Horses

Quite enjoyed this album tbh. It’s not my normal taste so I’m quite happy I liked it tbh. Some tracks were still a bit mid tho unfortunately. I enjoyed Land: Horses quite a bit but then it became story time. Might possibly listen to this album again idk. Think I’ll def listen to some more Patti

Patti Smith is cooler than you

Liked it a lot. Wasnt terribly familiar with Patti Smith until this album.

Very unusual style but there's something that truly captivated me. Her vocals, especially. I'll definitely listen to this again. I might change my rating in the future.

This was an easy listen. Really interesting. Kinda punk, kinda classic rock, kinda folk. Someone should tell her songs don't need to be 9 minutes long but other than that enjoyable. Seems ahead of the times for what it is.

I know of Patti Smith and this album, but I’ve never listened to any of Patti Smith’s work before. I know Horses is supposed to be incredibly influential and groundbreaking, so I’ve been looking forward to the chance to review it. Here’s hoping that it will blow my socks off! Well, my socks are still firmly on my feet, but I did enjoy this album. I think Horses did a great job of pushing against the preconceived notions of what punk rock can be, and it was really interesting to listen to. The two longer songs, “Birdland” and “Land,” were really well written, and it was really cool to see longform storytelling be adapted to punk music in this way. Even though the songs were long, I didn’t find them boring. I think Patti Smith’s usage of creating peaks and valleys in the tempo of the music really helped keep these longer songs interesting and engaging. I really loved how “Gloria” built to a really chaotic crescendo towards its end. The backing vocals and Patti’s chants of ‘G-L-O-R-I-A’ were incredibly energetic and one of my favorite parts of the whole album. Patti’s ability to control the energy and tempo was probably her biggest asset on Horses, and she used it well throughout the course of the album. In my opinion, Horses is one of those albums where the sum of the parts works much better than the individual pieces; it would be hard for me to enjoy a lot of these songs without having the context of the sound of the whole album. While I wasn’t blown away by this, I thought that it was really good from an objective standpoint. I don’t know that I’d be quick to return to this album, but I wouldn’t mind checking out more of Patti Smith’s work.

A minor classic. Still rocks !

Love this album - definitely a good collection of songs :) Gloria being a stand out

I like this album, eventhough it took 2 listens for me to really get it, and 1 more for me to vaguely enjoy Land. Patti Smith's voice is unique and very punky. Starting your career with "Jesus died for somebody' sin but not mine" is crazy tho. Fun story is that I had to look up if she's into women after that first song, and I was very disappointed to find out she isn't. But dear God, this album cover changed my brain chemistry forever. Fav track: Gloria (I love this one so much), Redondo Beach, Birdland, Break It Up 4/5

Classic

Il y a des disques qui sont des photographies. Pas celles qu'on prend avec un appareil, mais celles qui capturent l'âme d'une époque, l'énergie d'une ville, la naissance d'un mouvement. "Horses", le premier album de Patti Smith, est l'une de ces photographies. C'est le cliché en noir et blanc, granuleux et sublime, du New York de 1975 : fauché, crasseux, dangereux, mais vibrant d'une créativité électrique qui allait bientôt mettre le feu au monde sous le nom de "punk rock". Avant "Horses", le rock était encore largement une affaire d'hommes, de guitar heroes et de chanteurs à la virilité plus ou moins affirmée. Et puis Patti est arrivée, ce n'était pas une chanteuse, mais une poétesse. Une artiste chétive à la dégaine androgyne, qui a pris le rock'n'roll par le col et l'a forcé à écouter de la poésie, à lire du Rimbaud. Elle n'a pas demandé la permission, elle a défoncé la porte. Et quelle entrée en matière ! L'album s'ouvre sur les quelques notes de piano de "Gloria", et la voix de Smith, tranchante comme un rasoir, qui déclame : "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine". "Jésus est mort pour les péchés de quelqu'un, mais pas les miens". La messe est dite. En une phrase, elle balaye des décennies de conventions rock et religieuses. Le morceau explose ensuite en une reprise sauvage du standard de Them, transformé en un hymne à la libération sexuelle et spirituelle. C'est ça, la magie de "Horses". C'est un mélange de poésie, de spoken word et d'énergie musicale brute. Produit par le grand John Cale du Velvet Underground – et ce n'est pas un hasard, car on sent ici l'héritage direct du chaos arty du Velvet –, l'album a un son primitif, urgent. C'est le son d'un groupe de garage qui aurait répété dans une bibliothèque. Les thèmes abordés sont crus : le sexe, la religion, la mort, l'aliénation. Patti Smith ne chante pas, elle prêche, elle crache, elle incante. L'album est un voyage et on passe du reggae funèbre de "Redondo Beach", qui raconte une histoire de suicide, à la transe épique de "Land", un morceau en trois parties qui monte, qui monte, jusqu'à une explosion quasi hendrixienne. C'est un disque qui prend des risques, qui n'a pas peur d'être déroutant ou même un peu bancal par moments. Et c'est peut-être là que se situe la petite réserve qui justifie le 4 sur 5. "Horses" est un album d'une importance capitale, un marqueur dans l'histoire du rock. Mais est-ce un album parfait ? Pas tout à fait. Son côté brut et sa structure parfois très libre, où le poème prend le pas sur la chanson, peuvent le rendre un peu ardu. C'est un disque plus cérébral que physique. On l'écoute avec une admiration intellectuelle pour son audace et son intelligence, mais il n'a pas toujours l'efficacité mélodique immédiate d'autres classiques. C'est un album que je respecte plus qu'un album que j'écoute en boucle pour le plaisir. Quand je l'ai découvert, adolescent, bien après sa sortie, il m'a fasciné. C'était la clé pour comprendre d'où venait tout ce que j'aimais dans le post-punk. C'était le chaînon manquant entre le Velvet Underground et Television. Mais je dois avouer qu'il m'a fallu du temps pour l'apprivoiser complètement. Un beau 4 sur 5, c'est la note d'un album majeur, un disque qui a changé les règles du jeu et a ouvert la voie à d'innombrables artistes. C'est le son d'une révolution, capturé à l'état brut. Il n'est peut-être pas parfait sur la forme, mais son esprit, lui, est d'une pureté absolue. Un disque essentiel pour comprendre que le rock'n'roll peut aussi être de la grande littérature.

