Reviews (page 4 of 12)
60 years later and this still rocks. Fun debut album and of course the title track is a classic.
This was a fun listen! I enjoyed the energy and the variety on the album and it had some classics on there.
This was fun! Probably not my favorite album by The Who, as it feels very foundational for what is to come. Its still really cool. When you contrast this with The Beatles, who were releasing music at the same time, this feels harsher and more raw. Certainly more blues inspired. In fact, they're just straight up ripping off Chicago Blues staples with I Am A Man and The Ox. But I'm totally okay with it, because thats how this music got big and eventually connected with people. This was fun!
Les gars de… quel band déjà? Entéka, ils ont cook fort pour un premier album, plus fort que les Stones et Kinks en plus que ça. On sent la fougue qui les anime sur chaque tracks, sans toutefois reconnaître le style hard rock définitif que j’associe avec eux. Même, à plusieurs reprises, j’ai cru que c’était les Beatles dans le studio, faut croire qu’ils étaient un peu populaire ces petits bonhommes là…
Really enjoyed this album, a lot more than I thought I would since I have tried it before. Probably a 4/5 for me, some songs I wouldn’t add to a playlist or listen to, but I wouldn’t skip while listening to the album.
this is my second who album (don’t remember much about the first). very 60’s (i wonder why!) “i don’t mind” had such a good flow to it. the rest was all kinda the same. however… that’s not a bad thing on this album. i actually kinda liked it. very easy listen, some very fun tunes. 4/5.
Great debut, mix of genres here, I can imaging at the time of its release it was a big deal. It’s no Who’s Next but it’s a great start.
I can see the beginnings of rock here still tangled up with the pop sounds of the 60s.
When you think of The Who, it’s hard not to bring up The Beatles and The Stones in the same breath. They were all part of that same British Invasion wave, but each went in their own direction. At the time My Generation dropped, The Beatles were already veering toward psychedelia, and The Stones were still doing mostly covers with a few originals sprinkled in. Looking back, I’d still rank The Who third behind those two, but what they were doing with this debut was bold and seriously influential. The title track, “My Generation,” has aged into a full-on anthem — raw, rebellious, and way ahead of its time. “The Kids Are Alright” shows a more melodic side, with that jangly 12-string Rickenbacker that sounds a lot like what The Byrds would be doing just a few months later on the other side of the Atlantic. And then you’ve got a handful of tracks that are bursting with early punk energy — rough, fast, and not afraid to get a little messy.
I absolutely did not kill my dad
Legendary album, with some certified bangers. Some solid covers here too. Just a blast all around. 8.3/10
Bárbaros. Y no es lo mejor que tienen y de lejos son muy auténticos. Moon, Thousand , batería fantástica y guitarra que se siente. Me gusta
Good album. Classic 60's songs, like beatles. Really nothing much to say. I think they're fathers of rock too, so yeah, must listen. Songs saved:a lot/even more
Some good songs but a lot of filler, especially in the first half of the album. The Ox the most interesting song.
A-side, although classic, is a Beatles knock off. B-side, where they really showed the world who they are.
Dope
Just another banger album from the 60s. One Album A Day has been good to me lately. 4.5/5.
never listened all the way through. this is incredible considering the conext of the time.
Pretty good embryonic Who. But oh boy is My Generation a masterpiece, which elevates this album to 4 stars for me.
> the Beatles
Yeah not bad!
The album is a tad dated, and a tad cliche when it comes to 60s British Invasion. However, it's enlightening to see how The Who were able to distinguish themselves off the bat, especially to a softer band (up to that point) like the Beatles by pushing the boundaries on each instrument, especially the Drums. Keith Moon's unconventional drumming for a 4 piece band in the 60s seems like a turning point for hard rock and punk rock. In a way, The Who may be the first punk rock band, especially given the Youth Rebellion Anthem that "My Generation" becomes. For historical purposes, it's a 5 Star album. Musically, maybe 3.5 So a solid 4.
Listened Before? N A big influence of an entire generation of music. Sixties rock in the vein of the Beatles or Stones. I liked it alright. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: My Generation
Pretty solid, never listened to the WHO like that before and thought that this was pretty good. Interestingly though, I listened to the deluxe edition which is like 3x longer than the original album. It got a bit excessive with the deluxe version but I still think of this album fondly.
Three stars plus one for the solo on "My Generation".
already heard this a while ago before i started using this generator. wonder how it matches up in terms of score to Who's Next Out In The Street - 4/5 I Don't Mind - 5/5 The Good's Gone - 4/5 La-La-La Lies - 3/5 Much Too Much - 3/5 My Generation - 5/5 The Kids Are Alright - 4/5 Please, Please, Please - 4/5 It's Not True - 3/5 I'm A Man - 2/5 A Legal Matter - 4/5 The Ox - 3/5 Average score: 3.7/5 (rounding up) i enjoyed this quite a bit, but i still feel Who's Next had a better sound overall
A little more bluesy than I expected but overall very good. Short and sweet. Favorites: I Don't Mind, My Generation
Undeniably good, but it still feels like they haven't quite found they're own sound yet. So much of it sounds like they're slightly aping Beatles and Stones vibes. Really good but not their best.
I dunno, I wasn't feeling it at first but then the title track hit and I was locked the fuck in for the rest of it. Good good stuff here
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. A good bit of it sounded like early Beatles, but the back half of the album had a lot of old blues-rock influence and it had a strong finish. 3.5/5, rounded up to a 4.
I wasn't sure where this was going as it is a little weaker at the beginning, but The Who are solid as always. They do a good variety of song types on this album, but they are always st their best with the harder rock stuff. Not their best, but I liked nearly every song.
a great one for sure! Love the who. On this one you can already tell where they’re headed. They were chaotic, but poppy. Keith moon and John Entwhistle were a killer rhythm section. Dudes killed it. Moon was a messy maniac, and brought chaos to even the pop songs.
proto punk, los hooks no son taan buenos y hay mucha cover. Los singles son clásicos.
4.0/5.0: Great
good album but not even close to the best output by the who
3-4
Solid debut. They definitely have better albums than this. I swear they were singing, "the good scone" in that track. Would've been a better lyric. Who doesn't love a good scone?
Some solid classic rock. I still prefer the albums Tommy or Who's Next, but a good early album from The Who
You can almost hear the band morphing in this album. From some guys playing in the garage sounding Beatlesque, to a full fledged rock band. They hadn't fully hit stride yet when it was done, but they had definitely set the foundation.
Wish it was more consistent
My review on this one got screwed up, so going back a couple weeks after the fact to rewrite. I don't think I had actually listened to this one before, although it definitely was one I was familiar with. I listened to The Who pretty early on in my formative music years, but never really expanded out beyond Tommy and Who's Next. What stands out to me here for an album of its time, is of course the musicianship, but also the more hard edged, punk-like approach than many of their contemporaries. This is definitely the sound of a band confident in their abilities and with significant potential, which I suppose is easy to say in retrospect. Thankfully for the rest of us, they continued to hone their talents and put out fantastic music for years.
Rock movido, solos. Casi Rock moderno
Veldig bra. Liker flere av sangene. Hørt mye på samlealbumet.
It's good but album so big why there's 30 songs in it. Really hard to listen to all this in a day but I tried it's decent. I don't like rock that much but it's good.
I wonder if the way I felt was the same way my father felt when listening to this for the first time. I know that this was all very innovative. I enjoyed listening to the album from start to finish. I can't say that I'm in love with this style of rock, but I can say that I appreciate it for what it is. I probably won't be seeking out this album again. I am happy I was able to listen to it though.
