Trampin'
Patti Smith · 2004
63 min · 11 tracks · rock music
A blend of poetic introspection and raw rock energy that captures the restless spirit of its creator.
Top tracks — play these first
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Jubilee Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Gandhi — This nearly ten-minute track serves as a powerful meditation on peace and resistance, weaving historical references with personal reflection. Its expansive structure allows Smith to explore complex themes in a way that feels both intimate and monumental.
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My Blakean Year — The song encapsulates Smith's reverence for creativity and literature, referencing poet William Blake while expressing an exuberant sense of artistic liberation. This track exemplifies the album's thematic core around inspiration and transcendence.
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Radio Baghdad — This lengthy piece combines spoken word elements with an urgent call for awareness about global conflicts, reflecting Smith’s engagement with contemporary issues. The track stands out for its haunting atmosphere and poignant commentary.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- spiritual journey through soundscapes
- gradual build to powerful finale
- reflective moments of poetic musings
- back-loaded pacing rewards patience
- immersive storytelling across tracks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek straightforward structures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Marks a strong return after a hiatus, showing continued artistic vitality.
- Themes
- spiritual journey· Gandhi's legacy· war and media influence
- Career context
- Released in 2004, 'Trampin'' is Patti Smith's first album since the turn of the millennium and marks her return to music after a six-year hiatus. This album comes as she was rediscovering her roots in punk and poetry, following a period focused on writing and spoken word performances.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Siouxsie and the Banshees· The Velvet Underground· Joy Division
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Mother Rose
The lyrics shift from personal recollections to broader reflections on motherhood and sacrifice, intertwining intimate storytelling with social commentary.
The duality of personal narrative and collective experience highlights Smith's ability to connect individual stories to larger societal struggles.
Tracklist
- 1 Jubilee Start here 4:43
- 2 Mother Rose 4:56
- 3 Stride of the Mind 3:37
- 4 Cartwheels 6:01
- 5 Gandhi 9:21
- 6 Trespasses 5:00
- 7 My Blakean Year 5:16
- 8 Cash 4:20
- 9 Peaceable Kingdom 5:09
- 10 Radio Baghdad 12:17
- 11 Trampin’ 2:56
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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