Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Gigantic Stars, April 29, 2004
I am not a Patti Smith fan and only listened to HORSES once or twice in my twenties. After reading MOJO's review of TRAMPIN', I gave the album a shot, but wasn't prepared for such a powerful, eloquent performance. Like BORN TO RUN, DARK SIDE OF THE MOON and BLONDE ON BLONDE, it's no stretch to call this an historic issue for many reasons. The songs are consistently well-crafted. A pity the moguls at Sony failed to include lyrics in the package since the words are so potent and evocative. The opener, JUBILEE, is especially lyrical and showcases a powerful, burnished voice that fits the music like a glove. Unlike most albums, great thought was given to the sequence of songs -- which range from pensive to explosive. By the time RADIO BAGHDAD bursts through your system, the voice, the music, the production itself, will take your breath away. GANDHI, in particular, will become an underground classic. Indeed, it's been going 'round and 'round in my head since I first heard it. Technically, it's been years since I heard a band recorded with such nuance. All the pieces are well-defined. The dynamic range of the recording is awesome, and the voice is placed exactly where it should be. Audiophiles will put this CD in their demonstration rack, but so will those who believe rock is a life-force and a potent political art form, too. Nothing I've heard in the past five years approaches the quality of this release. I'm now a Patti Smith fan at the grand age of 52, and plan to buy a copy of HORSES this weekend. TRAMPIN' reminds us that in the cesspool of the American record industry -- in which 90% of new rock releases are throwaway -- some smart producers (in this case, Patti Smith and her band) may turn your head around. We're living through a terribly dark time in 2004, and this beautifully crafted album is a burst of light. Five huge, freakin' stars.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
(Almost) 30 Years Later and Patti Smith Still Rocks, December 14, 2004
I will readily admit that I have not heard much of the latter day (i.e. post-1988) work of Patti Smith, although the buzz on her last album, 2000's "Gung Ho" was quite good. Out of curiosity I picked up this album, and I must say I was shocked how good this CD is.
"Trampin'" (11 tracks, 63 min.) is Patti Smith's 9th studio album. But in sound and spirit, it is a sequel to her debut album "Horses" from 1975. Not surprisingly, there are some heavy political undertones to this album. Musically, there are no weak tracks here. The songs can essentially be divided in 2 groups: the "rockers" and the "ballads". Among the former, the monumental "Gandhi" (9+ min.) and "Radio Baghdad" (12+ min.) are standouts. Among the latter, the title track (featuring Patti's daughter on piano), and "Trespasses" are the best. Patti's band, including long time guitaris Lenny Kaye, sound tight throughout.
I cannot emphasize enough how much this album took me by surprise. Patti Smith has been around for a long, long time but clearly she still has some things on her mind, and finds a way to write strong new songs. One negative about the CD is that there is virtually no information about the album in the CD case. I literally had to look hard to even find the song titles (forget about hoping for the lyrics of songs!). That aside, this album is strongly recommended!
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the year's best, January 7, 2005
Patti Smith's Trampin is eaily one of the year's best albums. Music this fresh, vital, smart and kick ass makes a mockery of the faceless corporate "product" shoved on us by the music "industry."
Patti Smith excels in so many ways that she is easily taken for granted. Lyrically, this album is poetic, incisive, cutting and spiritual. Allusions are made to Blake, historic Babylon, Buddhist symbols, war imagery and more. She writes lyrics more interesting than than the books of most authors.
One example, on the hypnotic, rocking "Radio Baghdad," she alludes to the current American destruction of the birthplace of civilization, ancient Baghdad and Babylon. "We invented the zero...but we are nothing to you...," referring to American bombs falling on the city.
Vocally, she does it all. From fiercely protective maternal wails to gently soothing reassurance, her voice has grown deeper and more resonant over the years. She now sounds worldly, experienced, knowing and compassionate.
The mood and tempos of the songs vary from stripped down punk rock to gentle ballads, to Marian Anderson's "Trampin." Yet the overall feel is energetic, rocking, kick ass music that makes you think and feel and move all at once.
Few musicians have continued to grow and reflect, and make music so uncompromising and vital. (Johnny Cash and Tom Waits are the only two that come to mind). These stand like islands of passion, integrity and the true spirit of rock and roll, amid the commercial wasteland of prepackaged "product" foisted on us year in and out.
This goes not only for Patti Smith, but the entire band as well. They are one of the most seriously under rated talents in rock. Witness Lenny Kaye's amazing guitar work, from Cash like ballad precision on "Mother Rose" to remarkably energetic garage band/surfer/Dick Dale sounding pumping on "Stride of the Mind" and other tracks. This band has been together a long time, and created shockingly original and vital music.
Thank you and congratulations to Patti Smith and her group, for keeping it real in a prefab world. Some of us out here still care and really appreciate it.
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by Patti Smith 
