Much of Who's Next derives from Lifehouse, an ambitious sci-fi rock opera Pete Townshend abandoned after suffering a nervous breakdown, caused in part from working on the sequel to Tommy. There's no discernable theme behind these songs, yet this album is stronger than Tommy, falling just behind Who Sell Out as the finest record the Who ever cut. Townshend developed an infatuation with synthesizers during the recording of the album, and they're all over this album, adding texture where needed and amplifying the force, which is already at a fever pitch. Apart from Live at Leeds, the Who have never sounded as LOUD and unhinged as they do here, yet that's balanced by ballads, both lovely ("The Song Is Over") and scathing ("Behind Blue Eyes"). That's the key to Who's Next -- there's anger and sorrow, humor and regret, passion and tumult, all wrapped up in a blistering package where the rage is as affecting as the heartbreak. This is a retreat from the '60s, as Townshend declares the "Song Is Over," scorns the teenage wasteland, and bitterly declares that we "Won't Get Fooled Again." For all the sorrow and heartbreak that runs beneath the surface, this is an invigorating record, not just because Keith Moon runs rampant or because Roger Daltrey has never sung better or because John Entwistle spins out manic basslines that are as captivating as his "My Wife" is funny. This is invigorating because it has all of that, plus Townshend laying his soul bare in ways that are funny, painful, and utterly life-affirming. That is what the Who was about, not the rock operas, and that's why Who's Next is truer than Tommy or the abandoned Lifehouse. Those were art -- this, even with its pretensions, is rock & roll.
This video lasts about 12% of an hour and may test your patience, but ... try it out for at least a couple glorious minutes. Found this on Defamer. I have never watched this television program but I think I get the gist about now, especially when it comes to my favorite curveball line.
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From a biological standpoint, water has many distinct properties that are critical for the proliferation of life that set it apart from other substances. It carries out this role by allowing organic compounds to react in ways that ultimately allow replication. All known forms of life depend on water... Wiki1760x1320 reduced to 320x240No edit, no crop, no filter, no no no...Full sized gallery, 1...
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I think i've decided that this is my favorite album of all time... ALL time! it's not just how i feel today, or it's not just my favorite album from my dad's collection, or my favorite "classic rock album." it is my favorite one hands down. and for good reason. lots of good reasons. here's my 5 best reasons why you should join me in believing...5. The fact that these songs came out of the ...
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It's 1971 and you're arriving home after purchasing the new album by one of your favorite bands 'The Who'. 2 years ago they released the self-labeled rock opera 'Tommy' and last year they released a live version 'Live at Leads'. These two albums are already being regarded as some of the greatest pieces of music of all time and you've been anxiously awaiting the newest studio album. As yo...
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Here in Hong Kong Christmas Eve draws rapidly to a close: the guests are gone, the table is being cleared, the decanters are dry, and I'm looking for a wind down album...I flirted, more than briefly, with _Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J._, then moved to Lou Rhodes' _Beloved One_, but I think I've found a home here with The Who's _Who's Next_. In my search, I had scrolled past The Who several ...
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Once again, I randomly thought about how much I like a song, and have been listening to it since this concept entered my brain.Baba O'Riley, by the Who.Yes, it did come over thirty years ago, and I have heard it an infinite amount of times. But for some reason, it never really stuck me how much I enjoyed the song. I like the intro the best. Electronica-esque, i love it. The lyrics also stick to...
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...Rgslefrgsllllrasdchinfraschin...Just watched _The Kids Are Alright_ again. Hence the above noise.What a film.Before I run off and play the Baba O'Riley segment again (_SO. GOOD._) I thought I'd better jump on here and plead with all and sundry:If you've not yet seen it, *watch this film.* Even if you're not a fan of The Who, it's a fantastic piece. *DO IT.*...The power of Keith Moon compells...
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I'm beginning to lose all respect for Pete Townshend who has sold his soul to multi-national big business to such anb extent that every form of ad media is now inundated with either Bab O'Riley or We Don't Get Fooled Again. This from a man who wrote Quadrophenia, a rock opera about a disaffected English teenager who takes a job as a bellhop in a Hotel, is abused by the management and goes abou...
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inspired by Michael G's post below, and by my own listening to Endless Wire. When I was thirteen or so, my family had a guy named Joe stay with us, for a year, to finish his senior year of high school, since his parents had moved. My brother and I had a rather difficult relationship by then, and I really looked up to Joe. It was around 1972, and he was kind of the entrance of the "hippie genera...
