Lifehouse Elements by Pete Townshend (CD, May-2000, Redline Records)

I'll admit it; I'm a sucker for unreleased albums, legendary things like Brian Wilson's "SMiLE", Prince's "Black Album", Buffalo Springfield's "Stampede", etc. So, a chance to hear parts of Pete Townsend's "Lifehouse" sounded like a great deal. Maybe I'd think it was better if "Who's Next" had never been released, but frankly the latter album sounds better and is far more interesting than anything on "Lifehouse Elements". First of all, as good a singer as Pete Townsend is, it's Roger Daltry's voice that made the best Who albums shine--especially on "Who's Next". Listening to an alternative version of "Won't Get Fooled Again" (the most striking example)demonstrates how that scream at the end made the difference between a good song and a great one. The rest of "Lifehouse Elements" follows suit. It's a bunch of well-performed curiosities, alternate versions, and a few new tracks that are the product of one-fourth of one of the finest bands ever. I'm not denying that Townsend was the primary driving force behind the Who, nor am I saying that his solo talents are without merit (I love "Who Came First"). It's just a fact that without the combined forces of Townsend, Daltry, Entwistle, and Moon, "Who's Next" and the other, associated "Lifehouse" tracks released over the years would have been far less the classics they have become. This disc is really for completists. I have not seen the related DVD; maybe that adds something more which allows you to disassociate from the previous releases. Still, I wouldn't go into "Lifehouse Elements" with expectations of greatness. Treat it like a good, competent, effort and you'll be better off.

These classic Townshend demos and leftover Lifehouse tracks are basically updated with excellent contemporary production values, and sound. Many are recognizable from the Whos Next album but sound if they were newly recorded today with a modern AOR classic rock sensibility. This single disc edit of the sprawling multidosc Townshend Lifehouse project is probaly all one needs. Nice, concise, the themes even make sense in the ways they are now presented. Not for the Who purist perhaps, you'd be best to stick to the original releases but it provides excellent supplementary listens for those of us who've heard them all a zillion times before, still have them, but would also like a new sounding Who album. Keyboard and orchestra bits may not be for all tastes but are spacey and ethereal nonetheless. Beats the plodding newer Endless Wire release hands down. Higly recommended.

The CD is Awesome! Pete Townsend is the man. A must have for any Who fan. Pete has written and performed all over the world and this is a perfect example of all his talent in this great cd.