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Music Matters
Why Patti Smith Matters
Patti Smith arrived in New York City at the end of the Age of Aquarius in search of work and purpose. Through her poetry, her songs, her unapologetic vocal power, and her very presence as a woman fronting a rock band, she kicked open a door that countless others walked through. No other musician has better embodied the "nothing-to-hide" rawness of punk, nor has any other done more to nurture a place in society for misfits of every stripe.
Why Patti Smith Matters is the first book about the iconic artist written by a woman. The veteran music journalist Caryn Rose contextualizes Smith's creative work, her influence, and her wide-ranging and still- evolving impact on rock and roll, visual art, and the written word. Rose goes deep into Smith's oeuvre, from her first album, Horses, to acclaimed memoirs operating at a surprising remove from her music. The portrait of a ceaseless inventor, Why Patti Smith Matters rescues punk's poet laureate from "strong woman" clich�s. Of course Smith is strong. She is also a nuanced thinker. A maker of beautiful and challenging things. A transformative artist who has not simply entertained but also empowered millions.
Why Patti Smith Matters is the first book about the iconic artist written by a woman. The veteran music journalist Caryn Rose contextualizes Smith's creative work, her influence, and her wide-ranging and still- evolving impact on rock and roll, visual art, and the written word. Rose goes deep into Smith's oeuvre, from her first album, Horses, to acclaimed memoirs operating at a surprising remove from her music. The portrait of a ceaseless inventor, Why Patti Smith Matters rescues punk's poet laureate from "strong woman" clich�s. Of course Smith is strong. She is also a nuanced thinker. A maker of beautiful and challenging things. A transformative artist who has not simply entertained but also empowered millions.
228 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2022
36 people are currently reading
481 people want to read
About the author
Caryn Rose
9 books62 followersCaryn Rose is a longtime music journalist whose work has appeared in NPR, Pitchfork, MTV News, Salon, Billboard, the Village Voice, Vulture, and the Guardian. Her essay on Maybelle Carter was included in Woman Walk the Line.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 15, 2022
This is a great tribute, but it doesn’t really answer the question posed in the title (to which the answer is that she is a role model of integrity, honesty, openness and determination who defies gender and age stereotypes and reminds us that we don’t have to take the crappy politicians, the consumerism, the dumbed down, humdrum nonsense we are fed, and that dead French poets and artists of all kind off a valid and compelling alternative, and anyone can create, or at least can appreciate the creative process).
On the back of the book the first words are “This is not a biography, and this is not a hagiography.” But it kinda was both. Which is fine if that’s what you want. And for that it’s def a 4* read. But I feel I was missold, so I’m giving it a 3*.
Long live Patti Smith!
On the back of the book the first words are “This is not a biography, and this is not a hagiography.” But it kinda was both. Which is fine if that’s what you want. And for that it’s def a 4* read. But I feel I was missold, so I’m giving it a 3*.
Long live Patti Smith!
July 1, 2022
Weak. Anyone who doesn't already think Patti Smith matters will not know why she does after reading this. There are mentions of her influence but no examples. This book is heavy on description, which I appreciate, but light on analysis, much lighter than I was hoping for. I could have done without the track-by-track run-down of each album, but I did enjoy the descriptions of various live performances and studio work. This book was easy to read, and if you love Patti Smith, you would probably enjoy it on some level.
I would have given three stars here but for two major shortcomings: First, a three-page discussion of why Patti probably shouldn't have written and definitely should not still be performing "Rock 'n' Roll Nigger". I disagree and was absolutely elated that she was still playing it when I saw her in 2000. Patti played this song when she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which should tell anyone all they need to know about where she places it in her body of work (and how little she cares about how gauche people find her word choice, in this song or any other). To understand and appreciate her work, you need to come to grips with that. Second was a re-hashing of the tired complaint that Patti does not consider herself a feminist. I don't know why people care about this, why they need so badly for her to adopt that label.
I would have given three stars here but for two major shortcomings: First, a three-page discussion of why Patti probably shouldn't have written and definitely should not still be performing "Rock 'n' Roll Nigger". I disagree and was absolutely elated that she was still playing it when I saw her in 2000. Patti played this song when she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which should tell anyone all they need to know about where she places it in her body of work (and how little she cares about how gauche people find her word choice, in this song or any other). To understand and appreciate her work, you need to come to grips with that. Second was a re-hashing of the tired complaint that Patti does not consider herself a feminist. I don't know why people care about this, why they need so badly for her to adopt that label.
May 24, 2022
Caryn Rose is one of my favorite writers to read about music. This book does a fantastic job of both capturing a complex career and conveying the excitement and significance of Patti Smith’s work. And I appreciate that, while it’s the work of a super fan, it doesn’t shy away from holding the artist accountable for errors in judgment.