This album had great feeling. Patti Smith knew how to evoke emotion with her music.

Patti’s class mind, enjoyed returning to this record after a long time away.

Wow I actually really like this, why have I never listened to Patti Smith before?? Land is my favourite.

A stable effort

I like the live version better. Not sure I totally get it but I see how it kickstarted the alt rock of the rest of the 70s

I've listened through this album probably 4 times now and I respect it more than I enjoy it. It's basically spoken word poetry with musical backing. It gets an extra star for historical importance and the cover.

Maan i love the 70s

Such a sensational album, can't believe I'd never heard of it before!

the name of the game is attitude. by no musical standpoint would i really consider Horses to be an actual punk record -- the guitars are pretty conventional for their time, the vocals aren't harsh, and the closest thing i'd say it has to a contemporary is Television, who had one song out at the time, and neither Television nor Smith sound like they're inventing what we know to be punk. really, what i think people find punk about Patti Smith is her combining of surrealist, rebellious poetry with an evolution of frat rock -- you can't imagine Them breaking into rants about girls humping parking meters or anyone who covers "Land of a Thousand Dances" slipping into imagery of slitting your own throat, and its this juxtaposition that makes the record such a pioneer in its genre. what is punk if not making the rock of the past utterly hideous? i don't think i'd play any track from "Horses" in the car with my family. good. it's not for the car. it's not for anyone, except maybe animated helium ravens.

I think it's kind of overrated but I still like it. It's got it's time and it's place.

A really good album, so many good songs My favorites were Birdland and Elegie.

Interesting combo of lyrics and sound. Not just an artist with a shit backing band. Thoroughly enjoyed, by not sure what situation would warrant a relisten.

Although I’d heard of Patti Smith, I’d never listened to one of her albums and didn’t know what to expect. I’m having a hard time summarizing my thoughts on the album, but it was very interesting and I enjoyed it overall. One to revisit. Favorite: Land

Impactful. Not my favorite overall, but you can hear influences back in time and how she has influenced others.

Overall I thought this was really good, I'm a fan of Lou Reed and I feel like she was similar to him. I'll go find more Patti Smith to listen to, apparently Because the Night is popular of hers, but not on this album. I liked: Gloria Birdland Free Money Land: Horses/Land of a Thousand Dancse/La Merde Pretty solid 4 star album for me.

"Young Parisians are so French They love Patti Smith ..." And so do I. Thank goodness for the Patti spirit: feedom; expression; poetry. Where would we be without the souls that decide to do their own thing? An album that actually doesn't fit a time, place or thing. So just listen and enjoy the shape of things it moves. A kaleidoscope. I will listen to this more an more.

Literate, original, impassioned, imaginative, intelligent, compelling, beautiful, challenging, brave, rambling, fluid, spontaneous, unabashed, unique, influential. What a great album. Who else was doing anything like this in 1975? I knew I loved 'Because The Night'. I knew I liked 'Gloria' and 'Dancing Barefoot', I knew lots of the artists I love were influenced by her but somehow I'd never heard this before. I had to play it twice, read the lyrics, read about their meaning. In 1975 (for context) punk hadn't kicked off, the most popular poet, and one of the most popular 'entertainers' in England was Pam Ayres. Thankfully people like Patti Smith provide an alternative to all the shite.

Groundbreaking

I know it’s influential and stuff, but I don’t really enjoy it as much as others. I’ll still give it an extra star, though, because of its influence and uniqueness.

Powerful singing / vocals, I really liked it

A super diverse album reflecting that music is more than just one style and can be more than the usual stuff you hear in the radio. Like a musical rebellion reflected in Patty's unique and distinctive voice and the lyrics of each song. Definitely not an album you listen to whilst doing the dishes (it's a concept album)but an album you will listen to for a specific emotion. Great and refreshing, and so different towards a lot of music!!!

I generally like Patti’s voice. Her lyrics lost me at times because she is more poet than traditional songwriter. It gives her music a different quality more like Bob Dylan. Thankfully she is a better singer than Dylan. I prefer the songs where she doesn’t drone on stanza after stanza for what feels like forever before hitting a musical break or chorus. Gloria is a little tiring to me for that reason and Horses definitely hits me that way. Great playing by the band. I just wish some of the songs were a little shorter or more sparse lyrically.

Yeah was aight. Cool poetic punk. I bet she got some nice armpit hair

Teatral pocas canciones pero largas como piropo de tartamudo

This I defintiely need to listen to again. Not what I was expecting.

76/100

4.5

In my opinion, New York has never thrived more from a music point of view than when it was knee deep into the punk era of the 70s. And its underground scene was led by the momentum from the incredible CBGB music club. Patti Smith was one of the glowing stars from that club who ushered in a new level of creativity to rock that hadn’t really been seen yet. It’s unfortunately rare to see such an electric female figure in a scene like punk. But when they hit it right, you get someone as cool as Patti. What an interesting person. It really feels like you learn a lot about who she is just from these 8 songs. Her lyrics are personal, but also incredibly cryptic. So it may not be immediately apparent what she is speaking on. But so much of her personality just emanates from the lyrical content and delivery. I’ll admit, I do find it a little hard to speak on the actual music here. I was listening to it and thinking “What the fuck am I going to write for this?” I can’t really pinpoint what I like and dislike. It was difficult for me to wrap my mind around. But I know that I liked what I heard. Punk has never been my absolute favorite thing. And the roots of it don’t do much for me. Like for example, I think The Stooges are cool. But proto-punk really is just a devolution of something I’m already not big on. What I can get behind is what I’m hearing here. It’s the proto to the kind of punk I actually like. This isn’t at all a conventional punk album. In the same way that Marquee Moon very much wasn’t. Birdland isn’t my favorite song on this record. But it is undoubtedly a stunning performance from all parties involved. That combination of the uncompromising energy of punk with the avant-garde side of rock is what makes this a noteworthy album. Maybe not my favorite record ever, but I can’t take away what all of these beautiful people gave us in that city all those years ago, and everything that it led to. Rating: 7/10

Great album. Uncomplicated, simple, but also complex and deep. Enjoyed this a lot.

Enjoyed this will listen to more.

This was just really good. I love how many female artists I’ve discovered doing this who are bloody brilliant.

Aressting, singular and powerful. Not my thing.

Unbelievably first time listening to this 49 year old album. Good sound.

