A Review of My Favorite Album

"Who's Next" by The Who is, in my opinion, the greatest album ever made. Since this is my first entry as a real music journalist, per say, I figured I'd give you guys a feel of how I write, what I'll like, and how I'll like it.

Myself aside, "Who's Next" brought a whole new definition of power to rock music. An organ had never been used like it was in Baba O'Reilly or Won't Get Fooled Again, a blues jam never felt so sharp and penetrating as "Baby, Don't You Do It", and a goofy folk song about an angry wife never had sounded like "My Wife".

"Who's Next" is appropriately opened with Baba O'Reilly, the arpeggiated synth organ, the simple piano, and the driving bass kick it into overtime. The song has been described by many, many fans as sounding "large". You'd immediately assume that if the song were to take physical form, it'd fill soldier field with incredible ease. And all of this created with a grand total of four chords.

Next in the line would be Bargain, Love Ain't for Keeping, and My Wife. These four opening songs, after listening to the lyrics and their stories, you can really begin to see how these were the beginnings of Pete Townshend's next rock opera, "Lifehouse" (Unfortunately, the project was scrapped when no one could understand what the hell it was about). Bargain, another epic about a man willing to do anything possible for love, gloriously highlights Roger Daltrey's vocal prowess. The scream that occurs every time he sings the title lyric (I call that a Bargain, the best I've ever had / The Best I've ever HHAADDDD) shoots chills up spines, breaks glassware, and makes grown men fall to tears. Love Ain't for Keeping is a simple acoustic rock song that can be taken for a useless addition, is far from such. Without this song, the introduction to My Wife would be painfully weak. My Wife, really isn't all that important to the album, but in the end, it's a good one to sit back and keep time to. Plus, it outlines John Entwistle's ability to play not only bass, but elements of a brass section as well.

After this powerful introduction to the album, it must've seemed appropriate to let the listener catch their breath, because we're lead into The Song is Over and Getting in Tune. These songs do have their upsides, but I honestly think these are the weakest songs on the album. This album was constructed to show off the well rounded strength and drive of The Who, and these two songs, besides the fact that they do seem fitting for their placement on the album, don't hold a candle to the final three tracks on the original album.

Going Mobile, Behind Blues Eyes, and Won't Get Fooled Again are an excellent ending to a powerhouse album such as this. Going Mobile is mostly an acoustic rock song, but the vocal melody sang by Pete is a bit more than catchy, if possible.

Behind Blue Eyes is very possibly the gem of the album. Yes, this is one of the more well known hits off the album, but honesty is the key to a fantastic song, and thi song is simply one of the moest honest songs Pete Townshend ever wrote. Lyrics like "Nobody knows what it's like to feel these feelings / Like I do / and I blame you" and "No one knows what it's like to be the sad man / to be the bad man / Behind blue eyes" points accusingly to the abuse he went through as a child. With his mother being a shrew and his father being virtually non-existent, he points an angry figure at the world, and his parents, for branding him with the eternal curse of an unfed temper. After the first few verses, the song kicks into overdrive for a minute or two with lyrics such as, my favorite, "If I swallow anything evil / stick your fingers down my throat". That sternly placed, pointing finger is now an open hand, reaching for someone to love and cherish him like he never felt. A compassion that was never his. This song is Pete telling the word how empty his anger is, and he simply can't help it. This song is his beautiful apology.

And as if the album wasn't glowing enough with these eight tracks, we're shown to the door with a forceful, politically charged rock song about stingy politicans and their dirty ways of business. Won't Get Fooled Again aims an automatic rifle at the heart of contemporary politics, and threatens to fire. With verses full of despair, death and violence, and a chorus pleading for change, this song not only reads as a threat, but sounds like one. Pete Townshend's sharp, twisted guitar strokes spinningcircles with Entwistle's running bass lines makes the only appropriate drum line to be just the one that Keith Moon pounded out on seemingly every track The Who had ever recorded. Not to mention the greatest scream of rock and roll history in the last two minutes of the track followed by the words "Meet the new boss / Same as the old boss".

"Who's Next" is not perfect, but there can never be a perfect album. There can never be a perfect song. There can only be an album or song which most coincides with your tastes, and this album is mine. A work of art that everyone should listen to at least once.

Tracks to Make Sure You've Heard:
Baba O'Reilly, Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again

"Who's Next" gets an easy 9 / 10. If The Beatles had written those two softer songs, this album would've been flawless...


This is the first of many musical reviews to come. Please, keep an eye open. If there's any albums you'd want my opinion on, please, tell me, and I'll listen and talk your ear off.

Thanks,
Jess