Super fun. Lot of songs hit the spot.
look, when you're dealing with a relatively early british invasion album, you're gonna get the following: a handful of r&b covers, a couple of hits, and some filler. although the who is a little bit later on the british invasion timeline, this one pretty much fits that standard. the highlight, of course, is the bombastic title track, which thumps forward like nothing else on the scene at the time. it's iconic. also on this album is 'the kids are alright' which is another great tune. they cover a couple of james brown tunes (which are pretty decent covers) and also the bo diddley standard 'i'm a man' (which is less decent, but still fine). the rest of the album are originals but nothing particularly mindblowing. still, they're not bad. overall, it's definitely not the best thing the who would eventually offer, but it's a nice enough start.
Over the past two years I’ve been switched onto The Who by my wife who is quite the fan. I’ve not spun the entirety of My Generation before but I took great pleasure in it. Some quality tracks I don’t recall hearing before such as Out In The Street and I Don’t Mind, plus the rockin’ radio singles like The Kids and the title track. Good stuff.
A nice start for this legendary band. Some of the songs are dated but you can hear where they would go. The drums are the standout for me on most tracks.
It's the who.
I enjoyed the mix of hard rock and blues songs. Really good cover of Please Please Please and of course My Generation and The Kiss Are Alright are iconic.
Some strange cheesy songs make this a relic volume. It catches The Who before they found their style. A couple of gems give a hint of what is to come
Good solid rock
I love the Who - and whilst they would defn go to make better albums there are a few classics on here - my generation / kids are alright. Not a 5 but a strong 4.
This is crazy! You actually chart the evolution of one of the greatest bands of all time through the tracks on this album. For a first album to be so diverse is wild: Crooners, almost lounge-y (‘Anytime you want me’), to blues (‘l’m a Man’), to barrelhouse rock (‘Shout and Shimmy’), to the punk influenced rockers they would become (‘My Geneeation’). There are even in between stages, like fish with little feet (punk-swing ‘Leaving Here’ and lounge-rock ‘Instant Party Mixture’). The title even hints at the Darwinian nature of what’s within.
I agree, Mike. What a diverse album and almost complete statement of a band out of the gate. So many great songs on here!
Damn, they sound young. I know a couple of these songs. Pretty different from what they end up sounding like
Me sorprendió muy gratamente.
Not as good as Who’s Next but still a cracking album
I have a lot of respect for the Who, however, any album that is not titled “Who’s Next?” is a 3 star. Who’s Next is by far their best and on my short “desert island” list. I’m giving this one a 4 ⭐️ as it was their debut album and was super progressive for its time. Standouts on this album are the title track, The Kids Are Alright and The Ox. Pete, Keith and John smoked this song. The oldest known recorded track by The Who and one of the top all-time rock instrumentals in my judgment.
Pretty good. Peaks with “My Generation” and kinda fizzled by the end though
What a great debut
Good Lord. Sixty years ago. I'd not listened to this album before, so was slightly surprised by the number of cover versions on it....and James Flippin Brown? Covered by these English White Boys.... How Rare. But overall ... damned good. Yes, it is "of its era" but timeless. I know that's a bit of a cop-out, but ... Just go listen to it.
A quite decent debut. A few hits, some R&B covers. The non-hits were still pretty good.
I like the Who, this was pretty fun.
I have always said I am not a fan of The Who. After listening to My Generation, I think it’s more Roger’s voice I’m not a fan of and I probably did not give the band a chance because of this. But, I don’t mind Roger’s voice on My Generation. It could be on this debut album, he had not developed his style yet. And, the songs I did know, I liked. Regarding the music, it seems they were testing everything with this first album to see what sticks (which is not bad by any means) It included different styles of music from blues to punk, to Beatle ish, to straight up rock. I LOVE the drums. Keith is awesome. The song The Ox is excellent.
Rating this album requires historical context regarding the music scene in 1965. Rubber Soul was released late that year, but prior to this album, it could be argued that much of The Beatles work was rooted in harmonies and love topics to win the heart of their large teen fan base. Dylan was doing his folk thing. The Byrds released their first album of folk rock. The Stones hadn’t really acquired their songwriting chops yet. Zeppelin wasn’t even a thing, neither was Hendrix. Amidst this backdrop The Who released their debut, My Generation. It was nothing like what was being played at the time. It was not even well received. I am generally indifferent to The Who. I want to like them because they were cited as an influence by the grunge movement of the 90s that I love. But I could never really embrace The Who’s heavy synthesizer use. This album doesn’t use synthesizers and it is a much different vibe from the post 1970 work the band created that I was more familiar with. I enjoyed this album and appreciate why it is considered groundbreaking. The drums. Oh my, Kieth Moon, I understand now why you are considered a legend despite your relatively short life. The ever popular Beatle sound tended to put the drums a bit back in the mix to focus more on the vocals and guitar/bass work. Not The Who. Drums and bass are going to be in the forefront and force you to begin feeling what later harder driving rock will make you do — get out of your seat and bang that head. Feel the groove. This is considered to be the beginning of a louder rock era. And again, put yourself in 1965 and see your mouth dropping and wondering WTF this is. If I had half stars, I might make this a 3.5. Given its historical importance and plus I enjoyed the discovery, it’s gonna get a 4.
Cool that their biggest hit is on their first album
302/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
The songs I was already familiar with were the best. Preferred the second half of the album, built momentum.
Well this is interesting. So I've never really got into the Who, for whatever reason. Maybe it's Townsend's weird songs, but its their mod sensibilities (I definitely would not have been a mod had I been there). But I've only heard their big songs, all the standard FM radio stuff. From this album, I knew the title track and the Kids are Alright. But the rest was new, and quite a surprise. There's some tracks that sound like the Who at their peak, like MG, with Moon and Entwhistle just tearing through it. KaA I found surprisingly beatlesesque. But many of the rest are blues and soul numbers, Please Please Please was a real standout, and on I'm a Man, I really didn't know Daltrey could sing like that. Does this record make me a Who fan? Not really, but I like them more than I did, and I would even listen to this one again.
The WHO are the same as the Beatles but with electric guitars
3.5 Hot take - 1965 Who were as good (Beatles) or better (Stones) than similar releases that year. The others mentioned went on to achieve much greater things, which in my opinion can't be said for the Who, but still, what a great, raw, genre defining debut. Definitely scores a few upwards points just due to the age of this. Incredible stuff.
El rock de los 60 en su máxima expresión. Un album de rock - folkesco. Impresiona mucho que para los años 60 The Who ya utilizaba recursos que a día de hoy están tan normalizados, pero antes no existía.
i love the who
Відчуваються вайби The Beatles
This is the best of their albums on the list (I believe there are 5). It's very typical of that mid-60s British Invasion sound, but with better musicianship than most of their peers. This is before they developed their self-indulgent proggy arena-rock style.
Alright I was getting bored in the first half, but they won me back in the second
Only a few tracks I know, but all very good. A few blues tracks as well
Нормальний альбом,є навіть дуже непогані пісні,але десь зірки на 4
Lekker! Fijn
Definitely albums like this I'd like to listen to more of, if nothing else to see if there's hidden gems. Lots of hits but nothing unepxected.
Pretty good. Still sounds fresh and vibrant. A few really great songs. I’ve always loved the description of The Who as being a band with four front men, and it does seem accurate for this album.
I mean, it's the fucking Who ya know? We'd have no Pearl Jam without.
3.5 stars. Difficult to rate an album based on one iconic hit (title track) and the rest of it being more forgettable pop rock, even if it set the stage for harder genres to grow out of it.
