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September 14, 2006

New Who - "It's Not Enough" & "Tea & Theatre"

Two tunes from Endless Wire (10/31) -- the Who's first new studio album in 24 years -- are streaming here.

Posted at 4:15 PM
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58 Comments

Pete is a God. But WHAT is with that artwork?


Posted by: glom at 09/14/06 4:52 PM  | Reply
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Glom's right. Looks like Asia x ELO x REO Speedwagon x Patrick Nagel posters.

Posted by: El Payo at 09/14/06 5:21 PM  | Reply
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Well, artwork aside, that first song, "It's Not Enough" is pretty awful.

Listening to the other one right now.

Posted by: richard at 09/14/06 5:47 PM  | Reply
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it's not enough was good until that guy started singing.

Posted by: Alec at 09/14/06 6:14 PM  | Reply
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It took them a couple of decades for that dreck. Wow.

Posted by: Dean Wermer at 09/14/06 6:22 PM  | Reply
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keith moon gets replaced by the drum machine.

Posted by: m at 09/14/06 6:30 PM  | Reply
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'tea and theatre' sounds like the backing track for the next ne-yo song. 'nuff said.

Posted by: max at 09/14/06 6:31 PM  | Reply
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I'm a huge Who fan...

but...

no.

Posted by: Dave Depper at 09/14/06 6:54 PM  | Reply
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Cheeze. Ball.

Posted by: Pill Wonder at 09/14/06 7:50 PM  | Reply
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God, this is depressing. They should have left well enough alone.

Posted by: Sean at 09/14/06 8:18 PM  | Reply
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Damn Roger...making Tom Waits sound like Norah Jones.

Posted by: Stephen at 09/14/06 8:25 PM  | Reply
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Holy fucking bag of shit.

What decade are we living in again? I'm pretty sure it's not the 80s, but please do correct me if I'm wrong Pete.

Posted by: bluesphee at 09/14/06 8:31 PM  | Reply
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Way to taint that legacy Pete!

Posted by: the truth at 09/14/06 8:43 PM  | Reply
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Shit sandwich.

Posted by: Alex at 09/14/06 10:14 PM  | Reply
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Yes it's shit but I love Daltrey's voice. Maybe he could be Puffy's next protege.

Posted by: Mo! at 09/14/06 11:40 PM  | Reply
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They should've called it "Who Are We Kidding?"

I love The Who, but this isn't even listenable.

Posted by: KingHarvest at 09/15/06 1:53 AM  | Reply
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1. "It's Not Enough" is easily the worst out of the new songs that have surfaced. Why *that* is the single is beyond me.

2. "Tea & Theater" is pretty fucking good.

Posted by: Marc at 09/15/06 2:00 AM  | Reply
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Man - calm down people. Let people make music. I'd rather they try and keep making music than rehash the old stuff. "Not Enough" sound like it would have fit on WHO ARE YOU. "Tea" is fine - didn't blow me away. Saw them on Letterman and thought they sounded good - cool tune. But everything I am hearing sounds like it would have been better as just a Pete solo album. But ya know, I like seeing them together. So I'll take them trying rather than another round of "My Generation" live - I've had enough of that...

Posted by: el banditio at 09/15/06 9:45 AM  | Reply
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Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who was less then impressed by this. After a quarter century, I would have thought that Pete had at least a few really good tunes stockpiled. This stuff sounds b-side at best.
Townshend/Daltrey, not the Who.

Posted by: Michael at 09/15/06 12:08 PM  | Reply
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Rolling Stone will give this shit FIVE STARS, just like that horrible abortion of an album from 1982, It's Limp, or whatever it was called.

Posted by: Tony G at 09/15/06 12:12 PM  | Reply
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Of course they will, Tony! They already gave that same rating to the new Dylan, which can only be described as 'not quite as bland as everything else that came after "Desire"'.

Posted by: Marc at 09/15/06 1:12 PM  | Reply
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I'm with the Bandito: Really woulda been better as a Pete solo album.

But I suppose it's easier to tour as The Who and, well, Roger needs to keep his salmon farms going. "Tea & Theatre" is alright, actually.


Posted by: glom at 09/15/06 1:41 PM  | Reply
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wow, such hostility. if you want to spew some more bile (or if you're still a who fan), check out roger & pete's letterman performance from last night:

http://krupsjustsayin.blogspot.com/2006/09/pope-j-edgar-hoover-eddie-izzard.html

Posted by: krup at 09/15/06 1:46 PM  | Reply
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Holy Shit! Why do people do this to themselves. I grew up being a HUGE Who fan but this has pushed me over the edge and I have no more respect for them. I thought they hit a low point when they toured a couple days after John died and then the two new songs they tacked on to one of their greatest hits a couple years ago which was some of the worst shit that could only be labeled "crimes against humanity". How many fucking FAREWELL TOURS are they going to do?

