Music review: The Who 鈥� 鈥榃ho鈥�
With the close of another year, I always get nostalgic and seek comfort in familiar faces and sounds from the past.
The Who鈥檚 latest effort is a sentimental magic bus ride to places that evoke memories of my youth and the music that served as a friendly companion.
My very first exposure to the British band came courtesy of my oldest brother and his well-worn copy of 鈥淲ho鈥檚 Next.鈥� Containing staple tracks of classic rock like 鈥淏aba O鈥橰iley,鈥� 鈥淏argain鈥� and 鈥淲on鈥檛 Get Fooled Again,鈥� the 1971 release will always be my personal favorite offering from the rock legends.
It鈥檚 no secret that most of the beloved groups I grew up with are slowly fading away or burning out. While I never had the chance to see the band鈥檚 original lineup, I have been in attendance to witness 鈥淨uadrophenia鈥� with Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend and a Daltrey solo performance of 鈥淭ommy.鈥�
On 鈥淭he Song Is Over鈥� from 鈥淲ho鈥檚 Next,鈥� Daltrey announces, 鈥淭he song is over/It鈥檚 all behind me.鈥� At the time, Daltrey and Townshend still had plenty of years ahead to bring their music and message to the world.
With the new release of 鈥淲ho鈥� 48 years later, Daltrey still displays some youthful rebellion on the album opener as he declares, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 care/I know you鈥檙e gonna hate this song.鈥� 鈥淎ll This Music Must Fade鈥� is the perfect introduction to a set that carries the passion and substance of previous Daltrey and Townshend collaborations.
The Who assured us back in 1965 that the kids were alright and would always find a way to get by. 鈥淚 Don鈥檛 Wanna Get Wise鈥� offers the same sentiment with Daltrey wishing to recapture the glory of his youth by resisting the urge to become wiser in old age as he sings, 鈥淲e tried hard to stay young/But the high notes were sung.鈥�
Daltrey and Townshend still sound energized and relevant on the new material with the assistance of drummer Zak Starkey and bassist Pino Palladino admirably replacing the late Keith Moon and John Entwistle.
Other highlights feature the soulful 鈥淒etour,鈥� the reflective anthem 鈥淪treet Song鈥� and tender ballad 鈥淚鈥檒l Be Back.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 rockin鈥� in rage, well past my prime/Denyin鈥� the curtain, wastin鈥� no time,鈥� sings Daltrey as he sums up the spirit of the band today.
Long live rock.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.