I always kind of forget that The Who were a British Invasion band (I think) at first. This is good, but at the same time, it’s not amazing or anything. I ran out of things to say
Classic! Saw them just a few years ago, still brilliant.
I think this early stuff by The Who is so much better than all the experimental stuff that followed. I've never really liked the song 'My Generation' and my favourite tracks on here are the cover versions of old souls/blues songs. That being said, it's a very good album overall.
All bands during 60ies have the same sound and vibe. Still I was surprised that I really liked this album. :)
A good record - it must've had quite an impact when it first came out. So many versions of this, hard to know which one to listen to, to get the right one for "1000 albums". A few outstanding tracks, a great 60s rhythm'n'blues LP.
Excellent example from the British Invasion
It’s such a cool mix of doo-wop, blues, proto southern rock with just a twinkle of metal in its eyes. Such a cool album with a ton of variety. Loved just about every track.
So good to see their baby faces, 1965, what a year. Club scene for such exuberant music. The Kids Are alright and My Generation are mega hits. It was the beginning of the transformation of music and this album was one of the first. 4/5
Love the band, liked the album
My Generation The Kids Are Alright
Good album. Had listened to before. The Ox is my favorite track. Didn’t like there’s a million demo and bonus tracks added. Just give me the classic album no extras.
Gutes Ding
The whole albums is a 2 for me. I didn't hear anything spectacular or slightly interesting. But 'My generation' is fucking wild and genius and we, as a fucked up society, are so lucky to have it. I'm putting 4 just because of this song.
My Generation isn’t just an album—it’s a 36-minute declaration of war against boredom, authority, and anyone over the age of 30. The Who don’t just play these songs; they attack them, with Keith Moon’s drumming sounding like a caffeinated octopus having a meltdown, John Entwistle’s bass rumbling like a muscle car at a red light, and Pete Townshend slashing at his guitar like it owes him money. Then there’s Roger Daltrey, who doesn’t so much sing as bark, snarl, and, on the immortal title track, stutter his way into rock ‘n’ roll history. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it sounds like four young punks trying to smash their way through the walls of a recording studio. But beneath the chaos, there’s something razor-sharp about My Generation. The songs are tight, the hooks are undeniable, and there’s a desperate urgency in every chord. “The Kids Are Alright” and “A Legal Matter” show flashes of melody beneath the sneer, but at its core, this album is pure, unfiltered teenage frustration. It’s the sound of a band that hadn’t yet mastered their instruments but absolutely knew what they wanted to say. And what they’re saying, loudly and repeatedly, is get out of our way. Nearly 60 years later, that youthful defiance still crackles through every note. I like this album, but you can tell it’s shackled by the limits of 1965 recording technology. The Who want to be heavier, and you can hear them straining against the era’s sonic restrictions, begging for the kind of bone-rattling power that the '70s would later deliver. The guitars are crunchy but not quite feral, the bass rumbles but doesn’t roar, and Keith Moon sounds like he’s trying to punch a hole through a drum kit that just won’t let him. My Generation is a raw, explosive spark of what’s to come, but it’s clear The Who were already itching to kick the door open even wider.
Ver good album. Great classic rock songs
A classic!
classic! makes me want to be a mod AND a rocker
Un clásico del garage británico de los 60. Muy buen álbum, súper divertido, lleno de energía y que inspiraría sonidos más pesados en el futuro. La verdad es que nada que objetar. Además, me recuerda a una época de mi vida en la que me dio por la cultura mod, así que punto extra por nostalgia.
Pretty basic British Invasion debut. My Generation and The Kids Are Alright are great songs, and you can kinda hear the foundation that would lead to the Who’s later greatness.
Decent album, but I agree with Pete Townsend that this was a rushed attempt by their label to profit from their successful singles. Feels a little all over the place, but holds up due to their talent. 4/5
Find raw, early rock. They got better. :)
The Who really burst on to the scene. This album rocks and shows glimpses of that raw rock n roll that The Who became known for. What a treat.
Super Eclectic, and memorable. Learned a lot.
Feels old. Not an insult, The who are super representative of their time as they caused it all. La-la-lies is a banger. Grew into the album as it went on but it's not my usual style of rock.
Brilliant energy
It's great, but it's not "Who's Next".
Placing this album in context (mid sixties, birth of rock) it is a great and influential piece of work. Many bands drank from this fountain. Many bassists were inspired by these lines. Many drummers were influenced by these beats. It is clear it earned a place in this list
Really solid debut. Nothing groundbreaking.
10/01/25 4/5
Keith Moon was 19 when he recorded this....What a chaotic and rare talent.
Mods rise up
Classic
81% Best: Out In The Street; My Generation; The Kids Are Alright Must-Hear? The Who have better albums than this. In that case, no.
Short concise songs. Liked it.
My condolences to the people of the 60's who considered this hard rock. You poor souls. I'm thankful to live in a time with more options. That said, this album is solid. I even enjoyed the instrumental track (The Ox). At the time I imagine this would have been an easy 5. 60 years later it's hit and miss so I can't go that high, but given how old it is and how much I still liked it, I feel like it deserves a little better than the standard 3. 3.6
Very fine
Better than I expected. Liked the ox
Like most of these older bands, I'm only familiar with their big songs. This is a really solid debut album by itself, but it's fun to see them trying to discover their sound. There's stuff that feels like classic rock, but other songs that sound like great versions of classic rock. Some of the bluesy stuff kind of caught me off guard, but thinking of British Invasion days it doesn't feel out of place. Some of the vocals sound like a bad James Brown impression, but the instrumentation, mainly drums make me look past it. I'd give it a low 4. Liked it but didn't love it.
When The Who rock, they rock the fuck out. My Generation still hits hard today. However, I really enjoyed Much Too Much & The Kids Are Alright which were considerably more chill. These guys can do it all.
Pleasantly surprised with this one. Nice mix of pop/blues/rock/garage. The only time I was really bored was "My Generation" since I've heard it so much. "The Ox" was a helluva way to end the album. 4.5 stars.
Compared to later Who albums, these sound like humble origins. It's amazing to think that "Tommy" came out only 4 years after this debut and sounds completely different. "My Generation" is particularly impressive because it could have had a spot on this list even if they've never released anything else. The Who literally declared themselves the voice of a generation and came out swinging rougher than most of their contemporaries. The Rolling Stones are maybe the closest comparison, but The Who were more abrasive, eclectic and interesting. It's a strong debut album for a band that would achieve monumental heights within a few years.
Great band of the 60’s and 70’s. Great songs, too.
I've already listened to this too many times, it's familiar and comfortable
This album broke new ground when it came out, in terms of energy levels (Pete's power chords, John's bass solo, and of course Keith's drumming), but it's still quite derivative of the American blues and R&B they were immersed in. So, imho, not as interesting or exciting a record as, say, Tommy, Who's Next, or Quadrophenia, despite these records occasionally falling flat or being a tad too ambitious.
In the words of my immortal father Kenrod Chutney SNR…..‘that’s the best album by The Who’……4.2
Best album from this mid 1960s era so far. Not the best Who album, but way ahead of its time in 1965 as far as hard rock. A few huge hits.
Great album, My Generation, I'm a Man & The Ox were my favourites.
I liked it! more rhythmically interesting than London Calling IMO. it's definitely a product of its time
Keith Moon's drumming can wake the sleepiest of souls.
