What should one's expectations be for a new album from a bunch of rock dinosaurs who started making music back in the Jurassic era? A work that manages to catch a faint glimpse of past glories? Given that this is now only really half The Who, perhaps even that is too much to hope for. Imagine my surprise then, when, after a few listens, I fell in love with this new album from Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, the two surviving members of this legendary rock band.
The album breaks down into two halves — the first nine songs stand on their own while the final ten make up the mini-opera "Wire & Glass".
The first track, “Fragments” starts with a repeated keyboard refrain before that distinctive Townshend guitar breaks in along with drums from Zak Starkey and bass from master session player Pino Paladino. They’re soon joined by the unmistakable voice of Roger Daltrey. The song itself deals with man’s individuality and the possibility of unity through music. It’s a good way to start but things get better.
“Man In a Purple Dress” was inspired by the film The Passion of the Christ and sees Townshend railing against the pomposity of organised religion, where men need to play dress up in order to commune with god. The arrangement is simple, just acoustic guitar and vocals and it’s very country in style. It’s one of Roger Daltrey's finest moments, not just singing the words but feeling them as well.
I’ve often wondered how Mr Townshend feels about his tunes being used for TV themes and with “Mike Post Theme” he gives me his answer – he thinks it’s cool. Here he pays tribute to the master of the catchy TV theme, Mike Post. After the subtlety of the previous track, it gives Roger a chance to show us he can bawl with the best of them. It’s an incredibly catchy song with a typical Who hook and would make an excellent single (or C.S.I. theme).
Pete does a passable Tom Waits impression on "In The Ether", a song about an aging rock star whose drug abuse has left him confined to a sanatorium. He doesn’t just sing the song but acts it out for the listener and he’s accompanied by some emotive piano and gentle acoustic guitar.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
nice review ian. i'm really looking forward to this. i do wish that they hadn't recorded under the name of The Who, though. honestly, i'm looking at this as more of a Pete solo project anyway.
2 - Ian Woolstencroft
Thanks Mark.
Don’t underestimate Mr Daltrey’s contribution, Townsend may have written the songs but it’s Roger who breaths life into them.
The rockier numbers sound very much like the old Who but it’s the acoustic songs that really stand out and have a different, more unique feel to them. Maybe they should have done it under the name Townsend/Daltrey but I think they realised that enough people would consider it a Who album, even with just the two of them, that they might as well just go ahead and use the name. I’m just glad they made it at all.
Be sure and let us know what you think when you get a chance to listen to it.
3 - Mark Saleski
right, i didn't mean to softplay Daltry as he's obviously plays a big part.
i'll definitely be writing up something on this one.
4 - Scott
Townshend not Townsend
5 - Ian Woolstencroft
Thanks for pointing that out Scott, I’m red faced with embarrassment. It should be changed shortly, meanwhile I'll go stand in the corner like a naughty schoolboy.
6 - Pico
Enjoyed the review, it's obvious you put a lot of effort into it. I feel like I already know this album and haven't even heard it yet.
But I will, and soon.
-P
7 - Ian Woolstencroft
Thanks for the kind words Pico.
It’s always the things you either love or hate that are the easiest to review and I really love this album.
8 - ben
Fantastic review. I had heard the single "wire and glass" this summer and was pumped for this album, I saw the who back in september and got even more pumped, i think this album helps to dissolve the who's previous mistake of releasing "face dances" and "its hard", this is certainly a better way to end a career...even though it might not be over yet. I think somewhere keith and john are smiling down on this album...
9 - Neil Chapman
Ian, I doubt I will read a finer, fairer review of Endless Wire anywhere. Well done, indeed. One minor quibble: perhaps you've confused Pete for Roger for In the Ether's lead vocal? I am in the minority for not minding Pete/Roger's continued use of the band's name. Think about it this way. My other favorite band, U2, also has an amazing rhythm section. But, if only the Edge and Bono remained, and performed acoustic numbers together (as they did on a couple of occasions for Original of the Species), wouldn't that still be U2 in most people's eyes? Maybe not the best analogy, but one to think about. Cheers!
10 - Ian Woolstencroft
Thanks ben, this would indeed make a fine swansong for the band.
A big thank you to Neil as well, not just for the kind words but for correctly pointing out my error. It is indeed Pete and not Roger singing on ‘In The Ether,’ Roger apparently passed on the chance to sing it on the album. In my defence, it is a VERY strange vocal performance. I’ll try and get the review amended.
The subject of keeping a bands name is an interesting one. The Stones have lost members and kept the name as have KISS, AC/DC even the Doors recorded a couple of albums after Morrison’s death so it would be a little unfair to criticise them too much for keeping the name. Plus, important as the other members were to the band Townshend has always been the main creative force.
11 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! A link to this review now appears on our Myspace Profile page.
