If it were not for Patti Smith, it is doubtful that heavy, fast music today would sound the way it does. A pioneer emerging from the indulgent music scene of the '70s, Smith created a sound which was much more stark and stripped down than those things that came before, yet still managed to find its roots in other kinds of American music, like folk, or 1950s rock and roll. All of this can be heard on her seminal 1978 album, "Easter." From the beginning, one can hear a rough sound making its defining place in her music. The first track on the album, "Till Victory," may not sound like punk, but it is. The guitar's work is simple, and in fact none of the instruments get to embellish or are allowed a display of technical prowess. The influence of the 1970s has evidently had its effect on the chord-progressions and song structures, and this album shares much in common with the Clash's, "London Calling." The album peaks at two points, each of which illustrates a different aspect of Smith's music. "Rock and Roll N*****" is one of the most notable punk rock songs ever written, and this is proof of its influence, which continues to be felt in the modern music scene. The other song, "Because the Night," which was co-written partly by Bruce Springsteen, shows Smith's ability to feel, and also reveals how influenced by earlier types of music she is. Smith created an early form of punk, a style that can also be heard in the music of Nick Cave, that opened musical doors for a generation of musicians and artists.