Really enjoyed 'The Ox'
An excellent intro to the world! Not my favorite, but well worth every spin!
first time listening to this album and i really loved it! my least fave song was the james brown cover “please please please” - felt like it really didn’t fit in and i don’t quite love that sound in general. “the good’s gone” i loved this one so much! “the ox” was amazingly fun and epic to listen to!! i am wildly impressed by the insane drumming - *claps*. “my generation” is an absolutely iconic song ofc.
1965 Good ole rock n roll
It was good. Great instrumentals, but I couldn't get behind the vocals often. Not a bad listen tho. 'The Ox' was my fave.
I appreciate the opportunity to look back on a bygone era.
Loved the excitement and enthusiasm.
The Who are a force unto themselves
The who is a classic
probably more a nostalgia 4, closer to a 3?
Decent debut from The Who. A bit of a mix, as they bring an R&B style on songs like Out in the Street and their James Brown and Bo Diddley covers (I Don't Mind, Please Please Please, I'm a Man). Did all white bands try to emulate (or worse, steal) the sound of legendary black R&B and blues artists? Granted, they play it a little harder or angrier then those legends. But it's still a softer feel than the classic title track. Daltrey's vocals aren't quite at their best just yet, though still solid. Townshend is what makes this album - his guitar playing and its many varied stylings on this album are amazing. Just listen to the different styles on The Good's Gone (jangly plucking) vs. Much Too Much (riffing) vs. My Generation (pulsing). The first one is so deft and the last one is so powerful. The Kids Are Alright is another example of their mixed style - sounds like a Beatles chord-based pop song most of the time, but listen between the verses and choruses and you hear Townshend breaking away with some edgier guitar sounds. The best song on the album is the instrumental The Ox. What a f'n cracker. This is the first time where I thought these guys (not just Townshend but Entwistle and Moon too) can play. Nicky Hopkins guesting on piano also adds so much to this song. I want more of this energy and less of them trying to be something poppier. Without this song, the album is a 3 or 3.5.
A great album full of energy and much better now in stereo
The pop gems on this record is what pushed me to give it a higher rating. They remind me of early Beatles tracks with lots of energy, despite a lackluster production.
喜歡，經典！
Probably my favorite album from these fellas so far, it's such a strong debut.
Pretty good first outing from The Who. Not as good as their later stuff but still great for the time.
Own
Off to an energetic start. Also, so many versions of this album! And is that Marylin Manson on the cover under the "Who"? I know it's not, but daym. Not exactly my thing, but not terrible. I can see the appeal, and should explore more. 3.5/4 but closer to 4. At least it didn't get annoying like Bob Dyldo did.
Sounds exactly as I'd expect based on the songs I already knew. I liked it.
The Who were just wee lads here! It's always interesting going back to the beginning for some of these rock bands that had meteoric rises in popularity. And the Who were certainly meant for the moment with this debut album. It's jangly, crunchy, and chock-full of attitude. Among the cream of the crop during this era of "British invasion" rock bands, yet distinctly different from the Beatles. The Who definitely SOUND young here, but the whole collective of Daltrey-Townshend-Entwistle-Moon bounce off each other well in a musical sense. Come for "My Generation" and stay for some good early hard rock. A little raw, but still a damn fine debut for a group that would fine tune their sound and go on to do even bigger things.
Thoughts before listening: Early stuff from The Who when they were still the mod scene band as opposed to the stadium rock giants they became. Their early stuff has much more of an proto-punk feel with short pop songs played fast and loud. I love the title track to this album and in general am a big fan of this era of the band. Review: This is fun. The Who would definitely go on to bigger and better albums, but I do really enjoy their early sound. These are basically kids bashing out pop originals and blues/R&B covers in a style that would soon be called punk. There is definitely a direct through line from this sound to those early British punk bands...which is interesting since those bands were rebelling against the excesses of the 70s arena rockers such as The Who. 4-stars
Two days in a row of The Who... It's so annoying when you get back to back albums by the same band. It's good stuff though, I always like the Who. They're really solid instrumentally, and they make the covers their own.
the playful and DIY nature of The Who's My Generation album highlights an infectious energy that is clear even in the studio recordings of the album that mixes elements of rhythm & blues with mod pop rock tendencies and almost a little bit of rockabilly
Great debut album. And they got better.
Bluesy, bit similar to Beatles and stones
Didn't expect to like this as much as I did. Always liked The Who from afar but never delved past the usual suspects. It's a great record and a lot rawer than I expected. Very garagey and patchy and full of I don't give a fuck! Great playing and powerful vocals. Think the Tommy era Who always clouded my judgement but this is fierce .
Nice
有点petsound内味
I love this band, but I have to reserve five stars for "Quadrophenia" and "Live at Leeds" i.e. the David Bowie problem, so many great records that it's hard to figure out where the cutoff is between four and five stars.
Oi mikä kitaraintro The Good’s Gonessa. Mietin tätä levyä kuunnellessa, kuinka The Whon vaikutuksesta musiikkiin aikanaan ja myöhemmin ei ehkä puhuta tarpeeksi. Paljon, mut siis kamoon kuinka paljon heiltä lainaillaan. Toki he lainailevat myös muilta. That’s rock n roll. Tässä levyssä on haettu kivasti kokonaisuutta eikä vain sinkkukokoelmaa - instrumentaali-ilottelu lopussa sitoo homman kasaan (vaikka imo se on vähän geneerinen. Vai loiko The Who tämänkuuloiset jamittelut?)
Pretty solid, a little generically 1960s-power-pop, but varied enough to keep me interested. Definitely feels like the music that'd play in a cheeky British comedy.
not bad
This album is like the missing link, bridging the gap between early 60's doo wop pop music and the punk movement of the 70's. It deserves praise for its place in history, even if it isn't the greatest of albums.
Awesome album, cool
Wow I can't believe this was recorded in 1965, they had a pretty rocking sound much earlier than I thought. I listened to the mono remastered release and heard a lot of songs I'd never heard before. Obviously My Generation and The Kids Are Alright are great but heard several more songs on here that I liked. Overall a 4 I'd say.
This album rocks with a harder edge than most everything else from 1965. It's their first album, so they're still rough around the edges, but there are glimpses into their great harmony vocals. Sometimes, they sound like they're doing a Beatles tribute ("The Kids are Alright"), sometimes like a hella good blues band (covers of "Please, Please, Please" and "I'm a Man"). "The Ox" is a helluva feature for Moon and Entwistle, despite it basically being a 4 minute guitar solo for Townshend. 4 stars.
What sets this album apart from normal 60s Brit rock is the insane rhythm section, capped by Moon’s unique approach to every single beat on the record.
Whether you're a Boomer or an Alpha, the raucous rhythms and timeless themes of The Who's debut prove these tunes don't need to be of your generation to be your anthem.
Pretty solid and I could see it being a big deal when it came out in ‘65
Lays solid groundwork for what they would become, but still not fully formed lyrically or musically. My Top 3: 3. The Ox 2. The Kids Are Alright 1. I Don't Mind
Tremendo
4/5. The instrumentation is definitely a standout here. They could have been a copy of every band before them but they bring Keith Moon and John Entwistle up front and the chaotic nature added creates almost a sense of uneasiness like pop might not be their foray. Although this is a debut, it definitely feels experimental and I think in some of the songs they finally found that balance. It's an authentic raw moment with it's only downfall being the covers and reliance on some generic British pop tropes. Best Song: My Generation, The Kids Are Alright, The Ox
I have never listened to this album before. I know The Who. Who's Next is nearly perfect. This is young and raw. I didn't expect the R&B covers, not sure what I expected. It's a lot of fun. I can hear hints of sophistication in their songwriting, but they're not the finished article yet.