As a Brit, I always have to remember that the American definition of "punk" is far, far different from what I would consider to be punk. We had an anti-intellectual/ anti-establishment, far younger (late teens), rawer approach to this genre. The American scene was made up of older (late 20s) people who made music that was more "edgy" than "raw", often about subject matter that British punks would openly sneer at. Putting that aside, if I just consider this to be "garage rock", then it makes that slight annoyance easier to bear. It's a great album for sure, interesting to listen to, musically diverse, maybe even seminal. I hadn't heard anything from this album before, which is quite a disgrace I suppose. My one reservation here was that I was constantly being reminded of Nick Cave. But where Mr Cave's albums are often overwrought and lack any form of subtlety, this album was far more measured. I don't think I can quite see my way to rate this 5 stars, but it's an extremely strong 4 star album. I will probably grow to regret this decision on future listens, but my opinion today is 4 stars.

A diferencia de otros discos de esta lista, aquí sí puedes escuchar la influencia que repartió hacia el futuro.

I liked it quite much, especially her raspy voice. It must have sounded so bold and different in the mid-1970s.

4☆/5 08.11.2024

I'm a little familiar with Patti Smith from her contributions to the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Blue Öyster Cult. She's a singer/songwriter/poet who's considered an influential underground artist, with Horses being her debut album. Listening to this album, Patti's style is more "art punk" than "punk rock" with the added poetry and improvisation. For example, songs like "Gloria" and "Land" are medleys with covers interlaced between free-form compositions and spoken word. They still generally rock but take a more off-the-cuff approach to how they're presented. Other songs tend to experiment with style shifts such as reggae with "Redondo Beach", proto-punk with "Free Money" and "Break it Up", jazz with "Birdland", and the somber requiem closer of "Elegie". Patti's lyrics range from past experiences with family members to dedications to deceased musicians she knew like Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix, all well penned. The only aspect of this album holding it back is how bizarre and esoteric it can get at times. It's probably a bit over-ambitious for a debut album. Also, the spoken word could have been integrated better in some tracks. Still, I enjoyed Horses overall and give it a solid recommendation for those curious. Update 1/28/2025: I ended up listening to Horses again after over 200 albums into my journey to see if this album has grown on me. I will say my issues with this album were not well-articulated for the time. To say a debut album was "over-ambitious" does admittedly come off as a backhanded compliment. I was thinking about the song "Birdland" at the time when I was trying to figure out why this album wasn't immediately clicking for me, and now I realize that the challenge is kind of the point. Patti Smith's lyrics are meant to be a challenging listen, where her integration of poetry and musings on sexuality, death, and emotional connections are written in such a mostly abstract manner that still leaves enough breadcrumbs for the listener to follow along if they're paying attention. This sort of close listening is not a habit I usually do when I'm working in the office. If anything, my problem now with Horses is how the instrumentals sound basic for some songs. Again, Patti's words are more the focus without being overwhelming in the mix, but it would be nice for moments such as "Birdland" and "Break It Up" if the rest of the group could match the energy and intensity of her words. Still, this is rather impressive for a debut album from such a prolific singer-songwriter and I'm glad to have revisited it.

BL: completely blind listen, aware of one track from the Patti Smith Group but never listened to any of her solo work. AL: I liked this. This is absolutely an album experience, I don’t think I’d see myself coming back to many of these tracks on their own, but I will certainly be coming back to this album and dissecting it further. I think it did start to drag a bit by the end, there is only so much spoken word drone rock I can muster. But the overarching story provided compelling and the overall experience would totally be spiritual to hear it blasted out of a venue PA with rising instrumentals. FT: “Gloria”, “Land” 4/5

Thought this was good, but not great until Horses/Land of a thousand dances / Le Mer (de) I love what she's done with it.

I really liked this one but probably wouldn’t revisit very often if ever

I enjoyed this and it was deep and interesting. It seemed more poetry written to music, and not necessarily songs. I would like to listen a few more times and really pull apart the lyrics to get more of the deeper meaning.

I know that Patti Smith is a legend but I've never sunk my ears into her until this project. Glad I did! Expressive, original, creative and poetic songwriting. Especially liked Gloria and Free Money.

This album was pretty great. I love her voice and her energy and the music is cool and creative.

New album for me. Really really enjoyed and saved to favorites.

i don't fully get it but i'm open to listening again. it was a nice experience!

A classic

Goated

This is the moment in time when we start to see punk morph into something more serious. Though aligning with the CBGB movement, Smith is really in the same vein as Bruce Springsteen or Jim Morrison - a rock and roll poet. Lyrically, she is like the new wave artists (think Television and Talking Heads) who were artists first and, hence, whose lyrics were about more than cars, girls, and not giving a damn. Musically, however, she has all the rough edges and sonic boom of the punks. Her next two albums, Radio Ethiopia and Easter are more accessible and, arguably, better. Horses, however, is the first time punk dared take itself seriously.

I love Patti and I respect her art so much. I truly admire her, to the point that Just Kids is one of my very favourite books of all-time. But to be honest, I think I'm more drawn to what Patti represents as a cultural figure than what she has done musically. Sometimes it's great, other times not so much. All of her albums are worth it for a few good songs and Horses even has some iconic ones, but all in all I am more inclined to read her than to listen to her.

"Anyone see the old hippie banging on a tambourine last night? Horses, horses ... horseshit" Johnny Rotten

Hell yeah dude, this goes hard. It's so raw and punchy yet also feels like there is so much musical depth to it, I love when punk music does that.

Love her bad voice

The storytelling on this album was excellent, which is probably one of the main reasons people love Patti Smith. The style reminds me of Bob Dylan but more punk inspired. I thought the vocals were mixed loud at times and some parts I found annoying. I do think that she definitely brings the passion and the energy that sells her storytelling. The fact that this is her debut album is crazy to me. Great record, but not for me.

She’s so cool, this album rocks

Listen, I get it. She's a punk icon and a poet, changed the world for so many young people. Doesn't mean I need to like her songs though.

mun betra en mig grunaði.