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I stopped over at Hype Machine and checked out the most popular tunes currently circulating the blog-o-sphere...and it was not time well spent.Out of the 50 'Most Popular Tracks'...I am estimating that about 30 of those are remixes. Oh, here is the link if you wanna check it out http://hypem.com/popular Am I the only one that finds these remixes dreadfully dull? Seriously, they bore me TO TEARS...
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Bands like the Rolling Stones and The Who have certainly done more than their fair share over the past fifteen years or so to render themselves irrelevant for just about everyone save those hung up on nostalgia acts. I try my best, though to remember them as they were, and it's kind of hard not to with songs like this.I can't say enough about this album. It's one of my go to discs. It always, a
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When I was growing up in the late seventies and early eighties there was this Who revival. I grew up idolizing Pete Townshend, Roger Daltry and The Who. I always played windmill air guitar with my wooden tennis racket while listening to Who's Next, the first album I ever bought.The fact that Who's Next was the first album I ever bought seems to shock people I meet, they usually ask my age. It m...
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i'm not telling who I'll vote for tomorrow...but GOsh-dangity... it wOn't Be Another Man who will betrAy my trust. I'm just sayin'. Now go smash your guitars and drum kits, but only after you vote.
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This video lasts about 12% of an hour and may test your patience, but ... try it out for at least a couple glorious minutes. Found this on Defamer. I have never watched this television program but I think I get the gist about now, especially when it comes to my favorite curveball line.
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"New polling data suggest that men who are into classic rock (Led Zep, Pink Floyd, or any band created before 1975) are likely McCain supporters. Alt rockers and women are leaning Democrat.":http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080403/pl_nm/usa_politics_rockers_dcAs always, polls fail and the media oversimplifies. I guess I better remove my freshly imported copy of the soundtrack to Dazed and Confused...
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Me and my fam got a record player today. I was so so excited. I've had a few vinyl records that I obtained here and there and have been dying to listen to, and my mom has a bunch as well.These are selections from the three albums we listened to:Going to California for a week, so I don't know how often I'll get on a computer or anything. I'll try to get on here when I can.
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Ok, so we got to talking about The Who over in Rob's Rock Star journal, and I went to listen to Das Who in iTunes and these are the songs I have in there, and after going through them all, I can safely say that they're my essential Who. Please feel free to add your own choices. :)Baba O'Riley - The synth and Moon's drum fills and the chord progression, especially during "Teenage Wasteland"Mary-...
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With all the hoopla surrounding The Beatles agreement to be on the next Rock Band video game I started to think about all the fantastic songs gaming enthusiasts would soon be able to play with their fake six strings and drums. Unfortunately my buddies Matt and Mike over at Earfarm beat me to the punch in listing the best possible songs for that version of the game so I adjusted my list to a wide
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From a biological standpoint, water has many distinct properties that are critical for the proliferation of life that set it apart from other substances. It carries out this role by allowing organic compounds to react in ways that ultimately allow replication. All known forms of life depend on water... Wiki1760x1320 reduced to 320x240No edit, no crop, no filter, no no no...Full sized gallery, 1...
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I'm sure Pete Townshend must be thrilled by the recent study by Jacobs Media group, who found that in the 2008 Presidential Election, John McCain supporters are more likely to be men and fans of classic rock like "Led Zeppelin, The Who and Pink Floyd," while demmycrat supporters are more likely to be women and fans of alternative rock. This is probably depressing to hippies past and present, bu...
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I'm beginning to lose all respect for Pete Townshend who has sold his soul to multi-national big business to such anb extent that every form of ad media is now inundated with either Bab O'Riley or We Don't Get Fooled Again. This from a man who wrote Quadrophenia, a rock opera about a disaffected English teenager who takes a job as a bellhop in a Hotel, is abused by the management and goes abou...
More >
inspired by Michael G's post below, and by my own listening to Endless Wire. When I was thirteen or so, my family had a guy named Joe stay with us, for a year, to finish his senior year of high school, since his parents had moved. My brother and I had a rather difficult relationship by then, and I really looked up to Joe. It was around 1972, and he was kind of the entrance of the "hippie genera...
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Baba O'Riley |
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| 2 Bargain |
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| 3 Love Ain't for Keeping |
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| 4 My Wife |
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| 5 The Song is Over |
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| 6 Getting in Tune |
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| 7 Going Mobile |
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| 8 Behind Blue Eyes |
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| 9 Won't Get Fooled Again |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Who's Next")