Fav: Much Too Much Least Fav: I’m A Man Another one that’s so close to being a 5…atleast it’s definitely my favourite 60s album so far
I've listened to a bit of the Who before, but I don't remember hearing their first album in its entirety until now. Damn, it's a fine debut album. It has some clear R&B and blues influence mixed into catchy harmonising pop; then it swallows all those things into crisp, forceful rock music. You can hear major foreshadows of the Jam, who are one of my favourite 1970s bands. The only really weak track (for me personally) is the cover of Bo Diddly's "I'm a Man". I love Diddly and this song kind of makes sense in the context of the Who's songs about coming of age, speaking for your generation, etc. But it sounds like the vocalist is doing a "rugged bluesman" impression on this track, which feels inauthentic. By contrast, the Rolling Stones give me that copycat feeling across most of their early material - so the Who are doing pretty solid in general. I know I'm going to be hearing shards of this album whenever I listen to 1970s punk, power pop, and mod revival records - so I'm definitely enriched by having enjoyed this one! 4*
Great classics, and wonderfully of it's time. It has a bit more of a lyrical edge to it than a lot of bands at the time seemed to.
A very strong debut, mature and assured, even if the band thought it was rushed and editors think they were finding their way genre-wise and being led astray by evil record co execs. The whole thing rocks, a touch raggedly, somewhat aggressively, and the diversity of styles is a strength. They brought a liveliness to the blues where their peers just copied them. A number of first-rate cuts – "KIds Are All Right," "Anywhere, etc.," "Legal Matter," and the title cut, of course. The James Brown and Bo Diddley impersonation are much less effective, though one hears how Daltrey coulda been a valid crooner. And what a basher Keith Moon was – this is truly a drummer's record. One finds "hardest mod pop" to be a quite apt description – it fits, though clearly they were exploring the spaces between genres (liminally, we'd say now).
So interesting to hear these white dudes who were so heavily influenced by the old black R&B greats. You have affected voices, harmonicas, clapping and signing as in a Southern Baptist Revival church. Fascinating. Behind it all you have great arrangements, some classic tracks (title, The Kids are Alright, I can't Explain) and when placed in it's time, some really groovy tunes man! I can see hearing this why they were right there with the Stones at the time, but to me, this doesn't stack up comparatively. My rating will be based on their contemporaries similar outputs. I would give some of those Stones albums 5s, so this will have to be lower. Not even sure it's a 4 honestly.
This one is definitely going to need some more listens.
Big fan of this. This is the second The Who album I’ve listened to and I’ve been happy to hear both of them :)
Yeah ok, like a 60s Rolling Stones album except I only know one of the tunes. Which probably makes it the best Who album on here. Oh yeah, The Kids Are Alright is here too. It's all good. Can't Explain from this era also. Basically the only period of The Who I like aside from one or two later songs.
Un gran álbum, captura la esencia de los boomers en los 60s y lo que se estaba trayendo en la invasión británica (non derogatory). No es mi favorito de los Who tho
Some all-time classics mixed in with a few generic covers.
Oh, it's that My Generation! Pretty short but solid tunes the whole way (so it's impressive how long they managed to make the album), and I don't think there was one I didn't like bar the random 'party mixture'. However I am dying to know what is going on in It's Not True ?? Such weird lies! Especially loved the weirder part a bit after halfway through, but it tailed off towards the end. Got me through a solid chunk of the working day!
For a quickly put together debut album, this is a good one. Familiar with 3-4 songs from this album, knowing where they were headed, this history lesson was well worth it. Nicky Hopkins! What a great start to a band that loomed large…My first concert was the Who way back in ‘79 after Moon’s death. “Pop-art-meets-maximum-R&B”
I am very familiar with the Who but never listened to this album. I really enjoyed hearing where they started.
Early Who is raw. It shows its direction in forming hard rock. There are a few really good songs: Kids are Alright and My Generation. I was always impressed by the latter as one of those total rebellious and shocking songs that embody the teen and early 20's frame of mind. Its the same for my generation, their generation, and all generations before and after. I often think about them playing that song on Ed Sullivan and I imagine all the adults in the room jumping out of their seats when Daltry hangs the stutter on the Ffffff of the line "Why don't you all just....." Everyone older heard Fuck Off! before he actually finishes "Fade Away." Awesome! A Legal Matter and the Ox are a nice surprises too. These songs hold up. But there are many museum pieces on the album that do not really hold up. And some real mistakes on the album too. Their version of I'm a Man with Daltry trying to sound like a cross between Muddy and Howlin Wolf misses the mark badly. 3.6
i’m so surprised i like this as much as i did. it was honestly so cool, and bluesy and jazzy and interests me enough to listen to more of them - i would have honestly given the album a 5 - i just sadly disliked the first and last song, but otherwise, cool stuff.
Old pop sound beefed up Drumming mania displayed Equals debut splash
Pretty darned good!
undoubtedly an absolute classic. though i had never fully listened to the album before, i knew a fair few of the tracks, and it made me realise how influential the band were, notably in the creation of the mod scene. the music itself is well-produced, and sticks in your head for days after. probably one of the best who albums.
Closer to a 4 say a 7.8 with a few amazing songs. But should have included the other singles like "I Can't Explain" and "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere".
just a really solid listen
The Who’s debut. Mixed bag, some solid songs some filler, but I find most Who albums to be such.
Part of me has always written The Who off. They came up during an era of UK bands such as The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and The Kinks; bands that seemed to totally shape the music of the 60's and heavily influenced the 70's. I just never really understood what set them apart from their peers and every attempt to make a genuine effort to deep dive into their discography I always found myself bored at some point. But their debut album is somewhat of an exception. Don't get me wrong, I still don't see what makes The Who a particular stand out band; despite that, though, 'My Generation' is very much a fun LP. The covers are actually fantastic: 'I Don't Mind', 'Please Please Please', and 'I'm A Man'. They do a great a job of showcasing the band's strengths in all areas; straight up rock 'n' roll with solid vocals. While the two big original hits 'My Generation' and 'The Kids Are Alright' have stood the test of time as fantastic anthems. I also need to highlight the album's final track 'The Ox', an improvised instrumental that ends everything on an absolute banger of heavy drums, fast tempo, and grungy guitars. The rest of the tracklist is a bit hit or miss, leaning more towards hits. 'Much Too Much', 'It's Not True', and 'A Legal Matter' are all catchy bops, even if they are a little trapped in their own time. The only real problem I have with 'My Generation' is that the first couple of original tracks are rather forgettable. While this certainly won't convert me into being a fully fledged fan of The Who, I'm also not going to deny that they mostly hit the mark with their debut album; even if it does kind of drown in the sea of more influential works from this era.
4/5
4.5
Great album happy to have revisited it in full
I like the straight ahead rock and blues styles on this album. The lyrics about how a woman belongs to them is a bit cringy to hear, but the album overall is solid. 4/5!
3.5* rounded up to 4*. I don't love the Who, but certainly respect their outsized impact on rock. Particularly for this being their debut from 1966 AND it having My Generation and The Ox, it's impressive. The Ox is just a banger. I think I came to realize that the main reason I don't love the Who is Daltrey's voice. I like it in some songs, mostly later in their career, but not universally across their catalog. Also, I really like The Ox, in case I didn't mention it.
ich bleibe dabei: besser als alles andere aus den 60ern. coole mischung von gefällig bis instrumentalem gedröhne, aber immer kunstvoll. i liked it.
Wow, was für eine moderne Platte! Tönt wie 20 Jahre voraus.