January 2, 2026
This book was infuriating for a couple of reasons, but it is overall a very thorough, very feminist appreciation/critical evaluation of Patti's work. The author is clearly a fan and makes no effort to disguise it, so even when she posits an opinion I disagree with 100%, I appreciate that she is coming from a place of admiration.
The infuriating parts: first, she starts out saying the book is not biography or hagiography---but it sure reads like both at times.
Second, and most annoyingly---the reader insists on doing VOICES whenever someone is quoted (mostly Lenny Kaye, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan) and they are so distractingly bad that I had to turn the book off and take a break a number of times.
Lastly, and this is 100% personal, she calls Patti's album of covers Twelve weak. That's just dumb.
I also think she doesn't really understand Patti's outsider experience of gender, which seems to be what today we'd call non binary but back then manifested as an unwillingness to be labeled as or lumped in with female artists. And fully embracing her as the Godmother of Punk while being put off that she isn't more PC about a certain word choice seems contradictory.
So, I'm slightly ambivalent about this, my first book of 2026, but I'm not unhappy I read it.
The infuriating parts: first, she starts out saying the book is not biography or hagiography---but it sure reads like both at times.
Second, and most annoyingly---the reader insists on doing VOICES whenever someone is quoted (mostly Lenny Kaye, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan) and they are so distractingly bad that I had to turn the book off and take a break a number of times.
Lastly, and this is 100% personal, she calls Patti's album of covers Twelve weak. That's just dumb.
I also think she doesn't really understand Patti's outsider experience of gender, which seems to be what today we'd call non binary but back then manifested as an unwillingness to be labeled as or lumped in with female artists. And fully embracing her as the Godmother of Punk while being put off that she isn't more PC about a certain word choice seems contradictory.
So, I'm slightly ambivalent about this, my first book of 2026, but I'm not unhappy I read it.
February 9, 2024
Made me buy some used copies of just kids and m train, also gonna go listen to some of Patti’s music!
July 20, 2022
I have such a complex set of reactions to this book, so I'll divide them up, starting with the main point, which is that Caryn Rose is exactly the right person to write it. She connects with Patti Smith on personal and aesthetic levels and has a ton of illuminating personal stories about in effect growing up with PS as a spiritual big sister. When she's focusing on her love of the music and admiration for PS, the book sparkles and, as Garbage singer Shirley Manson's blurb says, everyone should read it.
So, the complexities.
First, I just wish the series format had given Rose more room to work with. (It's a good series, but there's obviously a strict word count limit.). Choices had to be made and if I'd been editing, I would have lobbied for some different emphases. Most importantly, I wish Rose had been able to provide the same detailed attention to the post-Easter work that she gives Horses. The response to that classic album is wonderful and made me hear some very familiar songs more deeply as I listened alongside the read. The sections on post-Dream of Life albums swim by way too quickly and there's not much at all on the Soundwalk Collective albums, which I find absolutely compelling. Similarly, I would have liked more time with M Train--I'm in the minority that likes it better than Just Kids.
Second, for reasons connected with the above, I found myself losing patience with the frequent complaints about the failure of the "mainstream"--never quite defined--to appreciate Smith's work. It's not that I disagree, but given the competition for space, I think making the point concerning the always implicit and frequently explicit sexism of the male critics once forcefully and then get on with it. As it is, each chapter reiterates the same points (and near the end Rose devotes more than a page to an idiotic condescending review--from my perspective that's playing into the patriarchy's hands. We should center on Smith's brilliance rather than letting some damn fool take stage. This is partially an aesthetic preference on my part, but I think it also raises significant issues connected with how Smith has dealt with politics, which leads to...
Third quibble--the kind of thing that's probably a strength of the book since it provokes thinking and engagement. At times Rose wants Smith to adhere to 21st century preferences for political explicitness. Her treatment of Rock n Roll N*** doesn't really deal with the complications of how racialized language has been used in pop music from Lou Reed to NWA. From a current perspective, the issue seems clear, but it wasn't at the time (and I'm not convinced we've made the right choice about how to deal with similiar issues now--I resist burying history). Rose clearly would like Smith to make more explicit feminist statements/commitments--see the section on Lilith Fair. To do justice to the complexities would require many more pages than the series allows.
Finally, Rose often assumes a more complete knowledge of Smith's life than some readers (me included) will have. I've followed the work but not the personality profiles, so at times--her relationship with one of her post-Fred Smith guitaristso--I was a bit in the dark.
Complexities aside, a really good book. Now maybe someone will commission Rose to write the full biography.
So, the complexities.
First, I just wish the series format had given Rose more room to work with. (It's a good series, but there's obviously a strict word count limit.). Choices had to be made and if I'd been editing, I would have lobbied for some different emphases. Most importantly, I wish Rose had been able to provide the same detailed attention to the post-Easter work that she gives Horses. The response to that classic album is wonderful and made me hear some very familiar songs more deeply as I listened alongside the read. The sections on post-Dream of Life albums swim by way too quickly and there's not much at all on the Soundwalk Collective albums, which I find absolutely compelling. Similarly, I would have liked more time with M Train--I'm in the minority that likes it better than Just Kids.
