2/5 Birdland 2/5 Free Money 3/5 Kimberley 3/5 Break It Up 4/5 Land: Horses 3/5 Elegie 3/5 Average: 2,89 Felt like she would have been a better poet than a musician.

Fine album

Just noise. Not great, but I guess it wasn't horrible.

It's literally named horses and Patti Smith sounds like a really really cool woman I'm so disappointed in myself that I didn't really like the album. I'm sorry Patti I'm gonna work on myself it's not you it's me

Gotta revisit

This is acknowledged as a proto-punk classic, so I was expecting it to be raw, lo-fi and angry. However, I don't hear a punk sound in it at all. It's a mature, refined and exceptional record. Everything that punk isn't, and all the better for it. Rating: 4.5/5 Playlist track: Gloria: In Excelsis Deo Date listened: 27/11/23

Kind of bad voice. Enjoyed it mostly. 2nd and 3rd song were my least favorite. 3.5.

less annoying than it should be on paper. better than everything bob dylan ever did.

Pretty good, I like the intensity of her voice. 3.5

The sound of this record is particularly amazing for the mid 70's - it sounds to me what would become indie rock of the subsequent decades, though its influence has been wider than one subgenre.

Proto punk poetry. Would have been amazing to see her and Television during their residency at CBGB"s.

Sounds way more forward thinking than an album from the 70s. You can definitely hear John Cale's production styles on this album, and I think it adds to it... although in some parts I wish the abrasive punk-ness was a bit more forward. I had actually never heard this album, but I can see why people would call it the "first art-rock album". Awesome album cover as well.

I hate to write this but, I really couldn't wait for this album to end. It's the first really arduous listen so far for me in this 1001 Albums journey. I absolutely appreciate how fresh this must have appeared on the scene at the time of release, and I like its punk, prog, blues, and rock mix that has clearly influenced artists like Nick Cave and PJ Harvey, however, I simply didn't enjoy the music. In fact, I absolutely prefer Velvet Underground, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey far more than this particular album. I don't really ever hear lyrics when I listen to music - it's one of my sonic quirks - and I suspect this will appeal much more to those who enjoy good lyrics. I guess Patti Smith simply isn't for me.

Good solid rocker

En muistanut että tää on näin hyvä?! Lähinnä avausraita on wowww joten fiilis on heti hyvä. Taitavaa muutenkin, välillä tosin menee vähän liikaa TAITEEN puolelle. Hienoa laulua, roso kantaa.

Alan olla vakuuttunut, että tämä on ainakin kolmonen, ehkä parempikin. Musiikki kasvaa minimalismissaan aitoon tehokkuuteen, vaikka sen paras koukku onkin lainattu Van Morrisonilta, ja Smith - jumalauta mikä laulaja. Toisaalta levyllä on hetkiä, kun yksinkertaisesti "zone outaan", enkä voi hallita huomioni heikentymistä. En myöskään ylenpalttisesti innostu biisien yllä virtaavasta runoudesta silloin, kun onnistun keskittymään siihen.

I think I understand whats the big fuss about her

So simple, yet so powerful. And it hit me hard, amazing album.

This was really great, I really loved it start to finish. Possibly my favorite opening line yet; it opens with "Gloria" and starts off "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine." Just totally sets the tone for what's to come. "Gloria" is raw and chaotic and awesome, and then it leads into "Redondo Beach" which is totally different but also beautiful and heartbreaking. It's basically a reggae song but the lyrics are just devastating. This is just great from top to bottom. Smith has a really unique voice that just captures the emotion of the album so well. The lyrics are pointed and real and honestly poetic throughout. "Kimberly" is a bit more poppy in the middle (almost sounds like a Blondie song or something), and then "Elegie" is just a beautiful conclusion. And then the unsung start is John Cale pulling it all together, this guy is incredible. He produced this (and a bunch of other stuff) after leaving The Velvet Underground and his fingerprints are all over this one. I guess Smith downplayed his influence on the album, but I don't think I buy it. Favorite song: Kimberly Other: Gloria In Excelsis Deo, Redondo Beach, Birdland, Free Money, Break It Up, Land: Horses / Land of a Thousand Dances / La Mer(de), Elegie 11/16/23

7/10

Amazing emotion Pretty cool the majority of the time

different. i liked some songs, other songs seemed a little too long.

I like her voice and nothing else about this.

This was pretty gross, to be honest.

This album has a kind of garage rock/punk meets beat poet sensibility, with a little avant garde for a flourish. Great lyrics, for me her voice takes a little getting used to. I'll have to say her longer pieces Birdland and Land: Horses/Land of a Thousand Dances are ones that don't resonate with me on first listen. The rest of the album is all good though. Kimberly and Break It up are my favorites.

#37. There's really only one good Patti Smith song, and this isn't the album it's on. This one could almost get a 3- almost, but there's a few songs that are actively annoying. I don't really have even a little bit of desire to listen to this one again. 2/5: meh Song added to playlist: Redondo Beach I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

Never heard this before. Liked it!

Oh man... Where to begin. This is my favorite album of all time. Patti means so much to me as a musician, poet, author, and a person. This album is truly incredible. To be able to merge her moving prose, her fiery intensive vocals, and the driving rhythms of her band brings me to a place only few musicians can do. To go from the raucous and rowdy cover of Gloria to the beautifully haunting Redondo Beach makes me tear up almost every time. The climaxing Birdland, with her frenetic spoken word, the story of a fatherless boy going through grief is powerful. Free Money is a great punk song. Kimberly is a live staple to this day. A good mix of prose and punk which she is known for. The soaring choruses of Break it up showcase the energy of Patti and her band.

Strong

Okay. I know it’s classic and people love her, but like…okay.

I was relieved when it was over. There’s talent there but I just didn’t like her chosen singing style. She’s certainly got singing chops but most of the time, she chose a different style with terms I’m sure a trained vocalist would know but I couldn’t stand.

