Townshend's 'Empty Glass' Comes Up Fairly Full

Peter Townshend "Empty Glass" ★★★★ Atco

The Who's guitarist and principal songwriter is one of the most important figures in the past 15 years of rock 'n' roll.

"Empty Glass" is Townshend's third solo effort, the other two being "Rough Mix" (actually a collaboration with Ronnie Lane) in 1977, and "Who Came First" five years earlier.

From the opening chords of "Rough Boys," the first song on side one, to the final cymbal slash on "Gonna Get Ya," the final cut on side two, one can easily see that this LP is an exercise in tough, bitter rock.

Not only does this album surpass all of Townshend's previous solo work, but most of the material on "Empty Glass" ranks with his best compositions done with The Who.

What will surprise most listeners on first hearing of this LP is Townshend's vocal strength. Never before has he sounded so emotional and moving.

With The Who, of course, Townshend is always overshadowed vocally by Roger Daltrey, the lead singer. But on "Empty Glass," the guitarist finally displays what vocal and instrumental energy he has kept inside of him for many years, and the results are gratifying.

All of the songs on this LP are uptempo, and the songwriting is brilliant. "Rough Boys," the title cut, and "Gonna Get Ya" are hard-rock tunes fashioned on the order of classic Who performances, and the intensity level of these three songs is truly staggering.

While some of the songs have obvious Who references, particularly with the familiar guitar chords and two present Who members, drummer Kenney Jones and keyboard player "Rabbit" Bundrick, guest musicians on the LP, Townshend has nonetheless forged a musical identity of his own by including swirling keyboards and synthesizers on almost every cut.

"Empty Glass" is an album full of great rock 'n' roll moments, and solid proof that Pete Townshend is still a creative genius.

—Charlie Oliva