Rock Reviews

Who's Next

Review

It's by no means unanimous, but largely Who's Next is the most critically acclaimed and most popular/well liked of all of the Who's albums. As with most music, this album took a few listens to really like it, probably also because of all the hype. But especially the deluxe edition, which takes it from 9 to 16 tracks, is worth it even more.

First I'm going to skip the lifehouse stuff, or skim over it - it was a failed attempt at a rock opera but some songs made it here. Next I'll start with track #1, Baba O'Riley. One of the songs to be a part of the Lifehouse project and known from it's heavy radio play as well as a remixed version being in CSI:NY starts Who's Next off with a very "interesting, but very good song.

A great 'Next song "Bargain" continues onto a bluesy "Love Ain't for Keeping" and a surprisingly good one - My Wife. Probably took longer for me to like that song than any other one I can recall, it's one that is actually sung by Entwistle. Next up "Getting in Tune", a solid "Going Mobile" (although I don't like it as much as others") and one of my favorites from The Who - "Behind Blue Eyes".

The original album ends with one of the best and most popular rock songs in history - Won't Get Fooled Again. The remaining songs are all bonus tracks and largely well worth it. "Pure and Easy" is a solid song as well as the version of "Baby Don't you Do it". A live version of "Naked Eye" shows off how awesome The Who was live (see also: Live at Leeds) and so does the live version of "Water", however the longer version on Isle of Wight is better but a decent amount.

"Too Much of Anything" is probably the most underrated despite it being a bonus track, excellent track. Then the album closes with a weaker version of "I Don't even know myself" (not live and the live version on Isle of Wight is MUCH better) and an alternate studio version of "Behind Blue Eyes".

From the original 9 tracks, really only "Love Ain't for Keeping" is just "solid", the rest are either excellent or very good tracks but even today, at first, it sounds off. Yeah the sound of Quadrophenia compared to The Who Sell Out is wide, but the use of synthesizers and other terms I don't know anything about, make Who's Next really stand out as something different, but not in a bad way. Another must-have Who album.

9.0

Songs