Second, for reasons connected with the above, I found myself losing patience with the frequent complaints about the failure of the "mainstream"--never quite defined--to appreciate Smith's work. It's not that I disagree, but given the competition for space, I think making the point concerning the always implicit and frequently explicit sexism of the male critics once forcefully and then get on with it. As it is, each chapter reiterates the same points (and near the end Rose devotes more than a page to an idiotic condescending review--from my perspective that's playing into the patriarchy's hands. We should center on Smith's brilliance rather than letting some damn fool take stage. This is partially an aesthetic preference on my part, but I think it also raises significant issues connected with how Smith has dealt with politics, which leads to...
Third quibble--the kind of thing that's probably a strength of the book since it provokes thinking and engagement. At times Rose wants Smith to adhere to 21st century preferences for political explicitness. Her treatment of Rock n Roll N*** doesn't really deal with the complications of how racialized language has been used in pop music from Lou Reed to NWA. From a current perspective, the issue seems clear, but it wasn't at the time (and I'm not convinced we've made the right choice about how to deal with similiar issues now--I resist burying history). Rose clearly would like Smith to make more explicit feminist statements/commitments--see the section on Lilith Fair. To do justice to the complexities would require many more pages than the series allows.
Finally, Rose often assumes a more complete knowledge of Smith's life than some readers (me included) will have. I've followed the work but not the personality profiles, so at times--her relationship with one of her post-Fred Smith guitaristso--I was a bit in the dark.
Complexities aside, a really good book. Now maybe someone will commission Rose to write the full biography.
September 18, 2022
someone asked why I was reading this because surely I already know why Patti Smith matters. I can't actually remember what I said to that, but the book was brilliant anyways even if I did know most of it already.
apparently this is the first book written about Patti by a woman, which surprised me a little as almost all of the people I've ever talked to about Patti have been female and I sort of thought that most of what makes her amazing would make more sense to women. Patti's a feminist icon without having ever said whether or not she's feminist, while writing from a point 'beyond gender'. This book has lots of well-reasoned discussion of this, and the other specific parts that set Patti apart from the rest of punk/alt/art rock/who-even-knows-what-genre-is-anymore music because she's a woman, and not one who dresses like how other women are 'supposed' to dress. there are some truly infuriating moments of misogyny towards her, and people critising her for doing the exact things that in male musicians are praised or not even mentioned (hero-worship, being stubborn, artistic vision, retiring to have a family, not touring for years, even *shock* having body hair).
The author, Caryn Rose, obviously loves Patti in the same sort of way I do (which I won't try to explain cos I could wrote a whole book about it myself), and her love of Patti really come through in her writing. The book is well written, not sequenced confusingly, has the right balance of Patti/author's experience, and has lots of really well-described bits. also she likes Radio Ethiopia, which is my favourite Patti album, she just doesn't like the production (honestly I don't know enough abut production to say anything about it either way). and she likes Ain't It Strange, which is definitely one of Patti's best songs which I though no one except me really liked so thank you Caryn Rose for putting that bit in your book.
at the very end there is a mention of recent concerts (the book was only 2021) where it says that Patti did her last ever NZ and Austalia concerts in 2020. these concerts didn't happen and I know because I was going to go and will likely never get over my grief that they were cancelled after being postponed twice, and I really really hope that Patti will come to New Zealand even for just one show.
there was lots of quoting from Just Kids, but Patti tells her story the best so it doesn't feel like the author's just condensing that book into the first chapter. I also loved how there was a considerable bit of the book talking about Patti's books, which as far as I'm concerned are all masterpieces, especially M Train, and also it was recent enough to mention her instagram and substack blog. the other book about her I've read was written before Patti's books so it was cool to have them discussed.
if you like Patti Smith you gotta read this book. also thank you to my head of year for telling me that this book exists :)
apparently this is the first book written about Patti by a woman, which surprised me a little as almost all of the people I've ever talked to about Patti have been female and I sort of thought that most of what makes her amazing would make more sense to women. Patti's a feminist icon without having ever said whether or not she's feminist, while writing from a point 'beyond gender'. This book has lots of well-reasoned discussion of this, and the other specific parts that set Patti apart from the rest of punk/alt/art rock/who-even-knows-what-genre-is-anymore music because she's a woman, and not one who dresses like how other women are 'supposed' to dress. there are some truly infuriating moments of misogyny towards her, and people critising her for doing the exact things that in male musicians are praised or not even mentioned (hero-worship, being stubborn, artistic vision, retiring to have a family, not touring for years, even *shock* having body hair).
