Horses Review: Poetry Meets Garage Rock
9/10 — Patti Smith - Horses (1975)
Pros
- Fearless performance
- Poetic lyrics
- Raw, tight band
Cons
- Self-indulgent passages
- Rough production
Produced by John Cale of the Velvet Underground, Horses opens with a reimagining of ‘Gloria’ and the line ‘Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine’. It’s a cornerstone of the New York punk scene.
What works
Smith’s voice is by turns a snarl and a whisper, and the band, particularly guitarist Lenny Kaye, is tight and raw. ‘Land’ is an epic, free-flowing highlight, and ‘Free Money’ and ‘Redondo Beach’ show the album’s range.
Where it falters
The spoken-word passages can be self-indulgent, and the production is rough.
Verdict
A bold, poetic debut that still sounds daring.