I don't know how to describe this album, it's says punk but I wouldn't call it that. "Redondo Beach" has a significant reggae influence. The opener, "Gloria" set the tone for this album, it was different, unexpected. Free Money, and Kimberly were also good tracks. Overall it was good, not what I expected

Birdland: this song style has been parodied too much for me to take it seriously

I really don't know with this one. One moment it feels classic punk, but then Patti sounds like a female Thom Yorke and some weird stuff is happening. I love Radiohead and all, but they way she uses her voice here doesn't click with me as well as Radiohead does. This is like strong 5/light 6 but if I had some more listens I think the rating would change.

Really Good Start. Never really been into Patti Smith unless its Bruce Springsteen related. Thought the Opener was the stand out then the album settled into a nie groove.

Not my cup of tea but I did enjoy it more than I expected. I'd give it another half star if I could.

It kept getting better

Slightly punky rock

I did not enjoy anything on this album except for the occasional fun guitar lick.

It was alright, a lot more crooning vocals than I would have liked though.

Couldn't listen to it.

I went into this album hearing from my dad when I was younger that Patti Smith was big rock and roller. I was expecting more of the album to be like the first song or her cover of my generation (both of which are fantastic, before I even listened to this album Gloria and Redondo Beach were already in my saved songs). Instead, I found this album contained more poetry. The album starts off really well, but then reaches a lull with Birdland. The only other saving grace in my mind was Horses, which blended the poetry with a rock jam. I can get behind long winding poetic songs (I’m a big Dylan fan) but some songs on this album were very Avant-Garde. I get the artistic vision of this album and it’s merits but I’ll stick with the rocking Patti Smith over the poet for now. This album will definitely get another listen later on though for sure.

An interesting blend of poetry and punk rock. Not all hits though but every now and then got The Doors vibes.

punky rocky

Meh

Not for me

# 83 : Ok, not a bad album, one I can listen to but not real good either. Had nothing significant and nothing stood out. Wouldn't go back to it out of choice. Fav Song : Free Money Listened : 09/10/2023

Awful

Not my favorite vocals, but can appreciate the punk element and the song progressions

patti smith is an artist i respect greatly. historically i haven't been a huge fan of her or her voice, but i did enjoy horses. her debut album didn't quite sound like her later music; it was very close but her signature vocal sound wasn't quite there. her lyrics seem to be right on the mark, though. i LOVE smith's medleys. they were full of creativity! it's fascinating what her and her group were able to do with the covers. if it's one thing i admire, it's creating covers that challenge the original song. smith defined punk at this time. while i'm not rating the album cover, it gives off such punk androgyous vibes that can't be ignored. musically, the album contains punk, but with history's context, sure, she doesn't go as hard as other punk bands in the late seventies or early eighties, but that wasn't a common sound in 1975. and punk is about defying expectations, which is why i absolutely love the inclusion of reggae in "redondo beach." if that song doesn't add to the beach feeling, then i don't know what does.

Yet another example of an artist making a strong impact right out the gate with their debut. While I wouldn't exactly call this album "punk", I can definitely hear and feel Patti Smith's punk spirit here. She wanted to shake up the music industry after what she perceived as music being "too peaceful" throughout the 60s. Patti Smith has always kind of reminded me of a grittier, less bluesy. Joni Mitchell. Patti's songs are often a bit (or a lot) autobiographical, and her lyrics tend to have a poetic lean to them, as if they were spoken words put to music. While I don't think this is Patti's best album, it is a noteworthy inclusion due to her very specific niche she carved out for herself from the beginning. Patti's rendition of "Gloria" is probably the biggest standout here, the opening track of the album where she very quickly shows people who she is is via a less polished version of this song with both spoken and sung word.

Jesus died for somebody’s sons, but not mine Favorites: Gloria 4.5-5/5

Her voice is slightly not to my taste. The music is straightforward. Land:Horses is a pretty wild bit of psychadelic poetry, repeated pataphorical steps, but sex

Unexpectedly punk rock.

Alright. 2

Sometimes it really feels like punishment followed by reward with this list. Patti Smith's debut, produced by John Cale. I had never actually heard it! It opens with a great cover of Gloria I almost didn't recognize til it got going. To call this punk feels reductive. Marry incisive lyrics with the three chord structure plus some slower spoken word contemplative pieces, free form jazz and even reggae influences? I'm in. Free Money and Break it Up were my favorites. If I'm honest I doubt I'll be in the mood to revisit this sort of thing too often but an absolutely worthwhile listen. Solid 4.

My second time hearing this and I should probably listen again. As of now I think this is really solid but I don’t quite understand all of the acclaim. I guess it was pretty different at the time and the style has been copied which is why it doesn’t sound like anything that special now. Still, I liked it. The Gloria rendition and Kimberly were my favorites but I think the album is strongest in its entirety

I'm not really sure why people often refer to this as the "first punk album". Maybe because they player at CBGB's so frequently? It is a different sound than other albums of the time like the Eagles and other Laurel Canyon sounding records. There is very good Rock and Roll guitar and some top notch lyrics and vocal performances. I guess it's a good transition piece as genre's evolved.

Pretty forgettable. 2/5 Won't listen again

Instrumentalisch vielleicht gar nicht schlecht, aber ich tue mir schwer, diesem album zuzuhören. Ganz gut, wenn man wissen will, wie ein Sinus klingt, oder wie oft man 'Money' wie 'Manne' aussprechen kann. Mehr als 1 Stern geht sich hier nicht aus.

Few great songs, others feel like they fall behind in an attempt to diversify the album’s sound, though from the great songs Patti Smith really delivers excellent structure in her songs and great punk rock vocals

Not bad. Not as bad I mean, as some of the other albums so far

idk man

Lovely enthusiasm from the singer. The poetry is a little off putting at times, but overall the sounds flow well through the album. The first track is an absolute banger as well.

It's punk, it's rock, it's reggae, it's Patti Smith. Definite Velvet Underground vibes here.

Really cool, unique sounding album. Definitely has a weird energy but would be fun to listen to again someday. The songs are long and change a bit but I particularly liked Gloria and the first half of Land.

I love Patti Smith, I love this album

this is a thing.

I think I listened to this one before but it was better than I remembered this time. More punky.

Proto-punk meets counterculture sound. I liked “Gloria: In Exelcis Deo” more than the rest of the album I think, but there’s something to be said for a strong start. Unfortunately, I thought most of the rest of the album was dogwater and a great example of the fact that just because an album is underground and edgy doesn’t mean it’s Good.

