The Who...let's be honest...

MattyJoe wrote:

Do you mean ignorant in the sense that I've never listened to any Who albums?

Because you'd be wrong.

Do you mean ignorant in that I don't realize that The Who MUST (in your opinion) be considered an album band because they did "rock operas" and "concept albums"?

I realize they did that. But, honestly, many of the songs on The Who Sell Out, Tommy, and Quadrophenia stink. They're only good at writing individual songs that are good, not whole albums. There's no Who album that I can say I love every song from it, the way I do about Vs., for example.

And I have nothing against a good concept album. Animals by Pink Floyd is an EXCELLENT album, one of my favorite albums ever.

You're wrong, a singles band focuses on singles. The Who focused on albums for a but three years of their careers.

Plus those albums are wonderful albums, you may not think so, but you're in the minority. I will give you this, you've done a good deal of reasearch, but your opinion still sucks.

jamie uk wrote:

they were an ok band, thay had some great songs...but they were very patchy, very hit and miss at times, and quite frankly went on far too long...not to mention the numerous changes in style they undertook in order to try sustain some popularity and success. Like I said, they had some great songs, but overall.....not all they're cracked up to be.

I reckon....the one and only reason they get so many fuckin plaudits around here is because Eddie Vedder loves them so much.
Aint that the truth ? You all know it is.

They're his favourite band, not ours....

They were probably one of the top live bands when they were in their prime and their music catalog is timeless. Many of us on this forum were born before the late 80's and 90's and have appreciated The Who years before Pearl Jam were around.

Clearly you're trying to start something with this post because it makes no sense if you truly do appreciate rock n' roll. Next you're going to tell us that Zeppelin is nothing but a glorified garage band.

jamie uk wrote:

yeah, and I did mention that I quite like em.
It's just recently, all this 'oh they're so influential and original and........" that I don't really understand. I never felt the need to own a Who album other than a compilation, I like their singles, I found the film Tommy rather, erm crap, and Quadrophenia to me was just a rock nostalgia movie....I'm not trying to get up anyones arse here, I just always found them, whilst being a decent enough band, shall I say...a bit desperate. They changed their musical style so much, to me that isn't about invention so much as it's about chasing sales and popularity...maybe I'm wrong...nah, course I'm not.

I don’t care for the Tommy film and while I have some affection for the Quad movie, it’s a very separate thing from The Who’s album. If you’ve only listened to compilations I can also see why you might feel the way you do. Who albums take time to get into much the way PJ’s albums do. There are many people who don’t like By Numbers but it’s one of my favorite Who albums. You’d think it would appeal to all those people who were tired of the concept albums. Go figure. For those who think that Who Are You wasn’t a good album, I’ll admit the quality is mixed. I will say it’s unique for having 3 of John’s songs.

I'm not really sure what you mean by desperate though. Maybe you could explain that a little better? Or about changing their style so much. They don't seem to have changed it that much to me over the years other than things such as adding synthesizers in the early 70s. Again, I'm thinking if you've only listened to compilations that may be how it appears.

I’ve already said that there are people who think The Who were never the same after Keith’s death. It’s easy to point to that one event and say that it changed everything but I think it’s much more complicated than that. For one thing, Keith’s problems had been going on a long time. The other members of the band had realized there was the possibility of something happening to him. That was why they were ready to continue after his death.

The 1979-80 tour was a critical time for the band. I saw them on that tour and like a lot of people I was skeptical. They had a lot to prove and they knew it. They were on fire and it remains one of the most memorable Who shows for me.

But when people talk about how the band fell off during that time, they overlook other things. By the late 70s Pete had lapsed into serious alcohol and drug addiction. It affected not just his musical ability but also his commitment to the band. Others have commented in this thread on Pete’s solo albums. By the 80s, Pete had begun holding back his best songs for his solo work rather than sharing them with The Who. His albums Empty Glass (1980) and Chinese Eyes (1982) have some of the best Who songs that The Who never recorded.

And the 2 albums that the band did release during that time, Face Dances and It's Hard, don't sound particularly Whoish. I'm not big fans of either of them for that reason. But they still might have been recorded, even if Keith had lived. They just would have had really bitchin drumming on them.

I adore The Who.

It's the Stones I don't get, I admit they had a good run of 4 albums early on (Beggars, Bleed, Sticky & Exile). but since the early 70's they have been utter shite. Infact Ronnie Wood despict being in the band for nearly 40 years hasn't played on worthwhile Stones record.

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

I'm having a Who day today. I like everything. It won't last.

Welcome to the camp!

btw sorry if I appeared to be making fun of your knowledge of The Who. Actually I have a lot of respect for people who take the time to learn that much about a band, especially when they're a kid. You probably know more about them than I do since I've just sort of absorbed things over the years rather than really set out to learn about them.

To each his own I guess...but I can't help but feel sorry for anyone that hasn't found bliss in The Who's music

Aside from Pearl Jam, The Who's music has been the number one constant throughout my life. Their records are one of the most cherished things in my life.

That music has been with me through alot of good and bad times.

My Father and Uncle took me to the show at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit in 1988-89. It was my first concert and I was never the same after that experience.

From that moment on, I went on to collect anything and everything Who related.

For my money, there is nothing better in this world than sitting down with a bottle of red wine, and throwing Live At Leeds or Quadrophenia on the turntable.

It was through The Who that I found Pearl Jam.

I remember watching that MTV Singles release party or whatever the fuck it was and I caught Pearl Jam's performance of "Baba O' Reily"

It blew my mind...Pearl Jam was the direct decendent of The Who musically, and in spirit.

I've loved Pearl Jam ever since.

But in my mind and in my heart...The Who will always remain "The Greatest Rock'n'Roll Band Ever".

Later

jamie uk wrote:

Don't mean to drag this up, but that bloody Ivor the Engine Driver song is on the radio again, second time in as many evenings.
I really must say.....influence anyone? Good god, influence a pre school play session maybe...:o embaressing is the word for this.

let it go jamie let it go.
im not a fan of the who either but i am big enough to admit they have been influential. though i actually used to think that song of theirs i can see for miles was a byrds song.

to all who dislikes the who:

you wish you can play guitar like pete.
you wish you can sing like roger.
you wish you can sound like the ox.
you wish you can drink like moon!