FAMILY ALBUMS

Keep an ear out for two new albums of the rock and roll persuasion, the first from The Who, venerable elder statesmen of the loud. Although it’s 17 years and counting since their bassist John Entwistle departed for the great jam session in the sky, we keep a keen eye on what the original mod monsters are up to, and their first album in 13 years is an event in our world.

Who, to be released on 22 November, has been preceded by the track ‘Ball & Chain’ and is available for preorder. In case you’re wondering about their continued relevance in the post-Entwistle era, do take into account the facts that a) the bass has been handled on the new album by the mighty Pino Palladino and b) that this is a band with 100 million-plus album sales, 19 Top Ten albums in the UK and USA and 55 years behind them. They still matter.

Next up is a diametrically opposed release from Jumpstarted Plowhards, the latest project from the great Mike Watt of Minutemen, Firehose, Stooges and innumerable other collaborations. On the album, Round One, Watt is joined by guitarist/singer Todd Congelliere (Toys That Kill) and a load of drummers including George Hurley (Minutemen) and Patty Schemel (Hole). The album is out as you read this and we recently enjoyed an amazing interview with Watt about it. It’ll appear in these pages soon.