Music Review: 'Coolwalkingsmoothtalkingstraightsmokingfirestoking'

Liberated from the grand schemata that often weigh down his solo albums like literary concrete, well-crafted Pete Townshend tunes like ”A Friend Is a Friend” and ”English Boy” can now breathe alongside such glittering prizes as ”Let My Love Open the Door” and ”A Little Is Enough” on Coolwalkingsmoothtalkingstraightsmokingfirestoking. Gems are missing (”Let’s See Action,” ”Empty Glass”), but one listen to Townshend’s masterpiece, ”Pure and Easy,” and all is right with the world. B+