Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Not what I was expecting. Pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this album.
So very British, but so very good.
I love the concept behind this record. It's humorous and satirical take on commercialism and pop culture. It's nostalgic and charmingly British. A unique listen, filled with silly fake radio sections and adverts which blend into the tracks. The songwriting and performances are great. It's just a fun listen overall.
Relax. It’s supposed to sound like they Sold Out. The Last Time I heard The Who, I was on a Magic Bus. Got to go. Someone’s Coming.
fun album, like the silly commercial jingles in the first half
OK. Finally, an interesting Who album. This is great
It’s alright! 3.5
Cool album. The commercials are a bit annoying
If Monthly Python and the Oompah Loompahs got together to make music, this would be their result. Nicely done, The Who. You've succeeded in making me smile.
Deifinitely not the best recorded album, but it's only 1967 and they have done a lot with the technology available to them on this one. Better than the horrors of The Kinks "self-produced" albums which have all the sonic grace of a donkey pissing in a bucket. The idea of making a sort of virtual radio station for this album complete with jingles and adverts is really quite original, doesn't feel like it now, such pastiche is commonplace. In truth the songs are patchy, enjoyable little comic songs such as 'Odorono', and 'Tattoo' meditate on the small worries of day to day life, whereas the coruscating psychedelic crash of 'I can see for miles' goes nowhere but makes quite an impact on the way. Later on we have the excellent 'I can't reach you', 'Sunrise' and 'Our love was' are more mature and thoughtful pieces that point towards 'Who's Next' and 'Tommy' In short this is the middle stage of The Who's manic race from garage R&B band to full on rock operatics which took barely 5 years. Uneven, but important, contains a few great songs and is worth a spin just for historical interest. No joss sticks and ponchos for The Who in 1967.
Hippie Album, nice
yeah i kinda. like. really like this. the radio gimmick is actually really charming, and the interludes being quick little jingles actually just scans well. they're not nearly as intrusive or obnoxious as i was expecting them to be. helps that the music is just straight up good.
It's The Who. And not their mainstream stuff (mostly).
Are The Who responsible for the concept of skits on albums? If so, thanks a lot guys. Putting that aside, it's not bad for such an odd little album. The fake ads are fairly listenable and the rest of the songs are pretty good. It's gimmicky, sure, bit also documents a period of ads and pirate radio pretty well. Too bad they got a off of legal trouble for all of the unlicensed material.
Much better than Tommy, a good album I had never listened too before. Will listen again
A really fascinating listen. Great jangly sound. Probably the most humor you'll hear in a Who album. Also fascinating to hear the seeds of Tommy being sown throughout. While I'm not rapturous about it, any album with "I Can See For Miles" is going to be worth a listen. Unexpected banger: Glittering Girl.
Sell out with me oh yeah sell out with me tonight
This is hilarious
The original punk rockers. Another album i owned, bought used at my favorite used record store in Pike Place Market in the mid 70’s. I would stare at the cover while listening, wondering what the hell was going on, and why did I liked it so much? I think the liner notes included pictures that were equally disturbing to my prepubescent brain. The Who was one of my favorite bands in the 70’s, and this album definitely played a role in my development.
The first 4 of 2024. This is way better than Tommy but I don’t get the huge deal. Maybe because I listened to the mono version and the production is pretty flat. Overall it’s pretty solid and I Can See For Miles is great.
when i was like 12 or 13 the who were one of my fav bands. never listened to this album though. i really liked it, nostalgia for the band for sure playing into it. i fucking hate the album art though
Un album ludique et innovateur
Add a star to the money bag one
Not my favorite album from The Who, but there's still some really good songs on here. "Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand," "I Can See For Miles," and "I Can't Reach You" are the best songs. This is peak "weird" from The Who, but I enjoy lots of weird music from this time period.
some tracks were really good and others were really weird but i appreciate how fun the whole album is
Strange album. Kind of all over the place but very enjoyable and love the classic sound. I'd need to read a little more about the messaging of this album.
Aside from Stingy Silas (thanks Enwistle!), I really enjoyed The Who Sell Out in all it's weirdness and satirical digs at the 60s British radio airwaves. This psychedelic style suits the Who well, and the British ads spliced into the music provides the blueprint for a lot of The Cleaners from Venus 80s output. For me, the songs hold up through the skits and silly bits. It's also cool to hear some of the musical inspiration that would lead to Tommy. 3.5/5 Fav tracks: Rael (Pt. 1&2), I Can't Reach You, Tattoo, I Can See For Miles
Feels a little like Mothers of Invention, not sure why this was such a hit.
An incredibly clever and fun concept album designed to imitate a radio station—complete with ad breaks! And it foreshadows that the Who’s greatest work was just around the corner…
4/5. A funny album that shows that the Who can be fun while still being some of the best musicians of their time. They carried this energy over to Tommy but even this one has some well-written songs but definitely some major silly ones that don't necessarily age too well. But I can't knock the fun they are having and I'm here for those vibes.
4.25
Nice revisit.
The Who is a classic '60s rock sound, which I didn't realize what I heard often back in the day. I thought they were much harder rock, so I was surprised at this album.
I’m not super familiar with the Who outside of Tommy and Quadrophenia, so this surprised me. I enjoy it in the same way I enjoy the Kinks albums of the same time (Village Green, Victoria). Fun, catchy, but maybe not as mature or fully realized as I prefer. Solid album for sure.
The late '60s was a time when shackles of convention were tossed off and traditions examined critically. Free to infuse as much personality, humor, and imagination into their music as they wanted, The Who produce this incendiary, immersive concept album that showcases all of their greatest talents.
Lyrics The album's lyrics exhibit a satirical take on commercialism and pop culture, reflected in fake commercials and public service announcements within the tracks. Notable tracks like "I Can See for Miles" showcase Pete Townshend's lyrical prowess, exploring themes of love and betrayal with a touch of cynicism. Music "The Who Sell Out" excels in the quality of melodies and harmonies, demonstrating the band's musical prowess. The album's musical diversity, ranging from rock to psychedelic sounds, showcases The Who's versatility and experimental spirit. Production The use of fake commercials and innovative production techniques, such as jingles and radio-style transitions, contributes to the album's unique charm and immersive experience. However, some critics argue that the finish of the album is less than satisfying, hinting at potential inconsistencies in the overall production. Themes "The Who Sell Out" is a conceptual masterpiece, addressing themes of consumerism and the commodification of art, placing it in the realm of pop art. The album's underlying theme lacks a firm storyline from track to track, contributing to its unique, eclectic nature. Influence The album's influence on the pop-art movement and subsequent generations of musicians is profound, solidifying The Who's impact on the evolving landscape of rock music. Its experimental approach paved the way for future concept albums, showcasing The Who's role as pioneers in the music industry. Pros and Cons Pros: Innovative concept and execution that set new standards for concept albums. Strong musical performances, especially in tracks like "I Can See for Miles." Cons: Some critics find the finish of the album less satisfying, pointing to potential inconsistencies. The lack of a firm storyline might be a drawback for listeners seeking a more cohesive narrative. In conclusion, "The Who Sell Out" remains a landmark album that successfully blends satire, musical excellence, and innovation. Its impact on the music industry and the enduring influence on subsequent generations make it a classic in the rock genre.
this is NOT Saturday morning music
This is a weird one to rate. I love The Who but never really got into this album, it sounds out of place compared to any other of their recordings, and still I found it really fun this time. Maybe I listened to it in a good mood? Well, I guess this is one I'll be revisiting soon to check, but it's just fair to keep on rating the albums based on the most recent listening, as I've been doing with every single other. You get a pass for now, Sell Out.
beans
за охуенный концепт 4, звук на 2-3
в те моменты когда начинаю уставать, то начинается какая-то странная звуковая дичь это мы любим
A right classic. 4 stars.
