Review 1 of 6

No Screen Name writes:

Not Rated

Please remove this if inappropriate; but I just completed an
analysis of the Smith/Jem Cohen music video of "Smells Like
Teen Spirit," which is on this album, in which various aspects of
Smith's version are discussed, along with Cohen's video and the
original Nirvana version. The analysis can be found at http://c-
cyte.blogspot.com/2007/09/analysis-of-smithcohen-music-
video-of.html . Thought someone here might be interested;
comments welcome. Thanks.

Sep 25, 2007 15:34:15

Review 2 of 6

oldcoyotemoon writes:

5of 5 Stars

I have not listened to all the other "covers" albums out there, so perhaps my standards for re-invention of a classic are too low, but my god, Smith just blows me away with nearly everyone of these songs. The number one thing she does here that's so important is that she pronunciates the lyrics very well while also singing on key and emotionally....this is very hard to do, and so for probably a lot of people, they may've had little idea how brilliant some of these songs actually were lyrically unless they read the text. But she delivers it with the music, and the music is also very creatively imagined...for instance if i had not already chanced upon the print copy of RS that described the banjos for Smells Like Teen Spirit, it would have been one of the most incredible musical experiences of my life....since it's still right up there and I sort of knew what was coming...and in a way, that's how you have to remember to experience this album. Forget the advance hype or knowledge you might've had about it, forget any expectations, and then just listen to the creativity and the power, and the emotion is just awesome. I've never heard Smith sing this well, though after hearing a little of her stuff awhile back I haven't sought it out much. The only two songs that were anything short of brilliant were Helpless and Changing of the Guard, and not to say that she didn't kill it on these, but she raised the bar so friggin' high with the rest of the tracks on here that the scoring was just too simple to stand up to the others. Now, a friend recently played me Tool's remake of No Quarter (Zepplin) and he just thought it was great, but all it was was a louder, more overdriven version of the original...i don't remember being struck by anything original of their own beyond a heavier sound, heavier vocals....now Patti Smith makes something original of every single track on this record, and that is a hell of an achievement in my mind. Wow.

May 10, 2007 23:02:35

Review 3 of 6

dlt writes:

4of 5 Stars

To a Dame w/ No Address


Why cover any Nuggets when you can cover
Nobler banalities?

Apr 30, 2007 13:10:56

Review 4 of 6

maninthebox87 writes:

5of 5 Stars

Patti Smith-Twelve *****


Many cover albums have been made over the years by great artists and some by artists who arent that great, some of those cover albums have been excellent and some have been horrible, but no cover album in history has been like Twelve. Here you can truly sence that Patti Smith is inspired not like other cover album sthat choose songs that have inspired them in the past this album is inspired at this moment and that is what will make this album stand above all the rest in the years to come. Very doubtful that this will recieve play or major sales but rest assured it will rightfuly earn the critical acclaim and respect it deserves by those who dare to listen. Almost all of the songs here are different then the originals and done how Patti deemed necessary, and they are all done wonderful, some songs even better then the originals. Who would have ever thought a album of covers could be so powerful and yet ful of restrain. Smith approaches each song as if the very exsistance of the song depends upon it.

From the india flavored 'Are You Experienced?' to the closing piano chimes of 'Pastime Paradise' Patti makes these songs touch the listener the way they have infected her brain. Songs like the already freindly 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' grab ahold of the auidence and make them realise the importance of the lyrics and their plea for political understanding. 'Gimme Shelter' already in history as one of rocks great songs is stripped to the bare and yet manages not to lose the potencey of the songs anti-war lyric. 'White Rabbit' is transformed into a testomonial to the great Grace Slick, while 'Soul Kitchen' is sung as though Smith herself knew it had to be done. 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' is completly whitnes to a cultural epiphany and injected with banjos and a down home souther porch feel and still manages to hit you in the gut the same way it did in 1992 originaly.

Lenny Kaye will forever be an overlooked master at the guitar and its a shame because the man plays better then many could hope to. Tony Shanahan is an acomplished bass player and pianist, and Jay Dee Daugherty is instrumental to the band as he is a phenomonal percussionist. Flea and the amazing Tom Verlain both make guest apperances here on 'Gimme Shelter' and 'White Rabbit' adding nice flavor to the album. Patti Smith herself sings with enough passion to as cliche as it sounds carry an entire album of reciting the phone book. She makes you believe these are her songs and after listening clearly some of them did in fact become hers. With snippets from poems Smith has written entered into a few of the songs she does manage to throw as much Smith attitude in as possible.

Cover albums are always fun but this one is more then fun...its essential.

Apr 27, 2007 20:04:54

Review 5 of 6

wjp writes:

4of 5 Stars

I can’t say that I hear the voices of Blake, Rimbaud, and Byron while listening to this CD, but Patti Smith channels their “spirit” when performing the original works of other artists.
Favorite track: Gimme Shelter

Apr 24, 2007 16:42:09

Review 6 of 6

Everyoneanindividual writes:

3of 5 Stars

As much as I love her other work, I'm going to have to go ahead and say this is a mundane way to make a covers record. It's just boring. It does have some fierce moments but it's just not as good as I was expecting it to be.

Apr 23, 2007 18:26:43