The Who: My Generation

My Generation

Best song: The Kids Are Alright

Worst song: Please Please Please

Overall grade: 3

I don’t understand why this is hailed as a classic. I understand why it’s influential, certainly, it’s an obvious example of a protopunk record and definitely inspired a whole host of later bands, but it’s not a good punk record (of the kind that would later be released by the Clash and the Ramones.) It makes me wonder if, had the punk movement never happened, this would still be in such high regard of most critics, or if it would be forgotten.

 I can find three songs here that I actively enjoy. Then most of the others have something going for them, but nowhere near enough to keep me occupied for their full running time. And then there’s a couple that I just despise.

I’ll start with the positives: ‘My Generation’ is angry and snarky and I love the way Roger Daltrey stutters his vocals. It gives the impression that the band have a point to make and a reason for existing. ‘The Kids Are Alright’ might be the most melodic and poppy song on here, and a great showcase for Keith Moon’s drumming technique. It’s still got a lot of power and purpose but is a lot more sophisticated than most songs here. And ‘The Ox’, the instrumental that closes the British version of this album is heavy and thudding and sinister. It’s credited to the whole band butt it’s very bass-driven, very much John Entwhistle’s piece, and John Entwhistle is fucking awesome. If he’d written a couple more of these maybe I’d like the album as a whole a bit more.

Other good moments here include the guitar part that opens ‘The Good’s Gone’, which is really clever. There are some decent hooks on ‘La-La-La-Lies’ and ‘Much Too Much’, even if the songs themselves are a bit immature. And on ‘It’s Not True’, a really stupid song with lyrics that I just hate (and they have the nerve to repeat them!) the ‘So there!’ at the end is worth it, it’s got so much attitude behind it.

But of course, these things are not the reason I gave the album a failing grade. The production is too rough and the overall sound quality isn’t up to much, which doesn’t make it easy to listen to. I’d rather go without the first two songs, ‘Out In The Street’ in particular I find really repetitive. Roger Daltrey’s voice in these early years is almost unlistenable. He’s trying to emulate 50’s rock and roll/RnB musicians and failing miserably. And there’s the covers, the worst offender of which is ‘Please Please Please’. In my notebook where I was taking notes while listening, all I wrote next to this one is ‘WHY TORTURE ME LIKE THIS?’ and that about sums it up.

In conclusion, I don’t hate this album, but I do get tired of it in several places, and I could certainly live without it. Rumour has it the band themselves consider it rushed and not as good as their live performances… I’d have to agree. I’d much rather listen to ‘Live at Leeds’.