Surprising

Like many angst ridden middle-aged men I have a soft spot in my heart for 'The Who' as being the british-invasion band that most related to my awkward post-pubescence. This affection has survived about a quarter-century of making nothing new and going on endless lucrative tours as a loud caberet act (albeit a damn good one). Meanwhile, half the band, its peerless rhythm section died away and the front men go on.

So, with some reluctance I did manage to to out and buy their new album and damned if expecting it to rather suck, it was actually quite good. Certainly better than their last couple albums back in what, the early Reagan years? God I'm old, but not as old as Messrs. Townshend and Daltrey.

Anyhoo, 'Wire & Glass' is actually good, and the best song on it is befitting a pair of sixty year old men, in that it is not really rocking at all. Rather, it is somewhat Dylanesque, only with a better singer and more spiritual bent (basically telling organized religion to "suck it"). It's "Man in a Purple Dress" -- as performed on Letterman a couple months ago.



Thus endeth my rare statement on music.