MLK Day and The Who

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Though I've known of MLK my whole life and know of what he generally stands for (Civil Rights, Equality, Non Violent Protest and the "I Have A Dream" speech) I never took the time to look at his life or work in any detail. But, with today being a national holiday I thought I would read a little about him today. I read a short biography on Wikipedia at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.

which was very educational to me as to the struggles MLK went through as a leader in the Civil Rights movement. It's rare for me to see a national holiday as anything but a chance to skip work, but I've got to say this holiday worked in bringing my attention to a man I owe a huge debt to. If it wasn't for him, thousands of people including myself would not have the opportunity to experience freedom or opportunity in American society. So, thank you MLK.

The Civil Rights movement was one of the major changes in American culture in the 60's, a time of conflict when people fought to improve each others lives against the establishment. That spirit of the 60's also bled over to the music of the time of which rock music played a part. One of the crankiest people of the 60's survivors, Pete Townsend, recently released the first Who album in over two decades.

The Who's Endless Wire (2006) is the first Who album since It's Hard (1981) and the first since bassist John Entwhistle's death a few years ago. In their prime, the Who were the loudest and most reckless band in rock. Their concerts were spectacles of showmanship and noise. Their songs were the counterculture anthems of a, uh, generation. But what happens when counterculture legends get old? You get Endless Wire, an album filled with moxie and verve but faded power.

The Who, now down to guitarist / songwriter Pete Townsend and singer Roger Daltry, perform music that is done half as a duo and half with a full band. On top of that, the album is half a collection of songs and half concept album. Given this split in styles and theme, the album seems a little disjointed and muddles the message a little. But in spite of the negatives against the disc, the strengths and abilities of the Who does stand out by the end of the album.

The first half of Endless Wire bounces back and forth between duo and band, with the band winning. The band driven songs hit with enough energy and authority to recall classic Who, particularly on "Mike Post Theme" with its bracing "Won't Get Fooled Again" style lurch that allows for Daltry's commanding bellow to take over. Unfortunately, the songs as a duo drain the momentum from the disc, particularly on the horrific "In The Ether" where Daltry is forced to sing in a register so low he sounds like a gurgiling gorilla. Lyrically, Townsend writes about evil women ("Black Widow's eyes"), Escapism ("Mike Post Theme") and a lot about religion and God ("A Man In A Purple Dress", "Two Thousand Years" and "God Speaks Of Marty Robbins"). To be more exact, Townsend seems to view religion as being in the way of him and his God which is never developed beyond a vague notion.

The second half of Endless Wire is more effective, a mini-opera called Wire & Glass. The Opera opens with it's most exciting track, "Sound Round" that hits with a big anthem and some of the pure Rawk with a capital R energy that the rest of the disc lacks. It is followed up by the equally strong "Pick Up The Peace" but in the case of both songs they end in a minute and a half. The story concept about the late middle age drive for meaning amid a warring world leading to rocking out for the immortals is a little grandiose but then the Who are not known for small measures. Despite the convoluted storyline, the short songs serving the greater story is surprisingly effective so that by the time you reach the epic conclusion of "Mirror Door" you're caught up in its drama, even though you probably won't know what it's going on about (I still don't fully get it).

With these modest successes, I can't say Endless Wire doesn't merit listening or releasing. Is it great? No. You would think with the amount of social conflict that exists in todays world and his own personal troubles (accusations of viewing child pornography) Townsend would have a more focused message to deliver. Still, Wire is just barely good enough to say, OK. And for the Kids, now in their AARP years, that will have to be alright.