Posted by: Eric at 09/15/06 2:32 PM  | Reply
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Eric, where did you read that any Who tour since 1982 was a 'farewell' tour?

Posted by: Marc at 09/15/06 2:34 PM  | Reply
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does he really have a salmon farm?

Posted by: balumpus at 09/15/06 5:21 PM  | Reply
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Bad.

Posted by: Spencer at 09/15/06 5:33 PM  | Reply
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The Who only did one farewell tour, so save the boring jokes, they've been done.

There's no reason to lose respect for The Who, even if you hate these new songs (which i do, they're pretty bad).

Pete is still a brilliant person who is trying to do something new...plus he still plays a mean guitar.

In the end, these songs will be forgotten and the legend will survive.

Posted by: DrJimmy at 09/16/06 2:46 AM  | Reply
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I agree with whoever basically called this Daltrey / Townsend. I actually don't think the songs themselves, are half-bad ("Tea and Theater" is quite nice). Having Entwistle / Moon, or players with even 1 / 10th their aggression, would've obviously made it sound a bit more like actual Who. Instead, it's studio musicians, soaring 80s guitar, etc. At least Daltrey seems into it, but i guess that's his job.

Posted by: msmr at 09/16/06 1:13 PM  | Reply
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Krup,

Thanks for posting the footage from Letterman. It speaks volumes.

I'm liking this stuff. It's not Who's Next and it's not Long Live Rock. Nor should it be. Pete's said for a long time that he didn't feel he could write good material that fit the "mold" for the Who anymore. So this stuff would probably fit on a solo album (as a few people already said).

But it's the Who, or what's left of them, as they are now. This band has a future. I saw two mature guys who aren't quite friends (body language says a lot—they were about eight feet apart on a small stage) performing mature and thoughtful music that challenges its listeners. This clip sounded better the third time than it did the first time. They've still got something to offer.

Posted by: Bry at 09/16/06 9:00 PM  | Reply
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Aren't friends? Bullshit. More like brothers who've been around the world in every possible situation in life & are still hangin' in there together. I actually like the new stuff. They kicked major ass on Letterman. If you're expecting late '60s/early '70s type Who material, then go back in a time machine. It's 2006, people, & Pete ain't the same man (should I say boy?) he was back then. Who the fuck is? I can't wait to hear this album coz I know it will be pure Pete & Roger & that is 10,000 times better than most of the dreck out there these days.

Posted by: Pamela at 09/17/06 11:05 AM  | Reply
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"Tea & Theatre" isn't bad, but "It's Not Enough" sounds like they picked up where they left off in 1982. Of course...you could say that about Interpol...

Posted by: ZT Krogman at 09/17/06 11:22 AM  | Reply
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i've heard some of the other tracks on the album and I must say that there is one that was pretty awesome. not either of these. It didn't have a title, but I think it's Mirror something... not quite sure why they chose It's Not Enough as it's your typical old classic rock stuff..

Posted by: Tommy at 09/18/06 10:51 PM  | Reply
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You have to listen to these songs in context - add them to the songs on Wire & Glass single and the others played live this last week and then it all gels together. Commenting on them in isolation is like judging Quadrophenia by Drowned !!!

Posted by: Gavin at 09/23/06 1:01 PM  | Reply
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Shit! I'm really bummed. What happened? I was so completely excited by what I heard on the Wire & Glass single. Those songs sound awesome. These are from a completely different planet. Unfortunately it's the same planet the cover art emerged from.

Posted by: Jimmy at 09/24/06 9:53 PM  | Reply
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Okay People... WOW.. The Funny Thing is most of you have no idea what you're talking about. The New songs are amazing. Rolling stone will give the album 5 stars..YOu know why? Because they know what the hell they ae talking about. You are all the same people who bitch that The Who doesn't tour with new songs..then they finally do, and you rip them up.. I'd like to see one of you go into a recording studio and come out with anything close to these songs.. Tea and theater is AMAZING.. NOT OKAY... AMAZING.. It's Not enough... Is excatly about what all of you idiots are saying.. It's never enough for you people is it. I guess the new stones record was great right... and we'd all love to see robert plant's 300 lb. ass on stage with jimmy page too right? Idiots. You are talking about the who... The new record is probablly the best thing they have done since the mid 70's and none of you know it.. hey i'm not saying you should all have to know what you're talking about.. but please justm shut the fuck up..

