Who's Next

Very strong start and finish but lags in the middle, much like me having a shag.

Now here's a classic album. This marks the third album on here I have on vinyl (actually fourth since my Pink Moon vinyl arrived today). Opens with one of the greatest songs ever made. I'm a Baba O'Riley boy through and through. There are plenty of other bangers on here too, and I also enjoyed a handful of the tracks I'd never heard before. In total, I gave a little Apple Music heart to seven of the nine tracks--that's what we in the business of calling things things call a "hit machine." Honestly insane that this album opens AND closes with two of the greatest songs the Who has ever made. This album is undeniable. Plus, I fear if I gave this less than a perfect review that my younger self would materialize to kick my ass. Good thing it more than holds up. Favorite tracks: Baba (booey) O'Riley, Won't Get Fooled Again, Behind Blue Eyes, The Song Is Over. Album art: Iconic. This should honestly be on a short list for best album covers ever. Top 15 maybe? Four blokes in a quarry, around this man-made monolith type thing. The angle of the monolith is part of the charm too--it's not centered, but it feels centered. A strong, dark energy emanates from this one. Also, I love the stylization of the title: "Who's next" Not a question, nor a statement really. Maybe just an observation. 5/5

Dad rock but by actually talented musicians

Who’s Next by The Who (1971) [Is this the best album cover ever?] How many of us first heard this album in our formative years, when we began to discover that hard rock was an art form, a catalyst for serious reflection on answers to the big questions, for markers along the trail toward maturity and contentment, for companionship in the pursuit of truth that we could not get from our teachers, pastors, coaches, father-figures, counselors, and drill sergeants? How many of us sat at the feet of a sage like Pete Townshend when we had tried and failed to distill life’s lessons from George McGovern, Walter Cronkite, Malcolm X, T.S. Eliot, Karl Marx, and Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? How many of us were there? And how many of us are left? We learned from the songs we absorbed. We learned that the nature of love is sacrificial (“Bargain”), that love for spouse and offspring is not passive but active (“Love Ain’t for Keeping”), that in the midst of the anger and the vengefully voided conscience of being misunderstood, self restraint is wiser than violence (“Behind Blue Eyes”), that adolescent angst is only a ‘teenage wasteland’ (“Baba O’Riley”), and that this Revolution too will pass when the ‘slogans are effaced’ and ‘the beards have all grown longer’ (“Won’t Get Fooled Again”). Of course, all these truths could have been found in the Christian faith, but the searching was hard when the more popular theologians and moralists of the mid-twentieth century had so royally screwed it up. So how many of us became atheists who had to seek these truths elsewhere? But these priceless truths would be inaccessible without a suitable vehicle of expression. It had to be heavy (“Getting In Tune”), dexterous (“Going Mobile”), and punctuated with comic relief (“My Wife”). So this is where the music comes in—guitar, bass, drums, piano, synthesizer (yes, we were ready for that), and voices that could both melt hearts (“The Song Is Over”) and produce involuntary cris de coeur. Putting yourself in the context of a post-revolutionary survivor, patiently listen to “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (loud!) and take note of what happens in your upper thoracic region at the 7:43 mark. I dare you. The physicality is astonishing. The best (and most paternal) transition from Side One to Side Two in the history of recorded music: “The song is over Excepting one note, pure and easy Playing so free, like a breath rippling by . . . I’m singing this note . . . But I’m in tune, and I’m gonna tune right in on you.” This is the album that first compelled me to listen seriously. What album did that for you? 5/5

Anyone who doesn't rate this a 5 doesn't know what they are talking about. This is a nearly perfect album. Epic.

A lot of classics, but the ones that aren’t classics kind of drag. Even the big ones are more “great riff” than “6 minutes of excellence”.

I mean, c'mon.

Oh my let me use Who’s words to say Bargain the best I ever Had”. Buying this album is the best you’ll ever buy. I lost 2 pounds listening to this album. Baba Riley had me playing air guitar, air drums,keyboard and violin. I needed water half way through due to beltimg out the words to so many - so loud! My goodness what a piece of art from the 1st track to last. This is what a masterpiece sounds like . Belisamo!