Enjoyed the rawness of this album. A bit like early Beatles Albums it’s a bit simple but you know awesome things are on the horizon. I enjoyed it in the same way as earlier Beatles albums, they are good but you know there is better.
The who who what happened to you in the 70s
Like the middle between the Beatles and the Clash. Great drumming and vocals leading the forward drive with energy, even with Daltrey’s voice still young and raw. Fun harmonizing feels kind of out of place considering later albums, but fits their silly style perfectly and foreshadows the vibe of several later songs.
I don’t think it’s cool to like The Who. But I like The Who. And while I like late 60s/70s Who, I really like this album.
Imagine if this album had been recorded with the technology and technics used during the loudness war of the 90's. I mean, we don't have to imagine, there is an Oasis cover that does it. cool album
Definitely an album of its time. To my ears, this sounded almost like a live set. It's a very well done album and for sure worth listening to.
Favorite Track: Please Please Please
Ну так,прикольные динозавры
3.5
Great energy+song connections
Already heard it, but why not relisten? The debut album from the legendary British Invasion band, The Who. This album is pretty groundbreaking. The Who went for a raw sound on this album, influencing genres like Hard Rock, Punk Rock, Heavy Metal. Pete Townshend's songwriting is also pretty different from other bands at that time, because Pete wanted to write lyrics that teenagers can relate to, and he succeded to do so (for example, tracks like the title track, of course, and The Kids Are Alright). While I enjoy this album, this is not the best Who album. The Who made way better albums from this point forward. I love the conceptual direction they took with the "A Quick One While He's Away" track, then with The Who Sell Out, and the groundbreaking rock opera, that is Tommy (also Quadrophenia, which is the better rock opera, as much as I love Tommy), and what would have been, Lifehouse (now known as Who's Next). But I like the mod, pop-y vibes of this album. It does sound like it was made in the 60s. Fun Fact: This album was released on the very same day The Beatles released Rubber Soul and also the very same day Bob Dylan was at his press conference in San Francisco I like the cover of James Brown's "I Don't Mind" -favorite songs: Out In The Street, I Don't Mind, Much Too Much, the title track (<3), The Kids Are Alright (<3), It's Not True -least favorite song: I'm A Man
Solid debut. Great alternative 60s rock sound to what we were churning out in the States at that time.
Great album!
One of the classics of all time...
A lot better than the other Who albums we've had, evokes all the cool Britannia stuff. Sounds very 'classic', really like the splashy drums, sounds big and exciting compared to the other bands at the time. It's a bit rough and ready, singing is a bit ropey too but that adds to the charm. For all of this I wouldn't say it has many great songs, my generation aside, but its so much better than their later stuff. 3.5.
My GENERATIONAL album is what they meant to name it.
- the songs sounded old timey but this was strangely very enjoyable, even if it was really long - contrary to what The Who says, the kids are NOT alright - Instant Party Mixture was a fun old timey bop
Big Fan of The Who. Great album to hear the alternate takes of My Generation and The Kids Are Aright.. but there is a lot of old nuggets that, frankly, I'm surprised that they spent their young time doing covers of these Oldies. The instrumental of My Generation is awesome - enjoy Moon's attacking of the skins. However, overall the songs are just OK. It's like listening to the first Beatles album. You hear the talent. and can't wait for them to mature into true artists.
Like it... Context: https://ceremonymusic.ca/home/thewho Podcast: A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs - ep# 136 "My Generation" by The Who
Last time I had to listen to an album of the who it was pretty painful all around but this one is pretty fun.
Haven't listened to much of The Who, which is bizarre considering my love for other british bands like The Kinks and The Beatles. This album reminds me of any of the first three albums by The Kinks. Its an old school rhythm and blues record with a couple of standout tracks. I actually really liked this album. 'My Generation' is the obvious hit, but there are other highlights also. The music is very good. I always hate how buried in the mix the bass guitar is in early 60's albums but it still at least noticeable as a highlight of the album. I am listening to 'Please Please Please' as I write this and the bass is grooving big time. I'm looking forward to listening to other albums by The Who in this challenge, as this album feels like they were just getting started. And if their discography is anything like The Beatles or The Kinks, their best is yet to come. FAVORITE SONGS - It's Not True - My Generation - La-La-La-Lies - Please Please Please - The Kids Are Alright 4.25/5
Приятно слушается на зеднем фоне.
old school rock and roll, with my generation as a stand out track. I don't think it's a miracle that that's the only hot from this album. otherwise perfectly enjoyable, but not really remarkable
Solid rock and roll album, each song felt unique.
This had a much stronger blues/golden oldies/surf rock vibe than I was expecting. Which is not a bad thing.
This was a good introduction to The Who, though I would wonder if the album has a place in the book due to the quality of the album or because this is the first album by a band that will be important in the history of music. I've always liked The Who but have struggled to get into their music like I have the Stones and the other Mod-ish groups. What separated out The Who is they were more garage than the Stones but still had an R&B edge, while the Stones were more blues. If someone wanted to be introduced to The Who, I can't say I would recommend this album to them. There are other albums I would start with, though I think it makes sense to listen to this album at some point. I can't figure out if this should be in the book or not. I enjoyed the album though and feel its importance to music history.
Love the Who, this album did so much for music, Keith Moon just bangin away leading the band thru the who album
Un bon album de old school rock n' roll. Ce n'est pas un album que je trouve particulièrement marquant ou sensationnel, mais c'est solide, ça a eu une influence importance et ça a bien vielli. 7.5/10
Some great mid-60s mod and rock'n roll presented here on the Who's debut. While not every song stuck the landing for me, there were some incredibly predictive moments here relating to the sounds of pop, rock, and punk yet to come. Obviously the title track 'My Generation' is mind-blowing - I love Daltry's stuttering vocals, The Ox's bass interludes, those insane power chords, the backing vocals, and that cacophonous ending. It's truly a magnificent song. Aside from that, the album absolutely breezes by with some great tracks filling up its relatively short run time. I love the warm harmonies on 'The Kids Are Alright', that shimmering ahead-of-its-time guitar tone kicking off the garage-influenced 'The Good's Gone', and the proto-punk and noise-rock masterpiece that is the closer 'The Ox'. While 'The Who' would go on to do more ambitious and colorful things with their music, this album captures a uniquely influential sound and time in English Rock N' Roll history. It's also just really enjoyable.
The Who's first release, the album has some gritty blues at its base but you can hear the band reaching for it's own sound. There are a couple very fine tracks and the basic quality of the band is clearly there. Very uneven.
Amazing debut. Keith Moon's drumming is out of this world.
Never bothered with then before, just know the singles. But this is properly 60s groovy in a good way.
Really nice
The Who will always be close to my heart, so of course I enjoyed it.
Good stuff. 4.
This album sounds different than the rest of their later work, but the foundation is there. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
Many songs on the album sound much more “modern” than I thought existed in the 60s. It’s groovy - perfect white people dancing music, and I would absolutely tear it up. I’ve heard a lot about The Who, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever actually listened to them before. I don’t recognize any of these songs.
I listened to this album while driving on a road trip. When The Ox came on, it started pouring rain and visibility dropped to be g able to only see the car directly in front of me. Something I’ll probably never forget. It felt like I was running out of time in my Donkey Kong Country level or some shit. Really enjoyed it, though. Lots of pop, rock, and blues influences throughout. I have a better understanding of why The Who have been so critically acclaimed for so long.