Had a great time with this! I’ve known of Patti Smith for years but have never listened to her before. I’ll need to remedy that as this is mostly my jam. Two or three songs go on for too long. But half of this album is a complete banger. 4/5

Surprised. Celeste would love it

It’s simple: you mention horses, I’m IN

A pretty stunning mix of rock n roll, punk and new wave. It’s a blend that doesn’t sound quite like anyone else. Patti Smith is a bold, wild performer. The production captures a raw, live feel. Looking at the credits, John Cale from The Velvet Underground produced the album. I can hear their influence on the music. Patti Smith’s style of rock is untamed and experimental in a way that reminds me of The Velvet Underground.

Honestly, this album started off pretty bland, but Free Money onward was a revelation. Patti Smith channeled the Velvet Underground on songs like Kimberly and then amped up the ante with her own style on Land... and Elegie. While it starts slow, it ends hot. Best Songs: Free Money, Land..., Elegie Worst Songs: Redondo Beach

Shes so cool

4.5

Yo, this goes way hard. I've been sleeping on Patti. 4 boys sipping tea in the hallway out of 5 ☕☕☕☕

Those who say this isn’t punk have a very narrow view of punk. Part poetry part coffee shop part shouting in the street. Patti’s pretty cool. Songs added to Spotify: 2

Loves it. Raw and didn’t seem to have a lot of production. Gloria was a great intro to set the mood

Great listen but i've never really come back to this album over the years. can't imagine this changing any time soon either

Pretty good.

It's definitely an important album. Its influence and place in history earn it at least 3 stars. Overall, even though the music is "simple" (intentionally), it has an infectious energy and movement. There are some great tracks to revisit.

Powerful. That's pretty much it. And it's enough.

Never listened to Patti Smith before but knew of her and her influence in the punk scene. Really enjoyed this and would go back for another listen.

Horses is cool. Horses is unique. Horses is groundbreaking.

vocals so good. i can feel the GAE ANGST (ok she maybe she isnt queer but she is queer nawmsayn) SO CREATIVE WITH THE SPOKEN WORD ESQUE PARTS. songs are threaded well together; theres coherence but at the same time always interesting. chefs kiss

Patti Smiths debut album, pretty cool and original but somewhat overrated

Haven’t heard anything from her and I’m very drawn in

I mean, how can you not think this is what she didn't serve here???

The album is a really enjoyable experience. Every song is different, all of them are fun to listen to. Sometimes she's speaking, sometimes she's talking or just making noises.

This is some early girl-punk and I'm absolutely here for it. Super fun album.

This is one of those albums that burns itself into your consciousness and is hard to shake after you've heard it. Raw, confident and jarring, with vivid lyrics that are worth reading on their own as poetry. Patti Smith is an acidic, authoritative vocalist, who can wring all the ugly emotion out of a lyric like few can. Fave Songs: Free Money, Gloria, Elegie, Redondo Beach, Kimberly

Удивительно странный альбом. С одной стороны я бы не стал переслушивать этот издевающийся низкий слабый голос, который еще и пытается не всегда удачно экспериментировать со своим звучанием. Но с другой стороны иногда эти издевки заходили, да и музыка рок-гитар драйвовая. Под такие песни можно, наверно, пойти гулять с друзьями по городу или поехать на пикник. Думаю, что альбом попал в этот список не случайно.

A unique and uncompromising voice in rock music. Enjoy this classic.

Sublime album.

Really solid stuff, Patti Smith is legendary for a reason, I don't think she's ever been overhyped

4+/5

what an opener

I had zero expectations going into this one as I'm not familiar with Patti Smith. I took a chance of throwing this one on during a workout and it surprisingly worked out. The poetic, emotion-packed sing-talk lyrics paired with the rock melodies really drew me in. There were parts that gave me strong Pink Floyd vibes. I thought this album was great and I immediately put it back on when I finished to give the lyrics another listened. Highlights include Gloria, Free Money, Kimberly, Land: Horses.

Patti is an icon and an amazing writer and poet. It’s crazy that she made this album with little previous musical experience. I don’t fully connect with all of her music but admire her confidence and artistry. 3.8

Great album. Every song is a groove

Patti help gloria in excelsis deo- I love her voice. 6 or 7 Redondo beach- I like how the guitar makes it feel beachy. I also like how she talks about suicide. 6 or 7. Birdland- this piano better not be the whole 9 minutes. um 6 I wasn't paying attention to be honest free money- 6 kimberly- 6 ish ummm. yeah ♥ break it up- sounds like let it go 💀 yeah 6 ummm I don't have a lot to say 😭 land: horses- you can tell im on my phone rather than computer because of the all the emojis 👽. 9 minutes again. wait hold up 💃. Johnny. 7 or 8. I love how she layers things. elegie- it's interesting to end on. 6 favorite track is gloria or horses maybe

Das hörte sich damals mal ganz neu an.

Influential, important, and essential, "Horses" broke new ground in myriad ways. Lacking any hit songs, this album should be consumed whole. Four and one-half stars.

Probably 3.5 really

I will come back to give this album more time. I really like Patti's voice and her general vibe. I've always liked 'Gloria' and a couple of the more obvious tracks ... but the more subtle, poetry led track deserve more of my attention.

very amazing punk album. omg this is so amazing. gloria is an amazing song. uhhh 8.5/10

Tykkäsin 70s tunnelmasta

This bitch FUCKS

Bold and almost underground-esque, with Jagger-like vocal inflections used by somebody who definitely isn't Jagger. But Patti pulls it off convincingly, and with some really inspiring compositions to go with it. I had to do some reading on Wikipedia, and it seems this album was hugely influential on the rock, punk, and female musicians' scenes. I can definitely see that in Patti's music. Gloria is an excellent, exciting opening track, making heavy use of a three-chord power harmony. Free Money, Redondo Beach, and the title-ish track are also strong. It's not exactly punk, but that's fine. It's better than most punk anyway. There's just something a bit unpolished about the album that's hard to pin down. It's missing something that really creates relistenable, coverable classics. 4/5

Break it up Gloria

Listened Before: N Absolutely killer. I knew she was a big deal in the punk world and now I see why. Poetry, spoken word, punk rock, stream of consciousness... so great. I loved every second of this one. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Gloria

Never really heard Patti Smith before, but I'm feeling this.

Voice reminds me of Debbie Harry.

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.

Fine album

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.

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.

I think I understand whats the big fuss about her

7/10

Amazing emotion Pretty cool the majority of the time

Never heard this before. Liked it!

Strong

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.

It kept getting better

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.

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.

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.