From the very first track of her debut album, Patti Smith wants us to know she’s not fucking around. She turns a classic song on its head and makes it her own, and while it’s hard to listen to at points, it’s not exactly easy to listen to the Doors’ remake of “Gloria” either. She continues to leave a trail of wreckage in her wake with the uncomfortably long “Birdland,” and by the time she gets to “My Generation,” you’d think Roger Daltrey was an obedient schoolboy and not one of England’s biggest rockstars. There are hints of relaxation throughout the album, like the reggae of “Redondo Beach” and the Dire Straits-esque guitar of “Free Money,” but Smith isn’t going for Monet on a calm spring day. She’s going for Picasso on Adderall, and she nails it. All that being said, and as much as I appreciate her thought-provoking lyrics and the fact that each line is as unexpected as the one before it, I just don’t like the music itself, and there’s no getting around that. At least that saves the album from getting one star.

Decent album, wasn't really matching my taste but the poetry mixed with rock was very interesting.

Favourite songs: Gloria: In Excelsis Deo, Free Money Least favourite songs: Birdland, Land: Horses/Land of a Thousand Dances/La Mer(de) 2/5

Decent outing. A bit overrated though. Too much spoken word diatribes for my liking. Gloria is a standout. I think I was expecting more gnarly punk than poetry. Still, it's worth a listen and I do think it's inclusion in the book is valid.

interesting album. i've never really listened to patti smith beyond her covers and because the night (amazing song) so it was cool to hear her sort of proto-punk roots. with that said, i wish i had liked these songs more :D it was kinda like riot grrrl vocals over piano instrumentals... bikini kill-y joel. lyrics were great though favorites: free money, my generation (live) (from the legacy edition of the album)

Pretty good.

Uhh, never recommend me anything like this again. Not my type of music AT ALL.

Clever lyrics, very raw sounding- you can really hear some punk influence. I wasn’t familiar with Patti Smith - fun listen even if it’s not my every day kind of listen.

rough/raw rock, lyrics are probably ok. might be attiring for a late teenager-early 20s person.

Not for me.

test

Her voice is terrible, and given way too much emphasis in almost all the songs. Free Money is the only decent song, since it’s more of a rocker that drowns out her voice.

Very unique and pleasant voice but the album was a one and done for me.

You cannot convince me this album isn't a meme way ahead of it's time. I swear to god this is an exact replica of Oil Spill from Bob's Burgers, a woman just feeling herself up as she moan-sings into the mic. A ten minute song about horses and a man dancing? How is that not Tina and Jimmy Jr? If this wasn't released so long ago, I would definitely argue she just stole inspiration from Bob's. I wanted to refrain from using a one star so early, but for most of the album I was just waiting for it to be over.

Very raw album that is very lyrics focused. You can tell from listening how much influence poetry has on her lyricism. Very fun to hear these songs build on themselves as they progress. Enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. Essential tracks: Break It Up (Playlist) Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)

Good first track, the rest is entirely forgettable.

Not quite sure what I think of this. There are moments when it's really good, but long periods where it isn't. The intro to Redondo Beach sounds like a reggae version of the intro to Common People, which amused me... Gloria the clear standout track, rest of the album just not as good. 2/5.

Can see why it's a classic.

1 point for ‘Birdland’. 1 point for ‘Kimberly’ and ‘Break It Up’. 1 point for the word ‘coagulated’ being successfully used in a song lyric. Never heard an artist do that before!

Seeing this was produced by John Cale, I was expecting a Velvet Underground style and I was not disappointed. First, I enjoyed her singing style and thought her delivery was great. First song Gloria was a unique twist and can say I liked this version better than the original. The 2 9 minute songs are definitely a Velvet influence. I was thinking of Heroine while listening to Birdland. I thought this album was pretty solid. Definitely enjoyed the listen with a number of songs I felt were pretty good. Gloria, Birdland, Kimberly and Land: Horses all pretty good headbanger. I can hear the Velvet influence in songs and song structure. Nothing great, but solid for me. 3

Again I misjudged an album based on assumptions. I figured this would be like Carole King but it was more punk than that. I don't have a ton to say about this but there was some cool stuff on here. I don't know if I'll ever go back to much of it though. Lyrics were sometimes cringey - like the part where it sounded like she was beating her chest while saying them or largely spoken 9 minute songs. I give it an above average 'meh'. 3

3.5 “Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine.” First impression - great opening lyric. Second impression - it’s clear that Patti was hanging around the same late ‘70s CBGB scene that gave us groups like The Ramones, The Talking Heads, and most noticeably, Television. Like, tell me this doesn’t sound just like Marquee Moon but with a gender-swapped singer. That’s probably not totally fair to say though, because I actually enjoyed this quite a bit more than Marquee Moon - in many ways, this is what I wanted that album to be. Musically and vocally I found this to be much more interesting and high-energy, though perhaps more importantly, I feel like I can actually hear the foundations of punk here instead of whatever artsy, twinkly, Talking Heads-esque stuff was going on in MM. Gloria was a great opener, and even though it borrows heavily from the Van Morrison song of the same name, I really like how Patti put a new spin on the track instead of doing a full-on cover, which she does again to similar effect by incorporating the late ‘60s tune Land of a Thousand Dances on Land. It’s a great reminder how much punk owes to garage rock of the era, and overall is a really fun take on each, resulting in those two songs probably being my favorites here. Unfortunately, Gloria segues into what are probably my two least favorites in Redondo Beach and Birdland - I didn’t really care for the slower reggae/piano stuff she was going for on those tracks, and in some ways they reminded me of how grating I find the Talking Heads when they lean into their funk sound. Fortunately, I think the album picks back up with Free Money and leads to a strong finish from there. Overall, pretty enjoyable listen. I know my Dad is going to groan reading this, but in many ways I feel like this is the natural evolution of the sound of The Velvet Underground and just as influential. I’ve established I’m not grading based on influence, but man, the number of artists that have pointed to this album as inspiring them to take up music - what a lineup: Siouxsie Sioux, Michael Stipe, Morrissey, Johnny Marr, PJ Harvey, Courtney Love (to a lesser extent). She probably won’t be getting lumped into any of my punk stuff I have saved on Spotify, but shoutout to Patti for helping lead the charge, and most importantly, for ensuring The Talking Heads weren’t the only group that inspired new wave.

