White City

["Kevin Winn" <kwinn@chrome.com>]

Well, anyone for some germane discussion?

Here's one we don't discuss much on the list.  I've been listening to it a 
lot lately and I have a number of comments/questions.

- First of all, I *love* this album.  I think it's as good or better than 
Empty Glass and Chinese Eyes in many ways.  And far superior to Iron Man 
and Psychoderelict.  There.  I said it.

- What's the story behind White City (the place)?  Is it a London slum?  
It's mentioned in Dogs, so I assume it's an actual place that's been around 
awhile.  Perhaps some of the listers on the London side of the sink can 
help me out.

- I happen to think that this would have made a *killer* post-Moon Who 
album, as good as Empty Glass and better than Chinese Eyes.  The structure 
of the music and the instrumentation really lend itself to the Who's style. 
I think PT's band ends up sounding a little less gutsy than the Who would 
have been.  Entwistle's thundering bass would have been far better than 
that sloppy fretless.  Sounds like someone playing a huge zipper.  (I 
should note that I am a bass player, and have found only King Crimson's 
Tony Levin to be even listenable on a fretless).  Imagine Big Johnny 
ripping into  the bass lines of "Give Blood" or "Face The Face."

- Daltrey's voice is perfect for almost every song on the album.  
Especially "Second Hand Love" and "Crashing By Design."  And his harp 
talents would have held up on "Face The Face" as well.

- My copy of the CD has incorrect lyrics printed for "I Am Secure."  The 
second verse is different from what Pete sings.  Anybody know the story 
behind that?

- "I Am Secure" sounds to me like a sequel to "I'm One" from Quad.  Sort of 
checking back in with Jimmy after he's 35, married and has a couple 
squirrely teens of his own.  Especially in the last two lines of the song.  

"I am secure in this world of apartheid.
 This is my cell, but it's connected to starlight."

I love PT's voice on this one, but imagine Daltrey singing harmony.

- Dave Gilmour is listed as a musician in the liner notes.  Is that him on 
the main guitar riff of "Give Blood?"  I can't distinguish any other place 
in the album where it's his style (which I admire very much).

- I can hear a lot of Who By Numbers in "Brilliant Blues."  Very much like 
"They're All In Love."

- Anyone else think that "Come To Mama" sounds like an outtake from the 
Empty Glass sessions?  The guitar phrasing, piano, and mix sounds a lot 
like the Empty Glass songs.  I think that's Simon Philips on drums in this 
song (Ian, help me out here) from the annoying toms splattered all over the 
intro.  Oddly enough, this is my least favorite song on the album.

Comments?

OK,
KLW