The author, Caryn Rose, obviously loves Patti in the same sort of way I do (which I won't try to explain cos I could wrote a whole book about it myself), and her love of Patti really come through in her writing. The book is well written, not sequenced confusingly, has the right balance of Patti/author's experience, and has lots of really well-described bits. also she likes Radio Ethiopia, which is my favourite Patti album, she just doesn't like the production (honestly I don't know enough abut production to say anything about it either way). and she likes Ain't It Strange, which is definitely one of Patti's best songs which I though no one except me really liked so thank you Caryn Rose for putting that bit in your book.
at the very end there is a mention of recent concerts (the book was only 2021) where it says that Patti did her last ever NZ and Austalia concerts in 2020. these concerts didn't happen and I know because I was going to go and will likely never get over my grief that they were cancelled after being postponed twice, and I really really hope that Patti will come to New Zealand even for just one show.
there was lots of quoting from Just Kids, but Patti tells her story the best so it doesn't feel like the author's just condensing that book into the first chapter. I also loved how there was a considerable bit of the book talking about Patti's books, which as far as I'm concerned are all masterpieces, especially M Train, and also it was recent enough to mention her instagram and substack blog. the other book about her I've read was written before Patti's books so it was cool to have them discussed.
if you like Patti Smith you gotta read this book. also thank you to my head of year for telling me that this book exists :)
July 12, 2024
“and you’re not dylan thomas, i’m not patti smith; this ain’t the chelsea hotel, we’re modern idiots; who else decodes you?” — the tortured poets department
ja, ich hab das buch wegen einer taylor lyric gelesen, sue me 😔
es war auf jeden fall nicht das beste buch was ich jemals gelesen habe aber schon interessant & ich will jetzt ‘just kids‘ lesen, einfach for fun 🤭
ja, ich hab das buch wegen einer taylor lyric gelesen, sue me 😔
es war auf jeden fall nicht das beste buch was ich jemals gelesen habe aber schon interessant & ich will jetzt ‘just kids‘ lesen, einfach for fun 🤭
August 4, 2022
A well-written, interesting and accurate book about Patti Smith, which successfully describes the multiplicity of her artistic work. Provides the right level of detail for a general survey of this kind.
October 31, 2022
As someone who truly got into Patti Smith and loves her for her literary works more than her music, this book certainly disappointed me. Though nearly all of Smith's published novels and poetry collections were mentioned, that was about as far as the discussion went. I do not know how you can discuss how a poet of this caliber "matters" without truly analyzing her literary works. This leads me to my other major issue: there is essentially no analysis in this book. It's wildly description-heavy, painfully detailing every part of every album, but no analysis. No fruitful discussion on her influence and legacy. The lack of analysis really made the whole book feel like Caryn Rose praising Smith without properly contextualizing her significance throughout punk and poetry of the last half-century.
I did enjoy the descriptions of her live performances as that was something I could not necessarily think of myself and will likely never experience.
I also think the book started really strong, showing the author's obvious love for Smith and knowledge of her, but it fell off as it became largely biographical with little analysis.
I would recommend to those who like Smith's music and are not as interested in her writing (though I do not know how that is possible) and maybe 70s rock history enthusiasts.
Time to reread "Just Kids"
I did enjoy the descriptions of her live performances as that was something I could not necessarily think of myself and will likely never experience.
I also think the book started really strong, showing the author's obvious love for Smith and knowledge of her, but it fell off as it became largely biographical with little analysis.
I would recommend to those who like Smith's music and are not as interested in her writing (though I do not know how that is possible) and maybe 70s rock history enthusiasts.
Time to reread "Just Kids"
July 13, 2022
Caryn Rose's retrospective on the career of artist Patti Smith blends a well-researched look into the artist and Rose's own relationship to Smith's work. As a researcher, critic, and fan, Rose brings readers into the intimate world of Smith that can only be done by someone who cares deeply about the music and the artist. The first book-length biography on Smith written by a woman, this book is the book on Smith that the world has been missing.
August 31, 2024
great homage.
will never not love patti smith!
will never not love patti smith!