Wish I could be a Patti smith girl but unfortunately It just bounces right off me

Favourite: Gloria LF: Elegie maybe Mid 9

Not a big PS fan, I want to like it tho

What a LEGEND! This album is such a ride an deserves all the praise it gets and more.

6/10

Good album. I do feel it kind of drifts by but I enjoy the music nonetheless

Helt krill

I don't get it. It's not bad, and the lyrics are good, but even Bob Dylan (the master of lyrics) wrote better tunes. I guess there's the historical aspect, which will give it an extra half star, so that would make it a 3.5. A piece of art deserves credit for its influence, but it also matters if it sounds good. It doesn't sound bad, but it doesn't sound great either.

Really didn't vibe with the vocal style. I'm sure this was groundbreaking when it came out, but a lot of the ideas here feel a little cliche now. I might like the album a bit more if knew the lyrics well, but I don't see myself returning to this any time soon.

Absolutely magnificent. I kept saying "well she sounds like Morrissey or David Byrne" only problem is she predates these bands as this album came out in 75. Truly revolutionary.

increible

generico 1*

na

I’m hopeful for today’s album. Patti Smith is an icon of 80’s pop rock. Who doesn’t love Because The Night? Nobody, that’s who. Aside from that, I’m not actually sure that I’ve heard much else by her. Indeed, no track titles on today’s album ring any bells for me. Let’s explore some more into her music and see what we find! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Gloria, Kimberly How odd that the tracks that stand out for me here are both names of people. These were the catchier tracks here, but unfortunately I don’t have much else positive to say. There was a lot of messy noisiness throughout. Birdland was a prime example of this and was frankly difficult to listen to, being basically spoken word with messy music in the background. I was hopeful for this, but it frankly just wasn’t very good. I expect this will be one of those albums that are loved by many, and I just didn’t click with it like others did.

A stone cold classic for a reason. Is there such a thing as art garage rock? In any case, 'Free Money' is one of the best songs ever.

My first meeting with Patti Smith when I was quite young was on R.E.M.‘s “E-Bow the Letter” and I instantly fell head over heels for her vocals. Horses contains some of her greatest songs ever including “Birdland” and “Free Money”. Patti Smith is a legend in every right and Horses is the quintessential sound of New York City.

first time listening, really enjoyed and will be coming back to it!

The beginning is dull, later on it becomes better. Or maybe it just took some getting used to. Favorite song: Kimberly.

Ace record that I never listened to. I liked it so much, I listened 5 times throughout the day! She's almost like the female counterpart of Iggy Pop. There's some punky vibes, a lot of rock, but the songs also take a jazzier approach. It's a great album to discover what her style is like. And I am eager to discover more of her works. 8 out of 10

Great punk album, I agree that this is a worthy member of the list. This is a perfect representation of the East Coast punk sound of the 70. 4/5

-oh no big deal just a LEGEND -mfing patti smith! -these songs are really clever and groovy -idk if this is super my thing sadly -birdland was so long and some parts of it were really spot on but some felt a little dull -overall im giving this a three because i don’t not like it but idk if i would listen to it a lot/again

I had heard _of_ Patti Smith, but never really took the time to time to hear Patti Smith herself. I just did, and I certainly do not regret it. While I'm not sure I would caracterize "Horses" as "punk", although I can see how it would influence the genre later on, it's still a solid album, one I wouldn't mind returning to.

good listen

Patti Smith is a punk legend! Great album!

I listened to the whole album thoroughly despite disliking all of it. I tried. Just. Her voice mixes with a weird longing that my ears don't enjoy.

Solid rockin vibes and emotion packed in

Can totally see why kit would have been seminal in its day and how much this has influenced bands that came after, right up until today.

interesting, really hated birdcall or whatever

Between this and the Laura Nyro album I listened to yesterday it's pretty apparent that women have done far more than men to push music forwards.

Such an amazing album. Horses and Land are epic journeys, but Kimberly is my favorite. Each song is inventive and daring in their own way.

Meia boca, nada de mais

Cat: I wanted to like this. I did not. Her voice is super cool but also so annoying I couldn’t keep going. AJ: saw her open for Neil Young and her energy was insane. She’s a poet. But she definitely isn’t something you just pop on. Because the Night is great, but it ain’t on here. I’d love to sit and talk to her. But a lot of her stuff ain’t really for me.

This is a classic. Don't know what else to say about it.

Not as good as I had expected expected, given the reputation, but still pretty solid. A great voice, odd songs, strange but interesting production. One I would have loved to have had more time with, to listen a bunch more times

Did not connect with this album. Lots of wailing and I'm not sure what type of music this was. Like a folksy pop punk? Wasn't a huge fan.

I know this is deemed a classic, but I've never heard it before. Patti Smith has a pretty distinct style, it's hard to even pin a genre on this, I guess that's why "alternative" works. Some are straight rock songs, others are long piano ballads. I thought she was adjacent to punk, and I guess she has a punk voice, but this seems elevated emotionally. Some really great songs on here. I'm not sure what I was expecting--maybe an album full of songs about horses?--but I really dig this one. I could definitely see this becoming a familiar classic if I listened to it more. Favorite tracks: Gloria, Birdland, Kimberly, Land. Album art: This one I think is iconic, maybe just because of how durable the album is. But I've seen this hundreds of times, it's hard to get out of your head. A very simple portrait shot, but the pose and the fit and the contrast make it very memorable. 4/5

This fits a particular mood I’m not in rn

Interesting album from the formative years of punk. "Horses" begins with the shedding of religion and being queer on "Gloria," then experiences and processes the death of a loved one with tracks "Redondo Beach" and "Birdland." On "Free Money" Smith expresses a desire to be a provider, while also sharing a desire to be a caregiver on "Kimberly." On "Break it Up" Smith explores the revelation of discovering oneself as a spiritual entity outside of her physical self. "Elegie" mourns the loss of someone who sacrificed themselves for something virtuous. "Land" really stumped me and I'm curious to see what ideas you guys come up with. But I could also be incredibly smooth brained, who knows. Subjectively its mostly not my flavor. I can see a lot of people being turned off by Smith's delivery. However, "Horses" succeeds in its mission to be an authentic and vulnerable experience, and even now in 2023, remains eclectic in its taste. For that I'll give it a 3.