12 - Will Traynor
Hi Ian, thanks for the informative review. I've listened to the entire album and a few observations: I believe some of the songs on Wire and Glass are shortchanged a bit. For example, Sound Round, Pick Up The Peace and We Got a Hit should be full songs rather than small snippets. Musically, they are that good. I'm disappointed that Pete didn't give these songs more length. They come and go too quickly for my taste. Overall, it's a good effort with some real moments of power.
13 - Brad Blake
Nice review. I have NO problem with them calling the The Who. As long as it's Pete'n'Roger, it's still the 'orrible 'Oo. I must add that though I miss John and Keith, the other guys (Pino, Zak, Simon, Rabbit) are coming into their own with this new music. I hope this is the first of several more albums (and tours!!!) from the boys.
I've been enjoying Wire & Glass (the single) since July, and some of these songs on the live shows at themusic.com, and lastly live at Madison Square Garden. Seing them again in my home town of San Jose.
14 - F. Frederickskitty
One of the things that makes the Who stand out from their contemporaries is their sheer ambition. Unlike 24 years ago, it's clear that today they would not be satisfied to release 9 or 10 OK songs just for the sake of getting an album out (see The Rolling Stones). Townshend has often been ridiculed, particularly here in the UK, for the breadth of his ambition, but that is the driving force behind The Who.
From what I've heard of it so far, this album sounds fresher, more alive and more youthfull, even, than most rock music produced today by people less than half their age.
15 - Dougal
Thanks for the earnest review. One clarification: Pete sings "...Marty Robbins." That song's been around for years and Pete just polished it up for this release.
No one collaborates more and better with previous incarnations of himself than PT. He's in a constant state of referring to and rewriting his own history. He's always done it -- Sell Out's "Rael" presaged Tommy back in '67 and nearly four decades later echoes of Lifehouse and Psychoderelict haunt Endless Wire.
It's all really part of the bargain Pete offers you. He gets to indulge his boundless pretensions and mighty gifts while you receive a soundtrack for your life. I accepted long ago.
16 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article was selected as an Editor's Pick this week!
17 - Eric
good review. I had to rush out and get this album today, and I'm enjoying it. Was greatly thrilled by Wire And Glass, and this album lives up to the potential. A more low key album than the past, but that is of course, PAST and this is NOW.
18 - ronald sargent
well we waited 24 years,now the verdict,well worth the wait!i instantly fell in love with this record the first time i heard it. heard the record one time and was instantly singing the songs over in my head! townshend proves yet again he is a musical genius! a real living legend! long live the who!!!!!!!!!
19 - Byron
What you should be more embarrassed about, is crediting Roger Daltrey with vocals that Pete Townshend actually delivered...
20 - Matthew Tarnawa
To add to your embarrassment, Zac Starkey does not play on track one. In fact, he hardly plays at all on the entire album . . . the liner notes credit him on track five and that is all. In his album introduction, Pete even APOLOGIZES to the listener that Zac couldn't be featured on more tracks, but the fact that he was touring with Oasis made it very hard for them to cut anything with him on it. Much of the album is just Pete, with Roger adding vocals on the more obvious "single tracks".
Your glowing review got on the Who's tour website though, so I guess you should be proud. Just pointing out the inaccuracies.
21 - Matt
To add to your embarrassment, Zac Starkey does not play on track one. In fact, he hardly plays at all on the entire album . . . the liner notes credit him on track five and that is all. In his album introduction, Pete even APOLOGIZES to the listener that Zac couldn't be featured on more tracks, but the fact that he was touring with Oasis made it very hard for them to cut anything with him on it. Much of the album is just Pete, with Roger adding vocals on the more obvious "single tracks".
Your glowing review got on the Who's tour website though, so I guess you should be proud. Just pointing out the inaccuracies.
22 - Ian Woolstencroft
Will,
I agree with you the some of the Wire and Glass songs are over way to soon. In fact only “Trilby’s Piano” outstays its welcome.
Brad,
Personally I think this would make an excellent finale for the band but if they do go on to make another album or two I’d certainly be listening.
F. Frederickskitty,
I was expecting a pair of washed up rock stars (like the Stones) so I was surprised by how “alive” this sounds.
Dougal,
Thanks for the correction. My favourite track and I get the singer wrong!
Eric,
By low key I guess you mean the acoustic numbers. It’s the mix of these with more in your face traditional Who anthems that make this such a great album.
Ronald,
Glad you’re enjoying it. It was a few listens before it hooked me.
Byron,
I am :(
Matt,
One of the problems with reviewing a pre-release CD is the absence of a booklet. So I went with the info I had and that said Zac played on the album, which I took to mean the whole album but it turned out he’s only on one track.
My embarrassment over who’s singing what (I never realised Pete had such a good voice) is more than compensated for by that news. Thanks.