Album 170 of 1001 The Who - The Who Sell Out Rating : 4 / 5 Fun album. I prefer some of their others more, but still a good listen.
Rock de The Who. Ningún megahit. Se me ha hecho largo para ser vinilo. Un 4.
Advertising never sounded so good.
quite cool
I had a good time with this. Wild the only version seemingly on streaming is a 4 hour version with just different takes of the same songs?
While I may prefer the more conceptual, heady Who of Tommy, I can't deny that this song is just bop after bop. It's still loosely conceptual while making the focus on catchy pop songs.
This album has my favorite early Who track: "I Can See For Miles". I always liked how the band is keeping the lead as one note, but the harmonies underneath it are changing. And the guitar solo of one note, too! The band is really hitting their stride, and the songs do not sound that dated in the 60s. A few have a moment or two, but they still pull it off for me. It's interesting to hear "Rael 1" and hear musical ideas that come out somewhere else, like on TOMMY. The ads at the tail end of the songs did get a bit annoying, I do have to admit. Probably the weakest song on the album was for me "Silas Stingy." Man, that was... yeah. Can't give this a 5-star rating even though it has some great tracks on it. It's not solid throughout (looking at you Silas Stingy), and the ads get annoying. I listened to the Expanded version of this album, so there were a few tracks I want to make a comment on: I had heard Melancholia before but it was just Pete Townshend, as he had released it on one of the "Scoop" albums he had. And "Mountain King?" really?
I think this album is fun. Love concept albums and actually like these kind of 60s albums. Surely a strange album, not the best but def should be on the 1001 list because you had to listen to such a fun and innovative album. A 3 star album for me but because of the funny concept. 4
Kind of a weird, fun Who record. I liked this one quite a bit, though the later half was a bit weaker than the first. 3.5/5
I fuck with it. As prevalent as the who have been, I’ve never paid them much mind. The who sells out felt like a culmination of all the styles of that era, yet putting their own spin on things. I definitely vibe with it. Willl return.
excellent, enjoyed it still.
If monthy python made an album. In a good way
Another classic album!
Weird but fun
What an interesting and strange concept for an album. Modelled after a radio station, complete with ads. Very forward-thinking for its time. The only song on here that I was familiar with prior to my listen was "I Can See for Miles". A great track of course, but there were quite a few good tracks here. "Our Love Was" is lowkey my favorite of the bunch. I need to listen to more of The Who.
Surprisingly nice.
This album is a mess, but it's a *beautiful* mess. The overall concept is hilarious and often well-executed, from that iconic cover down to the tongue-in-cheek radio interludes. Admittedly, it's not always an easy listen when you take the whole thing in one sitting: some of the 180-turns are jarring, and a couple of tunes are a little lackluster, especially compared to the highlights scattered throughout the album. Yet this thing is still very interesting and fun to listen to, both as a historical document about the sixties, and as a work of art dealing with consumption society--a topic that's still very relevant 55 years after *The Who Sell Out* came out. To put it in nutshell, this record is maybe a notch under *My Generation*, *Tommy*, *Who's Next* or even *Quadrophenia*. Yet it's still an "essential" album. Who's next now? (Sorry, couldn't resist) 😁 Number of albums left to review: 584 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 200 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 95 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 123
Fue bueno, tal vez las primeras canciones fueron algo aburridas a mi gusto pero terminaron con broche de oro
Only one hit I'd heard of but the others are accomplished late 60's Psychadelia with satiric samples. As a whole it's 'bitty' although I think that's the nature of the beast
so great, should’ve lost the commercials though
Not sod bad, not my favourite Who album but listenable
Interesting and groovy-sounding, particularly in the context of a band forming itself, moving from pretty raw proto-punk to a more ambitous, tuneful and conceptually rich approach. The satire probably seemed funnier all those years ago but some fun and memorable cuts, starting with “Our Love Was” and “Rael” and “I Can’t Reach You." There are sign of rock-operatic ambitions to come. One would like to have seen how the record would've played on its own terms and shorn of the mostly silly (and largely irrelevant) set-up and "concept."
Very 60s sounding, not always in a good way. Almost a cliché / parody of the other songs around at the time. Even the bigger songs sound weirdly tame and muted - maybe because of the muscular live versions that have become part of the backstory of rock music.
A super quirky and weird serving of the Who is on deck for today I see. This has to be their most random record! This is my second record by the Who, the first being My Generation. A concept album, which is full of little commercial jingles and Radio London bits. Apparently they did all of this without permission, causing them to be sued by the companies they named. If you can see past the experimental, weirdness of this album, there are still some great songs on it. I Can See For Miles is a classic! Silas Stingy is kind of the first glimpse into what was to come with "Tommy". The song Tattoo is hilarious! Overall, another great album by some of the godfathers of British rock and roll! Favourite songs: Silas Stingy, Tattoo, I Can See For Miles, Mary Ann with the Shaky Hand, Odorono Least favourite songs: Armenia City in the Sky 4/5
already heard, 8/10
An album I’ve listened to before and still as good as I remember. One of The Who’s best
Happenstance pulled up three Keith Moon-era Who albums within a week from this list for me - I'm a fan and I've listened to all these songs a lot but even so I'm surprised and impressed by the range. Very few bands managed to have as much humor and whimsy and still rock so hard where it mattered. A great and odd album.
First half was mid but 2nd have had 5/5 production. John Entwistle is a goat.
I liked the mountain king one. I think I've actually played that. I think this is a very clever album for it's time. It seems like they were very much aware of how some of the things they were doing looked, and so they leaned into it. Notes on the music, it's The Who, classic rock. Music that I grew up listening to in the background in a million different ways. It may not have ever been something I sought out for myself, but it is the type of music that shaped the soundtrack of my youth. 21/15 bananas for creativity and nostalgia.
Not entirely sure why there was a coca cola and car advert in the middle, but a 'creative' album.
baita som
The Who were such good musicans and Roger Daltry had an incredible voice, but their pre-Tommy recordings are so watered down. It sucks, because the songs here are quite good- “I Can See for Miles” especially- but these aren’t the best versions of themselves. B-
Back when Townshend knew how to truly make a concept album and doesn't burn the toast. I love it when artists try this kind of shit, and it (mostly) works.
Not a masterpiece but very entertaining. Loved the album art, concept and execution and found the juvenile sound of a very young band on the cusp of breakout success both interesting and refreshing. Only one or two hits (miles and miles) but some other fun songs sprinkled in with sometimes hilarious Monty Pythonesque bits. What’s for tea? See for miles, odorono, Heinz 3.7
I was excited to check out some more from The Who. However, the first couple of tracks left me perplexed and not at all interested. Then things suddenly turned around and I became quite enchanted. So, a few tracks that I prefer to just skip over, but the rest I really enjoyed.
