Sunday, July 16th, 2006

The Guardian weighs in on Wire and Glass. "Clattering drums and an urgent vocal introduce the Who's first new music in yonks, pitched somewhere between Tommy and Quadrophenia. That's not surprising as the lyrics to 'Sound Around', the first of six vignettes making up this 11-minute maxi-single, were written in 1971. There is some preposterous story arc linking the parts of this mini-opera, but it needn't detain us. Previewed in the band's many shows this summer, this record contains one execrable rhyme ('peace'/'knees'), some top riffing and a sense that Townshend and Daltrey are fully engaged in making worthwhile music. The theme tunes for umpteen series of CSI are sorted."