Review:

on 2011-02-26 CharlesMartel Said:

There are a number of bands who deserve a better exit than the one they had. But no band deserves to have gone out with an album which was little more than something their record company put together, without their knowledge or consent. Such was the fate of the Who with "Who's Last". For a band who have thrilled us, entranced us, driven us the heights of passion and emotion with their power and the style which they have maintained over the years, this is indeed a sad state of affairs to reach.

It is a real pity that this album is what it is. However, don't be fooled by the title. The Who had more comebacks than a dose of genital herpes, so this was not their last at all. Reunion tours and a slew of issues of live recordings would follow. But for me, the Who ended as a band the night Keith Moon died. I still remember that night vividly. I heard it on the news, as I was getting ready to go out to a club where "Won't Get Fooled Again" was one of the favourite tracks played. And as that track was played once again, people filled the dance floor, silent, heads bowed for the total duration of the track.

Sadly, though, the album is simply not up to what it could have been. The song selection is not as poor as it could have been, but without Keith Moon the Who just couldn't hack it. "Won't Get Fooled Again" is a bland and uninspiring performance of one of the world's greatest anthems. "My Generation" doesn't sound right coming from middle-aged men any more. The inspiration which had driven the Who through their greatest years had gone.

What fails them is the musicianship, and that is a terrible thing to say about the Who. The Daltrey-Townshend combination which had powered the band through their greatest years had dissipated into personal acrimony. Pete Townshend has basically given up. By now deaf in one ear, he displays no more of the histrionics and the power thrashing which marked the Who's greatest work. This is a tired middle aged man going through the motions. John Entwistle is no better. One of the great bassists of our time is clearly tired of performing the same stuff. Roger Daltrey is weary and age has dimmed his ability to power his way through the songs, and cynicism and middle age have rubbed off the jagged edges of his anger and contempt. And the drumming is simply diabolical. No one could replace Keith Moon and on this album, no one has. Pedestrian and without passion, the once mighty drumming is now a pale shadow of its former self.

No one should have this album. To own it is to remind oneself that old rockers never die - they just go bald and can't be bothered. That is something which we do not need to be reminded of. I would rather remember the Who as they were at their peak in the late sixties and early seventies. Not like this.

"I hope I die before I get old"

Daltrey sang these lines once. Maybe the band should have followed his advice. Maybe they should have just shot the record company executives behind the decision to release this.
Rating: 5/10