I’ve liked The Who ever since I discovered them via Green Day’s cover of “A Quick One While He’s Away,” the first ever miniopera that inspired the other 2 songs on American Idiot. And I’ve recently been relistening to their first live album Live At Leeds (the deluxe edition of course). I do that thing like Maria, except of different bands, I get into certain albums. Last few weeks it’s been Pleased To Meet Me, and before that it was something else. I can’t remember. Anyways, all of the musicians of The Who are excellent. I mean, Pete Townshend (guitar) is the main personality of the band (he writes all of the music, unlike most bands where the singer writes all of it) and he’s an amazing guitarist (he perfected the original guitar smashing), but the rhythm section is just as awesome. It seems like all of them are soloing at the same time, as Keith Moon (drummer) thrashes like there’s no tomorrow (ironically he’s dead), and although John Entwistle (bassist) just stands in place while he plays (no walking, no jumping, no nothing), but boy can he play. He is one of the loudest bass players I’ve ever heard, and sometimes his super-twangy bass overpowers the guitar. I don’t feel like reviewing the whole album this time, because I’m tired and I just don’t feel like it. Almost all of Tommy is performed on the second disc, and they barely take breaks between songs. The album is a bit better, in my opinion, but much less energetic than this epic performance of the rock opera. On the studio album, they have all of these effects, and even a horn section (played by Entwistle), but at Leeds, they have three instruments; guitar, bass, and drums. “Tommy’s Holiday Camp,” although a 57 second circus joke on the album (it has a banjo), turns into a 60 second stomp, that while still sounds like a joke, is accented by Keith Moon’s maniacal laughter (Tre Cool bears many similarities to Moon). “Sparks” is basically a 4 minute jam session, but it turns out very well, especially when they incorporate some of the 10 minute instrumental “Underture” (ha ha, over and under… no?) into it. On the main album, they have bloody brilliant (British enough for you, mates?) renditions of “Young Man Blues” (sort of a “Black Dog” kind of call and response thing with a just as rockin’ riff), “Summertime Blues” (upbeat blues rock thing carried by the bass), and especially “My Generation,” their signature song (about how adults don’t understand “our generation.” Actually, I don’t either) with a big in-your-face grungy bass solo (at about 50 seconds) followed by a nearly 15 minute long medley of songs that you’ve never heard of, but still sound great (if you can sit through it). The last song of the show, “Magic Bus,” is also great. It starts with a clacking noise (Moon banging two wooden blocks together) and then Townshend comes in with a cool echo effect. Then a stuttering bass on A. At 3:20, the whole thing basically explodes into this giant noise thing, where everybody solos (and it sounds great too) and the song sporadically uses loud and soft dynamics. Where have we heard that before? Live At Leeds isn’t the best Who album. That distinction belongs to either Who’s Next or Quadrophenia (sorry Tommy), their second rock opera about a Mod named Jimmy, who has 4 different personalities. That makes Green Day seem a little… tamer, I guess. “Baba O’Riley” is easily the best song on Who’s Next (although the version on the soundtrack The Kids Are Alright is superior), but “Sea And Sand” from Quadrophenia is probably my favorite Who song. The vocals are some of the best Roger Daltrey has ever done (he’s the singer… I really hope I didn’t have to establish that), especially during the verses, where the protagonist reminisces about his former girlfriend. Anyway... here's some video of the actual concert at Leeds. Click here.
In other news, Pearl Jam’s album Ten sucks. Vs. is way better. The single version of Weezer’s Keep Fishin’ is better than the album version on Maladroit. And I don’t hate New Guns N’ Roses that much anymore; they have Tommy Stinson. Join Green Day Community! You can download so much stuff. I’m tired now. And I had a lot of ice cream, so I’m kind of thirsty. Keep your riches, gimme a Budweiser!
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