Reviews (page 4 of 11)
A great cross between art rock and the then nascent punk rock movement. "Gloria" is probably one of the strongest cover songs and album openers of 1970s rock. 8.5/10
Highlights: Gloria: In Excelsis Deo, Free Money, Break It Up Lowlights: Birdland It's just slam poetry set to music. Birdland definitely made me think I was going to hate everything going forward but most of the album was enjoyable. I kept thinking this is something you could hear in like a low budget movie in the 80s or 90s because they didn't have money to license a major artist.
Il y a beaucoup de Patti en musique des fois je me perds. Je pense c'est la première fois j'écoute cette Patti. La 2e écoute a été plus fructueuse, j'aime l'énergie un peu free et la voix écorchée. 3e auteure compositrice interprète cette semaine, et dans des styles pas mal différents, mais toutes très talentueuses, ça rock!
C’est bon mais pas complètement convaincu! La première chanson etait incroyable avec un bon crescendo. Ensuite c’est beaucoup de la chanson a texte, il faudra que j’y revienne et porte plus attention
Remarkably famous album that I've never listened to before, and I'm so glad this project got me to do so. Not a perfect album, but I see why it is so loved and so important. Lots of reviews decrying this as "not punk", but there are obviously shared aesthetics and values to the more "traditional" punk music - this album is very obviously a key block in the foundation of the DIY movement of the 70s that had such a profound impact on music and well beyond.
Never really paid much attention to Patti Smith but knew she was considered a lauded songwriter. So far it's much more upbeat than I expected. Good stuff, glad to finally hear one of her albums. I'm guessing in 1975 this must have blown people's minds, very intricate and visual lyrics.
I don't love the vocals but I love the mood it sets and the accompanying instrumentation. I've never heard anything quite like this. I don't know if that is a good thing or not.. but I did put it on for another listen. Birdland sounds like a Grateful Dead jam set to some snazzy poetry. OK on that second listen I've come to appreciate the vocals.
1: Kimberly 2: Land: Horses/ Land of a Thousand Dances/ La Mer(de) 3: Gloria: In Exelsis Deo
Yeah, early punk! Not a fan of the poems but the music is cool.
Nice
Really sexy and dark. She's like if Joni Mitchell had a hot evil twin. I'm a sugar not spice girlie so it wasnt PERFECT for me, but I had a lot of fun listening.
Guns blazing
This album makes me nostalgic for a time and place that I wasn't a part of. Outside of a few singles I'd never really listened to Patti Smith until I moved to NYC nearly two decades ago. It was reading Just Kids that turned me onto her use of words, clashing poetry and prose, to really paint a picture. This album feels a bit like that as well. Poetry and Punk smashing into each other and mixing and finding a balance. It reminds me of the art my friends and I make in dingy basements around the city. It's about finding yourself and community by sharing whatever is inside. Gloria: In Excelsis Deo
Really liked this. never listened to the full album before. Obviously had heard Gloria. I liked the beachy vibe of Redondo Beach, unexpected. Also interesting how it sounds like spoken word in some songs. I want to read her book soon.
Somewhere between rock and punk, you'll find the easily identifiable sounds of Patti Smith.
Good stuff
Charming and timeless. I just love her voice and her poetry.
Pretty enjoyable, sounds like she is hurting her voice sometimes. I can see this being influential.
Knowing everything I know about my personal music tastes, it feels like I *should* hate this album. And I admit that there are moments here where this album is a tough listen (particularly with Patti's vocals). But there's just something about it that keeps drawing me in. I think this will grow on me a lot in the future. 4/5.
This album is a force of nature and I know it deserves a 5, but I’m not a huge fan of the “singing” the entire time. Patti Smith is a total rockstar and she deserves better than this (my rating)
Because the Night was a major part of my five years at Uni. This isn't quite as good.
She is the godmother of punk for a reason. This is a complete MUST of a record. 9/10 [KEEP]
I had already heard this album in passing 20 years ago, but I barely remembered anything about it, so it was nice to give it a refresh. I was skeptical at first, the instrumentation seemed a bit basic in some of the tracks (for some reason, I misremembered this record as much more punk than it actually is). It’s also not easy to get right away into the very particular mood of the album and the poetry of the lyrics. I gave it a second listen in the evening and it did the trick – I was entranced. It’s a beautiful, moody album with a wide range of emotions and atmospheres, and vibes ranging from a more punkish version of the Velvet Underground to Joplin-style blues and spoken word poetry. Grace and Elegy are gorgeous pieces. It’s not a perfect album, some tracks are less inspired than others (Kimberly was not very interesting, sounding almost like 80s pop, and Break It Up felt very conventional). But overall, it’s extremely creative, and it really allows Patti Smith’s charismatic personality to shine. It's a pity she's such a hit-and-miss artist - some of her later albums are awesome, but others are really terrible in my opinion. But early Patti Smith definitely kicked ass ! Will certainly listen again. 7/10
G-L-O-R-I-A Always cool to hear the origin of an Easter egg you heard first in a different song as a nod. This was a pretty solid post punk album, favorite song was Free Money.
Really quite enjoyed this, knew a fair number of the tracks, not sure where from. Couple of stand outs, added it to my interesting albums to listen to again list. Despite my daughter playing me Phoebe Buffay and saying they have the same style.
Pretty chill album 👌
My favourite thing she's ever done is the book Just Kids, but this is a close second, and a perfect example of the ole "abrasive singer + beautiful arrangements" formula
The queen of cool, poet warrior, legend. This is someone taking basic rock and roll and pop music, shredding it into pieces, and trying to find something new in between. Naturally, it’s a bit of a mess, but it’s on purpose and while it’s not perfection it’s still rightfully a classic that grows in each listen.
Very good
4.0
A lot of nay sayers on here but weirdly I thought the opposite and this album is much better than I remember! You can hear all the artists she influenced in all of the songs, good stuff.
81/100. A strong, influential record with a calm yet cool and dark demeanor. It blends poetry and punk with a raw edge, and her vocal delivery adds a unique intensity.
Ah Patti…original worthy of praise. Just what we needed in 1975. Her version of “Gloria” has been a big part of my playlist this past year so was psyched for this album to pop up.
I read Patti Smith’s book, but I hadn’t listened to much of her work, so I’m excited. Holy angst. Very groovy, yet also very punky. The second song has a reggae vibe? I don’t like the spoken word song so much. Fav song is ‘Redondo Beach’.
