Listening

EMPTY GLASS, Peter Townshend. Atco Records.

Peter Townshend continues to be one of rock's most complex and fascinating figures. Musically, he has always been exciting in the most tasteful and resourceful manner. Particularly in the early days of his group, The Who, Townshend was an innovator, influencing scores of bands.

Lyrically, he has been, if not quite as influential, just as important. His particular gift is somehow combining the seemingly dichotomous elements of streetwise punk sensibility with those of a deeply felt spirituality.

On his second solo album, Empty Glass, the musical and lyrical combinations fall together to create an album as powerful as the best of The Who — which is to say as good as anything in rock today.

THESE ARE PROBABLY the most personal songs yet recorded by Townshend (perhaps the major reason they were not used as The Who songs) and unleash as much naked emotion as could be found in lyrics of Joni Mitchell or Jackson Browne.

Tormented and soul-searching, the lyrics challenge the listener to find hope within their spiritual core. And the synthesizer-laden music (Townshend plays all synthesizers and guitars) is just as adventurous.

“Rough Boys” gets the album off to a rocking start. The song is dedicated to the Sex Pistols and to Townshend’s own children. It is the Pistols and their compatriots who Townshend credits with bringing renewed vitality to a rapidly stagnating rock music scene. That this vitality has rubbed off on Townshend is apparent on this uptempo cut.

On “Jools and Jim,” Townshend takes an angry swipe at irresponsible journalists including those who he feels missed the point when eulogizing late Who drummer Keith Moon.

“And I Moved” finds Townshend singing almost as if he were in a religious trance. This is one of his most personal and beautiful songs of faith.

The cornerstone of the album is the title track, “Empty Glass,” in which he declares that while life can’t be worked out to one’s liking, it does us no good to worry about it. This philosophy is heavily influenced by his longtime spiritual teacher, Meher Baba, the major influence for the rock opera Tommy. This cut is full of musical delights. The chorus is sung in a moving falsetto.

My life’s a mess I wait for you to pass I stand here at the bar, I hold an empty glass

THIS IS FOLLOWED the first time around by one of Townshend’s patented staccato power guitar solos, perhaps the most Who-like moment of the record and one of the most exciting. While this song could easily have ended the record, and from a thematic standpoint it seems to, Townshend decides to close with a rocker which leaves the speakers smoking!

“Gonna Get Ya” deals more with behavior than emotion and the structure of the song somewhat resembles the classic Who anthem “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” The song builds to a climax with a stunning piano solo by new Who member Rabbit Bundrick. It is a cut that should satisfy longtime Who followers.

This album is recommended to anyone interested in a complete lyrical and musical state of the art of rock and roll recording.

Billboard magazine rates the Empty Glass album No. 14 in its latest edition.

— HUGH COOPER

Hugh Cooper is a Birmingham businessman whose hobby is music.