Patti Smith's words paint evocative images and emotions across each track. Whether she's exploring themes of love, rebellion, or self-discovery, every word feels carefully chosen, allowing listeners to dive deep into the stories she weaves. The album seamlessly blends elements of rock, punk, and poetry, creating a sound that is both raw and refined. The interplay between guitars, bass, and drums is nothing short of mesmerizing, capturing the energy and essence of Patti Smith's live performances. The balance between the stripped-down moments and the grand sweeping sonic landscapes is expertly executed, showcasing the nuances of each instrument without overpowering the vocals/lyrics. One of the album's standout qualities is how well it flows as a complete work of art. Each track transitions seamlessly into the next, creating a cohesive journey that keeps the listener engaged from start to finish. The way the songs are arranged makes "Horses" feel like a tapestry, with each track contributing to the larger narrative. Though there is some variety, I believe each track flowed into the other seamlessly. This album demands to be experienced in its entirety. 8/10

This was bad had a hard time finishing it

I don't think she knows she can't sing 😬 I'm not sure how this album wasn't the start and end of her career, it was that bad. She had this annoying thing she did with her voice between phrases that just got under my skin, very prominent in "Redondo Beach." Also, the end of "Free Money" made me hit the skip button faster than anything else I've listened to on this list. Then there was annoying repeating of the word "horses" at one point where I about said F this. I wish I could give this 0/5.

I’m really enjoying this album. Probably my favorite from this collection so far.

didn't really connect with this all that much. I like the guitar work and production though. best tracks: gloria, free money, break it up

A unique and original work, rightly regarded as a classic of its time. But its age is showing.

bad

Echt bijzonder erg onder de indruk van het album, ging er in compleet zonder verwachtingen behalve dat ik weet dat m’n pa fan is van haar. Gloria, Free Money, Kimberly zijn m’n favs. Hele bijzondere vibe brengt dit album met zich mee, echt niet een standaard album. Dit doet me ook weer bedenken hoe relatief weinig vrouwen er in de lijst staan, terwijl er genoeg out there is dat kans maakt op deze lijst. 4.

So hard to listen to this, and I tried but just not for me

This was not the most exciting album I’ve listened to. This was actually a pretty bad album. I did not enjoy this album much. This lady sounded like she had a cold the whole time meanwhile making long songs that could’ve been shortened in half. Not sure who this appeals to or why it’s on this list but it’s not for me. 2.5/10

Interesting folky link project, not here best but a worth while listen

2/5 Best: Gloria Worst: Elegie

Sorry Patti Smith fans. She has a habit of doing this thing at the end of a line that I just can't get past. I don't know how to describe it. It's the she constantly ends in this falling, wilting tone. Once I noticed it, it was just always present and ruined what may have otherwise been decent music. Surely somebody out there knows what I'm talking about.

Even though it was made before 1989 (Mike) I still don't like it.

Birdland was so so bad. Like really bad.

Didnt connect with me.

no lo había escuchado nunca entero a pesar de saber de siempre que estaba ahí y está chulo, pero un poquito sin más mi fav: free money

Meandering punky poetry rock

avant-garde mainittu wikipediassa, nostetaan pykälällä. en tiedä vieläkään mitä se oikeastaan tarkoittaa. ''the music press loved her in the 70s, which was always a bad sign'' tämä henkilö against the grain heh...ja abbey road 5...eli ihan samanlain aivopesty heh... break it up

I know it's classics, but to me it was kinda underwhelming. Gloria and the two following tracks were great, but overall it was a little bit boring.

not first listen I don't love this album, despite it being such a trailblazer for future artists I like such as Alanis Morissette, PJ Harvey & Fiona Apple (among many others). I sometimes get lost in stream-of-consciousness lyrics, and some of the tracks sprawl and meander. However Horses has enough strong moments (eg. the build & accelerando in "Gloria") that I can appreciate its inclusion here. HL: "Break it Up", "Gloria", "Land" July 28th 2023

Neigh (but this is a good album)

Unfortunately didn't have time to listen to the whole thing yesterday. In general, I thought there were moments of genius, but again, a lot of it felt disorganized to me--e.g., there was a song with just random guitar licks (not played very well I thought). Perhaps I've just gotten too used to modern productions which are more clean, but I had mixed feelings about this one. Would like to give it another spin though and listen to it from end-to-end in one setting with my full attention.

This was great. Gonna give it another listen.

Can’t believe this came out in 1973…it’s still so modern sounding

No, I never got Patti Smith. I just don’t like her tone, the content just seems like a rambling stream of consciousness. Not for me thanks. 🍣

What happens when you mix Bob Dylan folk and ‘70s punk? A chaotic collection of classics. Patti is in full voice. Everything has an attitude about it and you can see where genres like Riot Grrl came out of HER ashes.

i never liked horses, but patti smith fucking rocks and i would happily go back in a time machine and marry her

slept on Patti

This album is partly a fairwell to lost rock icons of the 60s (Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, etc). It also helped established punk rock while simultaneously moving it into a more avant garde space, with the help of producer John Cale. It's a great document of what was happening in the underground rock scene of the mid-70s in New York. Massively influential.

Really liked this one

Pretty good. I liked elements within songs. Birdland and free money were standouts.

Excelente. Un cambio de época

Even weirder than expected. Not a fun listen but interesting none the less.

4.25

Beautiful, from start to end. Jezus died for somebody's sins but not mine. What a line to start your debut album. Raw, poetic and sometimes (Redondo Beach) even funky. Hear the album verywhere. Start lines of Gloria covered by Tricky as Somebody’s Sins. Redondo Beach covered/raped by Morrissey. Etcetera.

One of my all time favs

Als je bij het eerste nummer denkt dat het best een leuk album gaat worden heb je het mis. Het is vervelend dat ze graag, ik kan het niet anders omschrijven, een menselijke doedelzak nadoet. Daarnaast zitten er ook wel echt verschrikkelijke nummers tussen die gemaakt lijken te zijn om de luisteraar te irriteren. Dat iemand besloten heeft deze uitspattingen op te nemen is ontzettend jammer. Kunst- en diepzinnig, maar ontzettend kut.