Clásico. Indiscutido. Poeta y punk. 8/10
I have to be in the mood for this, but I’ve never been sure what mood that is. The first time I heard this I thought it was incredible. Other times it has passed me by. I dont think I’ve ever owned a record that does this to me. I think I prefer the lyrical aspect of it more than the music at times. Perhaps thats it. Totally get why it is seen as one of the most influential punk records of all time, wouldve been incredible to see her live back in the 70s. Those shows sounded insanely good
I've listened to this before. Think it starts better than it ends. It does feel pretty punk to me and I like spoken word so should be right up my street. She makes Gloria her own, I do like the original version too though. Redondo beach is great too. 3.5
I especially liked the opening and the closing song, with some detours in the middle of the tracklist not being my cup of tea. But overall I enjoyed it.
12/23/25 I enjoy the weird things she does with her voice. 7/10
Really enjoyed this. Heard a few of the songs before and the album works well together.
What a fascinating blend of lyricism, musicianship, and attitude. I think she'd scare me if I met her in real life, and maybe some of her music kinda scares me, but in a good way.
Cool album. Love that early New York punk sound, mixed in with the avant garde of the times. Definitely unique voice, has a bit of a Blondie timbre to it.
I appreciated this record more than loved it. I like the creativity and commitment to really try something new. I don’t really know if I would listen consistently or even again, but I liked what she was going for. 3.75/5.
"Gloria", "Birdland" y "Break It Up" are great. Much better than expected.
When Gloria and Redondo Beach come on, I wonder why I don’t listen to this album more, but as the album goes on the spoken word begins to grate a little. I think this deserves a closer listen to me, then maybe it’d be a 5.
A very dramatic album. Loud and atmospheric.
An album I've always heard I should listen to, but never have. I did not expect it to be so punk rock coded (I think I expected more Bob Dylan-esque singer songwriter). Nitpick: I did find her voice get a little nasal/whiny for my tastes a couple times. I suppose it shouldn't surprise me that I enjoyed this album, I mean, it's on this list for a reason. It was just different than I expected in a good way. Solid 4 for me.
The album gets better as it goes
Lush
Reminds me a lot of Jeff Buckley and Stevie nicks really like it
Wasn't quite my cup of tea but well made. Glora: In Excelsis Deo is a good song.
Nicely done. Love the edge on it.
Hope I get reincarnated as Patti Smith. Still hate Bird land, but the rest is wonderful.
4+
God, she was so damn cool. 4/5
4.5
Це цікаво, хоч я більше слухала музику, але до лірики варто повернутися
An album of its time , when women in rock were few and far between. This was one of the albums you were supposed to like. I bought it in my 20s and hated it! But over the years it’s grown on me and have begun to understand Patti’s place in music. A woman doing her own thing who didn’t care if you like it or not
Never listened before but really enjoyed it. Some cool New York rock that reminded me of television.
such a strong and beautiful album!!!!!!
Punk rock poetry.
It just sounds like a classic albums Opener is superb The instrumentation is great
I love Patti Smith so much. Totally biased over here. But really, this is so, so good. There's nothing here as monumental for me as Pissing in a River, but the whole album is just a delight.
At ground breaking and challenging album from Patti Smith 1977 definitely feel the punk and the poetry in this piece has opened up a lot of pathways in my brain about how poetry can be presented in a musical context.
better than I thought it would be
I mean, its goddamn Patti Smith, playfully covering "Gloria" and "Land Of A Thousand Dances", but raw as all hell. She comes swinging out the gates and doesn't let up for the duration.
I like this album quite a bit. Didn't actually think I would like it so much. 4 stars.
Kinda scares me, but I like the songs
I'm sure i would've been blown away as a contemporary, but it feels like all those early punkers were really working to hit that "wretching" sound.
Have this album, big fan.
134 Pucha Patti, yo creo que en otro momento de mi vida te habría amado. Ahora como que no nos encontramos muy bien, igual me gustaron varias canciones, pero a ratos me desconcentraba y no la escuchaba mucho.
I like this. Cool dude
oh da bin ich mal gespannt, kenne glaube keinen Song von ihr...mhh schon gut, toller opener aber Punk? ok. c
Still sounds as vital today as it did 40+ years ago. It was fun to hear it again as a full album.
I've been a fan of Patti Smith ever since Easter — the first album of hers in my vinyl collection and my favorite of her catalog. This album never beguiled me the same way Easter does, but today's listen landed. I always thought PJ Harvey was something of a sister artist to Smith, and much like Harvey's raw debut is not my fave in her collection, the rawness and immediacy of this record is undeniable, and is a bold introduction. For me, it's a 3.5, but absolutely gets the bump as it's the only Smith release on this list and is such a pure distillation of who she is as an artist.
Got a song about myself and horses so almost an instant classic
this ain't the Chelsea hotel, we're modern idiots
Contender for best bookends ever, also all the poetry in the middle
Wow this was great I wonder what some of her other song-WHAT IS THAT ONE CALLED????
4 Stars I have been familiar with the fact that Patti Smith exists for many years, since reading the oral history of punk rock "Please Kill Me" which described her influence on punk rock music. A few years later in high school I heard an excerpt of "Gloria: In Excelsis Deo" and though it was interesting but never pursued it more. Then when I started collecting vinyl I came across Horses one day and bought it. I may have listened to it all the way through but I don't remember it. I thought of it more as a relic than an album. So when I got this album, I thought it would be another case of an album that has value as a part of musical history but isn't so much an enjoyable record in itself. But when I put it on, I quickly realized I was wrong. The influence on punk music is clear, but the freshness of the music and the raw emotion is still enjoyable. Some of the spoken word stuff is a little harder to get through, but honestly it is not too over indulgent in that regard. The record is solid all the way through and I now finally view it as a genuine classic. This is good stuff and deserves the acclaim.
First Listen. 4.5 Not sure how I never listened to this before. I really enjoyed it and is one I will listen to again. I liked the proto-punk, stripped down sound.
Day 91. Loved this, will be checking out the rest of her discography 9/10 Highlights Gloria Free Money Break it Up
Glad this list got me to listen to the album, sounds more timeless than I expected ver god songs.
