Horses
by Patti Smith

Patti Smith has never been given her due recognition for being the first female rock and roller to lead a band and have complete creative control over her music. Before Patti, a rock band would have a "chick" singer but the boyz in the band were the primary players of the music. Smith became an icon to subsequent generations of female rockers. She never relied on sex appeal for her success — she was unabashedly intellectual and creatively uncompromising, and her appearance was usually lean, hard, and androgynous. "Horses" is a benchmark because Patti was the first of a plethora of CBGBs bands to get signed; she beat the Voidoids, Television, Blondie, the Talking Heads and even the Ramones to the recording studio and in doing so she became the godmother of American punk. (Edited)

So on this album there is this really big song about horses or some dude. Basically his dad dies and leaves him a farm or something and then he screams at the sky and more horses are there. That is part one of the album, second part contains a lot of unhinged wonder It is an ambitious album is all I am saying. These songs must have taken a very long time to write and they are pulled off in different degrees. Sometimes works sometimes not. I like how she spelled the title of the song on Gloria. Effective and there is a gradual build up to that burst of euphoria. Free Money contains some of the better lyrics while being simple. Much of it melds together. It would take repeated listens to distinguish between tracks. Might be worth it.

why the debate--it's a classic in every sense of the word--ground breaking at the time and still sounds fresh every time I hear it. Powerful and sweet--musical and poetic--great guitars and vocals. A+ song writing.

From Applerill TOP 100 COMMENTER 04/10/2010 06:01 | #10058 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

OK, this album has some fairly annoying moments. But there are just so many points where Patti's voice truly blows me away (most notably on "Birdland"). Best. Punk album. EVER. (Edited)

From ffudnebbuh TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/03/2010 20:20 | #13290 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

I love this album but I also like her "Dream of Life' album, much more accessible, tighter structure, but the ferocity is still there...so many great songs on it, "People have the power" and "Where duty calls"...