The apotheosis of talent show rock (songs where all the band’s gifts are on display), nothing here is less than masterful. But what shines brightest is how consistently brilliant their final acts are. Baba O’Reilly’s gypsy coda is as great as its famous opening. Daltrey’s gravelly commitment to “When my fist clenches, crack it open” and “Put ya fingers down my throat” in Behind Blue Eyes’ finale is what tips it into all-time great. Won’t Get Fooled Again somehow finds a way to level-up at the end even though the whole song’s essentially the album’s final act. Even the lesser numbers pack a big finish: Bargain’s drum battering, My Wife’s creeping horn charts, Going Mobile’s squiggly synths. The sleeper is Getting in Tune, which re-routes its concept with each verse. First one’s about making music, second one’s about loneliness, third one’s about getting yourself right, fourth one’s about finding connection. Then they all get blitzed together. Something like that, anyway. When the material isn’t strong enough to fully embody, the McCartneyish try hard in Daltrey’s voice can be irritating; but when it is strong—which is most of the time here—it brings out the character actor in him and he puts the songs over like a motherfucker.

One of the greatest albums of all time. Top 5 ‘final track on an album’ ever…

This album starts and ends brilliantly. Baba O'Riley, Behind Blue Eyes and Won't Get Fooled Again are classics and still sound fresh in 2021, particularly the former. In the middle it is less memorable though, and seemed like fairly average rock. 3.5/5.

This is an all-time classic, one of the best albums ever in my opinion. There really isn't a bad song in the bunch. Lately I've really been appreciating My Wife (the song, although I do appreciate my real-life wife as well). Listen to the drumming in that song, and then the horns kick in. And of course, Won't Get Fooled Again is epic. 5 stars easy.

Classic album. Second favorite Who album behind Quadrophenia. 9-10/10 1. Baba O'Riley 2. Won't Get Fooled Again 3. My Wife

Much of Who's Next derives from Lifehouse, an ambitious sci-fi rock opera Pete Townshend abandoned after suffering a nervous breakdown, caused in part from working on the sequel to Tommy. There's no discernable theme behind these songs, yet this album is stronger than Tommy, falling just behind Who Sell Out as the finest record the Who ever cut. Townshend developed an infatuation with synthesizers during the recording of the album, and they're all over this album, adding texture where needed and amplifying the force, which is already at a fever pitch. Apart from Live at Leeds, the Who have never sounded as LOUD and unhinged as they do here, yet that's balanced by ballads, both lovely ("The Song Is Over") and scathing ("Behind Blue Eyes"). That's the key to Who's Next -- there's anger and sorrow, humor and regret, passion and tumult, all wrapped up in a blistering package where the rage is as affecting as the heartbreak. This is a retreat from the '60s, as Townshend declares the "Song Is Over," scorns the teenage wasteland, and bitterly declares that we "Won't Get Fooled Again." For all the sorrow and heartbreak that runs beneath the surface, this is an invigorating record, not just because Keith Moon runs rampant or because Roger Daltrey has never sung better or because John Entwistle spins out manic basslines that are as captivating as his "My Wife" is funny. This is invigorating because it has all of that, plus Townshend laying his soul bare in ways that are funny, painful, and utterly life-affirming. That is what the Who was about, not the rock operas, and that's why Who's Next is truer than Tommy or the abandoned Lifehouse. Those were art -- this, even with its pretensions, is rock & roll.

5/5 - Duh. Excellent.

I feel like anything I would have to say about this album would be woefully insufficient. I mean, this is the epitome of a 5 star album. Best thing the Who ever made. There's a reason why we know so many of these songs, to the point where some have become overfamiliar. Don't let that get in the way of your enjoyment. There are literally some of the best rock songs ever made on this album, including the monumental "Baba O'Riley," the blistering "Won't get Fooled Again," and the deeply intense "Behind Blue Eyes." This is the Who musically at their best and going for broke on every song. Fave Songs: Baba O'Riley, Bargain, Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again, Going Mobile

After the success of Tommy, Pete Townsend embarked on another ambitious rock opera project titled Lifehouse. This project was eventually abandoned but some of the elements made their way onto Who's Next. This album is surely one of the Who's best. It is concise and coherent and features some of their greatest hits. Many of the lesser known songs come from Lifehouse and concern themselves with the relationship between music and its audience. This is truly a great album.

What a great album! Compared to earlier Who albums, this is a marvel. "Bookended" by three mega hits, the rest of the album is studded with everything, fast paced songs, power ballads, guitars, synthesisers

A masterpiece rock classic. I don’t think any band makes such a dramatic change in their career as The Who, Beatles aside. The album is packed with 3 mega iconic songs, great musicianship that well produced, all packaged in a great runtime. The album is a must and truly belongs on the list.

