When people talk about Patti Smith I am arrogant enough to think they get two things wrong. I am the sword, the wound, the stain. Scorned transfigured child of Cain. I rend, I end, I return.
Thanks Patti, now where was I? Smith gives this album such drive, attitude and strength, laying waste to any idea of the N. Y rock scene being a guys and dolls thing. I have always loved the way she hedges her literary leanings with real grit and spit, if you were looking for a tower of truly righteous female power, then welcome to the mother lode! Springsteen was recording next door cutting Darkness On The Edge Of Town and one day he let Iovine, who was working on both LPs, share a song with he was struggling with.
(mh=aKrQV4YVaEIO73qI)0.jpg "Adult Guide Lausanne")
The upshot was twofold β Smith put her own lyrics to it and created her biggest ever hit and β¦ the first time I ever heard it was track 1, side 1 of this mixtape the future Mrs sent me 14 years later. It reminds me of being a kid and repeating words, breaking them down into sounds until they just become a noise, I concede I may have been a bit of an odd child. Anyway, any song that namechecks Jimi Hendrix, Jackson Pollock and, umm, grandma is doing just fine by me.
Jimi Hendrix was a nigger. Jesus Christ and Grandma, too. Jackson Pollock was a nigger. Nigger, nigger, nigger, nigger, Nigger, nigger, nigger. Look, if you like gnarly rock with arty lyrics β buy Easter. If you like strong women artists who never compromise, or cheapen themselves to get their message across β buy Easter. If you love love β buy Easter. If you love a slice of NY cool served up by skinny boys in tight jeans β buy Easter.
Buy Easter. We are peeking. We are laughing. We are kneeling. We are radiating at last. High on Rebellion. A man with too much vinyl and an itch in his typing finger. View all posts by Jat Storey. I like this album and I like Smith and the group. Good piece. She was still doing it. Two outsiders make magic on that one. Spurred by this post, I listened to Patti all day at work today. Have you read any of her prose?
