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Here is my review of Endless Wire!!!

The Who Endless Wire

Ok, I've waited about 24 years for a new full length studio album from The Who. Rumors have been flying for years that it was coming. That Pete was writing with The Who in mind. Then Entwhistle dies in a Vegas hotel with Coke & a Hooker and things get derailed. We get 2 new songs from that, but not the album.

Well, the album went on sale today & being the loser I am I was standing outside FYE waiting for them to open at 8:30. I'm reasonably confident I was the first person in the city to purchase the new album. Hell, what retail stores open that early? I can't believe I found one that did!

Between working for Sony & iTunes I can't remember the last time I actually purchased a CD. Prices are way down. This disc which comes with a DVD of them doing 5 songs live from a concert in France in July was only $13, but $10 after the $3 rebate.

Basically, you get 9 tracks that are individual songs. Then you get the 10 tracks that make up the mini-opera. Then you get 2 bonus tracks which are extended versions of 2 of the mini-opera songs. Plus the DVD. Ok, onto the Review……..well wait one more second. Let me go on the record as saying that Pete has gone totally mad. I mean totally, but that's ok.

Overall: Was it worth the wait? Absolutely…no doubt. It's a fantastic record. Is it their greatest album? Of course not. But it does take you back. All the early buzz was it was from the Quadrophenia era. And I agree to an extent. It has qualities of Quad, Tommy, Who's Next, Who By Numbers and even earlier harmonies found on their earliest hits. Certain tracks remind me of each of these albums. I am honestly terribly disappointed in the mixing and engineering of the record, but that's because I'm an ass. Onto the tracks.

1) Fragments: Excellent opening. You'll think Who's next once it starts, but then you'll think Tommy & earlier. Daltry's voice is really distinctive on this cut.

2) Man In A Purple Dress: Talk about delivering a message. The guitar in this is excellent and reminiscent of Quad. The guitar play throughout the album is very strong like on Quad.

3) Mike Post Theme: Extremely tough vocals that Daltrey pulls off well in the studio but will struggle with live (more on this later),

4) In The Ether: Terrible….I mean terrible. Townsend sings this song and sounds like he is impersonating Louis Armstrong.

5) Black Widows Eyes: Great song on all fronts. The lyrics throughout the album are amazing which is what you expect, but they really start to step up here. This is a Tommy meets Quad track. Great harmonies. This is the only track on the album that features Zack Starkey on drums. He was touring with Oasis for the rest of the recording of the album.

6) 2,000 Years: This track is very typical of Pete's writing when he is doing a theme album…despite this track not being part of the opera. Banjo is very distinctive here……start to get that Who By Numbers feel. Daltrey's voice does strain a bit here.

7) God Speaks Of Mary Robbins: Solid track in line with I'm One from Quad as only Pete can do it.

8) It's Not Enough: Between this & Black Widows Eyes for my early favorites on the album. Biting guitar, solid drums. Great lyrics. This song is the total package.

9) You Stand By Me: This track closes out this section of the record. It is a bit disappointing. A ripoff of I'm One.

Ok, the mini Opera: Wire & Glass

1) Sound Round: As is the case for the entire mini-opera and all of the past complete stories. The writing is awesome. And this song is a great start to the opera. Rolls right through.

2) Pick Up The Piece: Lyrics at his best. Continues rolling. Not much more to say. 6 of the 9 tracks from the mini opera are on the site in their EP form.

3) Unholy Trinity: First of the 3 not on the EP you've heard. Very Who By Numbers type track. Lyrics help explain more of the story behind the mini-opera.

4) Tilbys Piano: Just Pete & a Piano & it only works in the sense of the mini-opera.

5) Endless Wire: Again a Who By Numbers feel.

6) Fragments of Fragments: Very Who's Next as I mentioned earlier. This version is heavily engineered and mixed. Interesting Harmonys.

7) We Got A Hit: A bit of Who Are You in this one. Great Hamrony. Daltrey is solid on this track. Great song.

8) They Made My Dreams Come True: Very Quad like. The guitar stands out as do the lyrics.

9) Mirror Door: The opening lyrics in this track are Pete at his best. As is the music…just takes off right away. This version is different from the one on the EP. I'm not sure if I like it better or not.

10) Tea & Theatre: The song they are finishing each show with. Pete insists the song was not written about the band, but listening to the words you find it hard to believe. It is a perfect finish. And I mean that as in a total finish. I believe this will be the last album. I've said for more than a decade that there was one more coming and it's here. But I think this track wraps it up. Well done.

Bonus Tracks: Extended Versions

1) We Got A Hit: Total new recording. Different arrangement. They drop Make My Dreams Come True into the middle which is classic Who…nobody can put songs into each other like townsend. The mix is bad at times, but Daltrey takes over.

2) Endless Wire: Another total new recording. Pete's voice cracks a bit which is extremely rare. Daltrey has vocals added to this version.

DVD: Live At Lyon

Ok, so they included a DVD from a concert in France from just this past July. On the DVD they do 5 songs. I Can't Explain, Behind Blue Eyes, Mike Post Theme, Baba, Wont get fooled again.

The DVD stinks. First off, they could have pulled a better performance. Daltrey sounds terrible at some parts…in particular Mike Post Theme which is almost impossible to do live. Some of the guitar & drumming is sloppy. Daltrey comes in early on a verse of fooled again. Pino sounds great on bass.

I'm going to order the DVD of the night we saw them in the Garden in September and compare the songs.

Buy it, listen to it a couple of times. You will not be disappointed. I'm sure its available on iTunes today, but I wanted the liner notes and the DVD (ok…bad call on wanting the DVD).

As always, until next time, stay safe,

Later,

Dan

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