This album caught me off guard completely. I was not expecting poetic and punk, so the first couple of tracks were a bit of a shock. Once I settled in, Patti took me for a wonderful ride. Great lyrics, solid (but sometimes too punk) vocals, and great guitar and song structure give this album a great feel.
album was damn good, chill vibes
I enjoyed this.
I wish I liked the album better, but it's clearly not bad, Patti has a lot of fun in it, and I've liked her other songs.
when poetry and punk collide... you'll find this album somewhere in the middle.
The first album on here that Ive reviewed that I’ve listened to. Patti smith, th punk rock poet laureate. Her debut album is phenomenal Gloria is so devistating right off the rip (Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine). And while I do love some of the more traditional songs, redondo beach and free money, the long standing songs is what makes it special May not be peoples bags, and not something I listen to it too often, but it’s the Patti smith experience that I enjoy .
This album was raw proto-punk poetry; I spiraled through attraction and revulsion but could not turn away. Some of this was too avant-garde (to put it nicely) to enjoy—looking at you, "Birdland"—but there's still something compelling about music that can be this fucking weird. Patti Smith's voice, both sonically and lyrically, is strong and strange, taking me to places I didn't expect, and while I don't think this album is an every day listen, after this, I do want to seek out more of her work! Best: "Kimberly" Worst: "Birdland"
I really really like this one. Gloria in excelsis Deo is an instant grab and it didn’t let me go (10/10); Redondo Beach was like a comforting hug (8/10); Free Money is a fun song and honestly kind of motivating (8/10); Break it up had a mixed vibe, where the music was saying one thing but the lyrics another, and really the most thought provoking song in the album (7.5/10). The rest were good, sometimes sad, but otherwise not that remarkable. Overall, a solid 8/10, would listen again.
Cover 5 My favorite Patti Smith album. Granted, I haven't listened to her whole discography.
Really enjoyed this entire album. I will need to revisit this later to digest the lyrics.
Great album, can’t believe it was a debut
vokser på meg. kjenner at det er noe jeg kan like å høre på
Smith is one of the original punks. This albums fall pretty much as the crossroads between the garage rock music of bands like The Stooges and New York Dolls and the proper punk that would follow. The difference is the strong singer-songwriter leanings of these songs. They aren't folk per se, but the poetry of the lyrics is written in such a way that makes them feel like that. Key tracks: Gloria
Patti Smith is definitely one of the most influential artists of the 1970s. She took the beat poetry of the 60s and married it to the New York punk sensibilities of the early 70s with a distinctive voice. You can trace a direct line from her to Blondie, Chrissie Hynde and others, and further out to artists like Nick Cave. The power of this album is found in the quiet moments that purr with menace and then explode into full on freak outs. Essential listening.
Decent
Good tunes, like the vibe. Probably not something I'd really come back to. 3.75
7/10
Brilliant record, has a punk attitude but more expansive. Lyrically intriguing.
I think this belongs on the list, I think Patti Smith was influential for a lot of other groups that came after. I didn't have the patience for it when I was younger. I listened to it again and found things to enjoy about it. I probably won't listen to it end-to-end often but I enjoy the Gloria-based track the most.
Enjoyed this more than I expected.
Wow this album is so unique. Patti has a "voice" that is quite different and might annoy some with her whining and exploring her vocals but I quite like it. The songs that shine on this album really shine. The songs that don't are still interesting to listen to. I'm compelled to listen to this one again, but next time in a better setting so I can really focus on the lyrics.
Very great Art Rock and Proto-Punk album. Every song here is very good I just don't find much replay value.
Funny, I was familiar with "Jesus died for his own sins, but not mine" from "Asylum" on the Crass album "The Feeding of the 5,000", but never knew it was actually inspired by Patti Smith's opening song on "Horses". That said, I actually never listened to nor had this album in my collection. I had (of course) heard of this album, but somehow, never came to listen to it. Although I would classify it rather proto-punk than punk proper, it absolutely helped create the blueprint for what punk could be, beyond just fast/loud/aggressive. Also, I can see how this album influenced later New Wave, such as Siouxie and The Banshees and other female punk acts like Nina Hagen or The Slits. It's undeniably arty, with its (spoken word) poetic lyrics, but also have some raw edges, primarily due to Lenny Kaye's rudimentary guitar work, which I quite liked. 4/5
I can't recognise a (proto-) punk. For years, I underestimated Patti Smith and tended to ignore her. She makes great music. This album is also fantastic. I think I'll listen to it again. 4/5
Very good, reminds me of Lou Reed. 4.49 stars.
I was suprised by Patti. Very intense songs, but some worked very well. Favorites are Gloria: and Horses:
yessssssssss
This album was already in my library so I heard it before I died and this list. It rocks.
First time listener. It was good.
thrilling, infuriating, baffling - all of the above, but you will definitely have a sonic reaction to Horses. No 3-stars sitting on the fence here. I'm not quite all in but can imagine seeing her live around this time would be a total five, but it's a pretty wild ride, as much MC5 as Pistols (not really Pistols at all). One of the great debuts.
This is possibly the first time I've ever listened to this album, despite knowing for many years that it's high up in the pantheon of greatest albums of all time. "Gloria" starts it all with quite a bang, and probably ranks up there as one of the great cover songs (if it even qualifies as such); "Free money" continues the assault quite well. In some ways, though, it feels like "Birdland" and "Land" best represent Smith's vision of marrying poetry and (rock) music, and while I'm not sure I could say I particularly enjoyed either track as much as many people have, they feel pretty unique and challenging, especially for their time. I'm sure I approached this album in a more reverent way than I would have if I had never heard of it, but I can see why it's pretty seminal in the annals of rock/punk/music.
Nice
Quite cool
Another album that continues to grow on me. Patti is like the grandmother of punk 🤘 Favorite track: Gloria
Stupendous album with some beautiful songs on it.
Oh yessss Patrizia Schmid! S best album vo ihre, het mi richtig zum wiehere bracht! Im Galopp zu dene 4 geile Hengst!
The vibe is impeccable. Patti Smith is one of the coolest people alive, and the highlights are brilliant. It does get a little samey, and her lyrics don't have the verbosity of a Dylan or Bowie. She's more like Cohen - takes some simplistic ideas and explores them as far as she can. I was feeling like a strong 3, just because I was craving for something a bit different, and then Elegie provided that, so a 4.
Loved it!
