Who mastermind Pete Townshend's strongest solo record was born in a hailstorm of despair, uncertainty, and tribulation. With the once viscerally powerful Who in limbo, the guitarist nearly sunk himself into brandy-drenched oblivion. He emerged with one of his most gripping solo pieces and–perhaps unsurprisingly–the most Who-like album of all his solo work.
Recorded live at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on August 7 1993, during the acclaimed ''Psychoderelict'' tour, this double CD set features, for the first time live, the entire ''Psychoderlict'' performance as well as a selection of hits from Pete Townshend''s extensive catalogue. The recording features Pete Townshend together with a full band and actors performing in this theatrical presentation.
Pete Townshend's first solo album was a homespun, charming forum for low-key, personal songs that weren't deemed suitable for the Who, as well as spiritual paeans (direct and indirect) to his spiritual guru Meher Baba.
Pete Townshend is the best thing that ever happened to Rock, and “Empty Glass” is his solo masterpiece, an insightful, invigorating confessional from a man on the edge. Townshend addresses punks, aging, drinking, music critics, work ethic, and his lifelong quest to find some meaning in life...
In the past, Pete Townshend has let his lyrics tell the story from within the music, and that has allowed much of his work to stand timeless both as individual songs and entire concept pieces. On Psychoderelict, songs and music fight the spoken word "drama" throughout. Some individual songs are interesting; many are forgettable.