RE: Ranting

["O'Neal, Kevin W." <Kevin.ONeal@vtmednet.org>]

All this lingo.  I think we're confusing ourselves with words.
To me, the boys sounded much better by the end of the tour.  I also wish
they had released the live album after the tour.  They were just better from
all the playing time.  It's just logical.  Is that "polished"?
Now, where is the "new" sound??  I just hear a bit of a tweak here and
there.  I can't buy into the notion that the Who have consciously changed
their "sound" from a "classic sound". I'm not sure what "classic sound" is.
Plus, we're comparing live vs. studio.  Live, to me, always sounds
different.  I hear that maybe John's bass is more "metal" (on some songs!),
and that Pete also has a more "scratchy/metal sound" (on some songs!).  New
rigs, different guitars.  But is it really *that* different in sound from
say IOW, or LAL???  I don't see it as such.  I do see and hear a new spirit.
A drive.  A direction.  A new found energy?
As far as fan input................NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  We have to accept that
we fans are STUPID!
We know perhaps what we like, but then again, do we?  If I ever tried to
tell Pete how to play, or what we would like, somebody please shoot me there
on the spot.  WE'RE NOT WORTHY!!!
Plus, Pete has already written that fan involvement can not be involved in
the artistic process.  It's art.  Would we tell Vangough where to put a
brush stroke?? Not me.  I don't want music that is dictated or even
influenced in anyway by us morons.
What I do want (hey, we can wish) is for a new *STUDIO* album.  Be it
concept, be it an informal gathering of songs, whatever.  I just want
something new and in the studio where they can "get it right".  I feel I
have enough live material, that is simply killer, to last me a while.  I
want a focused product.  To me live music is just that, a celebration of
what has been created.  It's in the studio where the creation is focused on
and made whole.  The creation may be *born* on stage, but it's in the studio
where it really is formed into something grand.  Studio albums say to me,
"here it is, this is as good as we can play and create".  Live stuff is
"here it is, this is as good as we can play *tonight*.  Successful studio
albums can always be followed by successful live versions.
Give me new music, insightful lyrics, some soft stuff, some hard driving
stuff, be original, but most importantly, just be The Who.
The rest will take care of itself.

My 2 cents.
Kevin in VT