Pretty good.

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)

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

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

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

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.

Patti Smith is a punk legend! Great album!

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

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

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

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.

This was great. Gonna give it another listen.

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.

4.25

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Very good

Rockin’ poetry

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

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.

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

"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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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)

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

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.

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!

Fav track: Gloria, Redondo beach, Land

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 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.

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

The only people I ever heard praise her to the heavens were rock critics and media friendly musicians, so I was always somewhat skeptical. I was only familiar with her version of a song Springsteen gave her, and a song she collaborated on with R.E.M. on their last album with drummer Bill Berry. Turns out I should have jumped in sooner. This has one of the all-time greatest album opening lines (on a debut, no less. It tells you everything you need to know about the artist and album you're about to listen to), two incredible covers, and a style to that builds in unexpected ways. Patti Smith may always be a bit overrated in my book (she doesn't exactly have a vast body of work, just this album and a handful of follow ups). As great as this album is, I'm not ready to rank it as one of the 100 greatest rock albums, a hill Rolling Stone is apparently willing to die on. But Patti Smith gave us this album, and inspired PJ Harvey and Michael Stipe. So I'm fine with any accolades she receives.

Pat my cock. The whispering seduction makes me leap out of my leather trousers and into the paddling pool. She can touch my neck hair with her vulva.

Never listened a full album, it´s however like i expected, solid, raw, passion. And indeed... like a renowned reviewer already mentioned, it´s a bit like PJ :)

The raw sound reminds me of PJ Harvey.

I love this record. In particular I love the version of it that I have which includes the live recording of My Generation with John Cale. I've listened to this album numerous times and the thing that struck me this time around is that, while I truly enjoy this record I never went beyond it with Patti Smith. Sure, I've heard a few other tracks of her's here and there—things that would just be in the culture by her. But while this album is compelling, it did not elicit a curiosity or desire to hear more, different records from her. Was it complete enough in its own right? Does one just need a single Patti Smith record for life and this was mine? Did she draw me into her world in such a satisfying way I needed no more or did she not draw me into her world enough? It seems that I have more questions than answers with Horses.

Great album, Patti Smith really on top of her game

3.5/5

This. This is the Album where the first track caught me off guard, Confused something there. But now its gonna get a better rating than before and thats just as i wanted it.

Damn. Patti Smith is the male version of Bob Dylan. Forget all this first punk stuff. Yeah, I hear a bit of that, or a bit of precursor to Elvis Costello's sound, but even more I hear the indie sound of Velvet Underground (thanks John Cale?) and wicked lyrics combined with solid but subtle instrumental harmony (i.e., Bob Dylan). I hear PJ Harvey and Courtney Love and countless others that probably owe part of their style and success to Smith's trailblazing. The instrumentation could use some more depth or quality, but her lyrics are second to none. And her delivery is so raw and electric. The album has holes, but Patti Smith is badass.

Another classic

Enjoyed. Have forgotten already.

I listened to a good bit of punk when it was happening and current but somehow I never got to this album. It's a small regret in a lifetime of them but this one's a keeper. Adding it to the collection.

Not a single horse

Quite interesting

Thought it was quite good, didnt blow my mind though or anything

really enjoyed it - gonna give it another proper listen and hopefully I can change this review after : P

What a solid listen from start to end

wow! it's like The Doors in a woman, perhaps because of GLORIA, but lovely. so glad to hear her album, never woulda found it except this site

Passionate and raw. A beat poet mixed with punk attitude. Entertaining and snarly. Found this to be really engaging, with good pacing and variety that carried throughout the album.

Punk de arte (sí es un subgénero) que es una clara referencia y origen de artistas como PJ Harvey y Savages además de ser un referente en general de la música. Este disco suena atemporal, pues podría ser de la década de los 80s, 90s o de hace 3 años porque seguro hay alguien haciendo música semejante. Aunque el punk no me encanta, este sí es uno de esos discos que creo que todos deberían de escuchar alguna vez en la vida por toda la música y artistas que de aquí se descuelgan. Aunque la música no me vuelve loco, sí se merece una calificación más alta de lo que le pondría por su importancia histórica, aunque no a todos los discos de esta lista me nazca aplicarles el mismo criterio. 3.5 que sube a 4.

Es un disco adelantado a su época y cuesta trabajo pensar que es un disco debut. Adelantado porque, aunque podría ser catalogado como Punk, seguro en su momento causó conmoción y sigue siendo influencia de qué y cómo suenan hoy las mujeres que quieren hacer algo distinto al Pop. Hasta la portada se ve como algo más nuevo que 1975. Rifadísima la versión de Gloria. Por otro lado, el que sea Punk o innovador no lo hace fácil de masticar. La verdad es que hacia el final se pone tedioso. Con todo, le alcanza para un 3.5 que redondea para arriba.

Independent, rule breaking, punk AF, majestic voice. I get it and love it.

What a voice. So raw, authentic, so undeniably evocative of the person in the era. I’ve never listened to this, even though I’ve heard about it a lot.

4th November 2022 Listened in the day while getting the house ready for Surfrisday to come and stay. Loved it, Patti Smith is raw energy and fight and this is epitomised here.

Great album. I love the poetry.

I always thought Patti Smith was awesome, but never could find a record I liked much - so much so, that I started dismissing her - until I absent-mindedly drifted to a show of hers - and whoa... her live shows are wonderful - poetry with teeth, powerful music and Patti oozes charisma like no one else - even today. The record still don't capture and bottle that wonderful fleeting moment of watching a Patti Smith show - but now I can see them in context. Obviously Horses is the quintessential Patti Smith album - and once you know that she is a deeply talented poet with a backing band - it all makes sense. And the context in which this album is released and her grip on the rock'n'roll canon is impossible to ignore. This is a great album.

