Patti Smith

Unfortunately, the, erm, titillating cover of this 1978 proto punk staple was more controversial than the messages in songs like "Easter" and "Rock And Roll N*gg*r," which grappled with feminist issues. (Saturday Night Live even parodied the album's artwork.) Blending poetry with jagged song arrangements, this album proved to be Smith's first commercial success.

The hero represents the gift of love, or again, grace -- the latter epitomized, for example,
in Arthur's effortless raising of the sword from the rock -- or, in Hindu mythology, Rama's
similar lifting of the bow. Both deeds indicate how heroic feats of critical importance are
enacted at moments when there no longer exists a clear dividing line between will and act,
or rather when, beyond all necessity to proceed according to any attitude of "i... More >