211. The Who | Who's Next (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Baba O'Riley
2. Bargain
3. Love Ain't for Keeping
4. My Wife
5. The Song Is Over
6. Getting in Tune
7. Going Mobile
8. Behind Blue Eyes
9. Won't Get Fooled Again

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Who's Next is a balanced album. The music is rock. The band sounds really confident. They play and sing with strong intent. Nothing is witheld. Everything is in balance to. Drums, guitar, keyboards, bass and vocals all can be heard clearly.

I don't always focus on lyrics because half the time I can't figure out what is being said and then when I can understand I have no idea what it means. This album is different. Everything is clear as day and quite sensible. The lyrics appeal perfectly to the Who's audience: young working class men. And they neither condescend to them nor make light of their troubles. 

I think this is one of the few rock albums that gets the music, the lyrics and the energy right. It's a fun and witty and makes you want to tap your foot or pump your fist in the air. I don't think this is a groundbreaking album, but finally someone got the formula right. This is the best rock album up to now and I'll go out on a limb to say no rock album will top it.

Every song on this album is fantastic.

★★★★★★★★★★

193. The Who | Live at Leeds (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Young Man Blues
2. Substitute
3. Summertime Blues
4. Shakin' All Over
5. My Generation
6. Magic Bus

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Note: there have been several different releases of this album. The most notable are the ones released in 2001 and 2010. The 2001 release includes the complete concert at the University of Leeds which include a complete performance of Tommy. The 2010 release includes the material on the 2001 release and the concert performed in Hull which also includes a complete performance of Tommy. As for this review, I listened to the originally-released version.

When listening to the albums on the 1001 Albums list, I always try to listen to the album as it was released originally, at least as far as the original track listings are concerned. Does that make the review more authentic? I doubt it. For a vast majority of albums, there is just too much knowledge about an album and it's impact or lack of to be authentic. I aim to approach these albums from the original point of view, but I don't claim objectivity at all.

Live at Leeds is an energetic album. The music is rock. The Who play three originals and three covers.

The first four songs are short and to the point which makes them more like studio songs rather than live songs. The Who decide to extend themselves on the last two songs. My Generation becomes a medley of other famous Who songs. Magic Bus is a jam.

The Who sound really good live. I wonder why some bands sound better live than on an album. Too many takes? Poor production? Overproduction? The venue has good acoustics?

I don't think there's anything special about this live album. Sure they do some good covers, but they are done in the "Who" style, so they don't make this album essential to listen to.

Moreover, there have already been several live albums on the 1001 Albums. Those albums sound good, but none of them had been a live rock album. If that's the reason, I'm not buying it.

Is it worth listening to? I think so, but it shouldn't be on the list.

All of the songs are excellent. The stand outs are: Summertime Blues, My Generation and Magic Bus.

★★★★★★★★★☆

145. The Who | Tommy (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Overture
2. It's a Boy
3. 1921
4. Amazing Journey
5. Sparks
6. Eyesight to the Blind (The Hawker)
7. Christmas
8. Cousin Kevin
9. The Acid Queen
10. Underture
11. Do You Think It's Alright?
12. Fiddle About
13. Pinball Wizard
14. There's a Doctor
15. Go to the Mirror!
16. Tommy Can You Hear Me?
17. Smash the Mirror
18. Sensation
19. Miracle Cure
20. Sally Simpson
21. I'm Free
22. Welcome
23. Tommy's Holiday Camp
24. We're Not Gonna Take It

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Tommy is a disappointing album. It starts out with a bang and then ends with a whimper. The first ten songs sound great. After that, there's only a handful of interesting songs among the last fourteen.

The story is odd. At first it makes some sense. Tommy sees someone get killed and is told he didn't see it or hear it and that he shouldn't even talk about it. From that Tommy becomes a blind and deaf mute. Obviously, it's a psychological condition. People try to cure him with sex and drugs, but a doctor recognizes that his condition is psychosomatic. Eventually, he is cured, but it is suggested that a miracle cured him. So, then he becomes a messiah figure and suggests his followers make themselves blind and deaf mutes to become enlightened.