🤘 Effortlessly cool and badass. One of my favs of the 70s.

Punk poetry. I get the hype haha. Laid back at times, but had got a fire and energy underneath that wears it's creativity on its sleeve. Not bad

Gloria: In Excelsis Deo, Free Money, Kimberly, Break It Up 4/5

I know she’s a legend but I have never listened to more than a couple of her songs. This was pretty good, I thought it would be slower.

Heard before, around the time I heard she was coming to my town for a concert. It's okay and quite entertaining, but no earworm material for me for now.

I want to like it more than I do because I want to be cool. Gloria is a banger. The rest is fine.

Not at all what I expected from the Wiki article. It is so much more delicate and thoughtful than so much punk rock that I loathe so much.. Great imagery in the lyrics just add to the dark and heavy vibe of the album. Very excited to have found this one! 8/10

Raw, harsh at times.

good

This was on my "to listen" list for like 20 years. I'm glad I finally got around to it.

прикладываю особые усилия чтобы полюбить Патти, но чё-то пока не идёт

good

This one is challenging. It took me about a song and a half to realize I had listened to this album before in a previous album listening project. I had given it a 5.4/10, which at first I thought would be way too low, but may have been just right. The first two songs are easily the most captivating of the whole album, especially the excellent opener. While I am so impressed with her songwriting, there weren't really any songs that emotionally resonated with me or that I would be quick to listen to again. Perhaps part of that is because I tend to like abstract lyrics, but the delivery here was often too quick and incoherent to appreciate. Ultimately, I think this deserves to be on this list, but I can't say I loved it or even *really* liked it. Several good songs and one great track, but most others I found myself waiting eagerly for them to end. Maybe I'm just not smart enough for this.

I wouldn’t listen to this all the time, but that doesn’t stop it from being awesome. Not for everyone what with her yowling voice and a few long rambling songs, but to me this album is core essential rock n roll, poetic yet passionate. I’m gonna make her mine make her mine GEELOHARAYAYE Best song: Gloria

This annoyed me. I don't know why. Her voice? Urgh.

Listened to this twice through and enjoyed it both times. I didn't pick it apart song by song, but I really enjoyed the variety. Some of the songs, e.g. Elegie, are really pretty. Others, like Gloria are sort of punky. Overall, I found Patti Smith to be pretty damned cool. A high 4 / 5.

Fresh and young. I like that kind of young blood vitality

Didn’t listen to all the lyrics but I quite enjoyed this one. She has a distinctive tone of voice

Best line ever in a song “Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine”

beautiful vocals, interesting lyrics, different and expressive. The album felt like an intimate small club show.

Patti is a well respected writer from the mid 70’s.

This album was so good that I don't even care that 2 songs are over 9 minutes. I very much enjoyed it and couldn't even tell that they were that long

Nah. The list is bloated with this kind of nonsense and I get so frustrated by it. "Horses" is poorly written and even more poorly performed. The songs are wandering, overly-wordy, self-indulgent, and often nonsensical. And Patti's performance is so over the top try hard. She actively works to sing poorly because... she thinks it's a cool vibe? Weird for weird's sake is never going to cut it for me. It's not cool. It's just bad. Stop chewing your words and just bloody sing.

Not for me. Don't enjoy vocals that sound really distant and weak, a recording technique or the mic tech of the times?

Bah, no me ha encantado. Un poco igual y gritona sin ritmo.

Very good

100% Classic! This album saved RnR when it was released. It is as historically as important as the 1st Ramones album and just as good (in a completely different way. It takes elements of The Velvet Underground and Bob Dylan and completely updates it to something that is still relevant today.

Rockin’ poetry

What an astounding piece of creative expression. Free, fiery, and avant-garde, this has every justification for it's towering reputation.

I hate how much I love the Warhol/Velvet Underground crew.

Can’t quite pick where I land on this one. Something about her singing voice didn’t resonate for me and the songs are too long imo. However, I love the music and the way her voice goes with the music. I enjoy this sort of bluesey folksy rock and it’s really well executed

I feel like I would have enjoyed this more if it wasn't set to music. I like the punk aesthetic and the poetic quality of the vocals, but the repetitive backing band was tedious.

I didn't expect the rawness and almost punk nature this had, but it was appreciated. However, I just didn't really vibe with this at all. Really didn't care for the two longer spoken word numbers and found them really to be long stories with the background music kinda forgettable. I did like some of the other tracks like Kimberly somewhat.

What a horrible music

I couldn't get into it. But might have been sick.

I want to like Smith more than I do. I just find little to enjoy here - the words are smart but maybe too smart- a case of overthinking at times. And same goes for the music. It’s done well, but perhaps too well to get across any real passion. It doesn’t move me. I guess all the elements are there but they just don’t stick, for me. I find it interesting that this gets mixed into the punk soup of the time - to me this is more about the old rock order of groups like The Doors, given a 70s update. I prefer this to The Doors, but it feels like a step - rather than a Great Leap - forward.

I know I should adore this album. Everyone else seems to. But I find it a little meh. I get the raw energy, but the songs sound half-finished to me. It's not exactly a party floor filler, either. Sorry.

This is one of my first punk rock albums I’ve listened to.There wasn’t a song that I outright hated. Fav redondo beach Least fav Break it up

like if television and a more urban sylvia plath made an album together

Awful. There are no ideas here. It's the same song for 45 minutes. And the song sucks.

Verkar good voice, gloria and horse very good songs but the rest of the songs mayby not so strong.

Patti Smith's debut is impactful, exciting and colorful. From the artwork to Smith's songwriting and style: everything is well-balanced and influential.

Weird.

First couple songs had me not liking the album at all, but the next 4 were fantastic

Album 49 of 1001 Patti Smith - Horses Favorite Track : Redondo Beach Rating : 5 / 5 I love this. Have to give extra points for it being a debut album and the influence it must have had on some to come after. Will be replayed many times.

I didn't know what to expect with this album, I've only heard of Patti Smith's name and that's about it. I liked that the punk-ness of the songs didn't overshadow her voice. It would be really easy for this to be yet another screamy punk album, but it was more singing than anything.