I really like The Who, but half of this album feels like they're just trying to be The Beatles. It feels like they start to find their voice around "My Generation". I still enjoyed this album, but less than most debut albums for me.
tight. didnt know the who was this british
The Who became the quintessential album-as-a-statement band. But I also love these early "maximum R&B" Who LPs, when they were a really great singles band. Of course My Generation and The Kids Are Alright and A Legal Matter are sublime in hindsight. But it must've been jarring in 1965 to turn on the ratio and hear a singer stuttering over a track of guitar feedback, bass solos and drum freakouts. The track is still a perfect distillation of the individual strengths of each member of the band. And the album is still the most aggressive and offensive example of white R&B and garage rock.
Rating the original 1965 release. Starts off kinda average. Once it gets into the fourth track or so, it starts getting good. The standouts are obviously My Generation and The Kids Are Alright. Ends with an instrumental track The Ox which was pretty cool.
4.5/5. This one surprised me. I really enjoyed this - classic 60s pop rock, very easy to listen to. Pretty solid album.
niet de beste plaat van The Who, maar toch hoor je al echo's van wat nog moet komen... klinkt als The Beatles met serieuze cojones... qua debuut kon dit wel tellen met kleppers als 'My Generation' en 'The kids are allright'...
Classic classic rock.
Liked this albums slightly rawer and more bluesy feeling. Nice change from the more jangly 60s pop of the Beatles
Much more of an early 60s classic "Oneders"-style rock and roll / soul / doo wop than I really realized. Their blues efforts (please please please, i'm a man) are way less compelling than their pure power pop stuff. The emphasis in all of these very tightly constructed songs is on the harmonies and the big bright pop melodies. But they bring a chaotic high energy rhythm section and overdriven guitar loudness that goes harder than the songs really allow, and so the band erupts from the confines of that early 60s pop rock and roll mould. Favorites: The Good's Gone, La La La Lies, Kids are Alright, Legal Matter, I Don't Mind
Turns out I know more The Who songs than I thought - didn't know they were around as early as they were, pretty grungy for 1965
This was good. My first time exploring The Who besides the hits. The ties to other 60s rock sounds are there for sure. I was entertained.
Who are you and why are you all staring at me like that? There's been a lot of talk over The Who's band name even since they formed all those years ago. Some like it, some hate it. I think it is outright genius and they have leant into the comical side of it over the years. I honestly think a portion of their success alone can be attributed to that, it's simply iconic at this point. "My Generation" is their debut album and I'll start with the cover art for this… I'm not impressed. We get it, you fuckers are part of the UK. The font colouring and Union flag pairing give me the shits here, absolute eyesore. Now there was an alternative cover of them all standing with Big Ben in the background, I like that one more. Now this album came about after the success of singles "I Can’t Explain" (not present on the album) and what would be the title track to this and an absolute pioneering song "My Generation". The band quote it being a bit of a rushed job and wasn’t truly representative of their stage performance at the time. So, is it any good? It opens up with "Out In The Street" and you're met with a fast-paced and fun start. Keith Moon shows you what he's all about from the get go with a tidy, up-tempo drum beat. The thick bassline underneath from John Entwhistle provides further backbone to the track. On top of it all are some nice vocals. Firstly, a passionate and energy filled performance from Roger Daltrey which is paired with some nice backing no,no,no's through the choruses. Nice track, high energy and not a lot else quite like it at the time. Next we have "I Don't Mind", a rendition of a James Brown song. Keith's drumming is tight again, the harmonising vocals are nice in parts but the star of the show here clearly is guest performer Nicky Hopkins on piano. He has some great little runs here that aren't over the top but do just enough to make this a good tune. It's solid, without the piano I would've been left just 'whelmed' probably. "The Good's Gone" follows, with a nice clean opening guitar riff. Roger's performance on here is interesting, it's raw, dark and honestly may have paved the way for a lot of what was to follow from Punk music as a whole. The guitar work through the whole of this track is fantastic, the chord progression through the verses are interesting and ending the track with the intro riff again is a fun touch. It's a little repetitive though for it’s run time so that hurts it a little bit. Still a rather nice and forward thinking song though. Now for…hang on a minute… I thought this was The Who, not the fucking Beatles. "La-La-La Lies" is a rather nice little pop tune. The harmonising vocals are nice, Keith's drumming is fantastic and Nicky Hopkins features again with some nice piano runs. Another good song, slightly derivative and conventional though. We then get "Much Too Much", where I don't like Roger's performance on the chorus. It sounds like he's slightly disoriented. The song as a whole sounds a little messy, Keith's drumming is probably much too much (no pun intended) given the rest of the song. You can barely hear Nicky Hopkins piano contribution on this. It's also rather a repetitive and tiresome song. Not a hit for me sadly. I suppose it's not such a bad thing though as what follows is a piece of outright fucking magic. "My Generation" could be attributed to the beginning of Punk music. Pete Townshend quoted "My Generation was very much about trying to find a place in society. I was very, very lost. The band was young then. It was believed that its career would be incredibly brief." Now, this song is very much a sum of its parts, everything that could go right for it does. It is all the more impressive given how complex this thing really is. It kicks off with the main riff and a tight drum beat. As soon as Roger comes in, a fantastic bassline offers support underneath him. Roger's 'stuttered' delivery through the verses is creative and works brilliantly. The harmonised vocals on the chorus are perfect. The little bridge has a nice little bass lick. Then you have a stroke of genius, THE key change of all key changes. The song modulates from in the key of G up through to the key of C, going up a step after each chorus. It completely shifts the song and almost acts as a progressive intensifier being in a higher key. Then Keith has a little moment of brilliance with a drum fill before a final chorus/outro. I could not fault this song even if I tried and knit picked like a bitch. It is one of the greatest rock/proto-punk songs of all time and for 1965 it is absolutely outrageous. I'd give it a 6/5 if I could. Can they go two bangers in a row… ABSOLUTELY. Now, "The Kids Are Alright" is another one of those that sound like they could be pulled straight from the Beatles arsenal. The harmonising chorus is very reminiscent of a lot of the first two Beatles albums along with the general backing vocals through the verses. Matched with it though is a rocksteady drumbeat from Keith, some nice melodic guitar work underneath. Great tune, no real gripe beside me still thinking it's a song from the Beatles. "Please, Please, Please" is another James Brown cover. This one doesn't do a lot for me beside the little groovy guitar solo courtesy of Pete. I find the vocal performance awkward here and the backing vocal calls are mixed oddly and too low. Keith's drumming is still solid as ever though, just nothing of note. Guitar solo saves it's ass. "It's Not True" cranks the speed of things up again. Besides some 'interesting' songwriting choices, this is great. The intro chords are pleasant. It's immediate, up-tempo drumming from Keith is excellent. The harmonies on the chorus sound great paired with the piano underneath it. In the final verse there's a nice chunky guitar riff on display as well. Good song. I am also a man and I too can spell M A N. Fuck "I'm A Man" kind of stinks. A cover of the Bo Diddley song, Roger decides to butcher the living fuck out of it with the worst performance on the album. Take away from this, I suppose the instrumentation toward the back end is nice. "A Legal Matter" is Pete's first go on lead vocals and… I like it. It's an interesting change of tonality, much softer. His performance itself isn’t really much of note but the instrumentation on this one is superb, mainly carried by the piano performance from Nicky Hopkins again. It's a shame it's rather quiet because his runs on this really bring the song to life. Keith is rocksteady as usual and the guitar work is solid as well. Nice seeing Pete take centre stage. We close out with "The Ox", an instrumental which has the best intro by a fucking mile on here. Keith bashing the shit out of the kit, Nicky Hopkins again on piano pulling out some more tidy runs and a chunky distorted guitar riff. It's an unrelenting onslaught. Are these blokes a jam band or something? Then some genius feedback effect is used on the guitars at the back end that sounds great. This is a true display of musicianship. What an awesome way to close it off. Final Thoughts It's tough, I'll remove the three covers (especially that Bo Diddley shitter) from my view on this. As for original music alone, this is fantastic. There's a mix of well slightly unoriginal pop music, albeit still sounding great. But there's also some seriously forward thinking and what may have been ground-breaking stuff at the time, namely "My Generation" and "The Ox". It's clear this had a huge influence on rock music as a whole and the punk scene that followed. It's not really an album then for me and doesn't work as one, which the group said themselves. It's more a compilation of a mish mash of music. I would love to give this a 5 but I just cannot and it's probably lucky to get a 4, mainly due to it's influence. TRACK RATINGS Out On The Street: 4.5/5 I Don't Mind: 4/5 The Good's Gone: 4/5 La-La-La-Lies: 4/5 Much Too Much: 3/5 My Generation: 5/5 The Kids Are Alright: 4.5/5 Please, Please, Please: 3.5/5 It's Not True: 4/5 I'm A Man: 3/5 A Legal Matter: 4/5 The Ox: 5/5 AVERAGE TRACK RATING = 48.5/60 x 10 = 8.1/10 ALBUM RATING = 7/10 TOTAL RATING = 7.55/10
Очень классный переход от рок-н-ролла к хард року и металлу. Вайб есть Алкоальбом: батин коньяк
I'm not surprised to learn this is their first album, as they certainly sound fresh. I only know the singles (which fit the "Who" sound that I know), but some of the other tracks sound decidedly generic. That said, it's a damn good stepping stone to what they'd do in the years to come. Keith Moon is in full force from the start, though; closer "The Ox" shocked me awake from my daydreams with its raw power.
