ENDLESS WIRE

Could you imagine : TWENTY-FOUR years ! Yes, fans have been waiting for twenty-four years to hear this new studio Who album. The first one since "It's Hard" in 1982. To tell the truth, The Who were planning to start recording a new project in 2002, but John's death postponed the whole stuff of course.

When you start listening to this album, you are brought back in 1971 and the "Who's Next" sessions. The intro of "Fragments" is a carbon copy of "Baba O'Riley". The core of the song being less interesting.

There are some acoustic songs on this album, like "A Man In A Purple Dress", "In The Ether" and "You Stand By Me" (hopefully, very short). Let's be honest : this is not what we expect from The Who. Fortunately, there will also be very good rock song, like "Black Widow's Peak". Very much remininscent of the "Tommy" days. Emotional and melodious. This is one of my fave on this album.

We are brought back into some sort of a folk/rock tune with violin and acoustic guitar during " Two Thousand Years". Press double next because otherwise you'll have to stand : "God Speaks Of Marty Robbins" which is rather boring, to say the least. It is about time then, that a true Who song follows : "It's Not Enough" has all the ingredients of a mini-opera on its own and also sounds as such.

If some of you thought that "Quadrophenia" was "Tommy II" you were completely wrong. "Tommy II" sits here. It start with "Sound Round" a very short song but very powerful. You don't even have the time to breathe that "Pick Up The Peace" follows. Even stronger and more linked to the original masterpiece. The problem with this mini-opera is that it is made up of ten very short little songs (excpet the last two ones), which leaves little time to develop an idea. "Trlby's Piano" is probably the least interesting of all these parts while the title track is not gorgeous either, to tell the truth.

The song : "Fragments Of Fragments" starts as the album starts : like "Baba...". It is a kaleidoscope of the whole stuff. Somewhat funny. A very good song could have been "We Got A Hit". But again, a song shorter than eighty seconds has too little time to convince.

On the contrary, a song as "Mirror Door" (a wink to their past glory. Remember Tommy's smash the mirror ?). This song will convince you that "The Who" (Townsend) still have the talent to write great rock songs. By far the best featured on this album. Daltrey is in top form and our dear Pete, is great (as usual). I am not really convinced by the closing number "Tea & Theatre". A rock ballad a bit dull (sorry guys, you know that I love you a whole lotta but I just write what I feel).

I really believe that "The Who" missed the opportunity to make a great come-back. I don't say that they should have taken more time to release this album, but they should have consolidated some songs featured here (and probaly delete some others from the set list). You will have the confirmation when you'll listen to the "extended" version of "We Got A Hit".

This album is full of ideas that should have been better expressed. Far much inspired than lots of albums released by a much, much younger generation of musicians. But The Who are The Who, right ?

Only therefore probably, I will rate this album with three stars.