Good
"I Can See For Miles" and "Sunrise" are in my top 10 songs by the Who. The rest of album? Eh, it's alright. Decent even. Nothing amazing considering the other records they've released.
Notes - A concept album made of real and fake ads turned into and incorporated in songs - Lots of cool psychedelic elements here - Feels a bit like an infomercial fever dream - this album is super all over the place but its kinda cool - the who faced some legal ramifications for it but id say it was worth it Fav - Odorono - love the stacatto guitar parts and chorus Least fav - Tattoo - Funny lyrics but don’t love the melody and instrumental 4/5 a bit unfocussed musically but very cool
The opening 30 seconds is killer, I wish more of the album was like that (the talk box + horns dynamic). Overall really impressed though, they can really bring the heat.
First exposure to The Who. Enjoyed it. Got that great 60s rock sound. Fun play with the ads/sell out gags without overdoing it.
Interesting concept
A solid, fun album from the head of the Mods in the 1960s. I still prefer The Who's Next, but this is a good album.
Easily one of The Who's best. This record was basically proof that the band were way more than just a typical classic rock outfit (though they were excellent beforehand as well). From the instrumentals to the product-placement inspired thematics, this album is electric.
4.3 - I've been ambivalent about other Who records, which are too steeped in the rock canon to feel relatable, so I was pleasantly surprised by the playfulness of this record. They sounds like the Kinks at their cheekiest - inventing quirky characters ("Mary Ann With the Shaky Hand", "Silas Stingy"), exploring gender ("Tattoo") and just generally sounding charmingly British. I also love the fake jingles peppered throughout that make this sound like a slice of old-timey radio. To boot, lush instrumentals on "Sunrise" and "Rael."
Embarcando un concepto muy original y abordándolo con mucha sutileza y desfachatez, el tercer album de The Who sorprende desde un primer momento. Haciéndolo sonar como si estuviéramos sintonizando una radio de los 60's, con sus respectivos anuncios, claramente parodiados al igual que la tapa, hacen que el concepto funcione bien y sirve como un punto cómico para los jóvenes integrantes de la banda. Suena como una banda de chicos los cuales buscaban hacer lo que les gustaba, música. Con una mezcla de algunos géneros, se sienten una mezcla rock-pop conceptual, y algo ligera, pero bien interpretada y bastante psicodélica. Llama la atención desde su primera escucha, por su concepto, tapa, contenido y por su gran mística. Es una buena opción para comenzar a escuchar a esta banda británica que forma un rol importante en la historia del rock.
love dit
7/10 decent, nice, although without any shockingly good stuff
60s Rock. Melodisch
This is a really interesting and fun album, with some great tunes.
Well here's another revelation. I've long been a fan of Pete Townshend, but I've never been a big fan of The Who. Daltrey and Moon — while I recognize and respect their artistry — have never been musical voices I've enjoyed listening to, and so I've never really dug into the band. But here we are, a gem hiding in plain sight. This is a bit trippier than may be my typical album choice, but this highlights so many things about Townshend's writing (in particular) that are inventive and distinctive. These songs are so unlike anyone else's music, there's a fierce assuredness to the whole affair. And a sense of humor, which goes beyond the album title and adverts within. This less bombastic version of The Who is one I enjoy. Moon's drumming is interesting, if not characteristically loose, Entwistle is brilliant but not overbearing, and Daltrey serves the songs, as weird as they are.
Back when The Who had a sense of humor and whimsy. I hadn't heard this all the way through in years, and I'm glad it showed up. Yes, some of the songs are silly, but those never overstay their welcome and I marveled at how well the whole things flows. Plus, I'm not sure I ever realized what a great song Sunrise was. I was also surprised at how much Pete sings on this one. Always love it when he sings, and having the songs roughly divided between him and Rog made for a nice change of pace. In keeping with the whole pirate radio experience, I admire how much the band was able to change its sound from track to track. Our Love Was is still fantastic, as is I Can See For Miles (which sounded better than I remember it sounding--not sure if it was remastered or if it was just given better production that the rest of the material on here.) Anyway, I dig it, though it's not quite a 5-star album for me. But I love how quirky and fun they were in the 60s.
This was an interesting album that was not on my radar
Hmmm it's a 3.5 really....
As a concept album, this one is off the charts unique. There's really nothing else like it. Considering it was released just 7 months after Sgt. Pepper, The Who Sell Out really put the world on notice that The Who weren't interested in playing by anyone's rulebook but their own. And it really put the band on the map as one of the more creative and musically talented bands in rock. The jingles are cheeky and clever and deliberately kind of annoying as they pop up between the more conventional songs. It's not quite drive time terrestrial radio-level annoying, but if you've ever commuted with the radio on, you get the joke. The songs themselves are a fun listen, some surprisingly charming and catchy. Pete Townshend's forays into the psychedelic are blaring, trippy and exhilarating. Contrasting the psychedelic elements with some of the more jangly, melodic fare makes for a nice diverse collection of songs. The star track of course is "I Can See for Miles." It's a swaggering, grandiose rocker with hard driving performances from Keith Moon and John Entwistle, as well as a classic vocal performance from Roger Daltrey. Fave Songs: I Can See for Miles, Can't Reach You, Relax, Our Love Was, Sunrise, Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand
Seriously, though, fuck Deluxe Expanded editions. And maybe fuck Apple Music? But the only edition of this album on Apple Music has 114 tracks. For fuck's sake. For the sake of fuck. No one needs that many versions of The Magic Bus. Townshend's in his grave, like "enough already". First of all, Pete Townshend is not dead. Did you wonder for a second, though? Second - I enjoyed the shit out of this, from the very first second on through. It's that kitchen sink thing that I like. Unpredictable but lovely and seems like they're just throwing tons of ideas into the mix and it keeps paying off. I'll listen again.
The Who go psychedelic! Weird and wonderful.
First exposure to listening to a Who album aside from radio singles. This was super enjoyable, especially the radio segments part and how they tribute pirate stations that would all shutter during the release of this album. Consider me interested in listening to more of the Who.
Odličan album, slušao sam ga prije par mjeseci čuvši da album dosta drugačije zvuči od njihovih prethodnih ili kasnijih albuma, da je više kao radio album. Bome je, sviđa mi se dost.
i like how this mix playing with air
First time listening to The Who and lovin it!
Surprised me with a pretty good album and some unique sounds.
Back to back days of the The Who? I'll take it. Yesterday I said that My Generation is good but not a go to for me. This one is definitely one I prefer. There's some really great songs and the whole concept running through it is entertaining to me. There's still better Who but this one is niiiice. Oddly enough I'll be giving it the same as My Generation because I can't justify a 5 but this is certainly a stronger 4 than what My Generation received.
A concept album where none of the songs are related. Love that.
A fun album to listen to. Highly recommended.
