Anyone who can sing a thoughtful song about pissing in a river is OK by me.

Rock poet Patti Smith sings about that, and over 31 other equally meaningful subjects, on her new double-disc album, “Land (1975-2002).”

Spanning four decades of music that some may whisper began the ’70s punk rock movement, Smith’s style of raw, irreverent vocals still has a home in the heart of modern rock. Even in the midst of the electronic crap found on radio stations today, “Land” proves that it’s usually the bands who do without drum machines and rap intros that tend to last the longest.

Track 15, “Glitter in Their Eyes,” sounds as if it could’ve been recorded in your cousin Jimmy’s bathroom, but its spunky lyrics and gritty guitar leave you wanting to pull out that old motorcycle jacket you begged for a few birthdays ago and pogo your way to school. It’s a fun song, and those aren’t easy to come by. There are stupid songs all around, but fun ones take an artful touch.

Smith’s version of Prince’s “When Doves Cry,” the last song on the first disc, is a previously unreleased studio track that was added for this album alone. The original version of this song said enough, and there was no apparent reason for Smith to say it again, but it is somewhat kitschy and tolerable overall.

“Piss Factory” leads off the second CD, featuring mostly rare demo tracks and live versions of Smith songs. A hilarious spoken word piece backed by guitar and piano, this number has a very strong New York coffee-shop feel to it, and most assuredly will be violently mouthed by artistic girls in black berets worldwide as they reproduce Jackson Pollack prints in their studio apartments.

The most recognizable song on the album, “Dancing Barefoot,” may have been heard for the first time being played in the background of the Angelina Jolie sleeper hit, “Foxfire,” but that doesn’t take away from its presence here. The grumbly, yet beautiful ballad is merely an introduction to the talents and hidden jewels this CD has to offer.

For any music lover looking for a good jumping-off place in getting to know the “punk” or “New York style” music scenes, this album is a must-have for your library. If the anthology set “Land” is too pricey for you, just download it and revel in your newfound rule-breaking ways.

How punk!