I’m not really vibing with this album, but certainly has a vibe of its own. I’ve been in a place to really appreciate this, but it’s not right now. A few more plays of this…I feel like it would grow on me.

weird and gay, i liked it

It's interesting that Patti Smith was among the first, if not the first person from the New York punk scene to put out a successful album. It's easy to see how her style was influenced by the other bands in the scene, despite the fact that it would be hard to label this album as punk now. It has a really cool stripped down style that compliments her lyrics and vocals well. Having John Cale from the Velvet Underground certainly helps the album, as the production is excellent. The album flies by pretty fast. It doesn't feel like there is any filler in the album. 4/5

Somewhat similar album to yesterday's Minutemen record - very original, experimental, but at the same time it doesn't lose any of the value by trying to be over the top. Entertaining release by Patti Smith, who is a very unconventional singer in my opinion and for sure someone that can be very divisive in how she's perceived by others. For me it was 50/50. In some songs, like in opening "Gloria", her voice sounded amazing together with funky/rock work from her band, fast-flowing, very upbeat. But at times, in longer tracks, her voice sounded too mundane and was even irritating, like in the 9 minute composition "Birdland". Instrumental-wise, the album is rather simple, but it works really well with "more complicated" style of Patti. It's a really nice album and I can understand that it was some sort of an innovation, or a setting stone for a new generation of music.

The OG punk poet priestess whips is all into an ecstatic state. May not be a repeat listen, but essential nonetheless.

Somehow I'd never listened to Patti Smith before. I don't know if I'd listen to this again but I did enjoy it. "Gloria" was the standout track for me.

Patti Smith rules. I had never listened to one of her records before and this just seriously rocks.

Genius version of Gloria. Indeed this is all good and also interesting. Overall I enjoyed it more than I expected too, especially the first and last songs. 3.5 rounding up for the perfection of the album cover art.

Patti is so damn cool.

Gotta give it up for Patti

I can see a lot of modern acts that have been influenced by Patti Smith. With her powerful rock/punk to the punchiness of her spoken word, she is definitely a seminal artist in the punk rock scene, particularly in New York - even beating The Ramones on this release by 5 months. Patti's style has never gone out of fashion, and has set the tone for smart, unbending female rockers of generations since, and undoubtedly will into the future. Best: Gloria: In Excelsis Deo Worst: Elegie

It's great how most of the tracks start quiet and build up, plus there's plenty of punk attitude in the vocals. A decent album that probably needs a few listens to be truly appreciated.

Big fan of all of that

quite liked this album, favourite track: Kimberly

Nice early Saturday morning album to accompany a cup of coffee and the latest awful headlines from the frontlines of neo-liberal collapse. A pleasant soundtrack to observing the early stages of an unfolding apocalypse from a relatively safe distance. Punk poetics.

I liked the song Gloria - definitely in the rock category

Really enjoyed this. a high 3 or low 4. Probably wouldn't be a 4 usually but feeling generous.

she slayed on this one

Klassík. Snilldar plata.

Great Album, My first ever 12" single was "Gloria in Excellsis Deo" CW "My Generation" what a great version which I think at least equals Van's original with "Them" and The "Who" version I am sure Townsend was pleased when he heard this revamp. Love it to bits. Absolutely right for this list my favourites the aforementioned "Gloria" "Redondo Beach" and "Break it up"

discazooo also el primero que me toca de una mujer así que perdón si soy biased pero puntitos extra por eso. 8/10

Enjoyable, kinda mellow punk, the live version of my generation can get in the sea but overall enjoyed

The way that Patti sings "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine" is the best opening line ever. Patti is cool but her music is a tad overrated.

I love Patti smith

Punk's poet laureate, with her savage voice.

Definitely some interesting and important ideas that are communicated concisely and intelligently but the musical stylings didn’t totally do it for me

Better each listen. Great mix of genres.

One of the most influential albums in history. Patti Smith is a poet, and although there's not much relation to the punk sound, her music represents the spirit of everything punk stands for. Immediately in the opening "Gloria", we get one of the strangest covers in history. Starts off with a poem with some truly iconic lines and use of pathos in her word choice. Jesus did not die for her sins: straight away we see how free spirited and expressive she wishes to be. There are references to her androgynous image by the ambiguity of the subject. And of course the only actual part of the song they cover is the "GLORIA" chorus. One of the most influential songs in punk for sure, be whoever you want, express yourself however you want, and fuck society's standards. "Redondo Beach" is a bit of a strange one. A favorite if only because reggae sounds cool. But it's reggae a couple years before Bob Marley made it mainstream, so seeing a reggae song here is out of left field. Ska and punk have a strong relation, and I guess this is where it started. But besides that, reggae music sounds happy, yet this song is about a girl drowing at the beach. "You'll never return to my arms cause you are gone gone" jfc "Birdland" is a disturbing 10-minute poem expressed by a piano, distortion, and her distraught voice, based on Steve Reich's Book of Dreams. "Free Money" starts off soft but immediately becomes the hardest song on the album, displaying her ability to swap between loud and expressive (very punk-like) and melodic and controlled. "Kimberly" is probably my favorite song, a very early example of New Wave with the groovy bassline and uplifting organ. "Break it Up" has Tom Verlaine on the guitar, which is why it sounds like something from Marquee Moon. By far the most chaotic track. John Cale worked in the production, and apparently he wanted strings. I agree with the decision not to, I can't imagine this to be a Paris 1919 copycat. "Land" is a 10-medley that serves as an ode to early rock n roll. I personally think this is the best song in her discography, excellent work on Cale's part between the use of two track vocals and the instruments coming in and out, having a strong garage style. I also enjoyed the solemn nature of the closer "Elegie" and the intense wild nature of the bonus cover "My Generation". Horses embraces itself in its minimalistic instruments, but I consider that to be its greatest weakness. The chord progressions and simple, which ties well with the punk diy model and puts emphasis on Patti's vocals and lyrics, and there's nothing wrong with that, but I wish the simple instrumental they did choose could be more interesting. This is more problematic in the first half. Otherwise, her lyric writing skills rival that of Dylan.

Альбом драйвовый и необычный. Круто звучит.

Well that's interesting. Previously I've never enjoyed Patti Smith's work, but this time round I like it enough to add to my library. I might even like this a lot now.

Pretty good. I reckon PJ Harvey is a fan!

Good album, would give it another listen. Found the music to be interesting

Really liked this, you can see why she's been so influential. Like a lot of these artists on 1001, the best stuff is the early stuff before they disappear up their own arses.

Patti Smith je legenda, također i ovaj album koji je u potpunosti producirao John Cale (The Velvet Underground). Dao bi 8,5-9/10.

