Track Listing

1. Gone Again
2. Beneath The Southern Cross
3. About A Boy
4. My Madrigal
5. Summer Cannibals
6. Dead To The World
7. Wing
8. Ravens
9. Wicked Messenger
10. Fireflies
11. Farewell Reel

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67764 in Music
• Released on: 1996-07-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Limited Edition, Import
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

CD Description
With her first release since the self-imposed exile that followed 1988's DREAM OF LIFE, Patti Smith reclaims her title as the original punk poet. Though the songs on GONE AGAIN bear little relationship to the punk movement that she helped spawn in the mid-'70s, the defiant, fiercely individualisticspirit of her early recordings remains intact. GONE AGAIN has a moody, elegiac feel, as many of the songs are inspired by Smith's recent encounters with tragedy: the deaths of herhusband and collaborator Fred "Sonic" Smith; her longtime friend, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe; and her brother Todd.
Smith is that rarest of birds, a songwriter whose poetic reach does not exceed her grasp. Even during her eight-year recording hiatus, she never stopped writing poetry, and the raw, vivid imagery of songs like "Beneath The Southern Cross", "The Raven" and the downright Rimbaudesque "Summer Cannibals" are prime examples of her lyrical prowess. The passing of her loved ones has forced Smith to look more deeply into her own heart, and these compositions reveal a deepened, almost transcendent perspective that makes GONE AGAIN sound like hard-won wisdom being whispered in your ear.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful Return of the Muse
This brilliant 1996 return by Patti Smith overwhelmed me since it contains everything that I've always loved about her music, and that I find lacking in the subsequent Peace & Noise and Gung Ho. Although many of the songs are about loss, the overall mood is one of transcendence and strength in adversity, as encapsulated in the lines: "Dead to the world/Alive I awoke."

My favourites are the four beautiful ballads Dead To The World, Ravens, Beneath The Southern Cross and the very folky Farewell Reel. Everything that makes her music great is here: poetic, inspired lyrics, great soaring melodies and that visceral, soul-wrencing voice of hers, plus the passionate playing of the band.

The players include John Cale on organ, Tom Verlaine on guitar, Jay Dee Daugherty on drums, Lenny Kaye on drums and Kimberly Smith on mandolin, PLUS Jeff Buckley (R.I.P.) on backing vocals. "Gone Again" is definitely one of the Top 5 rock albums of the 90s, and ranks among her best work ever - up there next to Horses and Easter.

WOW!
I bought this when it came out, I was going through a crap time having split up with my partner & living in a bedsit etc etc (GLUM). I had been a fan of Patti for many years but had given up on her making more albums it had been so long and her last one was the only one I hated (Dream of Life). This album came like a bolt of lightning into my life - it totally inspired me, healed my wounds, lifted me right up and gave be a swift kick up the arse! Thanks for existing Patti Smith - I LOVE YOU! - This is one of her best albums, right up there with 'Horses' - 'Wave' & 'Peace & Noise'! - 'Gone Again' - 'Beneath the Southern Cross' - 'About A Boy' & 'Wicked Messenger' are the high points for me. I bet Dylan was well proud - (re the latter!) 10 out of 10