When I see the words "The Who" in a playlist I'm never excited. At least this is from the 60s, before the band became bloated and annoying and was fully embracing a blend of raucous garage and psychedelic influences. I like the cleaner/compressed guitars, the rowdy drums, and the lack of repetitive synth loops. But Roger Daltry (that's his name right?) will be forever "meh" to me, so the best I can muster is 4/5, rounded up generously from 3.5.
Rock de The Who. Ningún megahit. Se me ha hecho largo para ser vinilo. Un 4.
A little weirder than their other albums, I really enjoyed this.
Different to what I expected. More psych and less plod
Good
With just one hit single: the brilliant I Can See For Miles, it might not be self evident why The Who Sell Out would be many fans favourite Who album. But one listen shows just how many, interesting and fully formed musical ideas that ....Sell Out, has. It's the perfect distillation of their obvious musical chops and their songwriting chops, before they became arena rock darlings. I think it's subtle and understated and totally compelling. Quadrophenia is still my fave but Sell Out continues to close the gap with each listen. 4.5 🌟
who?
So while I admire the creativity of the album. The commercials get annoying after a listen or two. Perhaps it was more funny in the 60's. However it's the Who and I love the Who.
Muito bom.
Wow, just wow
A strange concept album of unrelated songs framed as a faux pirate radio station, complete with musical advertisements. Still some really great music to be found on this album, and it's interesting to hear the seeds of what would become The Who's rock opera Tommy, in songs like Real and Mary Anne With The Shakey Hand. Definitely worth a listen.
Other than I Can See For Miles and Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand, this is somewhat of a forgettable album, especially with the type of material The Beatles were putting out at the time. But the best thing it had going for it was the humor. It was a funny tongue-in-cheek album that never claimed to take itself seriously. It's a 3.5/5 for me, but I'll round up for the all-time great I Can See For Miles.
I feel this is the Who's most enjoyable albums to listen to. The first of many concept records from Townsend and the band and this one particularly works...well almost. Side one is great, mixing in the fake commercials with some top notch songs, this is my favourite side one from the Who. Unfortunately, it loses a bit a stream on side two and never quite flows as well, otherwise this would be 5 stars. The later riff during Rael is heard on the next album (Tommy) and the band's sound is evolving from garage to pop psych. This is the beginning of a great run of Who albums.
Brilliant combination of satire and great music. ~4.5/5
One of my favourite albums by The Who. The, at the time, unheard of linking of songs with verité, here in the form of radio jingles and adverts as heard on pirate radio stations, make this an album that flows seamlessly. And it contains the sublime "I Can See For Miles".
7/10. The Who get a lot better later on… Miles and Miles is good of course, and I liked most of the songs at least a bit. Silas Stingy is like the lame grandfather of the "Scrooge" from the Muppet Christmas carol. Also I hate that the Who refuse to just put normal versions of Albums on spotify. It has to be "super deluxe editions".
I mostly enjoyed this album and its oddities. Shout out to the pre-Tommy riff in Rael. 8/10
Interesting album. Strange and fun transitions between songs. Not their most complex or energetic album, but fun and worth a listen.
Fun
The Who before they got really big. The sound is typical 60's rock, but the interspersed commercials give it a nice touch. Very easy listen, without any real standouts. 3.5/5
I love the Who but I think this album was not the one
Who are these guys? Really fun album! Of course, I Can see for Miles is the big single, but the rest is really entertaining as well. Need to listen a couple more times.
One of the most fun albums you'll ever listen to.
Many good songs, but didn't like the concept
I would call it early psychadelic rock, it is good but has ways to go
Levy oli vähemmän rokkia kuin mitä olin kuvitellut. Aina vaan tullut kuunneltua niitä The Whon perushittejä, mutta tämä kuulosti ehkä asteen taiteellisemmalta. Tuli mieleen Beatlesit, mutta karvan verran vähemmän sekoilua. Tykkäsin, tätä voisi kuunnella joskus muutenkin.
Experimental and quite progressive for the time. Didn’t catch though
Such a funky af album. The Who were very strange, but I dig them, I always have. This album is no exception. Big fan of some of the bass lines on this album. John Entwistle had magic fingers.
I first heard this album in high school and I just did not get it. This listen through went way better. The concept is interesting and seems to support what Pete Townsend has expressed in interviews about how he feels about the capitalist nature of his success despite his socially liberal political views. This album is self satirizing and earnest at the same time and is quintessentially The Who. The flow from song to song is great and nothing is misplaced
A sterling realization of loose concept. I heard less jingles in the back half, but there were plenty of those, given genuine musical love. Other than that, The Who give a tour of the era of pop through their ears and instruments. Unrelentingly fun. Not quite Sgt. Pepper's, but I hear the same genius.
I'm not a big Who fan, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Who Sell Out. Blissfully ignorant of the album's concept, I used to make mixtapes with commercials in them, comedy snippets, news reports, etc, so you can see why I might be susceptible to its charms. The commercial spots are consistently amusing. Another surprise for me: the songs are consistently good. For me, The Who was never much of a rock band as I understand the term, more like a pop band with an especially powerful drummer, and songwriter Pete Townshend is in unusually good form here. The songs are tuneful and varied, including a surprisingly effective stab at psychedelic on the album's opener, Armenia City In The Sky. The songwriting gets slightly weaker towards the end of the album, but there are no outright stinkers, unusual for a Who album. The Who Sell Out probably won't rock your world, but it's a pleasant and amusing listen.
This is really cool. not a 5 for me but definitely cool.
"I Can See For Miles" is the only song on this album that I've heard before, and the only song that sounded like what I typically think of when I think of the Who. That track, "Relax", and "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" are tracks I would easily go back to for a second listen. The rest of the album was at least okay. Again, this is another album that I'm not quite sure what to do with. I think there might be something to uncover for a second listen, so that might bump this up to 4 stars
really fun album kinda reminded me of magical mystery tour i’ll try listening to more of The Who’s stuff soon 8/10
Как жаль, что им приходилось слушать Битлз Прогрессивно, но типа ыыыых 3.5/5)
Gefällt mir gut - die Idee mit dem Radiosender und den Commercials, der plötzlich auch hier psychedelisch werdende Sound, die fantastische Singe "I can see for miles", der Anfang mit Armenia City. Das Cover-Artwork ist großartig, der Humor und die zero fucks given Attitüde auch. Bin in Laune für 4 Punkte, und wäre ich damals jung: die Beatles wären mein Ding, aber The Who meine Bande gewesen.
started off alright, but that run from track 5 to 7 is INCREDIBLE. Peak music from there on imo. It is a lil too long though ingl
Good Tunes
4
Whoa, this is awesome. I love The Who, but have not listened to this one. So much fun. Standouts: "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" "I can see for Miles" "I Can't Reach You"
Oh genoten heb ik, ga ik zeker vaker beluisteren
The adverts are brilliantly British! Lots of fun listening to this album. Some good hits on here too and I really like the who already! Wasn't aware of this album so it's even more a delight to discover.
Pretty awesome album, although I didn’t give it the attention it deserves. I’ll definitely have to give it another listen and pay more attention to each track. I definitely enjoyed it though.
fun listen 3.5/4
Kind of cool actually, although it's not the type of music I would keep on my regular playlist.
