Easter/Wave [Import]

Patti Smith (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• ASIN: B000I5Y9HW
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars One masterpiece + one great album, March 6, 2007

By 

Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Easter/Wave (Audio CD)

Of her early work, Easter is Patti's most accessible album and owing to the inclusion of Springsteen's beautiful Because the Night it became her biggest seller - she had managed to adapt her poetic gifts to appeal to a mainstream rock audience. Strong melodies and arrangements abound: Till Victory is Patti at her rousing, anthemic best while Babelogue followed by Rock 'n Roll N!gger is a hypnotic stream-of-consciousness rant. Other great tracks include Space Monkey, Privilege and Ghost Dance. Easter found a good balance between her commercial aspirations and artistic vision, and is recommended as a starting point for those who want to investigate the punk poetess.

After the spectacular Horses and Easter anything would have been a let-down. I love this album, however, for its great songs. Frederick is a poetic number with a lovely, hummable melody in the vein of Because The Night. Dancing Barefoot is more experimental and rather haunting with an interesting rhythm, whilst So You Wanna Be A Rock 'n Roll Star is a spirited version of the R&R classic and Hymn is a fragile lullaby with Patti accompanying herself on a harp or similar instrument - it reminds me of The Jackson Song on Dream Of Life. For me the highlight of the album is Broken Flag, a solemn but powerful dirge about courage in adversity. The title track Wave is a spoken word delivery with gulls and ocean sounds and doesn't appeal to me. I would say this album is essential for fans but not the correct entry point for someone just starting to investigate the talented Ms Smith.