Posted by: stain at 09/26/06 1:42 PM  | Reply
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I've been listening to "It's Not Enough" on repeat for over 2 hours, through headphones.

I like it.

I got nothing else to say but thought I'd put my opinion out there since everyone else who is posting seems to hate it.

Posted by: shmoopatties at 09/26/06 2:01 PM  | Reply
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The new album may not be as "great" as some of the early stuff, but it's really very, very good - especially live. It's too "soft" for me.

I never really liked the "Tommy" album but feel that the live version of it is fantastic. I feel that way about Wire and Glass. It's gotten a lot better with Zak and everyone working it out onstage.

Tea and Theatre sounds much better without the drum machine and just Pete's guitar. Zak's drumming brings Wire and Glass/Mirror Door and Mike Post alive and Pete's guitar on all of them is fantastic live.

With all of this, Wire & Glass/Mirror Door have some really, really catchy melodies and lines - if you've heard 'em a coupla times, they stick in your head.

Even though I like the live versions better, I'm buying the album to encourage them to keep doing it. If noone buys the album (which I don't think will happen) then we'll never get anything else from Pete.

I too wonder about making It's Not Enough the first single off the album, but what the hell, I'm not in the business. Me, I think either Fragments, Mike Post or Mirror Door should be the first single.

And this last thought...Lots of people trashed the Who Are You album when it first came out, but Who Are You and Sister Disco have become classics. Everything on an album is not going to be 5 stars all the time. Hell, Squeeze Box was the big seller off of By Numbers - and there were some fantastic Who songs on that album!

My Three Cents

Posted by: William at 09/29/06 1:30 AM  | Reply
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Huh. I love It's Not Enough. Tea & Theatre could be produced a bit better. But I'm being critical here. I'm not big fan of the cover art, but it's not a total eyesore.

Posted by: Sam at 09/29/06 7:06 AM  | Reply
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I listened to the some of the new songs, and my favourite is Black Widows Eyes. You could hear it on BBC. It#s a phantistic song, great singing, great backing vocals, great guitar.
It's Not Enough is not the best Who tune, but it's not as bad as people say. Listen to it, perhaps you'll like it.
Wire And Glass, the 6 track EP, has some fine melodies, too. We Got a hit is a very good song, and Endless Wire (they played the long version in Berlin) will become a live classic! And Mirror Door is very enjoyable.
When Who Are You was released, I didn't like it. Moon was terrible, but years later I love the album. Music Must Change is a very good song, and Who Are you is one of the best WHo songs ever.

Posted by: Klemens at 10/03/06 12:34 PM  | Reply
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I love "It's Not Enough"! Like they left off from
the last album?Are you kidding me? That record was so underproduced.This song rocks and has a great hook to it.I can't wait til I hear them play it live.So far, from what I've heard - this new record will be highly regarded by fans & critics alike! I am listening to it over & over because "It's Not Enough"!

Posted by: Marc at 10/05/06 10:45 PM  | Reply
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Btw,I was responding to a comment above from someone who says it sounds like they picked up from where they left off in 1982.
Not even close to the truth!

These songs will grow on those who aren't getting them in the first place.It's The Who in a different place & time.Another era & another band entirely.
And it's far from sounding like an '80's style (generalized pop/rock) as some are saying.

Anyway,I didn't realize this site added 2 more songs.

So,I finally heard the recorded version of "Black Widow's Eyes" after hearing it live in Boston & NYC.They haven't played it since the 2nd MSG show.I wonder why? I hope they add it back to the setlist by the Florida,Atlanta
NJ,and Philly shows.This song is phenomenol!!!

Give it a listen again and again and BUY THE CD!!

Marc S.

Posted by: Marc S. at 10/05/06 11:30 PM  | Reply
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I just heard not enough, recogized it as Daltrey singing.

Period. I liked it.

barb

Posted by: Barb at 10/06/06 12:42 AM  | Reply
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bklsgtq msru urlnb pvuxs wdfpu bxlmvkf wjbriasy

Posted by: onqwkpac abyvgwon at 10/07/06 10:45 AM  | Reply
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I just heard it for the first time, and I think it's fantastic!!

It reminds me of the old Who, the middle Who and the now Who.

Good track!

Canadian fan

Posted by: Spartacus at 10/08/06 11:18 PM  | Reply
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If you're not getting the deeply autobiographical emotion of Tea & Theatre, and if you hear it with just Pete's guitar and Roger's vocals, and are not moved by it, then I'm sorry but you don't get what the Who is all about

they're talking about having been through it all, seen it all, rocked it, and, despite that epic greatness, what might have been was derailed by the loss of Moon - and its sad. life is sad. guess what? it is. the point is to capture the in between moments and revel. nonetheless, through it all they're still there. fuckers.