Легенда. И альбом отличный. Лучшая песня - Gloria: In Excelsis Deo.
Good stuff
An excellent album in many ways, also I imagine quite polarising. She can’t be everyone’s cup of tea that’s for sure. However, I bloody loved this!
This was way more fun and playful than I remembered. Always loved the first track but maybe now I'm not a Christian I can appreciate it way more XD. Enjoyable throughout, inspiring in places but a tad long. Would give it 4.5 if possible
So I had never heard a Patti Smith song before, and was expecting something more traditionally folky (don't know why). This album was cool though! Did not think there'd be some reggae in there. Patti Smith has a great voice (it's the first voice that I've really enjoyed so far). Very charismatic and soulful. Some of the songs were a bit rambling but I did generally enjoy it. More of a 3.5 for me, but it's better than the other 3s, so I'm giving it a 4!
This album's great. Idk what more to say given realistically I know nothing about Patti Smith or her influence. I had listened to the album a couple times before the challenge. Still don't have a strong opinion Fav Track: Birdland 8.5/10 (likely to change)
Close to a 5. I really liked this album. I love her voice, it reminds me of Gwen Stefani a little bit. Especially on Redondo Beach and Birdland. I love a good piano in songs too. I wish it was a little longer actually. The poetry parts I usually find annoying or jarring but she worked them in flawlessly. Great album
I've always been ambivalent toward Patti Smith's songs, respecting her work and influence more than enjoying her music. I should have dug into her earlier stuff more.
thoroughly enjoyed this one
Never gave Patti Smith a listen although I’ve heard of her. She sounds like a badass.
This is Patti Smith's Horses A very good album And I really like Horses They gallop around and around It's time I sling the baskets off this overburdened horse Sink my toes into the ground and set a different course Cause if I were here and you were there I'd meet you in between And not until my dying day, confess what I have seen
8, työmatka, koss, qobuz en oo varmaan aiemmin kuunnellu, ainakaa kokonaa
Stark, leider passen mir die längeren Vorträge nicht so für eine 5
Interesting and unique album. Different from what I was expecting & seemed like a great live performer. Gave me Bowie & Elvis Costello vibes. Must be much better live than on album. Not really memorable songs but would be fun to sing if you learned them.
Such a distinctive sound and feel to her music.
I loved Birdland, and the scratchy guitar sound on Land is great. Definitely see the lineage here to later singers I like, like Kristin Hersh and PJ Harvey. Strong stuff, a very high four.
Equestrian as an album
This record IS a product of it's time. But it's more than that. It's a true expression of poetry over music. It has been frequently cited as the first punk rock album, or at lest a key recording of punk rock.
Sounds like the predecessor of PJ Harvey. Currently the favorite new discovery from the 1001 albums.
Biggest surprise of the list so far. Really liked this one, and not sure why I hadn’t heard of it before. Will check out more of Patti smiths music for sure!
There’s a terrifying energy and mania to this
For an album so massively influential in genres I like, I'd never listened to this all the way through somehow but I think it's pretty amazingly original, and would probably go 4.5 stars if I could. The opener is just awesome with the opening lines, starting slowly and then just taking off into punk (before punk was really even a thing) fury. Her vocals are so versatile, ranging from like a Joni Mitchell-esque beauty to the snarling punk with those little yelpy inflections that would be copied by so many to come. The lyrics are beautiful in a surreally weird way and just so atypical for the genre this spawned that eventually would lean very no-nonsense and often political - she definitely thought of herself as a poet first and foremost and you can totally see why. Nothing sounded like this in 1975 and to me Patti Smith is rightly lauded as a patron saint of punk.
I enjoyed this so much more than I expected.
a debut studio album from Patty Smith that draws from a garage punk/DIY punk aesthetic but also incorporates elements of art rock and improvisation. Incorporation of longer song lengths with extended improv sections creates almost an anthemic, epic feeling to the album without feeling too polished. Lots of repeated tags throughout the song that allows for building and billowing walls of sound that barely hang on to structure but still feel wild and free.
Had my eye on this one for a while. This is probably THE gateway album to Punk, it was good.
225/1089 - I really like the way the songs evolve over time, and how they stick to only 2 or 3 chords at most. Goes to show you that chords and harmony is just one part of the equation of what makes a good song. Her voice is very strange though.
Genial. Ya conocía a la artista y sabia lo mítica que era pero simplemente me ha sorprendido. Bastante guay
I never thought of this as a punk album, but there are parts that I love. Worth listening to.
Patti Smith is and remains one of my favorite artists. Yes, and it sounds like art. Hey, and that's exactly how it's supposed to be. Is that pretentious? I think so. Not everyone has to sing "Anarchy" or "Heart of Glass." This is a great album!
2nd favourite Patti Smith slbum
sick stuff and more experimental than i remember or think of when i think of patti smith, pretty cool
mocne 4*
Excellent
Powerful record, though not as evenly balanced on song quality as I had expected.
The was a fun album. Interesting to hear some proto-punk from way back.
A name I’ve known forever with absolutely no idea what she’s about. It’s much better than I was expecting, I was ready to be snoozed
Strange and exciting. A couple of crackers. Interesting voice.
Good but not great.
Patti Smith, showing it how it's done. Edgy poetry wailing punk.
Highlights the difference between an artist and an entertainer, and Patti is definitely the former. Lots of interesting and experimental stuff here. Not always something you'd enjoy listening to a lot, but that would be entertainment and not art.
I've heard of Patti Smith before, but this might have been my first time actually listening to her music. And I liked it a lot! She's got a great voice and the music was cool too. I can definitely hear her influence in a lot of other stuff I like.
quwria dar 3,5
Loved it. 4/5
Superbement audacieux, original, senti et maîtrisé
Strong vocals and great songs. Really enjoyed listening. The album is as old as us , but worn a lot better !!
One that I was aware of but never listened to. Really liked a lot of it so annoyed that I haven’t taken the time to listen to it before.
La voz amiga la voz
Surprisingly rich and mellow for a punk album. I knew I'd like this one soon after I put it on and went "wait, I should return to this when I can listen to it more actively". I still haven't fully digested it I feel. Very cool stuff here.
Wild stuff. At turns gorgeous with that piano and rowdy with its intense guitar, and anchored throughout by Patti's stunningly abrasive voice. A true classic of proto-punk - sorry, New York Dolls, this is the real deal.
