Topic: The Who (Read 9270 times)

Thrillho · « **on:** 23 Mar 2009, 09:08 »

Alright people...

I've recently discovered the awesomeness of The Who. I always knew they were great, but I'm just kind of realising it now.

Partially because I saw them on Simpsons again recently, thought they were hilarious and realised I owned 'Who's Next' on CD... I had a similar experience with the Rolling Stones, and subsequent realised how brilliant 'Gimme Shelter' is. But that's a whole other post, because I still don't give much of a shit about The Stones.

Anyway, The Who.

I have Who's Next, and it's fucking majestic. My favourite part of it is definitely Keith Moon's drums. Nothing on his kit ever stays still for more than a second, and even on 60s/70s production you can hear how hard he's hitting that kit. 'Won't Get Fooled Again' is undoubtedly one of the most perfect songs ever written.

What I want to know is where I should go from here. I like 'Substitute' and Tommy is okay, but I'm more into the harder rocking Who. I also don't like the song 'Who Are You?' even though I've not heard its home album. So where should I move onto now?

mberan42 · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 09:50 »

Quadrophenia

Who's Next is arguably their greatest album.

Thrillho · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 09:53 »

This I have heard, but it just ain't enough for me any more!

Lunk · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 09:55 »

I'm a big fan of Live at Leeds. Not my favorite selection of Who songs, but the performances are great. There are at least 3 different versions of it (6 tracks, 14 tracks, and 33 tracks with all of Tommy on disc 2). I've only heard the expanded single disc release, but I'd imagine they're all similarly excellent.

Orbert · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 10:04 »

The album Who Are You is still considered one of The Who's best, title track notwithstanding. It rocks pretty hard sometimes, but also has some of Pete's more cerebral things on it. It is considered by many to be the last "real" Who album, as it is the last one with Keith Moon.

So you must look to earlier albums, of which there really aren't that many. Live at Leed's is a fan favorite, known for its open, raw sound and unleashed Who energy. You're right about Tommy - it's okay, but if you want harder rocking with your high concept, then Quadrophenia is superior in that respect. It's also a bit more mature-sounding and has better production.

Christophe · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 12:32 »

Live at Leeds for sure.

I don't even listen to the Who's studio albums, ever. All I need is Live at Leeds. The band sounds great (Pete's guitar tone is incredible and rawkin' in so many ways), they play great, they are great.

A Wet Helmet · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 13:51 »

Live at RFK stadium in '89 on their 25th anniversary "Kids are Alright" tour was a fucking awesome show. You shoulda been there... I was

(Never did see them with Moon on drums, but I did get to watch Entwistle play bass. Holy crap was he amazing.)

arkhym · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 14:09 »

Daltrey's voice still to this day has the same energy and power that it had back in the 60's and 70's. The set they had at Glastonbury a few years ago was amazing, still one of their best live performances ever. Of course not forgeting Live at Leeds. Who's next was probably their best album well I think so, seems to be the one I play then most.

Beastmouth · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 14:31 »

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 23 Mar 2009, 09:08

and even on 60s/70s production you can hear how hard he's hitting that kit. 'Won't Get Fooled Again' is undoubtedly one of the most perfect songs ever written.

Huh? Some of the best producers ever were working then!

Also, The Who Sell Out is my favorite because it's pretty funny and catchy. Not their hardest stuff but 'I Can See For Miles' always stands out.

Catacombs · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 14:33 »

Quote from: arkhym on 23 Mar 2009, 14:09

Daltrey's voice still to this day has the same energy and power that it had back in the 60's and 70's.

I have to disagree. I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra play two Decembers ago, and their special guest was Roger Daltrey. It was cool to see him live for 3 or 4 songs, but he definitely didn't sound as good as he used to.

RedLion · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 17:27 »

My Generation is a world away from Who's Next in terms of complexity, song length, and originality, but it's nonetheless my second favorite Who album after the latter. There are just so many simple but awesome songs on there. It's track after track of infectious, perfectly done, grade-A sixties rock. You really cannot go wrong with it.

Thrillho · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 17:35 »

Quote from: Beastmouth on 23 Mar 2009, 14:31

Quote from: DynamiteKid on 23 Mar 2009, 09:08
and even on 60s/70s production you can hear how hard he's hitting that kit. 'Won't Get Fooled Again' is undoubtedly one of the most perfect songs ever written.
Huh? Some of the best producers ever were working then!

Yeah, but technology wise, I think that pre-loudness wars and post-millions-of-tracks-on-every-desk, the 1990s are my favourite period for production.