I'm waiting for when a Who album comes up from their later years and I don't like them as much but this wasn't it. Really fun album all the way through.
First time I listened to an entire album by The Who. I don't plan on actively listening to it again, but not bad at all. Giving it a 3.5 for the music but rounding up for the fun factor of the album.
A set of smashingly silly songs, the Who once again proves why they deserved to be at the forefront of the 60s British Invasion.
El disco está ok. Me sonó como a casi todas las canciones de “Charlie y la fábrica de chocolate”, no es queja (o sí es?)
I'd forgotten this sound from the earlier Who years. Reading some of the context around radio in the UK at the time was helpful, and I honestly think maybe the concept of the album outweighs the overall quality on it, but it's still quite good against the high bar of The Who's entire catalog.
- they had lots of fun - intersting, fun, popart,
Sonido experimentador sesentero. Pues cool, bastante cool. No sabía ni qué esperar de esta famosa banda que jamás le he prestado atención. No me quedó con ninguna canción, pero sí me mantuvo expectante desde ese intro muy a la Kraftwerk, hasta las versiones alternativas del final. Our love was fue la que más me gustó es muy hippie. Mood: Frito fritíto, fritísimo.
WAOUHHHH!!!
Pretty chill, what you'd expect from The Who
Fun album and super creative with the fake commercials, etc. I dig it.
This one was alright. I still don’t think I like The Who as well as I thought I should, but I certainly like this one better than that live one.
Me imagino ser un viejito de 70 años en los 60s y de pronto escuchar este disco: mind-blowing
Probably a 3.5
Gewd stewf
Amazing album with most tracks not normally heard when listening to thr who
3.5 stars
What a journey!
They did sell out, not many awesome tracks on this album
I usually don’t like The Who but this was at least interesting in concept. I’m not sure if this is before they became the safe vanilla rock, or just a weird divergent path they tried.
Def vibed with this could maybe even go up to a 4 potentially
Apart from I Can See For Miles, it's not very good is it?
I mean I fuck with the concept but at the end of the day this is literally a bunch of advertisements interspersed with a few songs
This is definitely an odd album, but the songs are enjoyable enough to listen to. Had iconic "I can see for miles".
Man are The Who annoying on this album. God, they have 5 on the list. Well, we’ll have to see. This whole thing was obviously much better in theory. Love the humor, the ideas, the fun-making - in theory. In execution- they make me want to… stab. Supposedly Roger Daltrey never did cocaine. But man does this feel cocked out. 3 Boolean: True, cause they’re The Who
A quirky and fun early run by The Who, introducing us to a few glimmers of the glorious Tommy that was in our future.
I'm split in this one. On one hand, it's interesting to see this side of the Who. I'm used to Who's Next and Tommy Who. This Who is much more 60s psych leaning. On the other hand, there's only a few songs that I would return to, including Armenia City in the Sky and Mary Anne with the shaky hands.
Sounds good and it's creative though maybe a bigger commitment to the commercialist jingle-fueled novelty would be fun, just having a bunch of perfectly normal songs feels like the easy way out But it's not like there was an incredibly extensive well of novelty albums pulling off concepts like this back then, it's some decent fun Also an all-time cover
Сара 2 Марко 4
Enough songs I like for it to be an ok listen
Interesting album. Good stuff, but quirky.
A bit chaotic but I enjoyed it
Feeling validated by your review, Sean. Thought The Who were one of the great bands, but so far have felt kind of underwhelmed by their albums. Funny to read that Townsend claims Sgt. Pepper's copied the drafts/concepts for this album. Okay, Pete!
A bit silly, a bit funny, a bit annoying in parts. Quite gimmicky with some decent stuff thrown in. 2.5/5.
S tier album cover and name. Bloody brilliant. Love it. Unfortunately, the music itself isn't quite what I enjoy. Doubtlessly competent, and I think it was quite well received when it came out. Just not entirely for me, I suppose. It's definitely good, though.
I love the who but this shouldn't be on the list!! tommy, quadrophenia, live at leeds, who's next... much better
Pretty good
Meh. Det er forgetable med lynets hast.
Jeg forstår ikke hypen om The Who
The story behind the album is the best part of it. It's funny to see them poking fun at themselves and critics, and even funnier to know the load of legal trouble they got into with their antics. The music is pretty hit or miss. Some of the songs are great, others would be totally forgettable if it weren't for silly lyrics and the sampling of commercial ditties.
Interesting concept album. I’d probably have to be more a fan of The Who to enjoy it, but it wasn’t terrible either. I recognized Tattoo and I Can See for Miles.
Leuke momenten, maar ook weirde. Blijft niet zo hangen
There are a lot better Who records than this. But it's the Who and that's still pretty good.
I prefer three Who when they're playing straight rock music. The fun stuff on The Who Sell Out would wear thin after a few plays in my view.
This was really fun! Such a cohesive world they made with the album
The Who Sell Out is a smart, funny (sort of) concept album. But the concept behind it does make it susceptible to flaws. The framework of this as a radio station with ads is really smart and unique, and honestly there's less reliance on this gimmick than I thought. But there are still several tracks that don't really hold up on their own. That, in combination with my preference being towards harder rocking iterations of The Who, as opposed to their psych stuff, does get in the way of The Who Sell Out in my eyes. But the result is *definitely* still a good album. I Can See For Miles is one of the band's best songs. And a lot of the more straightforward psych songs are a lot of fun; I'd like to highlight Armenia City In The Sky, Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand, and Tattoo in particular. I will also say this album is a little front-loaded. Side A is *much* better than side B, even though B is certainly not bad. The result is an album which is best appreciated for it's unique concept and creative execution, even if it occasionally gets in it's own way.
this album rides the wave of psychedelia and studio experimentation of the mid 60s; the concept of a London pirate radio station opened the door to the thematic possibility of creating a work around the same idea that the band would explore later sonically, one can also feel the response to the paradigm shift brought about by psychedelic music, especially by the beatles. the band abandons powerful riffs in favor of creating an atmosphere with less traditional structures and unusual effects in my opinion, the concept hasnt aged well, and i feel that the jingles and ads interrupt the pace and atmosphere that the songs achieve
Barem mi je bolje nego Tommy. Čudan album. Mislim da ga ne mogu svariti s jednim slušanjem pa dajem veću ocjenu preventivno.
Very weird album Standout song: I can see for miles
I'm a bit torn on this one. I've long loved The Who, and have made the argument in another review that Who's Next may be the single greatest rock album of all time. This album highlights their often overlooked silly, humorous side. And it's impossible to dismiss any collection that gave us the first album appearance of "I Can See for Miles" (though it had already been released as a single before being included here). But the LP is very uneven, and the joke wears thin pretty quickly. I mean, any chance you ever get to listen to The Who is a win. It's just that this one feels like a pretty big drop-off from their best works, and (for my money, at least) a step down from excluded albums like Who Are You and Quadrophenia (which was later added to the 1001 list by a user, it seems).
Not a bad concept album, but not my fave of The Who's work.
Uh, qué locura de album. Banco la propuesta. No me llamó mucho igualmente. Pero se le ven cositas. Van a llegar lejos estos. 6/10
I thought the album title and art were both fun, but ultimately the album was a bit of a flop for me. No real standouts and overall just kinda meh.
