Comments for Smith, Patti, Radio Ethiopia

Pretty cool stuff. Patti was involved in the transitioning of rock from the arena product which it had become to something that could work on a personal level. At her best, as on this album, her music had a real strength and quality to it which fits in with the best of "classic rock" even as it foreshadows today''s "alternative music". All that said, the lyrics are pretty strange, much like Patti''s writing - vague airs of mystery and potential revolution, ala Jim Morrison. And it must be noted that this was the Patti Smith Group, not just Patti - there were others on this journey.

fade in...a field...tresses of h/air wave...the extreme and shifting train of dreams, the 14 stations evoke 14 stills from the archives of the forbidden cinema-that which is not yet shot...that which has no perceivable die/rection ...from the linear notes