Endless Wire (Standard Version)

by

The Who

Edit

When a popular band does not release a studio album of new material for over two decades, diehard fans can never be sure what to expect. I have been a Who fan since I saw them play "I Can See For Miles" on the Smothers Brothers television program, many years ago. After that moment, I saved my allowance money to buy "The Who Sell Out", which remains one of my very favorite albums to this day. I continued to follow the band closely up through the Kenny Jones years and until "It's Hard", feeling at that time that the Who was producing music that was still vital despite changes in its sound and despite original Who drummer Keith Moon's death.

It wasn't until a few years ago when I saw The Who at the Gorge Amphitheatre at George, WA that I thought of them again as a functioning band. They gave an incredible performance on a wonderful night, on the late bassist John Entwistle's final tour. After that show, I wondered if there would ever be any new studio material, particular after the sad passing of Entwistle. A few years later, I found myself on pins and needles awaiting the release of "Endless Wire".

Not knowing what to expect, when I first listened to this new album I was taken back through the Who's history, but also into the future. While certain parts of "Endless Wire" may recall the earlier Who, some parts incorporate later Who sounds and recall some of guitarist/composer Pete Townshend's best solo work... but this album sounds like it is all here, happening right now. My thought after hearing "Endless Wire":

This is The Who in the 21st Century.

Stripped-down arrangements on songs such as "Tea and Theater", "Man In a Purple Dress" and "God Speaks of Marty Robbins" heighten the sense of intimacy within this music. As Townshend ages, he continues his spiritual journey; as a result, one difference between this and earlier Who music is that more songs touch more directly on faith, mortality and eternity. The title track "Endless Wire" is a joyful-sounding song about something infinite and glorious, something of near-mythical proportions which Townshend has discovered within music itself. In "God Speaks of Marty Robbins", he sings "I knew I'd find music and time were the perfect plan..." On the other hand, he doesn't seem to be in support of organized religion at all, as "Man in a Purple Dress" appears to be all about the importance of the individual, above churches, in finding one's spiritual self.

Roger Daltrey sounds older, wiser and deeper, but he certainly does not sound weary. He sings with vigor, and he proves he is still the consummate vocal conduit for Townshend's lyrics. As Daltrey has done in the past, he spans an emotional spectrum with his rich vocals. Townshend's voice is also in good form, despite its descent into mostly baritone territory. The production is impecccable; it tends to be dry in places, with very little reverb or effects added on sparely-arranged numbers, causing some of these guitar-and-vocal arrangements to sound naked, almost vulnerable. Zak Starkey is a fine drummer, and he can change his style whenever he needs, to suit the needs of the band. Pino Palladino works well as the band's bass player, and long-time band associate John "Rabbit" Bundrick adds keyboards that fill out the sound. Check out the keyboards in the album opener "Fragments"... now what song does that remind us of?

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect return by The Who from studio exile. Their energy is still there. Townshend's songwriting and guitar playing have not diminished with time, and Daltrey sounds as good as ever. "Endless Wire" takes me back to my boyhood Who memories through some familiar rhythms and sounds, as it pulses with the life of The Who. It also takes me ahead into a time of maturity. It reassures me that the passage of time does not always mean that good things become lost. Despite the loss of two revered band members over the years, The Who has aged like a fine wine, learning to discover and rediscover good musical things along their journey. I am looking forward to hearing their NEXT studio release, confident that it will be as immediate, as relevant and as important as "Endless Wire".

I am now going to go crank up "Mike Post Theme" full blast!

People write that: WHO RETURN TO FORM.

Where does that come from. When did The Who ever deviate from form?

These reveiwers are just regurgitating the PR release to sell this CD.

This is The Who's first studio album since 1982. I think it is different and worse than any previous studio album. And bonus live DVD is just depressing.

There are some good songs on ths CD. Some sound like typical The Who songs and others are more like Pete Townshend solo material. There are some interesting twists, like the Tom Waits gravely vocals on In The Ether.

However, there are a number of stark, under produced songs that are simply boring.

The biggest problem is the Endless Wire mini-rock opera. It is a bunch of unrealized song snippets. All of the songs are 1 to 2 minutes long and really aren't fully realized songs. It is not like Tommy or Quadrephenia, where the songs can be enjoyed on their own or as a part of a whole. And it is not like the mini-rock opera, A Quick One While He Is Away, where the story moves and the pieces blend well together.

The DVD of a 2006 concert in Lyons is really depressing. It is a dinosaur reunion concert at its worst. It is only 5 songs and about 25 minutes long. The performance is uninspiring and Roger Daltry's voice is horrible. And except for Mike Post's Theme, it contains the same songs that are on all of The Who's live albums since 1970. I love Baba O'Riley, but there are many better versions on other live albums.