October 7, 2022
Patti Smith is my favorite artist in the world. And this book was written for us, by one of us. What a delight. Since my photography teacher showed me "Because The Night" when i was 17 and said "ah i thought you might like this singer" i was hooked, enchanted, fascinated, as if my life had completely changed from that moment on. And it did. I immersed myself into anything and everything Patti, as any neurodivergent punk rocker kid would, but that obsession is one of the few that has lasted this long, 16 years & counting. Patti's work became my religion, my north star, my hope & dreams had materialised into this one artist, who defied gender roles, music industry rules and pseudo intelectual elitist poetry groups who only acknowledged "real" poetry if it was written by another white, cis het educated male and performed in obscure nights in front of others like them. Which is why i also fell in love with William Blake, the beats and all the worker poets/writers/musicians Patti admired and all the contemporary artists who share my admiration. Patti was not the first to mix abstract poetry and melody, but she was one of the first to humanise the work of any artist. Writing is work, creating art is work and coming from a family of humble workers with no higher education, constantly working in order to survive, i saw my reflection in her family and her pathological day dreamer aspect, to see art as any other form of work, which needs to be taken just as seriously, in a world where being an artist is still seen as just a hobby and a privileged exception inside the capitalistic society we are trapped in. To know more about how Patti emerged in the NYC scene in the 70s and how her first record deal was made, after a year of refusing to accept the multiple offers that came her way because she still needed to work more and prove (mostly to herself) that she deserved it. To learn about every record making process, the backlash of her sudden departure from the spotlight in the 80s, her long awaited comeback in the 90s and 00s after losing so many important people in her life and turning that pain into art, into prophecy and celebration of those people lives and memories. I was lucky enough to finally experience her live performance at 20, in 2008 for the first time, right after Banga was released. Reading about Caryn's first Patti show and the eternal anguish she felt in the 80s until Patti was back on the road and releasing new records, books and doing live shows/appearances, melted into my own teenage angst before i was lucky enough to see Patti live. This is already too long but hey if you're a Patti fanatic or just discovered her work, this book is the best way to start or continue your connection with this one of a kind human, artist, worker. We are blessed to be alive in the same time as our heroes, showing us it is possible to keep dreaming, to keep fighting, to keep creating, to keep working for us and for all those outside of society, to change it, to transform it, to take the space we deserve so we can exist together and not just survive trying to fit in.
August 15, 2022
Could probably be better be titled “Why Patti Smith Matters To Me”. I wanted to like this more as Rose seems lovely. It contains some useful biographical information, and I was happy to discover I didn’t imagine seeing Patti perform on a float in the Halloween parade, but Rose loves generalities and misplaced hyperbole. There was little to no analysis, no contextualizing of her work within the wider culture other than repeated assertions of how wonderful Smith is. Rose did say in the afterward that she had trouble getting people to speak on the record, one of the few exceptions being Bruce Springsteen who was quoted extensively, which was both fascinating and a tantalizing look at the kind of material a big, proper bio of Smith might include.
December 31, 2022
Rose draws you in by sharing her own experiences as a fan but balances that with biographical depth from top notch interviews and critical analysis of the art and creative process itself and its impact on the history of rock. Her writing about individual songs and albums was so vivid I had to keep stopping to listen to the song in question as I read.
February 28, 2023
reading patti’s own books is a lot more telling about what kind of person and about what kind of artist she is but i still enjoyed learning more about her from a music journalist’s point of view. this book is informative and illustrates her standing in the (mostly male dominated) music industry over the last 50 or so years in great detail!
May 27, 2025
“This is not a biography … not a hagiography,” begins the blurb. I’d argue this thin, readable volume has significant hallmarks of both, but what genre does it fall into, then? An extended personal essay, in short, with little fresh research or interviews, but plenty of personal pondering – a more accurate title might have been, “Why Patti Smith Matters TO ME.”
There’s certainly merit to such an approach, and I learnt and reconsidered the book's subject plenty along the way. But at times the form frustrates – hearing about the author’s decision to lazily dress as “Horses Patti” for Halloween, or her teenage memories of photocopying the LP lyrics for recirculation and analysts, is inevitably less interesting than learning about the subject herself. And this may have been my greatest stumbling block: Rose does recount Smith’s career (if not early life) in broad brushstrokes – especially post comeback, when she can say she was there – but also assumes a lot of prior knowledge from her audience, writing for the converts, who certainly don’t need convincing of her book’s title.
It sounds cheap to say, but such a project would have more value if Rose had a closer and/or more objective relationship with her subject – at her only meeting, she confesses to being left speechless after queuing up for an autograph. Oddly, Bruce Springsteen is one of three (!) fresh sources quoted, but one suspects these soundbites may have been mopped up from an earlier assignment. The weakest moments are when Rose zeroes in on the music itself, falling into vague cliches, and frequently lazily landing on the term “perfect” – inaccurate at the best of times (nothing is truly perfect), but utterly at odds with Smith’s deliberately raw, verite audio approach.
Not to be that guy, but there’s also one outright error – Rose claims to have seen the “only” performance of experimental Nico poetry suite Killer Road, a collaboration with the Soundwalk Collective which she claims began in 2016. Sadly this is incorrect, as I attended the work’s fourth performance, with the same musicians, in 2014.
There’s certainly merit to such an approach, and I learnt and reconsidered the book's subject plenty along the way. But at times the form frustrates – hearing about the author’s decision to lazily dress as “Horses Patti” for Halloween, or her teenage memories of photocopying the LP lyrics for recirculation and analysts, is inevitably less interesting than learning about the subject herself. And this may have been my greatest stumbling block: Rose does recount Smith’s career (if not early life) in broad brushstrokes – especially post comeback, when she can say she was there – but also assumes a lot of prior knowledge from her audience, writing for the converts, who certainly don’t need convincing of her book’s title.