An album with gimmicky commercials was bad idea
Armenia city in the sky - 3 Heinz baked beans - 2 Mary anne with the shaky hand - 3 Odorono - 3 Tattoo - 3 Our love was - 3 I can see for miles - 5 I can't reach you - 3 Medac - 2 Relax - 3 Silas stingy - 2 Sunrise - 3 Rael (1 and 2) - 2
2026.05.07
That was ok, some neat ol 60’s rock, it gets bonus points for being funny with the whole “what’s for tea” and odorono sellout bit. Standouts are Odorono, our love was and i can’t reach you.
It's an odd concept for an album but it's not bad, even if it doesn't sound like The Who I recognise in their later work. They sound more like The Beach Boys or The Beatles here.
The weird, interspersed jingles make this a hard listen, especially on repeat sessions. “I Can See for Miles” is a treasure, though.
Svag I delar men helheten är rätt trevlig
Продались гаврики, как не стыдно
De radio jingles en ads waren wel grappig en I can see for miles ging vet hard maar de tweede helft van het album begon op een gegeven moment wel tamelijk te zagen :/ ritmisch ook niet echt in de bovenste helft van meest interessante dingen die ik ooit gehoord heb,,, 2,5/5 maar vooruit een 3 voor de eerste helft
In some parallel universe, there's a really good psychedelic The Who album with perfectly integrated ad jingles adding to the grand absurdity, with more I Can See For Miles and Armenia and with decidedly less 'mingy stingy'. I just know there is. In this universe though, this is a three-star album at best.
fine but also unnecessarily long.
6/10 There's some decent songs here, and one excellent one. But the Who were always capable of producing some absolute garbage, and it's here again, not only in the naff faux-ads, but also some rubbish songs.
Back in the 60s, selling out was doing a radio advert for baked beans. These days it’s all about being paid to defend war crimes.
The Who me desconciertan bastante. Por un lado los encuentro geniales, me gustan mucho más que Led Zeppelin, por ejemplo, pero por otro, me dejan frío, me cuesta emocionarme con su música. En este álbum me desconciertan más si cabe. Concebido como un álbum conceptual que simula una emisión radiofónica, la banda transita entre la ingenuidad de ciertas composiciones y la complejidad de las partes instrumentales, y ya empieza a jugar con sonidos electrónicos. Pete Townsend peca siempre de prepotencia, y parece buscar que cada álbum sea un hito por sí mismo, a veces lo consigue, pero a mí este se me atraganta un poco. Su importancia y su relevancia ha ido ganando con los años, será que necesito seguir escuchandolo.
I love The Who and they made some great albums, but this isn't better than "good." I understand the tongue-in-cheek self satire, but I hear far too many commercial jingles without them in my listening queque. One great song.
I actually didn't mind this despite all the reviews seeming to pan it on here. A couple of good tunes on this and I went off The Who when I was 18.
Such a weird album. And definitely one of the most off the mark The Who concept album. A few of the radio interludes are quite fun but mostly it just feels distracting. At the same time the idea of writing songs as commercials often makes for not very interesting songs. In fact there’s only one really great song on side 1; but the fact that “I Can See For Miles” is as good as it is almost makes up for it. 2.5⭐️
Favorite Track: I Can See For Miles
I sort of get the meta joke that this album is, but the commercials don’t work for me. The second half has glimpses of Tommy and save the record for me
One of the many tricky things about making a concept album is deciding how closely to adhere to the concept; a lot of the best concept albums (*Sgt. Pepper* chief among them) are quick to discard the framing whenever it proves inconvenient, while worse ones stick to the concept too slavishly. I think Townshend & co. mostly navigate that tension pretty well, although I acknowledge that I'm naturally not going to be able to get the same effect from the fake commercials, etc., as somebody culturally closer to the time and place of the album. The bigger issue here is that there's one transcendent song - the majestic "I Can See for Miles" - and several other perfectly fine but less memorable songs. And while Townshend's gift for genuine lyrical pathos is present here (as on the wistful "Sunrise"), more than anything this album confirms for me that the meaning of the Who is, and always has been, primarily communicated through what they're doing musically - Moon's drums (he's only really let off the leash on "I Can See for Miles"), Townshend's searing guitar tones, Daltrey's pleading voice. They're meant to be felt as much as heard, and there's not quite enough feeling here to for this to rank with their best. I can't believe I have to tell a band with Pete Townshend and Keith Moon in it that they need to be *louder* but here we are.
British rock doing British rock things. It's a bit psych, funky vocals and guitars, and a generally chill vibe. I'm not previously familiar with this record, but I certainly know a bit about The Who thanks to my British father. This is solid.
The cover tells you exactly what you’re getting — Pete Townshend sitting in a bathtub of baked beans, Roger Daltrey clutching a giant deodorant stick, both deadpan and ridiculous. The Who Sell Out is the band at their most playful and conceptually inventive, structured as a fake pirate radio broadcast complete with mock advertisements between songs. It’s a genuinely clever piece of pop art, and for a stretch it works beautifully. The first half earns its reputation. The concept gives the record a specific texture and wit that distinguishes it from almost everything else in the 1967 landscape, and “I Can See for Miles” hits with a melodic authority that justifies its classic status. The fake ads are charming in the early going — absurdist, self-aware, and funny in a way that feels genuinely inventive rather than gimmicky. The problem is time. The bright, bouncy vocal quality that gives the record its energy starts to blur into sameness across the full runtime, and the commercials that felt like inspired conceits in the first half become wearing interruptions by the finish line. The concept that creates the identity also creates the fatigue — a structural problem that a lot of ambitious records share. A synchronicitous moment — the taxi track arriving during an actual Uber ride — offered a brief highlight near the end. Not quite enough to push it to four. A fair three: inventive, occasionally charming, and ultimately a record that runs slightly longer than its best ideas.
Cool idea, but most of the songs didn't really grab me. Will probably give it another chance, but my least favorite Who so far.
Pretty cool record. Quite fun with the little jingles and whatnot; nothing really stood out as exceptional though. Favourite tracks: Odorono, Tattoo, Silas Stingy.
6/10
I feel like I don't have a lot of thoughts on this album, which is a shame since it feels like it's supposed to be thought-provoking. To some extent, I'm glad it never went full ironic advertising and that it was mostly kept to the start. Ultimately, none of the songs really blew me away, though I do understand the concept of the album. Might be a victim of being from 1967 and I've heard later songs that explores the genre in ways that interest me more (including from The Who!).
I appreciate what they were going for but it just wasn't that fun to listen to
Kind of a mixed album. It’s a concept album and it’s a little weird to listen to now. There’s really only one song I’d note, I Can See For Miles, which is a classic. The rest of the album doesn’t sound at all like that track - it’s kind of jangly 60’s pop instead of garage rock.
Overrated
Fun concept, a fun listen, but largely feels like the band is screwing around and the big tracks are largely distant from the album as a whole. When 80% of the record feel like one-off half-joking demos it makes songs like "Maryanne" and "I Can See For Miles" feel like they would have been better suited on an EP.
