This came out in 2000 — or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
More than a title, Gung Ho also seems to be punk high priestess Patti Smith’s modus operandi again. And it’s about time.
After two understandably sombre, introspective albums following the death of husband (and former MC5 guitarist) Fred (Sonic) Smith, Patti kicks out the jams and comes out swinging on this umpteenth studio album, making her way to the light as she weaves her streetcorner-shaman lyrics into transcendent tales starring Salome, Ho Chi Mihn and Custer’s widow. But her real co-stars are long-serving musicians like guitarist Lenny Kaye and drummer Jay Dee Daugherty, whose seemingly telepathic interplay and grungy, jammy style make them the world’s greatest garage band — and the perfect foil for Smith’s ragged, passionately possessed sound. Join them as they charge into the breach once more.
