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flute , revisiting Soul Coughing ’ s sonic territory . Gale ’ s lyrics and Flame Ghost ’ s art describe a torrid relationship and life on the edge , leading to a tragic end .
The second platter , The Eargoggle Revels , contains seven additional songs and begins with exotic and club-friendly textures . “ Breathe ( With the Earth and Stones )” breezes along with Latin percussion , crystalline guitar chords , shimmering electric piano , and a body-moving rhythm section . Mayteana Morales sings as a once-devoted partner who took extreme measures when wronged by an abusive partner . Now , she lives a life on the run but revels in freedom . Intoxicating Afropop textures infuse “ Smash ,” featuring djembe and talking drum by Mamadou Sidibe . Disquieting industrial tones underscore the murderous tale “ Darling , I .” The “ other woman ” in a relationship eliminates the competition , and the lucky fella is left to contemplate the peaceful or deadly domestic life ahead . The urbane synth-pop of “ Leave No Trace ” unfolds as a picture of love too fast to last . “ Soak ” describes a faithless lover and grifter with Thom Machiyo ’ s refined line work and the band ’ s taut funk . “ The Bureau of Everything ” sets the words and warnings of Eric Snowden to music , suggesting Fela Kuti-meets-Eno and Byrne ’ s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts . The album concludes with the acoustic guitar of “ Arambeppe .” It ’ s a tale of heady nights and simple times in rustic Brazil , tragically lost to greed and industrialization .
- Jeff Elbel
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THE WHO The Who Sell Out Tommy Limited edition half-speed masters
( UME / Polydor )
The Who ’ s first four albums are now available as standalone , high-quality vinyl LP reissues with the benefit of new mastering by long-time Who engineer Jon Astley and half-speed plates cut by lead engineer Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios . Originally appearing in quick succession from December 1965 through May 1969 , the series displays the British band ’ s rapid evolution from mod-era upstarts to theaterpacking art-rockers .
Concept album The Who Sell Out received an exhaustive box set in 2021 with a deep dive into its contents and creation , but it ’ s now available in its standalone original format . The album ’ s most enduring single is the anthemic expression of karmic revenge “ I Can See For Miles ” with its showcase for Keith Moon ’ s manic drumming and Townshend ’ s slashing power chords . The cheeky “ Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand ” is styled after the Everly Brothers ’ harmony and breezy pop . Daltrey brings his skills as a character-driven stage and screen actor to coming-of-age tale “ Tattoo ,” with bombastic pop that foreshadows the orchestral and operatic flourish of Tommy . The Sell Out program is interspersed with radio bumpers and advertising jingles for products including Heinz baked beans and Medac acne cream , with a entire wry song dedicated to Odorono deodorant . The sequencing casts the album as a pirate radio broadcast – a radio format outlawed in the UK only months prior to Sell Out ’ s December 1967 release .
All of this growth and experimentation coalesces into the Who ’ s truly great album Tommy . Townshend ’ s thematic songwriting is refined and razor sharp , and every member of the band delivers peak-level performance . The opening “ Overture ” continues to thrill , featuring Entwistle ’ s French horn juxtaposed against Townshend ’ s jangling acoustic guitar , Entwistle ’ s own visceral bass , and Moon ’ s orchestra of drums . The star-crossed tale of messianic character Tommy begins with “ It ’ s a Boy .” Tommy encounters childhood trauma and parental malfeasance that drive him into an inner world described in the epic “ Amazing Journey / Sparks .” As a “ deaf , dumb and blind boy ” Tommy suffers childhood abuse at the hands of the nefarious “ Cousin Kevin ,” molesting Uncle Ernie , and LSDpeddling “ The Acid Queen .” Eventually discovered by his peers as a prodigy during signature anthem “ Pinball Wizard ,” Tommy gains acceptance . His senses return in the cathartic “ Smash the Mirror .” Tommy ’ s influence and power are wielded during “ I ’ m Free ,” but the power ultimately corrupts him . The followers at “ Tommy ’ s Holiday Camp ” reject Tommy ’ s hard-lined spiritual leadership during the bracing and anti-fascist “ We ’ re Not Gonna Take It ,” and the titular character retreats inward again toward self-examination and enlightenment with the rapturous “ See Me , Feel Me .” Particularly in the case of Tommy , the new masters are respectful of the original work and do not radically alter the sound . Astley and Showell instead opt to present the revered material in the best possible light within the constraints of the vinyl format .
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The Who Sell Out
Tommy
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