Search - Patti Smith Group :: Wave

A different & complex release from patti.

John Doe | 07/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"for some people, a lot of the songs on this album may be difficult to get into at first. people have a tendancy to get scared off by lengthy songs, but i'd advise you to really listen to what she's saying. there seems to be a theme of religion & doubt running through a lot of the songs, she says in dancing barefoot: "the plot of our life/sweats in the dark like a face/the mystery of childbirth/of childhood itself/grave visitations/what is it that calls to us?/why must we pray screaming?/why must not death be redefined?..."



PLEASE give this one a chance, once you get into it you won't regret it.

"

Disappointing, but has two necessary songs from Smith.

Bachelier | Ile de France | 03/03/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Dancing Barefoot is worth the price of the album alone, but this difficult forth album has a rather trinomial reaction: cr*ppy songs, some listenable songs, and two great songs (Frederick, Dancing Barefoot). Unless you are a Smith fan this is skipable."

The fourth album

Pieter | Johannesburg | 07/10/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After the spectacular Horses, Radio Ethiopia and Easter anything would have been a let-down and it was indeed slammed by the critics. I love the album, however, for its great songs. It has now been enhanced by the addition of two tracks.



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 tribal rhythm, whilst So You Wanna Be A Rock 'n Roll Star is a spirited version of the classic and Hymn a fragile lullaby with Patti accompanying herself on a harp - it reminds me of The Jackson Song on Dream of Life.



The highlight of the album is Broken Flag, a solemn but powerful dirge about courage in adversity, celebrating some early American heroine. The title track Wave is a spoken word delivery with gulls and ocean sounds and doesn't appeal to me at all.



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. When it was released, the critics were unnecessarily harsh - it has stood the test of time very well.



Land (1975-2002)"