June 4th is the stated release date for "Banga" Patti Smith's tenth studio album. This is her first release since 2007's "Twelve" a compilation of cover songs and her first original material since her 2004 release of "Trampin". The first single is available for download now. It is titled "April Fool". I love Patti Smith and have since I first heard her many many years ago. I listened to "April Foll" and I was sadly disappointed. I was expecting something musically better. It reminds me of a "Motels" recording form the 80's. It sounds like either "Only the Lonely" or "Take the L out of Lover" only with better lyrics. As a writer of poetry and lyrics she can not be topped.
The information on "Banga" sent out by the record company has a list of tracks. One of the songs on the new release is "This is the Girl" a tribute to Amy Winehouse. The other noted track is a birthday song for Johnny Depp titled "Nine"? I am not sure what to make of either of these but I have high hopes for both. I know she is a fan of Johnny Depp and her tribute to Kurt Cobain "About a Boy" was very moving and rocking. There is another track that was written for the people of Japan after the earthquake and tsunami titled "Fuji-san". This too should be an interesting listen especially as she has written songs of this nature before specifically "Radio Baghdad" and "Gung Ho".
Perhaps as time goes on "April Fool" will grow on me but as of this listen I was hoping for more rock and less middle of the road. I have never thought of her work as being middle of the road so I may be wrong. I will pickup "Banga" when it is released next month with hope.
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