Patti Walks The Walk
by Jeff Raspe

Patti Smith - Trampin' (Columbia)
 
Punk rock's poet laureate has recently released her ninth album in almost 30 years of recording. Trampin' is her first for her new label Columbia after an entire career on Arista. She, along with her band - Lenny Kaye, Jay Dee Daugherty, Tony Shanahan, and Oliver Ray - have made what one could consider one of the most important albums of the year. Smith is a poet in the traditional sense of the word...when there's something that needs to be said, she says it. One shouldn't be surprised to find very political messages (but not didactic ones) on the new album right next to very personal messages. She's also been one of the most experimental artists when it comes to the art of making recordings. Most of Trampin' was recorded live from the ground up with her band with the exception of strings here and there and a field recording of children playing ("Radio Baghdad"). There are two songs that clock in at over 9 minutes including the mostly improvised "Radio Baghdad" which comes in at over 12 minutes.
 

©2004 Jeff Raspe