Word: townshend
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...Townshend has a tortured, pessimistic view of the world. He paints, not unlike Bruce Springsteen, pictures of shattered dreams and lost illusions. And there are no easy answers. "People are suffering," growls Daltrey, "I'll sing it again...
When we aren't suffering, Townshend tells us, we are hiding, putting on an act both for others and for ourselves. It's hard, he says, to let loose and show emotion, and not to fear our true self. In "Eminence Front," he writes of the few times people do manage to get out from behind their self-eradicated screens...
...Townshend is not content to tackle only the timeless problems of human relationships and suffering. He deals also with the here and now, with issues directly relevant to our generation. In "I've Known No War," Townshend decries the absurd prospect of nuclear annihilation with more than just a touch of irony...
Lyrical eloquence is only half the story on It's Hard. The music itself assaults, shakes and ultimately hooks the listener. The Who still prominently feature power chord guitar riffs, but Townshend has begun to rely more heavily on subtle synthesizer bits for counter point. Stylistically, he runs the gamut here from hard rock to devastating funk and '60s rock n' roll...
Most important though, The Who are together as a group once more. Daltrey has rarely been of better voice. His rough, expressive style blends to perfection with Townshend's angelic harmonies. Entwistle-- who contributed three first rate rockers to this album--remains one of the most original bass players around. His trebly, ultra quick patterns are unmistakable. And most pleasant of all is the effort put forth by Kenny Jones, Moon's replacement. Jones manages to combine an abandoned drumming style reminiscent of Moon's with military precision. His rolls fill holes admirably and give the music a heavy, knockout...