This is one of my all-time favorites. With some devastating lyrics and incredible musicianship, it's got so many great songs that it feels like a "Best of..." record. (Though there are many, many more of The Who's bests not on this album.) It is grandly exuberant, theatrical, cinematic. (There is a reason Baba O'Riley is the soundtrack to so many movie trailers.) Listening to this album just feels HUGE. Like I need to expand to fit the music in. It's exhilarating. lovelovelovelovelove

What kind of crazy, fucked-up world do we live in where this album isn't one of the top 20 highest rated on this sites list? This is the sound of a band at the absolute peak of their powers. It's the epitome of a classic album. There's a reason the best songs from the album have been overplayed everywhere: they're simply that good. I even like the track John Entwistle sings lead on.

10/10, I feel like Joe Pera when I listen to this

What a ride. This is probably the best album that’s going to be on this list. And to think this was leftovers from their previous record. Absolute legends.

Yes - "Who's Next" is one of the truly all-time classics in rock no doubt... With "Baba O'Reilly" opening the album, and "Won't Get Fooled Again" closing it - you have 2 of the greatest anthems in the history of rock... Add in "Behind Blue Eyes", "Bargain", and "Going Mobile" as couple of more amazing tracks - and you have a stunningly exceptional album... Always enjoyed the less popular songs from this album as well, including "The Song Is Over", "Getting In Tune", and "Love Ain't For Keeping" - as those are quintessential Who hands down... Only weak track on the album is "My Wife" - but 9 out of 10 absolutely stellar songs is really remarkable... Definitely a 5 all the way for me...

Yeah, that’s a 5. I knew this was the album that had Baba O’Riley, but I never made the connection that Won’t Get Fooled Again was that fucking song. Those are the two standouts, obviously, but everything in between so perfectly compliments each other in terms of the instrumentation and the vocal performance, probably most deeply anchored together by the fantastic percussion throughout this album that really makes each song pop that much harder, especially on The Song Is Over and Getting in Tune. It’s just a really fucking good album, man. Even its weakest points where the sound lulls a bit or repetition starts to seep in, which are few and far between, are still great to listen to. Very deserving of a 5, and highly recommended.

70s rock does not get much better than this. Front to back great. Peak Who. They’re all WASTED.

An amazing album which has stood the test of time.

Classic. The Who was my first Rock concert shortly after Keith Moon passed and they’re in my pantheon. Ox’s “My Wife” hit home and always brings a smile.

Well, it's just brilliant. Some of the best songs ever are on this album.

This album is expertly bookended with two of The Who's (and rock & roll's) most iconic songs. Opening with the anthemic "Baba O'Riley" and those mesmerizing synthesizer-like notes which act as a motif all throughout. "Won't Get Fooled Again" is one of those timeless rock ballads that reels you out and hooks you back in with its buildups. Among the lesser known tracks, I enjoyed "This Song Is Over", as that had more of that operatic rock sound heard throughout the album. This might be The Who's best work, maybe rivaled by "Tommy" from a few years prior, but I'd argue that this is more expressive and grand. Just an epic in its own right. Also I just now noticed that the album cover art is the band after taking a leak? Learn something new everyday I guess.

No. 191/1001 Baba O'Reily 5/5 Bargain 5/5 Love Ain't For Keeping 5/5 My Wife 4/5 The Song is Over 5/5 Getting in Tune 4/5 Going Mobile 4/5 Behind Blue Eyes 5/5 Won't Get Fooled Again 5/5 Average: 4,67 Just a great classic rock album from start to finish. No bad songs and a lot of "highlight" songs. This is now my best rated album, taking over from Listen Without Prejudice - George Michael (4,56)

Very strong start and finish but lags in the middle, much like me having a shag.

The high points on this album are among the highest of 70’s rock and more than make up for some of the less memorable tracks in the middle of the record. It’s actually kind of ridiculous how great a couple of the songs on this record are. Keith Moon, without a doubt, steals the show on this record, his frenetic drumming leads the way, charting the course these songs as much as the arpeggiated synth lines on the the tracks bookend this record or Pete Townsend’s guitar. He is practically a hurricane turned drummer, and I think in the hands of any other drummer most of these songs would not have the same impact - especially towards the end of “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, where his drum fills interrupt the organ/synth arpeggio and clear the way for Roger Daltry to deliver what is probably the greatest scream in the history of rock and roll as the band returns to the songs iconic riff for the last time. The ending of that song is quite literally perfect and I’m not sure The Who reached that level again before or since in their career, at least to my ears - though they often came close.

