• Record Label: Arista
  • Release Date: Mar 21, 2000
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Another handsome, shaded, and satisfying work from an artist that has reconnected with her muse.
  2. It's a terrible pity: when she stops politicising like a councillor on a complementary therapy summer camp, there's music here that's full of the febrile commitment and unashamed passion that marked her out as a valid icon in 1975.
  3. 50
    The music, particularly Lenny Kaye's guitars, can be both gritty and lush, but it mainly functions to uplift the words and hold them closer to the ears. The problem here is that Patti's got our attention but her couplets are too often second-rate.
  4. On Gung Ho-- much like 1996's Gone Again and 1999's Peace and Noise-- Patti and the band aren't exactly bad, but they hardly rock like they did back in '77.... when you listen to Gung Ho and forget about myth, legacy, mystique and all that crap, you have to wonder-- does Patti Smith really matter anymore?
  5. Despite the presence of original Patti Smith Group members Lenny Kaye and Jay Dee Daugherty, this lacks the buzz of her past material.

Awards & Rankings

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. KevinT
    Dec 3, 2003
    10
    I think that Gung Ho is a fine CD and, personally, I don't think there's a bad track on it. In fact, I think it's her most I think that Gung Ho is a fine CD and, personally, I don't think there's a bad track on it. In fact, I think it's her most complete recording. I recommend that people go and purchase this. It's a nice antidote to some of the purile crap ( often lauded by critics ) lurking out there. Full Review »