that voodoo that he do

["Kevin O'Neal" <kevinandt@surfglobal.net>]

Hmph.
I'm sending this again.  Sent it last night, and still don't see it on the
list despite seeing other posts of mine I sent later.
My appologies if this ends up being a duplicate.

>From: "Mark R. Leaman"
>Subject: Re: that voodoo that he do
>
>Keets:
>> One of the biggest problems <writing a new album> would be choosing a
path through all the
>> possibilities.  What subject matter ought this to be?  What style?  A
number
> >of fans have said it should be just a good, solid rock album, but I
dunno.
> >Good, solid rock albums are nostalgia now.  If it doesn't break any new
> >ground--if it doesn't smash anything, then what good is it?
>
>Hey, I've got to call you on this one. From my perspective, as a music
store
>owner, I see the sales of Rock going up up up.
>And IMHO the ONLY way The Who can get away with
>making a new album is if it's raw and powerful. Otherwise, it'll be Voodoo
>Lounge.

Two great tastes in one candy bar-r-r-r-r.............
I agree with both yaz.
Been thinking about this very subject recently.
Took a nice 2hr drive over to NH last week for work, and brought with me
Pete's Lifehouse Chronicles.
>From listening to different parts of this collection, that truly spans a
vast time-frame of Pete's writing career, I came up with a short list of
distinct features that in my, as always, HO need to be in the mix to make
the magic.

1) Hard-driving Rock that rides like a roller coaster (classic who form),
yet isn't afraid to try more modern beats and rhythms.
2) Forceful, intense yet craftily placed synthesizer beats, rhythms and
licks.   Pete has always been the master at this.
3) Guitar play that climbs every corner of the music and power spectrum, and
mixes plenty of acoustic with electric.
4) A message.  A meaning.  Something that continues to make you think and
maintain the "intelligence factor".
5) A good and hard drummer, just like Zak.  I'm *real* excited at the
prospect of hearing Zak play with The Who in the studio.

Put all these together, and you've *got* that broken ground that will excite
people.

As I reached my destination, I drove into the parking lot with Pete's
Gateway Mix blasting.  Talk about being pumped before a meeting!  That mix
is one of the most powerful pieces of music I've heard.  Ok, some don't like
the rap part in it (I personally kind of like it).  So look past that little
part.  Listen to all the different creatures making strange noises in that
song.
Ok, I know this isn't new writing, but man, take that style and mix and put
that to some other words and music, and BAM!

If there's a new album, it's not going to be anything like IH or FD (seem to
remember someone posting that fear).  It's a completely different time in
the world, and more importantly, these boys lives.  Hell, look at how
they're *dressing*.  Casual, relaxed, usually kind of dark clothing.  Ready
for action.  Kinda hip?   A bit underground of a look.  John, though, the
ever dapper anchor that brings the sophistication.  And then there's the
young....well....young-er injection via Zak, who brings a very unique,
modern, and funky style (now, if we could get Rabbit to not look like some
dad that's attending his son's church basketball game;).
They look and act completely different from the early 80's.
This difference, and style, and attitude has no choice but to be reflected
in Pete's music and writing, and play by The Who.
That alone is going to be a big excitement generator.

The Who is back, and I really do hope (I don't pray about stuff like this)
that Pete can find the courage, or will, or entertainment, or desire, or
whatever the fuck he needs to ride up in front of a hundred faces and set
the paces.
We all *know* he can do it.
It's not going to be Roger, and it's not going to be John.  To be sure, they
can help, but it's going to be Pete.  Always has, always will.  It's got to
be Pete, or it's not going to make it.  I think Roger has already begun to
accept that.  His recent interview even indicated that when he said he
doubted any of his songs would make it on the new album.  He knows.  We do
to.  We need Pete to *stop* giving a fuck about other people and do what we
know he has inside him.  Just let it fucking out.
If he does that, we should get "The Boy Who Heard Music".
:-)
And that boy had a great knack for taking what he heard (in his head) and
transferring it to one fucking ripping guitar.

the boy who heard music.........the boy......who heard music..........the
boy who heard.........music.

Stay in Tune,
Kevin in VT