Search - Pete Townshend :: Psychoderelict (Music Only)

A must-have for LIFEHOUSE devotees

M. Nichols | West Chester, OH United States | 08/25/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though it appears the narrative version of this album has fallen out of print (sadly), anyone interested in Townshend's decades-in-the-making LIFEHOUSE project needs to own this album. PSYCHODERELICT addresses many of the LIFEHOUSE themes, telling the story of an aging rock-n-roller living in the time of The Grid. I've actually not heard the music-only version, but I know the original well enough to say that owning either version is better than neither. The music is strong and, as critics noted (unkindly), the narrative does weigh heavy on the listener, but only because the whole concept is coherent only if you listen to the album from beginning to end - which is the point. Many can't seem to wrap their minds around any concept apart from the three-minute single-oriented "album." This is more like literature for the ears. Enjoy in any form, but try to find the original version in the cut-out bin. Also a marvelous companion to the recently released LIFEHOUSE ELEMENTS."

Dialogue Introduction to Psychoderelict

Taylor | Charlottsvile, VA | 10/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The album Psychoderelict is a unique album. The songs are punctuated with dialog that tells and interesting story. The album tells the story of an aging rocker who has become alcoholic and recluse, and how his manager forms an elaborate plan with a journalist to get him back into main-stream music. It takes a few lessons to understand the story, as it is very complicated. The dialog can make it difficult to listen too, especially once you've herd it a few times, but fortunately there is a music-only version available.

Some excellent songs are Outlive The Dinosaur, Fake It, and the classic English Boy."

Pleasantly Surprised

ElvisCostellosWeiner | Michigan | 01/23/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Let me preface this by focusing strictly on the negatives; which are many. This album is completely unwiedly to listen to the first time. I've listened to it three times, and the first time is a night mare. The production is also awful; very flat most of the time. And he makes these really awful "i'm so pretentious" faces in the booklet that make him look much uglier than he actually is. And the fact that there is an element of under age eroticism is truly sad considering recent events. While I believe he is completely and utterly innocent of all actions pertaining to that, others may not. Other people may see that as actual proof of his deviant nature. Also, the dialogue is needlessly vulgar sometimes (the whole sex scene is just stupid) and the attempts at monty python-esque humor often falls completely flat. The dialogue obscures the music often. Why not just do a full out album of music, then do a movie of this?



Well, negatives aside, the positives should now come forth. Okay, here it goes; some of the music here is the best pete's written in a long time. Pete avoids the synthetic feel of white city which sometimes dulled that album's edges (there is much more live instrumentation here) and he also avoids the overglossy broadway junk of Iron Man, the worst album he's ever released. But some of the songs here still show that townshend genius; English Boy is one of his best rockers in ages. Outlive the Dinosaur is funny, as is Let's Get Pretentious. Now and Then is a pretty ballad. Unfortunately, much of the material runs together, and occasionally approaches adult contemporary garbage; however, the songs all have recognizeable melodies, and serve a purpose.



Get this only if you're a dedicated Townshend junkie."