I think this is a victim of this list. I get the joke and I like it, but when it’s shuffled in with other 60’s rock albums that take themselves seriously and sound just like it, my opinion definitely gets affected.
Without detracting from how influential The Who were, if I take the music on its own then this is a slightly disjointed record of 60s rock, which, if I'm honest, felt a little gimmicky with all the fake ads. 'I Can See For Miles' is a highlight, but 'Silas Stingy' a definite lowlight. The Mod movement is very much not for me so The Who don't represent anything bigger. As such, I won't be going out of my way to listen apart from when their other albums inevitably appear on this list
Better than I expected after seeing that album cover. Kinda Kinks-esque
Quite a few good tracks on this album which made it more enjoyable than Tommy.
Album com algumas bem boas principalmente no início. I Can See For Miles é incrível, a bateria dela no show é boa demais. Marienne with the shaky hands é mt boa também, além de I can't reach you e outras da primeira metade. A segunda metade do disco me perdeu um pouco 3.5/5
Weird album. Very British. I guess it's sort of a comedic album. Hard to tell sometimes when something is influential but you've only heard the stuff influenced by them so it feels reductive even though it was the original. I guess I feel that way about this. Not bad but just okay.
I honestly didn’t realize this version of The Who existed. Unlike their more self-serious greatest hits, this album gives more of a concept album with a whimsical feel. Glad I got to experience it!
I generally like the who, but this is not their best album
I thought I would enjoy this album way too much, and it has been most of the contrary. It's not bad, it has some nice ideas, some nice sounds, but it becomes a bit repetitive and bland. Of course, I've listened to much better things by The Who. This album is not that outstanding. However, it's nice. But just not a much interesting album.
I like the Who, but this isn't, for me, their best album. I like the "I can see for miles" track.
Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
Quite a clown show album all over. I do love the oversized products and cartoonish style of the album cover and gatefold. The Who aren't at their best here but it's only their 3rd release so can't go too hard and looks like they were having a lot fun with it. To the critics that think this is their best though...bugger off. The only real track is "I Can See For Miles" with the rest just a silly smattering. But a solid work of parody at the time from a band that was just getting big. Plenty of bands "sell out" and can't get away with something like this today (never mind the lawsuits). More of a display piece in a collection than a repeat player and you will find it up on my record shelf...2.63 stars.
What a fantastic album. Despite growing up in a big Who household I had never heard The Who Sell Out as this wasn't one of the parents collection. I was only familiar with the cheeky album art and I Can See For Miles prior to this listen. Sell Out was such a fun and creative endeavor. Outside of I Can See For Miles there aren't really any hits/singles but the album has all the best aspects of the early Who days. Loved the inclusion of radio bumpers and fake product jingles to make the whole thing sound like a programmed broadcast as opposed to an album release. The songs finely walked the line of solid radio hits with an edge of humor and wit. The Who nailed the assignment on this one from every level. I was underwhelmed by My Generation and Live at Leeds but the other Who entries have been high quality albums that absolutely belong on the list. 3.42 stars
p113. 1967. 3 stars. Classy 60s Brit psychedelic rock, let down by filler and straying to pretentiousness and excessive musical wankage. When it's good, it's brilliant. And "I Can See For Miles" is possibly the best thing Townsend ever wrote.
I've always thought The Who were overrated, and while I didn't enjoy it all that much, this album has given me more respect for them. Who decides that as their 3rd ever studio album they want to make a concept album interspersed with fake radio ads? Also imagine it's 1967 and you've heard some of The Who's hits on the radio and you want to buy an album, just to come home with this thing and have them singing jingles about baked beans on track 2.
Hat mich nicht gerade von Hocker gerissen.
This is some of The Who’s most interesting work. It has some of the satirical irreverence of The Kinks and the general psychedelic vibes of ‘67. This is my first time hearing it besides “I Can See For Miles”. I kinda wish Speedy Keen sang all The Who’s songs.
Quite a cool concept. I feel like I understand mods now. I can see sooooo clearly how this album, and the band, appealed to a certain kind of man in the 60s lol. Creative and fun, but also a bit up itself
The stereo mix doesn't bode well for me, since my left ear is mostly deaf. But hey, what can you do? Unfortunately, this causes me to miss a lot of detail from Keith Moon's excellent drum chops. One specific vocal effect is used heavily here – the same one featured in a lot of ELO tunes, most notably Mr Blue Sky and Sweet Talking Woman. Here, it doesn't work well. Everything on the album, every single musical element, is designed to perplex the listener rather than necessarily entertain. To be fair, most of the rock world was perpetually high on hallucinogens in the latter half of 1967, so this would've been the perfect backdrop. The first two tracks, Armenia City In The Sky / Heinz Baked Beans, are pretty shoddy. Essentially a handful of consecutive product ads with some standard guitar and fairly bad singing. Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand is much better, though still a long shot from the Who's best output. Everyone else is irritated by these advertisements, right? Yes, I get it, it's a ~concept~ (replace tildes with a sparkle and a drumstick flourish) – but the concept is stupid. Tattoo is the first really good track. It's intensely reminiscent of where the band would go with Tommy a few years down the road, from the cleanly mixed acoustic guitar to the overwhelming, lush vocal harmonies. There's no reason for the track to bleed into Our Love Was, though. It doesn't count as a "cool transition" just because the end of the previous song is chopped off and placed at the beginning of the next one. (Additionally, Our Love Was Bad.) We approach brilliance, though, with the emphatic, surprisingly complex I Can See For Miles. Great use of panning into both ears (the drums are extremely audible now!), catchy chorus and overall melody, a fairly experimental guitar line that still manages to stay radio-friendly... Yeah. A lot to love here. I Can't Reach You is essentially an extended coda, featuring a pretty similar mood but incorporating piano instead of guitars. "There goes mingy Stingy" is one of the Who's dumbest lyrics (see also: Fiddle About) but the song that contains it, Silas Stingy, is pretty strong. Almost a cappella but with 3/5 Key tracks: Tattoo, I Can See For Miles, I Can't Reach You
Seemed like an early Who album. The fake ads didn’t bother me anywhere near as much as that stupid “mingy stingy” song. But as long as it’s not “Tommy,” I am fine with listening to a Who album. Listening to this one didn’t really make me any more or less of a Who fan, but it was a perfectly fine non-“Tommy” early Who album.
Armenia city in the sky - trippy, okay Bake Beans - weird jingle Mary Ann - heard this song before. The later version on this album is better. Odorono - song commercial, meh Tattoo - meh Our Love Was - the take 12 version is better I can See For Miles - probably the best song on this album I Can't Reach You - this is my 2nd favorite Sunrise - not bad, liked the lyrics Relax - liked this one Rael part 1 and 2 interesting, part of it became the instrumental "Sparks" from Tommy Overall a weak album, shows promise, hard to like because of their later albums being so much better
I Can See For Miles is great, otherwise just a slog to get through.
chill! Hadn't listened to much The Who but they sounded basically how I expected them to. nothing super stood out to me on the album but it wasn't bad. good background music!
lol they should have sold out sooner and harder. Better than the other ones. Sheeeeees electric 3
i really wanted to like this more than i did. fun little concept, a couple great songs. but a lot of songs are the kinda very 60s brit rock which i found kind of cloying. but man if some of them aren't terrific and strange
Listening to The Who through this project has taught me they might be slightly overrated. I don't hate anything about this album, but I also think some of the success might have been partly the press pushing them. I didn't really get the prank commercials in this, just felt like music.
