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"Often considered by critics as the Who's darkest album, "The Who By Numbers" is certainly not a must-have, but it still offers some very good Rock tracks."
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4/5
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In 1975, the Who release their seventh studio album, often considered by critics as their darkest album. If this darkness is conveyed by Pete Townshend's disillusioned lyrics, which he tries to forget with alcohol and drugs, it doesn't seem to affect the music of "The Who By Numbers" too much. Certainly, some tracks convey sadness and melancholy while others seem to be more charged with rage and anger, but the prankster humour stopped a long time ago with 'The Who Sell Out', and the albums that have followed since then have taken a more serious tone, although the saucy 'Squeeze Box' has some connection with 'A Quick One While He's Away' and 'Mary Ann With The Shaky Hand'!
Apart from this exception, the songs are for the most part nervous Rocks, swinging between pure energy and luminous moments of softness. The riffs and the acoustic/electric mixtures of Townshend's guitars, Entwistle's superb bass, Keith Moon's demonic drums, Daltrey's voice alternately powerful and fragile, everything that makes the Who are the Who is present on this record. The recording pays homage to these qualities, each instrument being clearly heard without detracting from the others. It is thus possible, depending on the mood, to follow the bass lines, to resonate to the rhythm of the drums or, more simply, to let oneself be carried away by the melody released by the ensemble.
It seems that Pete Townshend was suffering from writer's block at the time, and that "The Who By Numbers" is practically the only collection of songs he managed to write during this period. It must be said that the three previous albums were rich: "Tommy" in 1969, "The Who's Next" in 1971 and "Quadro phenia" in 1973, which makes the so-called lack of inspiration excusable. In fact, "The Who By Numbers" is the little brother of "Who's Next" rather than the band's two rock operas. The songs are simpler, more instinctive and, if the compositions are slightly less attractive than on 'Who's Next', they are still of a very good standard. Dreaming From The Waist', 'They're All In Love', 'How Many Friends' or the splendid 'Imagine A Man' can stand comparison with their elders without blushing.
The bar was high and it is the lot of all great bands, when they have produced a masterpiece, to have to return to more normality while trying not to disappoint an audience that always hopes for more. The Who do quite well with this album. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Slip Kid - 4:32
02. However Much I Booze - 5:03
03. Squeeze Box - 2:42
04. Dreaming From The Waist - 4:09
05. Imagine A Man - 4:04
06. Success Story - 3:24
07. They're All In Love - 3:03
08. Blue, Red And Grey - 2:50
09. How Many Friends - 4:07
10. In A Hand Or A Face - 3:25
11. Squeeze Box (bonus Live) - 3:13
12. Behind Blue Eyes (bonus Live) - 4:39
13. Dreaming From The Waist (bonus Live) - 4:57
LINEUP:
John Entwistle: Basse / Claviers / Choeurs, Chant (6), Cuivres (8)
Keith Moon: Batterie / Percussions, Choeurs
Nicky Hopkins: Piano (7, 10)
Pete Townshend: Guitares / Claviers / Choeurs, Chant (2, 8), Accordéon (3), Banjo (3), Ukulélé (8)
Roger Daltrey: Chant / Choeurs
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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READERS
4/5 (1 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (2 view(s))
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