When you realize how much the Rolling Stones, Rimbaud and Baudelaire meant to Patti Smith, you can kind of see how this album came to sound as fantastic as does?
It's a transcendental rock record, it's about MORE than rock music - a classic. And the thing is, it may not even be her best, as that honour arguably goes to "Horses". Whatever, "Easter" was the album that gave her the most commercial success, and it is perhaps the easiest on the ears.

"Because the night" written by Bruce Springsteen, but with an extra verse written by Smith, is one of her finest moments.
"We three" has a charm and intensity reminiscent of the Ronnie Spector.
Driving rock songs are present in the shape of "Rock and Roll Nigger", and "25th Floor", with its TRex-style ("Get it on") guitar.
The CD has an extra track "Godspeed", an impassioned song, and definitely worth a listen.

No way is any of this background music - it demands that you to LISTEN it.

The sleevenotes do not include many of the lyrics, but rather notes from Smith describing the background of the tracks.