It sounds cheap to say, but such a project would have more value if Rose had a closer and/or more objective relationship with her subject – at her only meeting, she confesses to being left speechless after queuing up for an autograph. Oddly, Bruce Springsteen is one of three (!) fresh sources quoted, but one suspects these soundbites may have been mopped up from an earlier assignment. The weakest moments are when Rose zeroes in on the music itself, falling into vague cliches, and frequently lazily landing on the term “perfect” – inaccurate at the best of times (nothing is truly perfect), but utterly at odds with Smith’s deliberately raw, verite audio approach.
Not to be that guy, but there’s also one outright error – Rose claims to have seen the “only” performance of experimental Nico poetry suite Killer Road, a collaboration with the Soundwalk Collective which she claims began in 2016. Sadly this is incorrect, as I attended the work’s fourth performance, with the same musicians, in 2014.
February 19, 2026
I was drawn to the premise of this series and particularly to this book, because it highlighted one of my top favorite contemporary artists. Rather swiftly, however, I became grossly disappointed.
Not far into the first few chapters, I found myself completely baffled at the volume of seemingly regurgitated stories from Patti’s own writings. To add insult to injury, the writing of these retellings is short of atrocious. It basically felt like rereading a significant amount of content being summarized and paraphrased secondhand, by a roadie. The whole thing is a big mess; sloppy and rushed, careless and uninspired, it just that felt like a huge waste of time, —something someone got assigned and paid to do, but felt no passion for.
The question which is the original premise for, and the title of the book, is never actually addressed.
This book was so utterly tiresome to trudge through, that without reward in sight, I did finally abandon it in the end, —and without a shred of regret.
Spoiler Alert (Not!): Patti Smith matters because she’s an authentic, powerful woman. Our world needs these humans above all else, for they remind us of what is good and real, and worthy of hope. Because she’s always fought herself out of the molds and expectations of society and listened to and respected her own inner voice. She’s OK being an outsider. And we could use more of this, more often than not! She’s not afraid to take chances to do something new. That is life and creation in a nutshell— what moves us forward as a species. She’s always believed in the importance of art and artists and uses her platform to inspire generations —even as she nears her eighth decade. She just keeps on working and living with endless passion and dedication. And for oh, SO many more reasons, which are not very hard to find. What a shame that this book was a wasted opportunity to honor such a massively important American artist.
Not far into the first few chapters, I found myself completely baffled at the volume of seemingly regurgitated stories from Patti’s own writings. To add insult to injury, the writing of these retellings is short of atrocious. It basically felt like rereading a significant amount of content being summarized and paraphrased secondhand, by a roadie. The whole thing is a big mess; sloppy and rushed, careless and uninspired, it just that felt like a huge waste of time, —something someone got assigned and paid to do, but felt no passion for.
The question which is the original premise for, and the title of the book, is never actually addressed.
This book was so utterly tiresome to trudge through, that without reward in sight, I did finally abandon it in the end, —and without a shred of regret.
Spoiler Alert (Not!): Patti Smith matters because she’s an authentic, powerful woman. Our world needs these humans above all else, for they remind us of what is good and real, and worthy of hope. Because she’s always fought herself out of the molds and expectations of society and listened to and respected her own inner voice. She’s OK being an outsider. And we could use more of this, more often than not! She’s not afraid to take chances to do something new. That is life and creation in a nutshell— what moves us forward as a species. She’s always believed in the importance of art and artists and uses her platform to inspire generations —even as she nears her eighth decade. She just keeps on working and living with endless passion and dedication. And for oh, SO many more reasons, which are not very hard to find. What a shame that this book was a wasted opportunity to honor such a massively important American artist.
October 25, 2022
Patti Smith is a treasure. Caryn Rose reminds us why in this book that is part biography, part analysis, and part personal memoir. It's refreshing to see Patti's world through Caryn's eyes. While I know quite a bit about Patti's life and music, it was impactful to learn what it is like to experience Patti's artistry and humanity from a woman's perspective. Caryn enters Patti's world with a lens and a POV that helped me understand just how revolutionary Patti is.
Yet, Caryn confirms (as I have gleaned from her work and her conversations) that Patti is a humble, kind, down-to-earth person. Someone you could share a cup of coffee with and not feel the intimidation of a rock legend, but the humanity of an empathic soul.
I also appreciate reading Caryn's insights on Patti's work, much as I have enjoyed reading Rob Sheffield's personal take on David Bowie's career ("On Bowie"). I've seen criticism leveled here and there when - with this book and others - writers provide personal perspectives. Caryn does a fine job of celebrating Patti while also pointing out work that may not have resonated with her, alongside the transformative tracks, albums, and poetry. She obviously loves and admires Patti, but can also speak to what may not have worked as well as intended during her storied career.
