Curious and intrigued. I read all the background info sent to me from Arista and listened to Patti's music and words. Her artistic integrity, as unpretentious as it is, coupled with the quality of her work was both inspiring and intimidating. When you see someone who has lived up to their principles, has suffered loss and still not compromised, it makes those of us who have, feel a little small. I'm sure this is not her intention and the flip side is very affecting. I will say at the outset that this is a incredible record. It exists on a mythic level, the level of fairy tales. The songs, many in 3/4 time because " that's what he (Fred "Sonic" Smith, her late husband) was teaching me when he passed away. That's the only time I can play."

There are a few facts one must reflect on to understand this brilliant record. At the height of her fame 17 years ago, Patti Smith left the music scene, married Fred "Sonic" Smith and moved to a suburb of Detroit to raise a family (son, Jackson 13 and daughter Jesse, 9). Then a series of deaths changed her life. First one of her oldest friends, Robert Mapplethorpe the photographer in '89. Then her husband, her brother Todd, and former band member Richard Sohl. The themes of loss, tribute and redemption run through this record like an icy stream, both refreshing and shocking. As Patti says in a Rolling Stone Interview. "It's not like I wasn't doing anything. I wrote everyday." That's right, integrity and a work ethic.

Melodically, Gone Again is an incredibly memorable record. Lyrically it is superior. The band is edgy when needed but can cover you with a security blanket that they sometimes pull off and leave you shivering. Every song on this record has something to be explored, but I will have to confine myself to the highlights.

Gone Again [223k .wav|162k .au] The title track off the record on Arista was co-written with her late husband Fred. You can hear his voice from a practice tape droning in the background. Originally Fred conceived the song to be about an American Indian priestess who rescues the tribe in a time of hardship, but Patti hadn't written the lyrics yet and when she finally wrote them they took a different turn. "Instead, I paid homage to the warrior, the warrior who fell." About A Boy [252k .wav|183k .au] was inspired by Kurt Cobain's death. "I have to admit," says Patti "originally it was written with a little more frustration and anger. In 1988-89 I watched my best friend die - slowly. Robert Mappelthorpe, in that time period did everything he could to hold onto his life force. When you watch someone fight so hard to hold on to their life, then see another person just throw theirs away, I guess I had less patience for that. You want to grab that person by the scruff of the neck and say OK you're suffering? This is suffering. Check it out." Although that was the original impetus for the song at the time of the recording she was thinking of others who had died. The simplicity of My Madrigal [363k .wav|263k .au] reminds me of an Irish love ballad in form and melody. The lyrics are sparse and poignant:

 
  We waltzed beneath motionless skies
  All heaven's glory turned in your eyes
          we expressed such sweet vows
                      Oh till death do us part
                      Oh till death do us part

This is pure songwriting, straightforward, heartfelt, poetic. When you put these lyrics with the melody, the beauty of it hurts.

Listening to this record you hear Patti Smith being influenced vocally and lyrically by the great master Bob Dylan. Besides the fact that she covers his Wicked Messenger she tears a few pages out of his book on a number of songs. Summer Cannibals [301k .wav|218k .au] is written in a Dylanesque voice "I saw their souls a - withering like snakes in chains / and they wrapped themselves around me ummm what a treat / and they rattled their tales hissin c'mon lets eat. Patti admits that Bob is a big influence on her and the respect must be mutual because she opened for him on his most recent tour. Oh, I could go on but in the interest of brevity... Other tunes to try out are Farewell Reel [350k .wav|254k .au] and Ravens. [320k .wav|256k .au]

I can't say enough about this record. It has a life force of its own. It is beautiful. It is art, and I don't use that word loosely. If you want, hear something that seems to come from the soul unfiltered, try Gone Again. You can thank me later.