Psychoderelict [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Pete Townshend | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 29, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Hip-O Records
• ASIN: B000GFRJ4E
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #303,326 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Misunderstood masterpiece, July 19, 2004

By 

Anyechka (Rensselaer, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Psychoderelict (Audio CD)

This is one of those albums that you either love or hate. And it's above the heads of a lot of people, people who don't have the patience to give it multiple listens to understand what all's going on. If you get the music-only version, you miss the great storyline being held together by the songs, and some of the songs and music won't make any sense standing alone. It's meant to be like a radio play, not just a collection of songs, so part of the story will be told via song and part via dialogue. And just because you know how it ends doesn't mean you won't want to listen to it again; by that logic you also shouldn't reread a book or watch a movie a second time when you already know the ending. And, truth be told, it's one of those albums that isn't exactly ideal for a new fan because of its complexity.

This story, which is yet another revisiting of 'Lifehouse,' is about a scandal orchestrated by the cynical music critic Ruth Streeting to boost the dying career of former wasted rock legend Ray High, something she did partly with the knowledge of Ray's sleazy manager Rastus Knight. Despite the scandal, everything turns out very happily in the end, with Ray's rereleased albums selling better than ever and Ray getting back into the studio, proving that just because he's over the hill doesn't mean he still can't produce meaningful and popular music. A lot of this is very true to life; many journalists and music critics ignore and bash older musicians just because they've gotten old and some of their fans have stopped caring about them just because they're no longer in the public eye. It's not the fault of the aging rocker Ray that he's sunk in popularity and public recognition, but the fault of everyone who discounted him simply because he got old and didn't go away. Not many albums are made like this anymore, concept albums or albums telling a story. The biggest irony is that this album tanked for many of the same reasons that Ray's career tanked.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Hold me down and I will fight", April 4, 2002

By 

Craig Clarke "Living After Midnight: Hard and... (New England) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Psychoderelict (Audio CD)

I first bought Psychoderelict on cassette from a cutout bin at a discount store. I loved it immediately, from the dialogue (full of wonderfully evocative performances from the actors, by the way) to the surrounding songs, I felt that this was indeed a masterpiece. I wore out my tape from the multiple listens and upgraded to CD at the first opportunity.

I have always been a fan of the concept album. Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick never leaves my CD case and I am also a great fan of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway by Genesis and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon (although not The Wall, an overdone exercise in egomania, but, hey, geniuses aren't perfect, are they?). An artist that can string numerous quality songs along one theme shows, to me, the height of talent.

Some have said that this, the full version, is only worth a listen or two. They must not be fans of old-time radio like myself. The best shows can be heard literally dozens of times, getting better with each listen. And where would the Firesign Theatre be if you couldn't listen to their albums multiple times? I'm sure the music-only version is all well and good for fans of the music, but what about the original intent of the artist? Shouldn't that be respected, as well?

This is a wonderful story with suspense, drama, comedy, and pathos. The twist at the end enhances the experience and does not ruin subsequent listens, as one discovers "clues" laid throughout that point to that end. I have also found great joy in introducing others to this album and watching their faces while they listen to this great album. They invariably ask to borrow it, have me make them a copy, or, at best, go out and buy their own. Of course, I have only chosen people who I thought would be good subjects. Talent wasted on unappreciative minds is simply a disaster.

This is classic Townshend and should be appreciated by all fans, if not of Pete's, then of the genre of musical radio play, of which there are regrettably few.

I would like to see more of this type of experimentation. Shake things up a bit.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Music-only version flows with real continuity!!!, March 20, 2009

By 

whipitgood "whipitgood" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Psychoderelict (2 Cd with & Without Dialogue) (Audio CD)

What a joy! Having previously heard only the full version with dialogue, I can honestly say that the music-only disc is a treat. The music is much better than I gave it credit for the first time around. As a listener, I grew tired of the dialogue within the first 5/6 listens, and I found myself starting to dismiss the work as a whole. Hearing the music by itself is a reminder that Pete Townshend, even as recently as 1993, was still a musical genius.

The record company really missed the boat when they re-released this title with full dialogue only. It should have been a 2-disc set, both with and without dialogue. As far as the "radio edit" version shown here, the narrative loses its grit somewhat without the salty language. And, because this is a limited edition promotional release (not really intended for sale), it is over-priced and difficult to find.

Perhaps the record execs will get it right at some point in the future. Or, perhaps Pete will do an additional pressing (and/or download) making it available on his "Eel Pie" website. We shall see...A new edition with and without dialogue, and perhaps a few pages of liner notes explaining what he was on about, would tie things together beautifully. After (finally) having the chance to examine the music on its own merit, I'm leaning towards this being a "misunderstood masterpiece" as other reviewers have stated in the past.