As the book draws to a close, Caryn laments that Patti's time as a touring/recording artist may be coming to an end, as she has been less active in the past three years or so. And yet, Patti keeps surprising us...so we'll see. I hope she'll feel compelled to offer more words, more stories, more shamanistic shouts of joy and grief. I hope Caryn, too, will keep offering up her insights on musical artists who matter most to her.
Yet, Caryn confirms (as I have gleaned from her work and her conversations) that Patti is a humble, kind, down-to-earth person. Someone you could share a cup of coffee with and not feel the intimidation of a rock legend, but the humanity of an empathic soul.
I also appreciate reading Caryn's insights on Patti's work, much as I have enjoyed reading Rob Sheffield's personal take on David Bowie's career ("On Bowie"). I've seen criticism leveled here and there when - with this book and others - writers provide personal perspectives. Caryn does a fine job of celebrating Patti while also pointing out work that may not have resonated with her, alongside the transformative tracks, albums, and poetry. She obviously loves and admires Patti, but can also speak to what may not have worked as well as intended during her storied career.
As the book draws to a close, Caryn laments that Patti's time as a touring/recording artist may be coming to an end, as she has been less active in the past three years or so. And yet, Patti keeps surprising us...so we'll see. I hope she'll feel compelled to offer more words, more stories, more shamanistic shouts of joy and grief. I hope Caryn, too, will keep offering up her insights on musical artists who matter most to her.
September 21, 2022
Caryn Rose puts in the work and delivers this meticulously researched and comprehensive study of Patti Smith, artist, poet, musician, author. This book took me longer than usual to get through. At a little over 200 pages, this should have taken a day or two. But nope. I meandered and journeyed through the history Rose lays out, diving into the footnotes, pulling up youtube videos, images, my copy of Just Kids, etc. to let the narrative soak in. We're not just talking set lists and album analysis. We're talking details such as the slogan from band fliers for appearances at CBGB in 1977 after Patti came back after a fall from stage: "Out of traction / back in action". Genius.
Rose writes with an urgency and passion that puts the reader in the venue, at the show, in the front row, listening and watching and being mesmerized by Smith and her band. She provides the context to see how the alchemy that was New York City in the late 60's coalesced to give the world Patti Smith, understand her contributions to the punk and rock lexicon, and appreciate the artistry that drives Smith to this day.
Rose approaches her subject with a critical eye, her vast knowledge of rock history, and imbues the text with her concert going/music journalism background that makes the book that much more compelling. Reading it enhances my own admiration for Patti Smith, an artist not to be missed when she comes to town.
Rose writes with an urgency and passion that puts the reader in the venue, at the show, in the front row, listening and watching and being mesmerized by Smith and her band. She provides the context to see how the alchemy that was New York City in the late 60's coalesced to give the world Patti Smith, understand her contributions to the punk and rock lexicon, and appreciate the artistry that drives Smith to this day.
Rose approaches her subject with a critical eye, her vast knowledge of rock history, and imbues the text with her concert going/music journalism background that makes the book that much more compelling. Reading it enhances my own admiration for Patti Smith, an artist not to be missed when she comes to town.
June 13, 2024
As someone who truly got into Patti Smith and loves her for her literary works more than her music, this book certainly disappointed me. Though nearly all of Smith's published novels and poetry collections were mentioned, that was about as far as the discussion went. I do not know how you can discuss how a poet of this caliber "matters" without truly analyzing her literary works. This leads me to my other major issue: there is essentially no analysis in this book. It's wildly description-heavy, painfully detailing every part of every album, but no analysis. No fruitful discussion on her influence and legacy. The lack of analysis really made the whole book feel like Caryn Rose praising Smith without properly contextualizing her significance throughout punk and poetry of the last half-century.
I did enjoy the descriptions of her live performances as that was something I could not necessarily think of myself and will likely never experience.
I also think the book started really strong, showing the author's obvious love for Smith and knowledge of her, but it fell off as it became largely biographical with little analysis.
I would recommend to those who like Smith's music and are not as interested in her writing (though I do not know how that is possible) and maybe 70s rock history enthusiasts.
Time to reread "Just Kids"
I did enjoy the descriptions of her live performances as that was something I could not necessarily think of myself and will likely never experience.
I also think the book started really strong, showing the author's obvious love for Smith and knowledge of her, but it fell off as it became largely biographical with little analysis.
I would recommend to those who like Smith's music and are not as interested in her writing (though I do not know how that is possible) and maybe 70s rock history enthusiasts.
Time to reread "Just Kids"
March 19, 2023
I really enjoyed this account of Patti Smith's work. Rose states upfront that the book is neither biography nor hagiography, and I liked the organization of the material with that in mind. We go through the development and epochs of Patti's work over time, and how the work mattered to her, all the way up to the present. There is something special about getting to read an account of a legendary figure while they are still alive - you don't feel as if you missed out on knowing them when they were here. I also really appreciated the emphasis (by both Patti and Rose) on *the work* - it was always about the work. Rose also walks through the material on Patti's albums one-by-one (especially the first four and the renaissance), and I found that perspective both informative and helpful to understand later work as we got there.