WHERE HAS THIS ABSOLUTE QUEEN BEEN ALL MY LIFE

the best

This is certainly an influential album, both in terms of the punk/new wave records that followed, and also in Patti's vocal style which can be heard in Debbie Harry's singing, among others. That said, I didn't hear much here that was particularly captivating and certainly nothing to match the majestic Because the Night. while the cover of Gloria was different, I didn't feel it was a patch on the original

She seems to do a lot vocally without much skill - in way that might appeal to some people but not to me. Super influential and ahead of her time though.

HEYYY! I used to have this album! It's been ages since I've listened to it. My favorite was Rock n roll Nigger, but of course that is no available on Spotify, found it on YouTube though. Listening to that first. I could have sworn it was on Horses but I guess it was on Easter. I guess my first time hearing her was from the NBK soundtrack! Pure gold that one!

Patti Smith was unlike anyone else at the time. Still is unlike anyone, in many ways. Her songs flowed and rocked , but largely lacked direction. Perhaps she was too forward-thinking, even to this day, but it occasionally feels like the band is jamming around her poetry.

"Gloria" y "Free money" me han gustado, pero lo mismo no era el día porque me he aburrido bastante. Lo siento pero van a ser 2 estrellas aunque lo volveré a escuchar.

pretty happy about this record actually. Def heard Hole/Courtney Love/Liz Phair (even Sleater-Kinney) in here so it's neat to draw a line back to the 'origin' of that. Would def put this back on some time. I didn't LOVE this - it wasn't 100% my 'jam' - her vocal delivery is not super beautiful/moving to me, but I see why it would be to some. 4 stars but barely

This didn't really float my boat.

Some good songs, definitely influenced a lot of bands

I appreciate the direction and novelty of the album, but I found it a bit grating at times.

I like this more every time I hear it.

"Jesus died for somebody sins but not mine" What a way to open.. Gloria is just unreal.. Great album.. Birdland gets a bit long is all. I mean 1975, post punk before punk.

Gloria is a classic and the energy palpable. But I just don’t like her voice. The music is really good and the lyrics are fine. I can even take some of the spoken word, but nope, I just don’t like her vocals. I get why this is on the list though.

It was better then i expected.

I really liked the raw vocals of Smith and enjoyed listening to this album.

I get why it’s influential but it just does not grab me.

With an immortal opening line in the groove and Robert Mapplethorpe on the opposite side of the photograph, Patti Smith made rock and roll her muse, her landscape and her bitch. Cutting an aesthetic that was as much a kick in the door as well as a breath of fresh air, the aspirant 20th Century Rimbaud wound up making an album that can very well be placed amongst the greatest debut albums ever and the greatest albums of all time. What else can be said other than that this is a sublime example of the zeitgeist aligning just right, the moment when poetry and rock and roll coalesced into a mighty diamond shining ever so brightly. If she had never made a musical note after this, no one would have blamed her; for this album places her amongst legends for eternity. So young, so goddamn young.

Very haunting for a punk album particularly with Elegie closing it out. I enjoyed her voice and would like to follow up on more from her.

Call it a 3.49. Gloria, Free Money, and Land are absolutely perfect. The rest... eh.

I Don't like Patti Smith but this is the best album from discography her.

um dos albuns de punk mais livres que eu ja ouvi. ja conhecia mas nunca tinha escutado de verdade. a maneira como as letras evoluem pra ficarem mais fortes conforme a musica avança é muito inteligente. a rebeldia do instrumental é algo que não se vê tanto nos outros albuns de 1975.

I've always liked Patti Smith as a person, author and activist...but her music has never hooked me.

This was very artsy. Which is often code for, I am not really sure if I fully get it. And honestly, I not a big lyrics guy. There are songs that I have heard 100 times that I don't know the lyrics of. My simple brain just pays more attention to the music than the lyrics. This album is lyrics forward and tells a troubled story. I just wasn't able to follow along while doing my work and I hope to be able to go back and listen again being able to focus on the lyrics. All that being said, I can most definitely hear inspiration for music that followed, which is seriously something.

Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine. What a great line. Just from the first song you see where all the female artists from the 90's got their inspiration. It all sounds like musical theater. As a theater guy you figure I would like it more.

Allt í lagi en náði mér ekki við fyrstu hlustun. Áhugaverðar pælingar, vil hlusta aftur

Progressive, great drum production, too avant garde for me.

really not my style, and i didn't really like it

I love Patti Smith

I never got into patti smith. I know I'm supposed to like her. I just don't. I've tried many times. 'break it up' is good.

Meh

This was bit of a rollercoaster for me. Still can't decide if I like it or not but I can totally see how a lot of people were influenced by this record if that's a thing that happened. 2.5 really...

It’s not my first listen and I don’t know if my mood was just exactly right or if I get it now when I didn’t before but I loved it this time. Loved it.

stupendous

Enjoyed this, first ever listen, will be returning to it.

Discazo el de hoy.una grande del rock (LNB) No conocía esa versión del Gloria y me ha gustado, y todo lo demás también (PSP) Muy buen disco (LNM)

Not for me.

It was good but nothing that notable about it. I didn’t like birdland unfortunately. Wouldn’t bring to island with me

Gave me flash backs to Kate Bush but it at least had a couple of songs that were listenable

I hope Patti Smith is in a better place mentally now. This album was a whirlwind.

Importante conhecer o começo da história de quem marcou fortemente o som do punk.

It is a punk rock. It is not that good. I found it annoying. The Gloria cover was bad. I never really got into it.