Great album. This ages like fine wine for me. I like it more with each listen. I don't usually tap my foot to this type of music but I found myself GROOVING. Never knew what she'd do next. What a gifted artist.
Pretty good
Day 28 I have listened to it already maybe 3 times before. It's a classic album and for a reason. No one does it like Patti! (4/5)
Rating: 8.5/10
It's that kind of rock and roll i am very much a fan off, and want to learn to play on both guitar and piano. Can't be beaten. Very impressive singing. 1 - the ending with the drum fill? and the guitar solo is amazing. 3- mix of poetry, music? Quite an impressive performance. 6- nice backing guitar. again vocal performance is very impresive, all fits very well together. quite the fan actually. 7- just reinforces what i've said before. interesting lyrics, good performance. Surprisingly really enjoyed this. Not the usual kind of thing I'd put on it but it was very lyrically interesting, and is of course my kind of basic rock and roll, with a little added complexity. Becoming quite a fan of spoken music at the moment.
This is a good album. It has a lot of really nice experimentation with vocals from percussive sounds, talking, and shoving a million words into a phrase that probably only typically has 10. Some of that is really good and others fall short of what I think she was trying to accomplish but that’s the price of experimentation. I want to listen to this album like 4 more times and focus on a different part of it each time, there’s really a lot going on that I need more time to soak in. I’m sitting at a strong 4 on this but it could make its way up to 5. Track 7 (long name one) is so packed with ideas and cool things but I don’t know if it all works.
I love getting albums that I already own! Listened to the vinyl for the full, raw experience. I like Patti Smith quite a bit, but I admit this one isn't my favorite of her albums. "Gloria: In Excelces Deo" absolutely slaps and is a powerhouse start to the album, but none of the songs after it really reach that same peak. Nevertheless, it's clearly influencial and is building on previous rock trends in an interesting (to me) way. Smith's lyrics are always fantastic, she really is a poet and rocker, not the other way around.
"Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine" Not only is that a hell of a line to open up an album but to also open up an entire career, WOW! Is there such thing as proto-postpunk? I must say, wish I had heard this album earlier in my life. I really only knew Patti Smith from "Gloria" and "Because The Night". Though a lot of the things I was reading about her as precursor to the American Punk scene, I see most of her influence more on the backside of punk as it morphed into post Punk, specifically some of the more punkier sides of Blondie. But I can also see her influence on the likes of PJ Harvey and later on Liz Phair. I've always thought that her voice was not something I would really get into , but as I went through this album the Darkness the haunting this really grabbed me and appreciate her approach. Honestly the only song I really had noted is not really liking that much was the closer but it works really well as a closer so I'm starting this off with a strong 4¼★ but I think it could go higher up on further lessons 9.53 ★★★★½
The highlights here, "Gloria" and the title track, are great, hut the rest is a bit uneven, still 4 stars
This album isn't perfect, but I do think it's a super cool, influential album. Patti does something similar to other bands of the CBGB scene in that she takes her idea of what rock 'n roll sounds like, but takes it in a new futuristic direction. So the end result is an album that doesn't really sound like what was happening in rock at the time, but if you listen to a lot of the alternative/college rock albums of the '80s, this is sort of the genesis of that. Highlights for me are "Gloria", "Free Money", and "Break it Up". 4 stars.
4.5
I always knew about Patti Smith being a kind of punkish folk character, but never actually listened to her for whatever reason. This album starts off pretty strong with a good rendition of Gloria, which manages to be unique and good despite all the various superstars like Hendrix who have also given it a go. The songs stay pretty consistent--it's almost like Patti Smith sounds like Lou Reed at his best without all the dumb songs the latter indulges in during heroine binges. In any case, this album has a kind of slow burning energy. It's a solid find, and I'll definitely come back to this one. 4/5
3.5
Few songs hit as hard as "Gloria," genuinely the baddest, punkest shit you'll ever hear. Pure tear-the-roof-off energy. It's sort of impossible for the rest of the album to not feel like a let down after such a high high, but even in its more drawn-out and uneven stretches it's captivating. Other highlights include "Birdland" and "Free Money", and the "Land" medley. Just a massive, powerful talent.
MI MADROTA, PATTI, QUIEN ASPIRO A SER, POR TI VIVO, TE AMO
Liked it a lot. Her confident voice fits into the music nicely. Can't say much more. Some calm songs I enjoyed and some more energetic that I also liked. Clearly rock of the time while still being original.
Think I’d really really like it after a few listens.
nice
Poetic verses, great lyrics.
Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine
This album is fantastic. Not sure what you would call, psychedelic, experimental perhaps. No matter what you call, there was very little of this music happening at this time, especially by woman artists. Abstract lyrics and loud squealing guitars gave me a Herion by The Velvet Underground. Free Money is fairly straight forward and it rips showing she is not just a weirdo making loud music. I was doubtful this album would live up to the hype, but it actually exceeded it.
I’ve never really given this record a thorough listen. I fall pretty squarely on the Ramones side of the first wave punk sonic divide. So let’s go. Gloria - My first touch point for PS’s music. A classic build. I never realized how much she sounds like Gordon from Violent Femmes. Strike that; reverse it. Redondo Beach - White reggae elegy for a dead friend. Birdland - Big props to punk poetry like this. Evocative saga of funereal New England domestic madness. Probably worthy of serious study. Free Money - Galloping excoriation/exaltation of the “fables of opulence”. Punk af. Just seeing how she art-birthed Nick Cave. Kimberly- Radio bop with dancey kick drum and chiming keys that escorts a shaggy dog story about burning barns (and another dead child?) The hand claps… Break it Up - Another New England horror story, this one of ripping through your skin to achieve transcendence? Verlaine on display, his guitar co-narrating in a desperate squeal. Another exquisite build. Land - More October imagery suggesting Romeo & Juliet that gets swallowed by the beat and becomes a jagged cover of Land of 1,000 Dances that in turn gets python-squeezed by high art spoken word surreality into a thrilling acceleration of Patti’s word paintings and Tom’s highest of high end Fugazi-esque fret scratches. The culmination of all the ideas on the album in one chugging sparking engine of punky rock. “A simple rock song”. Elegie - Broadway lives in every NYer, I reckon. Pink Floydy wails of guitar echoing behind the curtain. Torchy and sweet to wrap it up. It’s no surprise people write whole books about her. She’s been vital to Punk in every way. Viva Patti.