February 5, 2024
Went into this book expecting scholarly discussion on Smith's albums and writings, and got some of that. Even though Rose states in the intro, "This is not a biography and this is not a hagiograohy. This is a book about Patti Smith's work, because it is her work that matters and the value that she places on her labor within the creative process," it truly is a biography, focusing more on what was going on throughout Smith's life with small sections dedicated to really digging into albums or writings (less so on the writings until the final chapter of the book).
I also feel the author went a little too far of putting themselves as a Patti Smith fan into the narrative, and there wasn't enough heavy discussion on the albums or writings for me, especially when I really wanted some in-depth analysis of Smith's work through a feminist theory lens or anti-racist theory lense.
I also feel the author went a little too far of putting themselves as a Patti Smith fan into the narrative, and there wasn't enough heavy discussion on the albums or writings for me, especially when I really wanted some in-depth analysis of Smith's work through a feminist theory lens or anti-racist theory lense.
July 14, 2022
Good, solid overview into Patti Smith’s life: music, relationships, writing, etc. Definitely have to know a little background about her before reading since it’s very heavy on the facts and timeline.
“She deserved the honor because she could see both the big picture and the intimate details of history and respond to that context. She didn’t just get up onstage and play a show (although she did because that is what she always did at CBGB); she got up there and reminded us why it was important, of what happened in that place, of everyone who made it what it was, and why we should never forget it”
“She deserved the honor because she could see both the big picture and the intimate details of history and respond to that context. She didn’t just get up onstage and play a show (although she did because that is what she always did at CBGB); she got up there and reminded us why it was important, of what happened in that place, of everyone who made it what it was, and why we should never forget it”
January 3, 2023
It's cool to see the story of Patti Smith from such a strong place of love. I am a bit younger than the average Patti Smith fan, but I was exposed to her music early on in my life through being raised by parents who were heavily influenced on many levels by the punk movement. Enjoyed filling in the gaps of what I missed by being a fan that is too young to remember the release of Horses. Especially enjoyed learning about it from the perspective of something I don't see enough, a woman who considers herself a peer of Patti's. I felt more connected on a deeper emotional level to Patti's work and career, which made me appreciate Patti's music much more.
June 28, 2023
3.5 I struggled with this book at first because I think it doesn't live up to it's title. I read this after Just Kids, and I was looking for an outside view on why Patti Smith matters to rock music, punk music, American culture, or even the world. What this book actually accomplishes is a fan's detailed review of her work (mostly music, but poetry and visual arts as well) with some added historical, cultural, and personal context. What I ended up liking the most was her enthusiasm and feminist perspective of Patti Smith and her work. I will use it as a reference as I continue down my deep dive of Patti's work for a deeper understanding of the music.
July 27, 2022
The right book right now.
Patti Smith was in Vienna & gave a concert! It was awesome!
With the book that I continue to read now, I understand even more.
The brilliant Patti Smith.
The zeitgeist.
The conservative/misogyny music business.
But most of all, I appreciate that Rose doesn't get tangled up in private.
The focus is on Patti Smith as an active, working artist!
I like this female gaze!
And admire Patti Smith even more. Yes, she matters!
Patti Smith was in Vienna & gave a concert! It was awesome!
With the book that I continue to read now, I understand even more.
The brilliant Patti Smith.
The zeitgeist.
The conservative/misogyny music business.
But most of all, I appreciate that Rose doesn't get tangled up in private.
The focus is on Patti Smith as an active, working artist!
I like this female gaze!
And admire Patti Smith even more. Yes, she matters!
December 14, 2022
What a beautiful little book. It perfectly illustrates what Patti Smith means to so many of us, her influences and her influence, and while doing so never loses itself in uncritical, pure admiration - though you can always feel the love. As a bonus, Caryn Rose gives many touchstones and directions for research for those of us truly born a little too late for anything cool to happen.
(Though lucky enough to share our time with Patti for a while. I am so happy she's here.)
(Though lucky enough to share our time with Patti for a while. I am so happy she's here.)
December 12, 2023
An excellent book by Music journalist, and career long follower of the book’s subject, Patti Smith. I only very belatedly discovered Patti’s music, and then her books, both of which I have become smitten by. Patti Smith is a true original with, as far as I can make out, the utmost integrity. This book gives a potted history of Smith’s life to date, and an appreciation of every piece of music she has produced.
A very heart warming book.
A very heart warming book.
November 27, 2022
I gained a greater appreciation for and general understanding of Patti Smith, as well as being led to some songs I hadn’t heard before that I’m now enjoying. This book is mostly semi-dry biography, but I loved when the author inserted some more personal commentary about why Patti matters to HER. I just wish there had been more.
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