Posted by: larry at 10/13/06 12:45 AM  | Reply
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"It's Not Enough" has reached BILLBOARD's TOP 40
HOT MAINSTREAM ROCK TRACKS!

Reaches #37 -

http://billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=6013&model.vnuAlbumId=807812

The Who:

Year: Title: Chart: Peak Position:


2006 It's Not Enough Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 37


Posted by: Marc at 10/13/06 12:46 AM  | Reply
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it's amazing what has happened to Roger's voice. It's deteriorated to the point that I didn't really recognize it at first. Last time I saw the 'Orrible 'Oo I wasn't terribly impressed with Roger, but Pete's always been Johnny-on-the-Spot. But, don't forget, Pete never stopped playing and being creative and Roger did. I think it made the difference in their careers and abilities to perform at a high level. Long live...Pete.

Posted by: scott at 10/16/06 4:13 PM  | Reply
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Very good site. Thank you.

Posted by: flowers at 10/21/06 7:52 AM  | Reply
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Very good site. Thank you.

Posted by: flowers at 10/21/06 7:52 AM  | Reply
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Good site. Thanks.

Posted by: bulk christmas trees at 10/25/06 2:11 AM  | Reply
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I think the new album is fantastic. Had it about a week and there's a lot of good material on it. "It's not enough" is certainly not "Won't get Fooled again" but I like it. They're 60 odd years old now. The whole album is very decent, by no means is it their best material, but it's better than 99.9999999% of the crap on radio these days. After 25 years, I think it's a very worthy effort and you Who fans should give it a chance. The second part of the album is the Wire & Glass stuff. As a caveat, I'm also a big Pete solo project fan, so I like it. The Song Endless Wire is very good, as is Tea, and I also love the track "Mirror Door", "Pick up the Peace", and "We got a Hit" is just so, Who.

The fact is, this album is better than It's Hard, Face Dances etc. Not quite as good as Who are you, I would say it's better than Who by Numbers though.

I don't care what anyone says, I'm just playing it and loving listening to new Pete stuff, even if it's only to make myself feel young again.

Posted by: Ivan at 11/13/06 3:35 PM  | Reply
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I think the new album is fantastic. Had it about a week and there's a lot of good material on it. "It's not enough" is certainly not "Won't get Fooled again" but I like it. They're 60 odd years old now. The whole album is very decent, by no means is it their best material, but it's better than 99.9999999% of the crap on radio these days. After 25 years, I think it's a very worthy effort and you Who fans should give it a chance. The second part of the album is the Wire & Glass stuff. As a caveat, I'm also a big Pete solo project fan, so I like it. The Song Endless Wire is very good, as is Tea, and I also love the track "Mirror Door", "Pick up the Peace", and "We got a Hit" is just so, Who.

The fact is, this album is better than It's Hard, Face Dances etc. Not quite as good as Who are you, I would say it's better than Who by Numbers though.

I don't care what anyone says, I'm just playing it and loving listening to new Pete stuff, even if it's only to make myself feel young again.

Oh yeah, and "Mike Post Theme" rocks!

Posted by: Ivan at 11/13/06 3:35 PM  | Reply
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ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?! all of you who said endless wire wasent a good album are insane. its not enough was absolutley amazing! the guitar solos were fucking amazing in the song, and roger's voice was great! pete did a wonderful job with this album. tea & theatre was a great song which i think is about john entwistle's death.

i saw them back in november and were great. their music was, and still is wonderful. it is better than anything else out there on the radio. LONG LIVE ROCK!

Posted by: Brianna at 03/15/07 7:25 PM  | Reply
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I can't believe a mediocre band like the who have made such a cool song! I love "It's not enough"!

Posted by: Joanne at 07/26/07 4:42 AM  | Reply
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Awesome album. Been listening to the Who since the 60"s when I lived in Germany. Townsend is the best!

The song about Keith Moon, Tea and Theater, is very real and touches hearts.

Posted by: Steve A. at 11/20/07 8:40 PM  | Reply
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Great album! "It's Not Enough" is an outstanding song. Townsend is a God! I can't believe there are people here saying it sucks. I saw them in Philadelphia in November of 2006 and they were awesome.

Posted by: Lenny at 12/14/07 11:53 PM  | Reply
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Obviously you retards are stuck on stupid. If you open your minds and really listen to the songs, absorb the words and let things fall into place naturally, perhaps they could truly be heard as intended. Oh, I know... you've written something better and we should listen to your songs instead, right?

Posted by: Jeff at 10/23/08 9:27 PM  | Reply
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