Highlights: "Elegie," "Redondo Beach," "Break It Up" Depending on how you count it, it's way way ahead of its time. Something about the production as well as the 'minimalism' is the kind of thing that would get anachronistically called post-punk or new wave. The case against that is to look back at Velvet Underground, which also has a lot of that going for it in 1967 -- the dry, ungospelled Warhol Factory vamping. Smith's main "contribution" to that is to take away the cold, understated observational lyricism of Reed and replace it with a rumpus fusion of Captain Beefheart and Yoko Ono. The lyricism has this promising scene-setting and characterization that rapidly degrades over the course of the vamp. Maybe what's good in it mostly owes to the source material, because she's usually cribbing. No wonder critics vaunt this circle-jerk hero worship: one's about Jim Morrison, one's about Hendrix, one's about Burroughs, one's about a book on psychoanalysis. Rimbaud has to keep hearing beatniks use his name to dignify unedited transcripts of LSD-induced free-association. I don't get much out of her saying her baby sister's soul is a network of spittle and glass balls in streams of cold logic that she's waiting for lightning to crack open. I don't think it warrants the degree of repetitive fixation it gets. But she has to do that because that's the generic convention she's set for herself. "Experimentalism" is as much a convention here as any bestselling Serious Novel about a stuffy academic's sordid affair. But if we ask ourselves "what was the Library of Congress thinking inducting this," I think this was the period where po-mo naivete was most justifiable, and Smith is readily able to *account for* and *expound on* her artistic choices, which is all a postmodern artist needs to be taken seriously. Any incoherent or ridiculous idea in a song can be explained away as occupying another point of view or redeeming from the pawnshop of pop culture or simply exploring the limits of language. The question is who's still buying that.

I didn't expect this from the punk and rock tags but I still liked it. Every song was unique and seldom boring. The first lyric in the first track blew me away. The anatomy imagery in Land was also pretty interesting, in a good way. Also cool album cover. Fave track(s): Free Money, Kimberly

Terrible

I heard this once a long time ago and I honestly forgot what it sounded like. I'm glad I got to revisit this, though. It has this singer/songwriter style that's a little artsy, but also kinda punk. It's very unique. It wasn't entirely great for me, but I did enjoy a good chunk of it

Patti Smith is punk as fuck

An epic album, especially considering the time is came out. I'm not sure how much insight I can add that has been said by countless reviewers. A great album that kept returning to

Don't really get it

I like this album, but didn't love it

This was a really great listen. I feel like I need to come back to it again and dig in deeper. It is so different than other things with the punk label(maybe it’s more about a time and a place and less about musical elements or even aesthetics?) . You can also call this art rock or electric folk music- It’s a great album and she’s definitely a totally unique artist. I would’ve loved to see her live @CBGB’s in the 70’s.

Lyrics and songwriting are so great. I love Patti smith as a writer and artist, she’s so cool and so creative. I enjoyed listening to the album but wasn’t really moved by much of the music. I’m usually not super into punk or folk and I feel like this is simultaneously both of those things

There were parts that were really cool. I really appreciate the rawness of this. Love a lot of the lines. Break it up was my favorite.

But know Patti Smith was cool. Part of the hip scene there in the 70s But this album sucks. And it’s not that I don’t appreciate raw sounding music that is not too over produced: in fact I love stuff like that usually. It’s that Smith’s voice is grating. I hate it like I hate Joni Mitchell’s similar bullshit.

Not a real fan of this. But it’s miles better than that George Michael’s album that was on here the other day.

2.5

I've listened to this album so many times and it somehow just never hits for me. like i know it's good, and i want to like it more than i do, it just doesn't hit my brain in the right way or something. sorry patti!

Not bad but not for me

Fav track: Gloria, Redondo beach, Land

I like the album, her voice is nice and it has a punk kind of melody. I like the way she experiments with her lyrics but its hard to understand a bit. I think its cool so many artists were inspired by her, and I feel like I would listen to this album more.

Can tell this is a trailblazing album for female vocals and rock in general. Nothing catchy, lots of deep lyrics. Could be worth a relisten when feeling like following along with the lyrics.

Not bad, would have to see if Patti came before allanis morisette because that’s all I heard in this

left me somewhat cold

It took me awhile to appreciate Patti’s work. Too histrionic to be consumed without the adequate preparation. This is her opus prime; however, my favorite songs are not here. It is a solid work regardless!

This was interesting. It's certainly a creative album, and Smith's got a great voice, which is why I was a little disappointed by how much of the album was closer to spoken word poetry than actual singing. Nevertheless, the album certainly belongs on the list, and I suspect I'll be seeing more of her, which I'm totally okay with.

This is good stuff! It's like punk meets spoken word with hella style. I'll be listening to this again.

Though I'm totally familiar with the contributions Patty Smith has made to rock and roll history, I've never really sat down and given her a listen. I'm sorry for that now. This was great.

Muutama ihan ok mutta monen kappaleen pilasi improvisoidulta kuulloatanut laulu. Birdman erityisesti rasittava

Solid album in MOR 70's style

Would say this is more on the folk rock side, maybe even teasing at some early Ska. A very interesting take on punk music for sure. Patti Smith is joining the National on their upcoming tour which is very curious indeed

Never listened, despite all the accolades. Turns out its ok, just not my lane really

It's clear Smith can write and play interesting guitar parts, but that means little if she can't get her vocals out of the way. I'm all for experimental singer-songwriter approaches to liven things up a bit, but the tricks, gimmicks, and downright annoying vocal mannerisms across this thing just kept me from getting into the flow of the album.

Amazing opening track, the rest of the album is a little inconsistent but it's still very good.

God i love being a bad ass queer bitch

3/5. Okay respect the originality and the straightforwardness of it. In your face yet complex and smart. However, not a listenable album really. Definitely an experience and may be better the more I listen to it. But from the get go, hard to not switch at some points.

There's some songs that are good and more punk-ish like Free Money but then there are those that are extremely barebones and a chore to listen to. I could've died without listening to this album

“Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine.” GodDAMN what a way to kick off an album. The opening song continues its quiet crescendo from that line until it explodes into a primal cover of Van Morrison’s “Gloria,” surpassing the energy behind Morrison on his rendition. Through and through, “Horses” is pure punk, beating the Sex Pistols to the punch by a few months. Though the raw sensibilities of Patti and her band are joined with the strangest choice of producer: John Cale of Velvet Underground fame. His production allows Patti to spread her wings more into the artsy-side of music; the result is one of the first art punk records, and its influence cannot be overstated. Even with a little bit of sag on side-B, this is a great album to turn up and scream to, even if it’s not as wild as the Sex Pistols.

I liked three of the songs (Gloria, Redondo Beach, Land) but didn't care for the rest.

This one didn’t do much for me.