Trying to be the Beatles much? I can hear why The Who are so loved and adored even though they are stupidly overrated to me. They existed at just the right time and place. Psych baybeee! Lucky them. There are some nice moments on here but it gets dragged down by intentionally sounding like one long commercial samples collage with a few songs strewn in. Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand and I Can See For Miles are good solid songs. I suppose I’d like this more had I been there.
I've learned through this project that I feel very average about The Who. This album confirms those feelings are still accurate. Fun concept but the songs were just ok.
I like the rhythm section of the album, but it’s lilting 60s Britishness doesn’t hold up for me. But, it’s cool to hear them experiment with different recording techniques and novelties.
The Who at their most bonkers, good fun and I Can See For Miles is an absolute tune.
Enjoyed this, although it’s odd… I can see for miles is great
not my favorite The Who but still enjoyable
I enjoyed this a lot! I expected the concept album aspect to detract from the songs a lot more than it did.
Armenia and I Can See For Miles are great, but the ad paradies get a bit tiresome.
Cheeky album of 60s British pop rock, pulling little bits of influence from psych, mod, arty, and pop culture. Infused with humor and short melodic tunes that can still pack a punch and showcase The Who’s abilities - just not as strongly as some of their later albums. It’s a fun listen that I enjoy, but it’s not a top album from these guys for me.
Solid three-and-a-half album. It suffers from multiple inconsequential songs, but it does have some hidden bangers.
5/10… psychedelic rock / 60s pop / *1967
Lot of songs I enjoyed, but not as a cohesive unit
Probably The Who’s most overrated album. I understand its significance and originality for the time it was released, but they were still a singles band at this time. I can see for miles is one of their most annoying 60s singles, and it’s one of the highlights of this album. That being said, it’s still The Who so it still gets a 3.
위트가 있네
I liked it - I knew a few of the tracks previously but had not listened to the whole album before. I cannot find any fault with it and there are no dud tracks it just does not really connect with me - possibly its the vocals which are a bit blunt and lacking emotional connection for me.
Ok, not really for me
I don't hate this.
Aika sekoilua mut the Who
⭐️⭐️⭐️
6/10 Highlight: I Can See for Miles Odorono
The mock advertisements are probably the most interesting thing about this album! Some good songs but it almost feels like a mixed tape of various songs from The Beatles, The Mamas & Papas, The Kooks etc without showcasing a clear sound of The Who. But then I suppose that's the point, as it's supposed to be an hour of Radio London. Some great bass and guitar parts throughout, especially on Odorono.
Sure
The snob’s favorite Who album, cause, you know, it’s meta and all that. I have no problem with this album really; See for Miles is a classic, and the dynamic duo of Moon and Entwistle will never disappoint, but part of me enjoys the radio interludes here more than the music.
Interesting concept but not my cup of tea. Not a fan of Daltrey's voice in the higher ranges where it sounds strained. Some stand out tracks and funny in parts.
Who invented the concept album?! Who? loving the savage satire on commercialism. for its time, it’s certainly bold. felt like art rock album.
Album 26 Top 3 favorites off the album: Silas Stingy, Tattoo, Heinz Baked Beans For a good minute and a half, I seriously considered consuming the super deluxe edition of this for shits and giggles. 5 hours and 41 minutes of The Who? All in one sitting? I chickened out, and just tackled the expanded edition instead. This was interesting to listen to. I grew up listening to more of their later stuff (late 70s into the 80s), so the difference in sound felt pretty big. I like the radio broadcast and ad style of some tracks. I also appreciate bangers of track titles like Heinz Baked Beans. I like that some of these songs tell a story! I don't often get to listen to albums with many tracks that do. Thinking musically, most of what's on here is pretty light. Not a lot of distortion on most tracks, drums stay on the quieter side, tempos are middle-of-the-road, lighter on the vocal side of things, etc. For maybe the second time in my career with this project, I find myself wishing for something with a little more weight and forward motion. Nothing so heavy that it gets bogged down, just something to generate a little more momentum here and there. Whenever I ask my dad, "who is this?" to a song on the radio, he responds, "this is NOT The Who!" Whenever he is browsing the radio and asks me, "who's this!?" to a band I don't know, the answer he is looking for is most often The Who. It is simultaneously one of my favorite and least favorite routines. It is funny most of the time. It is less funny when I actually want to know who an artist is before the song ends. Long may the game continue. This has absolutely nothing to do with the review. Maybe you find it entertaining, maybe not. Doesn't matter. It's MY public diary and I'll write what I want to.
Just why
There are good tracks on this album but sometimes it feels that there is too heavy trying to build a theme album. At best The Who is brilliant, but there are too much moments when the songs feel like fill in tracks to keep the narration going.
Like the Beatles and the beach boys with teeth. More rock n rolling, more silly and fun, but not every track grabbed me. I can see for miles is amazing for 1967.
The Who
This was way better than the other album so far I heard off this list by the who. Some good melodies.
I Can See For Miles is too much of a banger to be on this otherwise not that impressive album. Cool album with pretty inventive sound. Not everything lands, but there are a couple of great song. I Can See For Miles is just such a banger. I’ll probably keep relistening it for a while. The rest of the songs are not as memorable, but this album is still decent overall. I liked the skits, though, which is rare for me. 7/10
It’s a fun concept. Not many crazy good tracks but it’s fun
What the hell did I just endure? It was a journey of both ends of the Good vs Bad spectrum.
Way more chaff than wheat on this album but it is The Who so 3 stars or C.
01) Armenia City in the Sky - 7,5 02) Heinz Baked Beans - 1,0 03) Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand - 8,0 04) Odorono - 7,0 05) Tattoo - 7,5 06) Our Love Was - 7,0 07) I Can See for Miles - 8,5 08) I Can't Reach You - 7,0 09) Medac - 3,0 10) Relax - 7,0 11) Silas Stingy - 7,0 12) Sunrise - 7,0 13) Rael (1 and 2) - 7,5 TOTAL: 6,54 (65/100) Current ranking: 542/787
Not a lot stands out
Framing the album around a pirate radio broadcast is a really creative and interesting idea, but so many of the songs don't really stand on their own. Many are very gimmicky and don't show off the Who's talent as performers. Standout Tracks: I Can See For Miles, I Can't Reach You.
I get why people like this one. The pirate radio concept is cool and it definitely feels creative for its time. You can tell they were trying something different, and I respect that. That said, I have just never been able to fully get into The Who. Even with a cool idea like this, the music itself doesn’t really grab me the way it seems to for everyone else.
28/12/2025 Average at best. Spotify listeners: 7 million
2.8 The Who continue to elude me. After the first couple of songs I thought it was ok, interesting concept, but surely there's some bangers coming. It regressed from there. Have to give praise to the concept though, maybe not a direct link but one of my favourite albums of all time is interspersed with faux radio jingles (Songs for the Deaf) so bonus points to this album if it had any part to play in that.