If the story were just that it'd be better. There are some threads that just don't seem important and could have or should have been cut out. Although, some good music would have been lost.

Questioning Tommy's not being Christian on Christmas goes nowhere, but could've been important when Tommy becomes a messiah. Cousin Kevin bullies and tortures Tommy on Cousin Kevin is pointless and cruel.

Uncle Ernie molesting Tommy on Fiddle About and molesting other kids on Tommy's Holiday Camp are inconsequential. The former could have been good foreshadowing if the latter had any purpose. In fact, it seems Uncle Ernie gets away with his behavior and that seems to be the wrong message to send. Tommy's pinball prowess on Pinball Wizard goes nowhere. Sally Simpson getting cut on Sally Simpson also seem irrelevant. Couldn't Tommy have healed Sally or could he have been seen as a fraud for not being able to heal her.

I recommend the first half and only for the music. For the second half, you proceed at your own risk both musically and story-wise. Ultimately, I think The Pretty Things did a better job with S.F. Sorrow than The Who with Tommy. Tommy would have promise if it were shortened, streamlined and more emphasis was placed on Tommy after he became a messiah.

The stand out songs are Overture, It's a Boy, 1921, Amazing Journey, Sparks, Eyesight to the Blind (The Hawker), Christmas, Cousin Kevin, The Acid Queen, Underture, Pinball Wizard and I'm Free.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

90. The Who | The Who Sell Out (1967)

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Wikipedia Entry

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1. Armenia City in the Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See for Miles
8. Can't Reach You
9. Medac
10. Relax
11. Silas Stingy
12. Sunrise
13. Rael (1 and 2)

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The Who Sell Out is a clever album. Thirteen songs are wrapped around faux advertisements and radio programming to simulate a pirate radio station. The advertisements are amusing and some of the products worked their way into songs—Heinz Baked Beans, Odorono and Medac. The radio station jingles are cute and well-down. It's certainly a convincing concept.

The songs themselves are quite varied. There are heavy rock and roll songs, folk songs and theatrical stuff. They are all catchy. Lyrics seem to be a strong focus of the band. It's too bad then that their songs can be hit or miss. The subject of most songs on the album is a person and there are some interesting ideas, but sometimes it's just bad rhyming.

I enjoy this album, but the pirate radio advertisements and jingles wear thin after listening several times. Fortunately, the songs are really strong and are worth the minor annoyances. I didn't expect too much from this album. I was confused by the album cover and the pirate radio concept. I think it's a good album that's worth listening to, especially to hear the pirate radio parts. The Who is certainly a richer band than the offerings on classic radio stations would suggest.

All the songs are really good, but the real stand outs are Armenia City in the Sky, Odorono, Tattoo, Our Love Was, I Can See for Miles, Can't Reach You, Relax and Silas Stingy.

★★★★★★★★★☆

59. The Who | My Generation (1965)

Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Out in the Street
2. I Don't Mind
3. The Good's Gone
4. La-La-La-Lies
5. Much Too Much
6. My Generation
7. The Kids Are Alright
8. Please, Please, Please
9. It's Not True
10. I'm a Man
11. A Legal Matter
12. The Ox

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My Generation is an unpolished album. The album is loud and noisy and the production quality is low. Those are not bad qualities, just descriptive ones.

The album is uneven, too. There are too many styles that just don't fit together seamlessly. The two James Brown covers don't fit in well, even though they are good songs. My Generation, The Kids Are Alright, I'm a Man and The Ox belong on a separate album. Or perhaps the songs could have been grouped more cohesively.

This album is definitely the start of something new—a louder and heavier rock and roll sound. For that it is worth listening to. Make sure to listen to the UK mono release. The deluxe edition has the UK release in stereo, but it doesn't do justice to the album. The stand out songs are: I Don't Mind, The Good's Gone, My Generation, The Kids Are Alright, Please, Please, Please, I'm a Man and The Ox.  
★★★★★★★★☆☆