The new release coming from The Who. The new album WHO is coming out later this fall.
From
Fifty-five years after first forming in London, The Who is back with an album of brand-new songs. WHO, due out December 16th, will be the band’s 12th studio record. It includes the first single, “Ball & Chain,” a gritty swamp-rock critique of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and the powers that have kept it open.
“Down in Guantanamo,” Roger Daltrey sings, “We still got that ball and chain. That pretty piece of Cuba designed to cause men pain.”
The track features a number of classic Who sounds, including an arpeggiated piano line that opens the song in the spirit of “Baba O’Riley,” as well as windmill power chords from Pete Townshend.”Roger and I are both old men now, by any measure,” Townshend says in a statement announcing the record. “So I’ve tried to stay away from romance, but also from nostalgia if I can. … Some of the songs refer to the explosive state of things today.”Townshend and Daltrey are joined on the album by drummer Zak Starkey and bassist Pino Palladino.
Ball and Chain
Down in Guantanamo
We still got the ball and chain
Down in Guantanamo
We still got the ball and chain
That pretty piece off Cuba
Designed to cause men pain
Whoa, when you light up in Cuba
You won’t feel the same again
Down in Guantanamo
Whew, still waiting for the big cigars
Down in Guantanamo
Whew, still waiting for the big cigars
Been a breach of promise
Still guilty with no charge
There’s smoke in the forest
And the tumor is getting large
Down in Guantanamo
We still got the ball and chain
Down in Guantanamo
We still got the ball and chain
For justice to make its claim
So let’s bring down the gavel
Let the prisoner say his name
Still waiting for the
Still waiting for the big cigars
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This one hits right between the eyes without warning, doesn’t it? I was surprised. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album, after these first two.
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Yes it does….straight to the point. These two songs have my hopes really high. They sound re-energized.
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Sounds good. I’m looking forward to the new album.
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Only 12 studio albums, wow. You’d have thought more than that by now! This one sounds pretty good too… think I like it a little more than the other one. Pino Palladino – now there’s another one of those great but anonymous studio musicians.
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I know…and probably 20 greatest hits packages…how does that happen? They retired in the early eighties and didn’t make another album until 2006…that is the reason for the low number. This is only the 4th album after Keith died in 78. Face Dances, It’s Hard, Endless Wire and now this one.
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The beat of this sounds like a clock ticking. I like the lyrics and Daltrey’s voice here.
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Sounds pretty good. This and the new song by ELO, and it has been quite a week.
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I do like the ELO song also. I should have had that one also today. The two new Who songs sound vintage Who but they sound modern also…really good stuff.
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Cool video with reminders of late 1960s rebellion.
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