Album Review: Patti Smith, Outside Society: Looking Back

Album cover for 'Outside Society' by Patti Smith. Photo / Supplied

These 18 songs are made up of selections of tracks taken from all of punk rock poet Smith's albums, starting from 1975 debut Horses (with her version of Gloria that winds up to an unhinged lather), through to 2007's Twelve, with a spare and raw cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit her fitting tribute to Kurt Cobain.

Highlights also include the sprawling and possessed Ain't It Strange, off 1976's challenging Radio Ethiopia, and, of course, the suitably abrasive Rock'n'Roll Nigger. Renewed interest in Smith's music career has come about to a certain degree following her excellent memoir Just Kids about her life with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in New York in the 60s and 70s, which, like this collection is well worth checking out.

Stars: 4/5

- TimeOut