Is Banga a good place to start with Patti Smith?

Yes, Banga is recommended as a starting point for new Patti Smith listeners. A tapestry of poetic reflections woven through eclectic instrumentation and haunting melodies that capture a sense of longing and exploration. Released in 2012, Banga is Patti Smith's eleventh studio album and her first since 2004's Trampin'. At this point in her career, Smith had already established herself as a pioneering figure in rock and poetry, yet Banga signifies her ongoing evolution as an artist, showcasing her continued relevance in contemporary music.

Banga works well if you're into wave-like pacing with peaks, poetic lyrics for deep reflection and steady progression to climax.

How many songs are on Banga?

Banga has 12 tracks, running approximately 58 minutes.

Banga

Patti Smith · 2012

58 min · 12 tracks · rock music

A tapestry of poetic reflections woven through eclectic instrumentation and haunting melodies that capture a sense of longing and exploration.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Amerigo Start here — This opening track establishes the album's reflective tone, blending historical references with personal narrative while showcasing Smith's distinctive vocal style.
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Banga — The title track encapsulates the album's spirit by weaving together themes of myth and reality, delivered through an infectious rhythm and evocative imagery.
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Constantine's Dream — As the album's closing piece, it offers a sprawling meditation on existence and art, highlighting Smith's ability to fuse storytelling with expansive soundscapes.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong writing and diverse influences but lacks a fully cohesive flow throughout its runtime.

What we noticed

The album opens with a mid-tempo track that features layered instrumentation, gradually introducing more complex arrangements as it progresses.
Several tracks incorporate spoken word elements, blending poetry with music, particularly evident in 'Tarkovsky (The Second Stop Is Jupiter)'.
The final track is a cover of Neil Young's 'After the Gold Rush', which shifts the tone and pacing significantly compared to the preceding songs.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

wave-like pacing with peaks
poetic lyrics for deep reflection
steady progression to climax
immersive journey through soundscapes
thought-provoking themes and narratives

Maybe skip if you

seeking instant gratification
prefer standalone tracks only

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality with critical acclaim and thematic depth in her later career.
Themes: Amerigo exploration· Constantine's Dream storytelling· love and loss urgency
Career context: Released in 2012, Banga is Patti Smith's eleventh studio album and her first since 2004's Trampin'. At this point in her career, Smith had already established herself as a pioneering figure in rock and poetry, yet Banga signifies her ongoing evolution as an artist, showcasing her continued relevance in contemporary music.
Stylistic neighbors: Siouxsie and the Banshees· The Velvet Underground· Joy Division