It's hard to think of many bands (other than the Beatles) who underwent such ambitious growth in such a short period of time. Their first album (just over five years previous) was a relatively unremarkable mod-pop album, and here they are practically inventing 70s stadium rock, having moved through concept albums and rock operas to... this gargantuan beast of a record. Thank god they kept it to a lean single album. I am not generally a fan of concept albums or rock operas; they are pompous, pretentious, overly complicated and nonsensical. I think the "failure" of Townshend's Lifehouse concept helps them here. Not that the record doesn't lean towards pompous and pretentious, but by jettisoning attempts to link a narrative thread, they could concentrate on making the album sound good. And teaming up with Glyn Johns (responsible for a slew of great sounding records in the late 60s and 70s) really helps. The playing is sophisticated without becoming overly complex, muscular and powerful. And there are probably more really iconic tunes here than on any other record the Who ever released; Baba O'Riley, Going Mobile, Behind Blue Eyes and Won't Get Fooled Again are all dad-rock classics, and the rest of the material is of a high standard. Pound for pound, this is the best they ever played, the best they were ever recorded, with the best tunes they ever had. And they manage to reign in the worst tendencies towards over-playing (I'm looking at you, Moon, and you too, Ox). Do I love The Who? More admire than love, and, truth be told, if I was going to spin one of their records, it would most likely be Live at Leeds. But this is a dead set classic record, deserving to be on the list. It probably deserves a five, but I just can't quite get there. Perhaps 4.5, rounding down because I'm ornery. I do, however, really love the cover photo. Mwah, chef's kiss.

There are some attention grabbers for everyone!

Beyond a couple of early singles, I have never understood the interest in The Who. This album is far from a classic, and sounds like a really bad hangover from the Sixties. Lumpen rock with no soul or even meaningful lyrics. There is nothing ‘mod'ern about this, even for the time. Even Townshend’s guitar playing - so often discussed and admired - doesn’t really stand out as being either virtuosic or particularly original, to these ears. Next!

As I've mentioned in my reviews of the other Who albums, never been a big fan. At least those albums ("Tommy" and "My Generation") I wasn't as familiar with. This record is not so lucky. Classic rock radio has beaten at least four of these to absolute death, so much so that when I saw the last two songs were "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Won't Get Fooled Again", I decided to spare myself. If I had known "Bargain" by the title, I would've skipped that one as well. Two of these songs both have similar enough melodies, albeit differing intensities, and to have them back to back is just poor design ("The Song is Over" and "Getting In Tune"). The other three songs are absolutely forgettable. The Who are a classic rock band that I've never understood why every radio station in America is required to play their music. I just wish they'd go away. Favorite track: "Won't Get Fooled Again"

I fucking hate The Who.

A classic!! I think I first heard this sometime in high school. "Going Mobile" is really really good in particular - that one always stood out to me, even more so than "Behind Blue Eyes" or "Won't Get Fooled Again". As someone who has listened to the Who's entire discography, this is without a doubt one of the strongest points.

amazing. 10/10

Classic Who album. Great individual songs, moderate composition

One of the toughest for me to get through so far. I realized after listening to this that The Who are the MOST overplayed classic rock group of all time. Ugh.

A classic, my kind of music

Great

Love the rich music and chord progression. Rad.

Even though I still feel this album has some arguably filler-ish tracks - 'My Wife' in particular, and 'Love Ain't for Keeping' always felt a bit bland - the strength of the songs are just too great to justify anything other than 5 stars.

So many classics that are simply fantastic.

This one was full of nostalgia for me. I don't think I appreciatecd the nuance of the percussion and just the raw angsty feel. when I was young. It was over too soon

Awesome

who?

Duh

A jubilant slice of classic 70s rock. Tumbling rolling drums. Mold-breaking. Baba O Riley. Behind Blue Eyes.

One of the best albums ever. One of my favorite albums. Every song is great.

Solid. Classic.

Amazing album overall great story saved a lot

This album was simply amazing. The band was inspiration to countless bands and multiple generations . damn near perfect

one of the best albums ever made. period.

All-time classic. Nothing but great tracks. One of my favorite records.

Brilliant

Great songs but bonus album was way too long

Hey these guys are pretty talented

Classic album just. a bit of a dip in the middle. BT: Baba O'Riley, Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again

Any album that starts with one of the greatest Youth anthems of all time is an easy 4star. That it ends with behind blue eyes earns it the 5

Great album! I don't know The Who very well so happy to listen through a full album of theirs

Seminal album with countless classic tracks. The musicianship is excelling to the point where vocals are the weakest link, which is saying something.

Historic!

