Patti Smith - LAND (1975 - 2002)
2002/ 2:24:06 Minutes / 2 CD / 30 Tracks / Studio / Live
Release Date: March 19, 2002 - Arista
Produced by: Various
Website: www.pattismithland.com

Reviewed by Matt Rowe on April 20, 2002

Our histories provide us with heroes and heroines of all types. Many of those have presented us with uniqueness that sets them apart in poetic grace and beauty. Patti Smith, sprung from the seed of the 70s yet enbodying the time that preceded her and encompassing all that extended since then. In short, Patti Smith is the stuff of legend.

Having given to us the fierceness of her revelatory visions and the exquisite quiet of her poetic beauty at great cost to her, we have been blessed indeed.

LAND, a collection of her material stemming from 27 years of, and I hesitate to call this music for it is much, much more than that, her recorded life. The songs that make up much of this set earned its inclusion by way of fan voting. They create a tapestry of time and story, of understanding and confusion, of love and quest. They make a blueprint of the human soul with its emotional output fully tapped.

LAND encompasses her spectacular career that spawned 8 studio masterpieces. Disc 1, is complete with the fan voted songs like "Gloria", "Because the Night", "Dancing Barefoot" and a new gem, "When Doves Cry" while Disc 2 presents treasures unearthed and, until now, unreleased. Demos, live performances and studio tracks along with poetry pieces, and a remarkable hidden live rendition of "Tomorrow", as I've said, unearthed treasures. Along with this set comes a booklet with amazing photos and memorabilia, tracking info and other things of interest. The slipcase cover features the incredible shot of Patti blindfolded. All in all, a necessary inclusion to any bonafide Patti Smith fan's library. An absolute purchase.

There is, however, an incomplete feel to this set. There are many powerful songs left off this collection. Because of this, I like to think that we haven't seen the 'definitive' set. The incredible fury of "Gone Again", the beauty of 'Ask the Angels', and the lyrical 'Death Singing' a song about Benjamin from 'Benjamin Smoke', which, by the way, is an incredible film, are noticeably missing. It makes the set seem an interim compilation. For Patti, this is not a bad thing. Her body of work has a heart and that heart beats. Every release joins that body and becomes eternally fused and sacred.

There is a disclosure at the end of the booklet that states "...Farewell friends. I offer my LAND with gratitude." It sounds as if Patti has uttered her retirement speech. Although eloquently spoken, it drives an icy finger through me and frightens me. I can't imagine not having anymore Patti Smith wonders even if I have to wait a lifetime to receive them.

Please Patti, stay with us. Do not give your "charge over to others. They will not do well." Patti Smith, a significant voice in a significant time.

For Mark..............Patti is his heroine.

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