Badass! Her er der noget som klart kan vokse ved mig. Fik lidt Iggy fornemmelser et par gange, kun fordi musikken ikke er lige så "grim" som vokalen at jeg ender på 4 idag.
Et album jeg kun kendte af omdømme, og som jeg troede var noget helt andet end det viste sig det var. Vokalen er rå og fængende. Sonic Youth har lyttet det her album da de lavede Washing Machine.
Linda voz, linda actitud, no muy largo el disco. Dudo escuchar de nuevo pero aprueba por lejos. Nota: 3.7
13/05/2025 I haven't heard of her before and it wasn't too bad. Not sure id listen again though.
Proto Punk. Es un gran album
I know a lot of people don’t think this is a punk album however regardless of where in the genre are you think it is it’s an excellent album. I definitely have a newfound app appreciation for Patti Smith.
HORSES HORSES HORSES HORSES
9/10 honse
great album...never listened to Patti Smith before but what a collection of interesting songs
A hellbent rush of storytelling steeped in attitude and atmosphere. Brilliant.
She so cool
Fantastic album
Wild uncompromising music, incredible lyrics
I spent a good chunk of my listening time with this album deciding if I liked or not. I was a bit mixed on Patti’s voice and couldn’t tell if it was annoying or not. It did eventually grow on me, as I thought it sounded like a punk-fused Fleetwood Mac. Lyrically, the songs were hit-or-miss. While I enjoyed something like Kimberly, Birdland was a little esoteric. Honestly, most of the album was esoteric. But most of the songs were enjoyable, despite not fully understanding the songs. It’s also easy to see the influence this album had on other artists. This list gave me two PJ Harvey albums that I very much enjoyed and I can tell this album was a heavy influence on her. I think I’d rate this on the influence more than the content. Either way, I ended up enjoying this album. I’m not sure I’d consider itself an all-timer, but it’s still good. Favorite track: Redondo Beach Other hits: Gloria: In Excelsis Deo, Free Money, Kimberly, Elegie
Off the cuff remark: I think I want to like this more than I do, perhaps it's jus taht the first song is, well, glorious, and everything else struggles to be quite as good afterwards. Although that doesn't mean it's not great! Standout track: Gloria: In Excelsis Deo Revisit?: Yep. In the collection and gets an occasional listen.
Raw and wired from the jump. Feels like proto-punk crossed with beat poetry and a mad saxophone ghost. Her voice is part battle cry, part sermon, part "I don’t give a shit." Totally cool, totally chaotic. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions: - Gloria: In Excelsis Deo - Redondo Beach - Free Money - Land: Horses/Land of a Thousand Dances/La Mer(de)
good
I wish I totally loved it. I'll keep listening. I know people rave. I just think its really good.
Excellent songwriting and vibe. Can really feel the Velvet Underground influence, so it makes sense that John Cale produced this
Un disco con mucha energía y creatividad al momento de expresar sus ideas. Música que nace del corazón en donde Patti hace uso de variados recursos para que las canciones nos tomen por sorpresa y hagan de este disco una experiencia memorable. Me encanta
Horses absolutely rages. Punk meets Dylan. The anxiety, the franticness is palpable. Gloria, Free Money, Break It Up are absolute bangers. I’m Sleater-Kinney was obsessed with this album. 8.8/10
I've always wanted to really listen to this album but never took the opportunity, and that's why this project is so great. Patti Smith is a legend and this album is part of why.
Absolutely
Som poet är hon världsklass. Musiken är inte lika spännande. Lite som Dylan om man får svära i kyrkan... Fyra
Highlight Song/s: Gloria, Redondo Beach This album is a nice mix of punk and poetry. The singing by Patti leaves me completely awestruck. That yelp-styled singing definitely helps make the music more unhinged.
This is just an objectively cool record. It’s far more punk in attitude than it is in sound, but I don’t know if that’s a bad thing. There’s a slew of different genres going on here, from dark bluesy guitars to beautiful piano ballads, it’s got a bit of everything, but it’s almost a minimalist record, with very simple chords, drum patterns, and root note-tied basslines. The one thing that ties it together is the vocals of Patti Smith, which are incredible. Her spoken word sections are deep and powerful, her singing voice is a wonderful combination of grit and softness, it just works so well on so many levels. This album feels very far ahead of its time and it’s clearly been quite influential. I had a lot of fun listening to this one, and I’d probably listen to it again pretty happily. 4*
Listening to this record, it was a bit surprising to me that it ever got made, at least at the time that it did, in 1975. At a time when having a record deal and support from a record label was so important, at the height of disco and Queen, I was surprised that a record would throw their weight behind this album. This is an album starkly different from most anything I’ve heard before and especially for pre, say, 1995-2000. It toes a line between rock and spoken word poetry that feels as much like performance art and music. While it’s not something that immediately struck me as delicious upon first listen, it’s definitely substantive and interesting and definitely an album worth hearing. I’d put this somewhere between 3 and 4 ⭐️, but I feel the need listen to again and look forward to thinking more about it so I have to round up on that basis.
First and foremost a collection of poetry that wears it's musical influences (Mick Jagger's white bluesman vocals, Jim Morrison and Bob Dylan's mystical rock poet persona, the Velvet Underground's dark psychadelic chaos, Television's spidery guitars) brazenly. An interesting pivot between the hippie late 60s and the punk mid 70s, lots of this is like New York Dolls and Richard Hell's version of bluesy old fashioned rock sped up, glammed up, made thematically darker, more personal and raunchier (though she definitely didn't take on their taste for short sharp songs). Other parts have a more polished kind of new-wave sound with herky jerky rhythms and guitars that sound almost like synths. Some of it is more stripped back and nearly folksy, but piano based, and leaning towards an arena friendly Fleetwood Mac sound. Ecclectic, but coheres around a) her voice, which definitely takes the punk approach of not needing to be very good technically to be charismatic and to deliver the lyrics, which are definitely her real emphasis, and b) her persona, the ultimate scenster, an act of self-crafting and projection which is the album's main accomplishment. I've tried with this album a few times over the years and never really cared about it either way, but like it a lot more this time around. Maybe it's from randomly being in the middle of reading Please Kill Me, where she plays a staring role (but comes of pretty badly - just an ludicrous hipster making insufferable pronouncements about the future of poetry being the tired Rolling Stones) and having more context for it.
