Album Review — The Who

The Who — WHO

The Who are back with their second release as a duo. “WHO” is the follow up to 2006’s Endless Wire. According to guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend, all of the songs except for two were written in the last year with his brother Simon. Townshend has said there is no theme or concept this time around, just eleven new tracks.

Before we start, we need to get this out of the way. Roger Daltrey is 75 and Townshend is 74. This is not the same band that we remember from the 60s and early 70s. There’s no Keith Moon or John Entwistle. But listening through “WHO” there are times where I hear the band that once was without being a nostalgia album. This band still has something to say even if it’s not in the same way.

The album starts off with a familiar sound with “All This Music Must Fade”. Daltrey still sounds very good even if a little more gruff. There’s a lot more acoustic guitar in the mix than what we all remember and the electric guitars play more of an accent role. Townshend’s distinct background vocals are on display on this fine opening track.

“Ball and Chain” opens with a somewhat familiar piano part that leads to a more bluesy tune. Daltrey’s lower register works well here.

The album’s biggest highlight for me is buried in the middle of the album. “Street Song” doesn’t really remind me of any previous Who songs in particular, although the sound is closer to early 80s Who. Townshend’s backing vocals add a lot to the chorus as Daltrey’s vocals hit their album peak. “Street Song” would easily make my Top 20 Who songs which is saying something.

Other highlights include “I Don’t Want To Get Wise”, which is the closest to nostalgia on the record but done in a cheeky way. “Beads On One String” is another track that doesn’t really sound like anything I’ve heard from them before but I really like. “Hero Ground Zero” has a more symphonic rock sound and the mostly acoustic “Break The News” is another strong track.

There are a couple of tracks that I don’t like much, but that’s par for the course for me on any Who album. Overall I would say I’m pleasantly surprised by “WHO”. I wasn’t expecting that much and there’s some really good stuff here.

My encouragement to you is to remember what this is. If you can listen to this record without expecting to hear early 70s Who, I think you will enjoy this record. It’s a nice way to wrap up our year of reviews.

85 out of 100

PS — Thanks to everyone for reading and hopefully listening along this year.

Track Listing

1. All This Music Must Fade
2. Ball And Chain
3. I Don’t Wanna Get Wise
4. Detour
5. Beads On One String
6. Hero Ground Zero
7. Street Song
8. I’ll Be Back
9. Break The News
10. Rockin’ In Rage
11. She Rocked My World

*Best Songs