2008 Woodie Awards
Critical thinking: musical musings
Various Author
Issue date: 11/14/06 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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Endless Wire (Republic)
The Who
Two of the four original members of one of the world's most famous rock 'n' roll bands are back in action. Both in their sixties, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who show the world they can still write and rock with their new album "Endless Wire."
Between Townshend's timeless writing style and Daltrey's well-known classic rock voice, the album exudes the essence of The Who, even with half the members missing.
The album's cover is old school Who. With abstract multicolored shapes and a flock of crows in front of an indeterminate background, the cover radiates an aura similar to that of their famous album, 1969's, "Tommy."
Also reminiscent of "Tommy" is the mini-rock-opera on "Endless Wire," similar to"Wire and Glass"- their first attempt at an opera since the classic LP.
But The Who's sound has definitely changed. Since the death of their drummer Keith Moon in 1978, they've become mellower. "Endless Wire" contains themes of life, death and faith and tells the stories of and reactions to recent world events such as The Beslan School Hostage Crisis, with the song "Black Widow's Eyes," and Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" in "Man in a Purple Dress" and "2000 Years."
The remaining two Who come together on this album to compile their talents, rekindling the flame of The Who for fans worldwide.
-Jordan Thorson
Everready: The Religion (Strange Music)
Teck N9ne
Heavy, ambitious and writhingly misogynistic, Tech N9ne's first studio album in four years takes 75 minutes to digest.
Filled with sexual escapades, dysfunctional values and pain-influenced angst, "Everready" could start a 12-year-old on a path to Riker's Island.
So why is it so good?
Tech's patented rapid-fire delivery might have something to do with it. Or maybe it's his disregard for musical boundaries when he crosses the thick line from hip-hop to rock. It could also be the inclusion of producer Rick Rock and bay area Hypher man E-40.
The Who
Two of the four original members of one of the world's most famous rock 'n' roll bands are back in action. Both in their sixties, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who show the world they can still write and rock with their new album "Endless Wire."
Between Townshend's timeless writing style and Daltrey's well-known classic rock voice, the album exudes the essence of The Who, even with half the members missing.
The album's cover is old school Who. With abstract multicolored shapes and a flock of crows in front of an indeterminate background, the cover radiates an aura similar to that of their famous album, 1969's, "Tommy."
Also reminiscent of "Tommy" is the mini-rock-opera on "Endless Wire," similar to"Wire and Glass"- their first attempt at an opera since the classic LP.
But The Who's sound has definitely changed. Since the death of their drummer Keith Moon in 1978, they've become mellower. "Endless Wire" contains themes of life, death and faith and tells the stories of and reactions to recent world events such as The Beslan School Hostage Crisis, with the song "Black Widow's Eyes," and Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" in "Man in a Purple Dress" and "2000 Years."
The remaining two Who come together on this album to compile their talents, rekindling the flame of The Who for fans worldwide.
-Jordan Thorson
Everready: The Religion (Strange Music)
Teck N9ne
Heavy, ambitious and writhingly misogynistic, Tech N9ne's first studio album in four years takes 75 minutes to digest.
Filled with sexual escapades, dysfunctional values and pain-influenced angst, "Everready" could start a 12-year-old on a path to Riker's Island.
So why is it so good?
Tech's patented rapid-fire delivery might have something to do with it. Or maybe it's his disregard for musical boundaries when he crosses the thick line from hip-hop to rock. It could also be the inclusion of producer Rick Rock and bay area Hypher man E-40.
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