I picked up The Who's
Wire & Glass yesterday. It's a six song set from their upcoming double album. It's also their first new album since the early 1980's and without bassist John Entwistle.
The record features Townsend and Daltrey in fine form. Joining them are longtime keyboard player John "Rabbit" Bundrick, drummer Peter Huntington and bass monster Pino Palladino. I think that Pino had his work cut out for him in this project. After all, you can't just replace John Entwistle. But Pino steps up in a big way. His playing is much less restrained than on records like Pete Townsend's
Psychoderelict. I have to say though, I'm disappointed that drummer Zach Starkey didn't play on the record, but word has it that he had touring committments with Oasis that kept him from recording with The Who.
As for the material? I think it's stronger than either Daltrey or Townsend's solo efforts of the last decade. It seems like a return to form for The Who, despite the absence of both Keith Moon and John Entwistle.
