#183: Patti Smith - Horses (1975)

Emily: This is not punk as we usually know it, yet somehow it embodies everything about punk. Patti Smith has the fuck-you attitude down to a T, but she's not screaming at you by any means. Her music is as beautiful as it is kickass. She incorporates elements of jazz, garage rock, and even spoken-word poetry to create 8 powerful, near-perfect songs of emotion, anger, and attitude. My favorites by far were definitely the two 9-minute tracks influenced by spoken word - Birdland and Land. Each seem so simple on the surface, a gentle melody with intermixed spoken and sung vocals. But beneath lies something much more powerful, poetic, and raw. Patti Smith should be considered a poet by anyone's definition, and her contribution to punk and, really, all modern rock music (and a debut no less!) is absolutely a classic. My words are certainly not doing it justice, so just listen to it for yourself. I know I'll be listening again and again.
Favorite Tracks: Birdland; Land; Gloria

Zack: I mentioned in passing a few dozen albums ago how excited I was to listen to Horses. I had heard so many amazing things about this album. That it was where that weird protopunk/garage rock era flips up both middle fingers and officially becomes punk, that it was absolutely mind-bendingly great, and that it was the kind of album that, well, everyone should hear before they die. It certainly didn’t disappoint. Horses is unreal levels of goodness. It has all the punk anyone’s heart could desire but still manages to stay musically strong. From that first line, “Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine,” you know that it is unequivocally on. This album is not taking any prisoners, and you’re going to like it and that’s that. Boom. That simple. And yeah, it really is that simple. I don’t care if you can’t stand punk music. My guess is neither does Patti Smith. This is the kind of album that, as long as you’re not Mr. Rodgers or Ned Flanders, will speak to you. As long as you have ever been angry about something at some point in your life, you’re going to get where this album is coming from. We’re beginning to near our second 100 album award show, and I already know I’m holding a spot for this album.

Favorite Tracks: Gloria; Land; Free Money