The Punk Godmother, I got Gloria on a 12" with Hey Joe on the other side. She was electric then and when she teamed up with the Boss to write Because The Night...Wow. Horses is a great album and My Favourite track is her interpretation of Van Morrisons "Gloria: In Excelsis Deo" Rightly On the list

It’s nice to hear that most of the female and some of the male voices of the New Wave and post-punk movement took their vocal inflections from Patti Smith. Iconic.

Pattis is a cool artists who actually cares. She was quite influential on, many artists I really like such as PJ Harvey. The punk OGs like the Ramones were also influenced by her but it's not like this album and the Ramones had the same sound. Not even close. This is an excellent debut album.

Over the years the critics rarely mention Patty Smith without mentioning this album in the same sentence, and especially her version of Gloria. I think her combination of (pre) punk and rambling poetry is a great one-two punch. There are brilliant tracks but some are a bit over the top for me, Birdland, for examples. I think her song-writing improved over subsequent albums, but this is a great debut and a milestone in the development of punk rock. The Robert Mapplethorpe photo is classic.

This music has grit! I liked it.

What a vocal delivery! Such power and passion put into the words, with a unique blend of punk and improvisation. Felt like a concert throughout.

Teksten die soms buiten het ritme van de muziek vallen: speciaal, maar op een of andere manier past het wel

This opens like its from the 70s. Redondo Beach is a fun forward feeling song. Birdland is a strange song choice for the third spot, but if a spoken work poem is more your speed then its fine. It has fun dynamics at least. Break It Up is a cool ballad. I'm on the fence on if I want to hear this one again.

Already listened

It's a good album from one of the mistresses of psychedelic rock from the 70s. I respect her a lot.

She cool

Turns out I know this album less well than I thought; only a few songs are actually all that familiar. But definitely liking it a lot. Even the weird pseudo-reggae of Redondo Beach worked for me, somewhat unexpectedly (what was it about 80s new wave and strange reggae?!) Birdland a bit tedious, I guess. Free Money is great though. Break it Up too. And Horses is obviously amazing. Like Elegie too.

It finally arrived on the lineup: An album that I acknowledge as genuinely good, but personally disliked. There's no good reason for me to dislike it, and I know that--but stylistically it's very far off from what I enjoy. This doesn't diminish the quality of the vocals, the songwriting, the melody lines, or anything else about it. It doesn't change the fact that this album deserves to be here. A little extra shout-out to my fave track, Gloria: In Excelsis Deo (the first one). Five-star quality here, but I'm docking a star because I didn't personally enjoy it. I know that's unfair, but life is unfair and that's just how it goes sometimes.

Any review of "Horses" must cover at least the following: - Patti Smith invented punk, new-wave, and probably poetry as well. - "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine" is bigger than Jesus. - And it's even more impressive because she's a woman as well, you know. Much of the above is overstated, but still rings true in a sense... so I won't bore you all with it again here. But it must be said that listening to "Horses" as part of a series of 1001 albums to hear before dying, it stands out as a masterstroke. It was 1975! The 1970s had only just settled in, prog was about to die off, and Smith is here channelling the wild abandon of punk, the cool detachment of new wave, and sheer poetic beauty of the avant-garde. "Gloria" is the album in a nutshell, the track everyone should hear as a bare minimum. The solemnity of its piano intro (and yes, that opening line), the slow build of the guitars and the moment where the beat shifts from lilting swing to a sudden, propulsive straight rhythm. Eventually, after Smith yelps and howls her way through the verses, there's the catharsis of the chorus, a transformed beast from the Them's 60s hit. It's a perfect introduction to an icon of rock. It's true that there is some indulgence in the two nine-minute tracks ("Birdland" and "Land"), but it's played so damn well. The vocals are astonishing throughout both of these long pieces, moving from plaintive and held back ("it was as if someone had spread butter on the stars they started to slip") to a frothy-mouthed frenzy of machine gun rhymes. The band move perfectly to support her, even without relying on drums in the stunning "Birdland": they allow a listener to get completely lost in the momentum, and match Smith's intensity expertly. In between the three epics, the other songs worthy of praise are "Kimberley", where Smith displays a much needed softer, commercial leaning side, and the frenetic "Free Money", with a glorious snare breakdown and a slow build almost as electrifying as "Gloria". For an artist praised as looking ahead and signalling a hundred new movements at once, Smith is still lovingly indebted to rock which has come before. The closing "Elegie", for Jimi Hendrix (and lifting a couple of his lyrics) is Smith at her most sincere. Elsewhere, she takes delight in bastardising tradition, shaping pop standards to keep up with her restless vision and rapid vocalisation. "Gloria" and "Land of a Thousand Dances" are two such examples, and delivered with such originality that could only be admired. Most of this commentary is what any review could tell you. "Horses" is universally loved as an alternative album and will still be thought of as such 100 years from now. Objectively, it is of course a 10/10: but I'm going to have to dock slightly based on some personal preference. "Break It Up" is a collaboration with Smith's sometime partner and fellow CBGB's star Tom Verlaine- other than his signature guitar and an impassioned vocal performance in the chorus, it's fairly unremarkable and possesses the album's most mediocre hook. "Redondo Beach" is lightweight reggae coming in between the incredibly intense high watermarks of "Gloria" and "Birdland": as a result it almost feels too insubstantial, not enough substance. It also hasn't particularly aged well and is the most in-step with the 1970s of all the songs here. Even though "Land" is generally phenomenal and one of the most intense, vivid flights of fancy through abuse, penknives, wordplay, escape, dance and horses, it loses a point for its jam session which is the exact same chords, tempo and rhythm as "Gloria". As a bottom line, though, maybe I still haven't caught up yet. Giving "Horses" a 4 doesn't change my mind on its classic status, and it shouldn't change yours.

Top album, zon prachtige stem en zo tijdloos

Listened to quite a few times before. Great early proto punk album.

Great album

Powerful rock anthems!

Great singer of the '70s.

Even though this isn't an album I'd pop on any day of the week, I think the raw power on display is worthy of 4 stars. Also didn't realize how influential this album is in rock history.

My album notes didn't save from yesterday, but it's a 4

Goodness me that VOICE

Fiona Apple but faster. Some of the guitar work sounds like the Strokes.