Not my favorite Who album, I don’t think, but goddamn, every song goes hard

Great album. No weak tracks. Bargain, love ain’t for keeping, going mobile, behind blue eyes, all great secondary tracks. Probably the best Who album

Classic

Nonstop rock from start to finish. Insanely iconic introduction and closer but the meat and bones hold their own for the runtime. 4.5 to 5/5

Epic.

Brilliant. Love the synths and the rock elements. This is The Who that I know best.

epic, a rock masterpiece

Wonderful, and classic

Always liked The Who, but never truly appreciated them for their collective talent until recently. It was sparked by this album. Surely, there are many classics on here, But, the genius and musicianship are often hidden when the songs are overplayed. For me, I really began to appreciate Moon and Entwistle, both separate and together on this album, which only grew as I would re-listen to the other Who albums.

Aunque conocía varias de las canciones por separado, no había oído el disco completo y en orden y me sorprendió lo bueno que es. Cons sus 9 canciones y 43 minutos, todas tienen mucha coherencia y armonía entre ellas y el disco entero se va volando. Mi parte favorita, por mucho, es todo Baba O'Riley: desde la entrada con el sintetizador hasta la parte climática que viene al final, esa rola no tiene una nota de desperdicio.

Sin duda, así es como me gusta The Who. Nunca había escuchado el disco completo tal cual era y, sin temor a equivocarme creo que es ahora mi disco favorito de ellos. Me encanta el gran sonido completo que lograron con este álbum. En mi opinión, muy similar en partes a Tommy pero ahora, quizá debido a que no se logró cuajar la historia y el album "concepto" dio lugar a solo usar la música mejor lograda. Hay mucha grandilocuencia en todas las canciones y drama en todas partes sin seguir el molde de la ópera rock. "Baba O’Riley" siempre ha sido una de mis canciones favoritas y puedo escucharla una y otra vez. Esa canción para mí es parte esencial del hard rock y un excelente ejemplo del estilo destilado. La parte de acompañamiento con el sintetizador es muy original para su momento. Siempre me ha gustado "Won’t Get Fooled Again", y "Going Mobile". "Getting in Tune” fue nueva pero me gusto bastante. Y luego está "Behind Blue Eyes" que se había arruinado para mí hace mucho debido a un cover de Limp Bizkit. Sin embargo, creo que estoy listo para apreciarla y, sí, se siente medio cursilona pero es de esos puntos que nos recuerdan que esto iba a ser una ópera rock y en ese sentido no está nada mal lograda. Al final, tenemos creo sin duda uno de los mejores discos de los 70s y de todo el hard rock clásico en general.

Got better and better over its brief run. There's nobody who ever played like Keith Moon.

I think one of their best, maybe the best. It’s all spot on, exemplary of their unique brand, and of course a fist full of absolute iconic rock classics.

A well-regarded classic, peppered with epoch-making tunes, and a lighter touch than I remembered. Great to hear it again.

One of my all-time favorites from my favorite band. An awesome album. Essential classic rock.

i know it's good.

Classic

This is is the pantheon of great albums

Great album. Good music and nice synths

Obviously iconic album. That intro to Baba O'Reily teleports me to riding in the car with my Dad.

Lots of classic hits

already know it

A hit-drenched classic.

MAYBE the best The Who album in their catalogue. Baba O Riley, Behind Blue Eyes, and Won't Get Fooled Again are the headliners, but don't sleep on Love Ain't For Keeping, Getting In Tune, and Going Mobile are all terrific as well.

Great listening, influential, a bridge from the Beatles to later music.

Liked em!

Discazo

5/5... nothing less

Best of The Who

Classic rock here, some absolutely euphoric bangers, Daltrey’s vocals have an epic quality, Townshend’s guitars providing great fills, harmonies and riffs, Entwistle’s shuffling and grooving baselines keeping things moving and Moon’s insane drum fills and cymbal runs make sure the whole album never just settles but crackles and pops all the way through. Varied and always an interesting listen. Top tracks: Won’t Get Fooled Again, Baba O’Riley, Love Ain’t for Keeping, My Wife, Behind Blue Eyes

Never listened to The Who before but highly recommended. Would purchase this album.

Another classic album that formed rock and roll.

Un dels millors discos de la història del rock. Des de l'icònica portada a l'èpica de 'Baba O'Riley' i 'Won't Get Fooled Again', passant per l'himne dels himnes, 'Behind Blue Eyes' i un reguitzell de temes menys coneguts però igualment triomfants. Obra mestra molt difícil d'igualar

LOL I recognise this opening from...everything ever. Classic.