Great to be introduced to new artists like this. Gloria is a wonderful listen. Birdland is a beautiful piece about coming to terms with loss.
Absolutely stunning album. Many different styles of music with punk and ska being at the forefront. We really makes the album, though, is her song writing. Beautiful stories and excellent poetry. This has been one of my bigger surprises on this list.
Liked a few, no idea what the lyrics are about half the time.
"Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine" hell yeah, what an opener! i think treating it like an experimental poem reading than a normal album does it justice. an icon!!
With these daily albums, I've been excited to experience the great artists I've been hearing about my whole life, but have never actually listened to. Patti Smith is a perfect example: I know she's huge in the culture, I know she wrote a great book called Just Kids, but that's all I know. This album is punk incarnate (and it might be the very first punk album??). It's not just the music; it's Patti herself. She's like Dylan in her poetry and rough-around-the-edges singing voice, but her style is all her own. On Birdland, she asks "am I all alone in this generation?" and begs for someone to "please take me up, don't leave me here". That lyric touched me in its raw sincerity. This is not an album I'm going to spin regularly. But it is an album I'm going to rate highly for its courage and clarity.
At first listen I didn’t realize it was poetry. Reframing my brain to that I thought it was beautiful. Punky, punchy, what rock should be
Great writing and vocals, enjoyed a lot of the album though didn’t love when it veered too spoken word and less lyrical. She’s of course an icon.
Basically invented both punk rock and new wave. Inspiration to many. Hadn't listened to this before, but will be coming back to this more.
Starts off strong but dwindles near the end
This one took a few listens for me to warm up to it. Originally I thought her voice was jarring and I really didn't like the song Birdsong, but after a few listens her voice was unique and I appreciated every song (except birdsong). 3.5/5 - > 4/5
One of the early progenitors of punk has some damn good stuff. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
Rising above the squalor of mid-70s New York, this album is a gleaming and brilliant piece of pure expression. Noisy, clever, uncompromising, insightful and a unique artistic voice. At its best when moving the furthest possible distance away from convention and descending into a flow of noise off-the-cuff! Favourite tracks: Gloria, Birdland, Free Money, Land
Raw and personal. Her voice is just hypnotic. Lyrically it's super strong too.
Patti smith is a legend and this is an example of her words being put to music in a powerful way .
Ihan slay!
Kind of reminds me of like a female, Nick Cave. Really solid album all around.
Original, groundbreaking stuff. I'd hope that if I were fifteen years older, I would have recognized it as such when it came out. I'm sorry I've come to this album later in life.
Patti!
I did write a much longer review but forgot to save it so... 3.5/5 pretty good.
This obviously requires multiple listens, but it's honestly not like anything else I've listened to.
Fijn, lekker beetje wilde vrouwenmuziek.
Great to be returning to this Album after 18 years
Ok so I went into this album with admittedly the wrong attitude. I knew this was a big “artsy fartsy” punk album so I felt an immediate disconnect with the album but I listened to it and a couple of the songs I really liked, and I LOVED the live cover of My Generation live at The Agora. And that cover made me want to listen to the album a second and third time before I left a review and I gotta say it’s already starting to grow on me. I like the tone and the instrumentals. There’s a few slower songs that I couldn’t connect to, but the songs that work are some of the all time greatest punk songs. If you are an open minded punk music fan, this should be required material.
Solid album.
Big fan of this album, Patti's voice was really good, and the songs were catchy and enjoyable to listen to. The music was varied and well-crafted, and each song stood alone. The songs also didn't feel particularly dated for a 70s album. Land: Horses etc was a really good song. 4/5 stars.
An album that teaches us to look at that young lady on the cover, who looks more like a lost daughter of Mick Jagger and Joey Ramone, and teaches us not to judge the music based on that. 4 stars is fair hahahaha
Det här blev omedelbart intressant. Har nu lyssnat massor och landar i en fyra. Det är bitvis för bra för att sätta en trea. Det är en bitvis kaotisk skiva, men det klickar för mig. Mer än tvärtom (full förståelse för att man inte riktigt diggar detta). Hon har en grym röst (om än lite "gnällig" ibland". Det är en skön intensitet i musiken. Gillar även de lite längre låtarna, särskilt Land: horses.... Kommer utan problem kunna lyssna mer på Patti Smith. Kul!
Huh. Not at all what I expected from the cover, or from an album from 1975. Some real solid punk here, especially given the release date. Nothing complicated or mind-blowing, but really good for what it is. 4.2
The first two songs are pretty decent, I don’t really like the third one though it’s really long and boring and is kinda whiny. I really liked the entire rest of it though.
There are very few albums outside of what I classify as "canon" that I would deem "important." This is one of those. Patti Smith is widely known to be a punk icon and deserves her place on that stage as such. OK. But this album, to me is extremely important because it shows that Patti Smith is the girl version or alternate side to Iggy Pop, another massive punk cultural icon. They are both WAY beyond musicians and were always saying something through their music. I don't even know what to call the genre of this album but it has such a deep meaning; it shows us what punk IS at it's heart.
The Violent Femmales. 7/10
good jams, not necessarily a live album person, but
This is nearly perfect for me, from the album art to Patti Smith's unique voice and poetry throughout. I adore the intro "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine" and how Patti Smith puts care and emotion into every syllable she sings. "Free Money" is devastating. I can see how she inspired atmospheric and more lyrically complex punk/indie/alt rock musicians that followed her. 4.5 rounded down but really can go either way.