No standouts but a great summertime album
Bardzo przyjemne. My generation to hit wpadający w ucho, który rozpoznaje się po pierwszych nutkach. 4/5
Solid album. Has some classics on it. They sound like 4 different bands on this album. Part trying to figure out who they are, part record company influence. I didn't know Nicky Hopkins played on this. What a talent that guy was. The Ox is a completely different track.
For some reason, I always think of The Who as being a bit more modern, but this is proper retro sixties – raw and rebellious. My mum always says how cool Roger Daltrey was, and I kind of get it now. Vibes. Favourite track: My Generation (o'course!)
Nothing wrong with this album. I really liked it!
Hope I diet before I get old.
Their generation
This is what I want from an album. 30-40 minutes of well written music. It's only not 5/5 cause some of the lyrics are a bit... um. Let's just say there was better to come from the band.
Embryonic punk
Classic !
I am not generally a fan of The Who, but can see how they got their - imo - overhyped reputation based on this album. This has bits of all of the stuff that I love from this era, from James Brown to Link Wray. And it sounds more like a playful tribute than copying, and the band add their own spin to the proceedings. They seems to go downhill pretty quickly after this, but this is is a lovely, lively album that I'd play again.
I really enjoyed The Ox and My Generation of course. I don’t recommend listening to all bonus tracks that are on the album on Spotify; I accidentally listened to them all because I was driving alone, so didn’t realise it had tripled the length of the original album.
The issue with a song like My Generation is a really makes all the others sound quite average. Just about scrapes a 4 though. Simpsons: Yes
Pretty good, more listens needed for it to be a 5. Would listen again.
Good
I was very pleasantly surprised how bluesy this was. I know The Who, but I don’t really KNOW the Who, ya know? Now these blokes are covering James Brown? The fuck? I’m here for it.
Loved this album as a kid, still slaps
This album is the seed that a multitude of bands have taken inspiration from. I’ve never been a fan of The Who but credit needs to be given when it’s due.
Love The Who....more than I thought. The hits are the hits...and they have plenty....but the rest is very listenable. Not all great.
A classic. Lots of good 60a rock. I think it’s kind of funny to see what people thought was heavy back then. Regardless, My Generation and a few other songs are great. Only one song (I’m A Man) is holding this back from a 5/5. Still pretty good.
very easy listening, nice and short too
Much better than Tommy
Excellent
ye this good. better than tommy
Solid early Who
Obviously a great album!
Not my favorite British band but was a great listen
Highlights: The Good’s Gone, My Generation, The Kids Are Alright, Please Please Please, I’m A Man, The Ox. In a nutshell: a solid debut album. And one not made entirely of covers, huzzah! Overall: 8/10
The who always has bops, but some can seem repetitive.
Nice
It gets good from "My Generation" and onward. So the second half carries it. Bass, Vocals and especially Drums go hard, Guitars sometimes sound a little strangled, knowing what's to come. Songs have a general feeling of them beating the crap out of their instruments, but it's still a bit early for such a thing and it sounds a bit rough (bothers me only in the first half). Notes: - "Out in the Street" hard drums and guitar killswitch and tremolo action - "I don't Mind" more bluesy - "La la la lies" I kind of get now what they mean by "all their instruments are lead" ...those drums - "Much too much" predecessor to "I can see for miles"? - "My Generation" It just works ...and finally some bass - "The Kids Are Alright" first half was kinda "alright", but now we're talkin'! - "Please please please" more blues, but in a more "Zeppelin" way - "It's not true" nice energy and nice guitar sound here - "I'm A Man" is this a cover of some well-known blues song? (Bo Didley as it seems) - "A legal matter" another great guitar sound - "The Ox" Very climactic beginning and unexpectedly pretty heavy (especially the somewhat low guitar). Sounds like it could be the beginning of some later prog-rock album
Some of it is pretty dated and I had to skip some of the tracks. The title track is still a classic. Moon's drumming is fantastic and I love the vocal interplay between Daltrey and Townsend, like an earlier Staley and Cantrell.
The Who’s My Generation is fun. All the beats and drums make for a playful and catchy listening experience. The vocals also hit, not sounding jarring or uncomfortable either. Although the latter half of the album sees better quality songs, the album is nice throughout. Highlights include A Legal Mater, The Ox, and My Generation. All in all, My Generation is a good album.
Eins og mér fannst The Kinks vera eitthvað voðalega meðalmennsku eitthvað þá fannst mér þetta mjög gott stöff. Ég hef reyndar oft hlustað á The Who þannig að það hefur kannski eitthvað að segja en mér fannst þetta bara frábært og mun líklegast hlusta á þessa plötu aftur.
A strong debut album that really shows off their variety and talent. I’ve always been a big fan of The Who. Not their strongest but a good first showing.
Groovy baby... actually, this IS my bag. Shamelessly, I only really found my way to The Who via Roger Daltery as the bon vivant sidekick of The Highlander. Now going back 30 years before that previous pinnacle, Roger was also in a band. I'm no 60's rock band scholar, but I imagine this band was somewhere on the Venn diagram explosion of British-blues-psych-rock-crew-cut-eschewing-pre-boomers. Of course this record was released years ahead of Led Zeppelin I, but it awakens the spirit while still also holding onto fun-angsty-adolescent on the circley diagram.
Roger Daltry is a massive wet wipe but this was actually pretty fun. Apparently this was the hardest rock album ever when it was released which was a bit odd to read, but the last few tracks did give me some idea of where the reviewers were coming from. 7/10. This amp goes all the way to 11.
Solid solid solid.
This was pretty good.
3.5
the title track really stands out, the rest is good if a bit forgettable, the Who has better songs out there but this is a solid debut album
Classic WHO!