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Rating: After inaugurating the New York new wave with the immortal "Horses" (1975), Patti Smith reaffirms herself as a sublime interpreter of this first phase of the new course of American rock, with this "Radio Ethiopia" (1976).
Among music critics, there is always much talk of "punk attitude," but almost no one has ever talked about "new-wave attitude." And the debate continues on the role that Patti Smith has had in the history of rock, as many view her songs as nothing more than classic "old" rock. I am of the opinion that these early records of Smith, in the contention between classic rock and new wave, end up being timeless, eternally current, shining with their own light.
However, I remain of the opinion that Patti Smith "is" the new wave, in spirit, in mindset, in attitude, precisely: new wave as awareness of one's historical and existential condition; new wave as overcoming progressive formalism; new wave as a return to anthropocentrism; new wave as dismay and regret. And, finally, new wave as demolition of traditional aesthetic canons, starting with singing: Smith's voice is unpleasant. Not ugly, nor out of tune: to be clear! Unpleasant, annoying and irritating, if instead of immersing yourself open-heartedly, you limit yourself to listening to it inattentively. And this is because Patti's voice touches all (yes, all) the exposed nerves of one's soul, all the sore spots, all the most fragile zones: it is perhaps the most "emotional" voice in the history of rock. A voice that causes discomfort, being devoid of brakes, filters, modesty. With Patti Smith, the voice (and therefore the human element) returns to be the absolute protagonist of the music and the instruments are its discreet support.
As in "Horses," the songbook of the Patti Smith Group (also here, led by encyclopedic guitarist Lenny Kaye) divides between brazen rock'n'roll ("Pumping") and desperate ("Ask The Angels", introduced by the "definitive" two-chord of new wave rock), endless rides of psychedelic memory (the title-track, apotheosis of free-form impetus), heartfelt piano elegies that echo the pathos of Jefferson Airplane ("Pissing in a river", a solemn crescendo culminating in the famous verses "What About It? What About It?", a worthy heir of the unsurpassable "Free Money") and streams of consciousness, in my opinion the best part of their repertoire, with three vibrant lessons of intimate rock: "Ain't It Strange", a tormented, derelict, and congested procession, yet capable in the end of lifting off the ground and crashing into one of the wildest and liberating screams (practically Kate Bjelland, 15 years ahead); "Distant Fingers", an expansive chant that turns into a sob, without us even realizing it, demonstrating how thin the line between serenity and melancholy is; "Poppies", perhaps the pinnacle of the entire record, a Doors-esque abyss in which the idea of an introverted, psychological rock, dedicated to the sounding of one's soul is sublimated.
Patti Smith's thoughts crowd chaotically; she dialogues with herself, sneers, reflects; and Kaye echoes her with guitar doodles. All the patterns, all the structures, all the artifices collapse. There remains only a void to fill, a discomfort to express, a pain to vent.
Music to listen to alone, in your room.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Poppies (07:05)
Poppies
He's delighted to love me, but you know,
I just don't know what to say to him. I just don't know.
Heard it on the radio, it's no good
Heard it on the radio, it's news to me
When she gets something, it's understood
Baby's got somethin' she's not used to
Down, down, poppy, yeah
Down, down, poppy, yeah
Goin' on the corner, I'm gonna score
Baby wants somethin', she's in the mood to
Baby wants somethin', I want more
When I don't get it, I get blue, blue
Down, down, and it's really comin', really comin',
Down, down, poppy, yeah
Goin' on the corner, I'm gonna score
Baby's got somethin', gonna get through, through
When I want somethin' I want more,
Heard it on the radio, there's nothin' I can do do
I'm in the mood to And I'm a woman and an individual And I want rockin' real slow I wanna hear it on the radio I wanna hear it, I wanna score (poppies) I wanna hear it on the radio Baby got it but baby want more
On the radio, heard it on the radio
Baby got it but baby want more
[babble]
Heard it on the radio Won't be no need for layin' in the road Tonight I'm goin' out, oh yeah Baby got it but baby want more She won't need it any more [babble]
Although she was tense and lean in the sun Splintered like a country
Gently pulled his finger
Everything is soakin' and spread with butter
Their flowers on an average [on the seed?]
And then they laid her on the table
She connected with the inhaler
And the needle shiftin' like crazy,
She was, she was completely still.
It was like a painting of a vase,
She just lay there and the gas traveled fast
Through the dorsal spine and down and around
(I want more)
The anal cavity, her cranium
(I wanna score)
Just, it was really great, man,
The gas had inflicted her entire spine
With the elements of a voluptuous disease
With a green vapor, made her feet light
Baby want more
Baby was it in the closet.
Baby get it there, baby tag it,
Baby got it and baby begged for it, baby
I don't think (after station) there's any station
(I remember when)
Quite as interesting to me
(baby worship something)
As the 12th station
(laughin' at the flowers)
I tuned in (to the tower) too many centuries
Were calling to me
And I spin, come down thru time
Oh, watch them say you're too high
And I swim through
Hear it on the radio, goddamn in my radio,
Hear it on the radio, hear it on the radio
[babble]
one long ecstatic pure sensation
restriction started excreting, started excreting, ah exhilarating
bottomless pit
Hey Sheba, hey Salome, hey Venus eclipsin' my way ah.
Her vessel, every woman is a vessel, is evasive, is aquatic.
Everyone, silver ecstatic, platinum disk spinning
06 Distant Fingers (04:19)
When, when will you be landing?
When, when will you return?
Feel, feel my heart expanding
You and your alien arms
All my earthly dreams are shattered,
I'm so tired I quit
Take me forever, it doesn't matter
Deep inside of your ship.
La, la la la la la landing.
Please, oh oh won't you return?
Feel, see your blue lights are flashing,
You and your alien arms
Deep in the forest I whirl like I did as a little girl
Let my eyes rise in the sky looking for you
Oh you know, I would go anywhere at all
'Cause no star is too far with you, with you
La, la la la la la landing.
Please, oh oh won't you return?
Feel, feel my heart expanding,
You and your alien arms
All my earthly dreams are shattered,
I'm so tired I quit
Take me forever, it doesn't matter
Deep inside of your ship
Land, land
Oh I am waiting for you,
Oh I am waiting for you, oh I am waiting for you,
Waiting for you to take me up by my starry spine
Ohhhh ohhhh with your distant fingers
Oh I'm waiting for you, waiting for you,
Oh I am waiting for you
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