Lexi’s takes: generally positive. Wasn’t paying much attention at breakfast. There was one song that made me think of the movie shark tale specifically the whale wash because don’t you worry about a thing plays in that scene and the background instrumentation was reminiscent of that song. Premise of Shark Tale: main character fish’s dad owns whale wash. They’ve borrowed money from the shark mafia (they are fishes). Puffer fish is the enforcer. Main character fish has a crush on receptionist. He is pretty discontent but likes this girl fish. He finds out about mafia debts and is filled with defiant pride about standing up to the sharks. Meanwhile the son of the leader of the shark mafia feels bad about the family business. But his dads makes him do this job, threatening with cutting him off financially. Then the two sons decide to work together, both getting blackmailed by the sharks all the while. “There’s like this sexy fish” (a lady) voiced by some celebrity who has no business being in this movie. She works for the mafia and she’s sent in to try to get the son pulled into the mafia (weirdly seductive). There’s some big fight (no details remembered) and the head of the mafia gets stuck in the whale wash. And then he’s like “oh my gosh I’m squeaky clean”. Everything turns out fine except the puffer fish has something happen and he inflates and drifts away. And then at the end of the movie the son gets together with the receptionist fish (whose heart had been broken earlier because she saw the son with the sexy fish), and the shark son happily works for the the whale wash. Anyway that one song made me think of don’t you worry about a thing, which played at the start at the whale wash. My takes: good album. Patti Smith has a really nice grit to her voice. In the 70s women vocalists are often put into a pretty singing box and not able to do more interesting stuff and Patti smith really goes for weirder and better vocals than most. Gloria is such an excellent start to the album. Lexi wants to add: “I think the main character fish’s name is Oscar”
This album is a pretty convincing argument that not all punk needs to rock to be punk. It can be quieter and more acoustic and still be great. Fur and a half stars rounded down to four. (I also feel like I better understand the sonic lineage of Regina Spektor, one of my mid-00s faves, having listened to this)
True class. Is this something of a barometer record? Must admit, I used to struggle more to get into the material. Hearing it back now made a lot more sense to me.
Gloria +1, Horses +1, proto punk fun
"Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine" is one of the greatest opening lines on any album ever. Patti Smith is a real trail blazer for all women rockers out there, but for some reason i've never quite fully understood her magic. Poetry and punk however is a solid combination worth of 3 or 4 stars. This time i randomly chose...
An excellent debut that often gets lumped in with (proto-)punk, but sounds closer to the producer's background in the Velvet Underground.
Loved it
Amazing opening
Ear friendly Yoko Ono in a nice way. Glooroooooooooorrriia
Great energy. Loved free money and Redondo Beach. I wish there were more tracks
Genuinely good album that in some places felt a decade or more before its time. Favorite track: Free Money
Jag hade halvt glömt detta albumet men jag gillar det väldigt mycket också A+++ album cover
Expectations were low but this album far exceeded them. Kinda reminds me of a female Iggy pop.
More interesting songs, however still majorly singer/songwriter with vocal focus.
Another good album. Great version of Gloria.
Reminds me of perfect days
A theatrical voice and interpretation. You almost could feel like you are watching the movements of their body.
I listened to it twice, so there was definitely aspects that I liked but it won’t make a regular rotations.
This doesn't really feel like it should be characterized as 'punk rock', but I enjoyed this as someone is ignorant of Patti Smith.
Hell yeah, this felt both modern and of a time. I guess that makes it timeless?
Wide ranging album with a steady river running through it: Patti Smith's no-fucks-needed no fucks given jaunt.
Ah, Patti is so cool. This drags in places just a little bit too much for me to keep this in heavy rotation but it's a phenomenal record.
So cool and still fresh sounding in some ways despite it now being 50! Thought of Kate Bush and Nick Cave. Will be digging deep into Patti’s catalogue soon I think. (4.5 stars)
3.9/very fun, smells like fiona apple
What I found is it could definitely tell that she influenced other artists into the 70s and 80s it’s not exactly something I can listen to in the morning or something, but I did enjoy it
I enjoyed that a lot more than I expected! I understand Pattis voice may not be for everyone, but I thought she delivered a stellar vocal performance. She voice paired with her poetry tells story's that I want to hear and enjoy. The instrumentation is powerful and has good style. Really no complaints even got stuck in my head a little.
Excellent pre-punk album!
gloria and redondo beach are bops
Crazy influential, love the punk/jam mix. Great bass tones
LETS GO LESBIANS LETS GOOOOOO! i rlly don’t listen to a lot of non contemporary music, esp bc the newer artists i listen to are pretty much all queer women. BUT THIS. i didn’t expect this! i quite love it too
Its a beautiful very sentimental album. Amazing songwriting and a mix of poerty and punk which was probably pretty out there when it was released. I had never given Patti a real opportunity just liked a few songs but this is a great album that I regret not listen to before today.
Pretty solid, definitely liked it more on a second listen.
Good solid punk album
Whenever I listen to Bob Dylan and other highly-acclaimed musical artists from the 60's and 70's, I always wonder if it is good music or is it the musical equivalent of the emperor's new clothes? I felt that way before I listened to this album. Not sure this is really punk music. It's simpler, in a good way, and not so frenetic. Her singing is unique at times and her lyrics get pretty deep. No song sticks out to me on my first listen, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. I guess in this case I will believe the hype.
Необычный женский вокал
Never heard, could hear the rawness energy spirtit ...see why she is she
I knew the name but maybe had been very listened to her music before. Not sure. I liked it tho. Good cooking dinner album
Energetic and innovative. Love the tying in classic rock and soul with the poetry and avant garde shit. Didn't realize break it up wasn't a television song. Didn't realize the blue oyster cult guy was on this and that he and big Tom Verlaine were kind of feuding. Good stuff.
Upbeat 70’s classic rock.
idk en lyriikoita taas vaan lempeiltiin sointuja... Ihania sointuja...
This is better than it should be considering Patti Smith ripped everyone else off and has very little talent of her own. The reimagined Gloria is interesting and exciting. Redondo Beach is like a frightening dream. Some other songs are decent enough that I can’t completely hate it even though I want to.
7/10 I like it, but not for everything and not all the time, but when I like it...whoo boy
I can see it although likely won’t go into regular rotation for me.
Earnest. Honest. Passionate. Poetry.
This did grow on me, even though it wasn’t quite the level of “punk” I expected or hoped for. I suppose the slower parts have their place, but the effect they have is that the album starts and ends on a bit of a sour note, although it becomes something much better.
Un álbum increíblemente influyente en el punk (femenino) que estaría por venir. Llevaba muchísimo tiempo queriendo escucharlo. Y, visto desde una perspectiva actual, sigue siendo muy bueno. Grupos que hoy en día están entre mis favoritos, como The Organ, no hubieran sido posibles sin Patti Smith. Los temas no llegan a ser punk per se, más bien folk, pero un folk muy crudo, donde prima más la poesía que la música. Solo por su impacto en estilos que me encantan, merece notaza.
Some excellent songs but unfortunately some arty-farty-poems miscasts too for me...