Horses by Patti Smith (1975) Pope Francis invited Patti Smith to sing at the Vatican’s 2014 Christmas concert, where she performed a soulfully convincing rendition of “O Holy Night”. That might seem improbable for an artist who began her career by delivering the first line of the first track of her first album with the words “Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine”. However, hang in there. It gets good. Smith’s debut album “Horses” is in the genre of punk rock, but somehow I feel that punk is simply the ungilded cage from which the canary sang. Any other cage would have sufficed. She certainly doesn’t sound like what punk became. It may be that ‘punk’ is simply a term used for recorded music by artists who are determined to dispense with conventional notions of ordered beauty—adopting a minimalist, bratty, antiestablishment mindset. I don’t know. But to understand and appreciate Patti Smith (and especially this particular album), it is better to be familiar with Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Eliot, Dylan, Baraka, and Burroughs than to be conversant with Stooges, Ramones, Sex Pistols, and Clash. This is because “Horses” is not, primarily, music. It is poetry. One could appreciate the art here even if it were presented as simply the spoken word (although sometimes the word spoken has something to say about the mid 70s ‘wrong turn’ of rock ‘n roll). Take this quatrain and tell me if I’ve gotten off at the wrong stop: “It was as if someone had spread butter On all the fine points of the stars 'Cause when he looked up They started to slip.” Patti Smith as a poet presents feelings with vividness and authenticity, revealing an excellent mastery of metaphor, and cool command of word choice, cadence, and color. And in each of the nine compositions on this record she is in control of the movement from verse to verse, satisfying the hearer’s need for development, suspense, insight, and closure. Plus, of course, it doesn’t hurt for the poet/performer to have a good ear for euphony. Musically, most of these tracks begin with a compositional head fake toward jazz, then quickly settle in to decently performed rock strains (progressive, avant-garde), as the listener eagerly follows wherever Smith is leading. And despite the apparent (I would argue, ironic) blasphemy of the first line, there is vicarious atonement throughout. Somebody suffers for someone. It seems she is capable of a theological head fake as well. I could play this album all day. And think about it till next Tuesday. 4/5

4.0 + A spirited performance that flows loosely, guided along by Patti Smith's poetic musings.

I had a friend who love this album. As in, it changed her life. So at the time, I listened to it expecting to have a spiritual awakening but... it was just a decent rock album. It took me a while to get over the disappointment, but now, yeah, it's a really good rock album. It's thrilling when Patti goes off in the longer poetic parts, music that could have only come out of NY-effing-C. And of course, in the midst of it all are some decent hooks. An iconic classic.

She’s a badass. Pretty alt but she’s got power

Well hot dang that was fun. The answer to the question: What if Jim Morrison was a woman?

cool sound. 1975, reminds me a bit of a female jagger. Gloria is cool, Rock sound, Land: horses, etc great long song.

A classic sounding album even though it is commonly labeled as punk. Gloria is a fantastic cover.

I think my favorite so far

Familiar with album. Love Redondo Beach and a few other tracks. Overall very good.

Patti Smith is crazy, but engaging. I hear a lot of her influence in Alanis Morissette.

Nice, strange singing style

Generally pretty good, I liked it more than I expected. Would've liked it more if it wasn't for the slow, spoken parts. Not really sure how to rate this. It would be a high 3 or low 4, but I think I'm gonna be generous and give it a 4.

Quite goood

I was nervous going in, but this is a very good album

A fine album with one great song and some other very good songs. Patti's poetry is evident throughout; raw, poignant, provocative. And it Rawks. 4 🌟

Can totally see why this is a classic. Feel a need a few more listens to truly appreciate it, but I’ve a feeling it will really grow on me.

Horses

I can see why she’s a legend

This album is rare. I like very much to listen to these pre-punk albums. Patti Smith is one of my favourites. Great album

Really good album, kept me engaged all the way

With the exception of 'Gloria: In Excelsis Deo', each song felt (to me anyhow) like it was recorded right on the edge of creation and destruction. The underlying music ebbed and flowed with a casual fludity, while the lyrics and vocalizations alternated between settled and urgent. It felt intimate and meaningful and I'm left with a sense of loss for not having had the opportunity to appreciate the album it in it's context, in it's time.

Awesome sound, great covers and live versions

I love her voice, lyrics and tracks. Slam dunks. No comment. (7/10) Favourite Tracks: Gloria: In Excelsis Deo, Free Money

En ocasions, sobretot a les extenses 'Birdland' i 'Land', està més a prop de la poesia recitada que de la cançó, però la banda que l'acompanya, la seva actitud i compromís amb el que diu, i cançons pròpiament dites com 'Break It Up', 'Free Money' o la versió de 'Gloria' fan del disc un d'aquelles obres magnes que apareixen molt de tant en tant. 4,5

she doesnt really sing about horses that much or my little pony :(((

What a record.

Amazing!

I know why all my favorite punk singers sound like they do now. Patti Smith is yelping, yelling, and sometimes just speaking all over this record. It felt like listening to a beat poet with a backing band that knew three chords and four notes for leads. So raw and unpredictable, I was just taken by her style. I think I would've hated this record if she just sang it straight. Super cool, big no fucks given energy. Wasn't huge on when she switched up with the reggae Redongo Beach or jazzy, weird Birdland. Standout songs were Gloria, Free Money, and Land. 8/10 but I could easily see this becoming 9/10 if I kept listening to it

Such raw emotion. I love her

A very fun bit of art punk. Definitely a lot of power and passion behind the lyrics, and the band rips through like a tornado. Great if you like poetry and hard rock mixed, not as much if that’s not your thing.

Fantastic album. Flowing and unique.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Gloria, Free money, Horses

not my style

Really enjoyed listening to this on a sunny day! Defo worth the hype :)

Very strong energy in this album; almost like a female Tom Petty vocal tone. Experimental areas, sounds like a PJ Harvey influence. Storytelling has some interesting wordplay as well. Free Money is a wonderful song 😍 A lot of energy switching throughout this album, but regardless; some really intoxicating rock tunes amongst the selection here. Definitely would listen to Free Money more.

Didn't know Patti Smith until today, not bad at all !

Put off by "punk" links in many write-ups, but in fact far closer to Jim Morrison and the Doors. Not something I'd listen to frequently, but enjoyable all the same. Very accomplished debut.

Enjoyed Kimberly and Break it Up

Not the best music to concentrate to, but I enjoyed it. It has a special sort of intensity all its own. Reminded me a lot of Stevie Nicks and some of the wilder Fleetwood Mac songs. The My Generation live cover at the end was really shitty though.