Shaolin · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 18:10 »

I am also one of the "Who's next" is an awesome album people. Especially the intro of Baba O'Riley gets me every time. Just amazing.
Sadly I don't own Who are you and in addition it's hard to download because of The Who's love for three letter words...

altered_carbon · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Mar 2009, 21:13 »

The Who Sell Out and Quadrophenia are the best albums, next to Live at Leeds that is. That is their best album, just because it's stripped down to their basic, rocking selves. Not to mention the stage banter, which is pretty excellent.

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 05:50 »

Watch some of their shows on youtube. Some crazy stuff.

Thrillho · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 06:43 »

Yeah I've seen a couple of their shows on youtube. I liked a version i saw of 'Baba O'Reilly.' I think it was from 1978.

Thrillho · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 11:18 »

The Who Sell Out is insanely cheap on Amazon (and has 'I Can See For Miles,' which is fantastic) so I'm ordering that.

I've put the 33-track version of Live At Leeds and Quadrophenia on my Wish List.

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 14:17 »

There's one video where Keith Moon passes out (twice! because of tranquilizer or something crazy like that) and then Pete Townshend is all like "We need a drummer. Can anyone drum?" And a guy comes from the audience and starts drumming.

That is Rock n Roll

Catacombs · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 15:16 »

That's fucking awesome.

Patrick · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 15:46 »

"STAGED"
"totally shopped"
"omg u r all such sheeple omg so fake"

I haven't even seen the page with that specific video but the comments are already upsetting me and I just want to go to bed and cry now

(I should not have read the entire xkcd archive as a way to pass the last two days)

StaedlerMars · « **Reply #20 on:** 24 Mar 2009, 17:51 »

None of the comments I've read actually say that. They actually elaborate on the back story. I don't think an obscure video of The Who is what your general internet crowd is interested in. Of course, there's always the chance that it is staged, but Keith Moon looks pretty convincingly passed the fuck out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDwIuIHKirs

Patrick · « **Reply #21 on:** 25 Mar 2009, 14:03 »

Anybody can be legitimately passed out with enough drugs. The random guy part is what people would post stupid shit about.

Trollstormur · « **Reply #22 on:** 26 Mar 2009, 15:28 »

I got hooked on The Who from Rock Band. In fact, Rock Band got me started on a shitload of classic rock. (rush, boston, journey)

Their songs are still my favorite to drum in that game.

skydivingninja · « **Reply #23 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 13:57 »

I wrote a giant paper about Tommy for a senior comp class in high school, so normally I'd suggest to go there next, but you have apparently already heard it...so I'd go with the 2-disc version of Live at Leeds just because Tommy is that awesome in a live setting and/or Quadrophenia.

Thrillho · « **Reply #24 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 15:08 »

Listening to The Who Sell Out so far, I'm not that big a fan. Aside from 'I Can See For Miles,' which I fucking adore, and oddly enough the bits of 'Rael' which he later rehashed on Tommy, I'm finding it a bit 'of its time.' The harmonies and the production, even the songwriting style, remind me very much of 1967, and more specifically, the tweeness of the Kinks, of whom I am in no way a fan. Admittedly this is based only on the first listen. 'I Can See For Miles' is the song that made me pick this to buy (well, that and the fact Quadrophenia was too expensive) but I'm astonished at the difference just two years made between this and Tommy, and then Tommy and Who's Next.

altered_carbon · « **Reply #25 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 17:03 »

Yeah, Sellout is very quirky and Kinksesque, which is why I love it so much. That's one of the things I love about them, just the constant changing till about Quadrophenia, after which it all goes downhill. Not saying Quadrophenia starts them rolling down, because it's definitely a high point in their catalogue, but everything after is a shadow of the stuff that came before.
One of the interesting things about Sell Out is that it's undeniably a concept; the whole pirate radio thing, the themes of commercialization...it's an interesting stepping stone to their more theatrical pursuits.

michaelicious · « **Reply #26 on:** 08 Apr 2009, 19:40 »

I think I say this whenever someone mentions the Who, but if you are interested in the Who you should also look into a band called the Creation. Pete Townshend asked their guitarist to be the second guitarist for the Who at one point. Somehow they were never popular anywhere but in Germany.

There are two compilation records of their stuff that are both excellent, one is called How Does It Feel to Feel? and the other is called Our Music is Red--- With Purple Flashes. If you have one, you don't really need the other but they are about equal in quality.

Thrillho · « **Reply #27 on:** 09 Apr 2009, 05:37 »

I appreciate the concept of the record, it's very smart. But honestly, I just don't want to listen to comedy jingles and such, I wanted rock music, which is what I know The Who for. Admittedly it's my fault for choosing this one to buy because I knew it going in, I just assumed I'd like the actual songs in between the jingles more.

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Author Topic: The Who (Read 9270 times)