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Rating:
LA RECENSIONE
After reaching the creative peak with "Quadrophenia," for The Who, the beginning of the decline was inevitable, also due to the state of disarray reigning among artists at that time in the swamp of heroin and alcohol of rock 'n roll....
The novelties in this album are represented by the absence of synthesizers and embellishments that characterized especially the previous album (a double-edged sword capable of stunning the listener but also of suffocating them in a grip of redundant opulence) and by a climate of malaise and depression present in the lyrics. The level of the compositions is decidedly lower than the standard, although there are some good songs:
I would start by mentioning the most famous song on the album, " Dreaming from the Waist", which immediately became a concert staple, where the great John Entwistle towers with his astounding bass technique with some soaring soloistic virtuosity, and the beautiful ballad "Imagine a Man" led by Pete's acoustic and the piano of the album's guest of honor, Nicky Hopkins (present on virtually all the Who's albums of the 70s).
"Blue Red and Grey" also deserves a listen, where the vocal protagonist is Pete who accompanies himself with a ukulele, supported by the background of trombones played by John, a piece with a very particular and sparse yet very effective and moving atmosphere. On the arrangement side, the guitar parts of "However Much I Booze" are notable, although the melody is of little consequence.
The other songs are rather uninteresting and lack a precise direction, the only one that comes to mind is "Success Story" mainly because of the delirious video that accompanied it in the film "Kids are all right" where John Entwistle played clay pigeon shooting with his own gold records.... Keith Moon is a bit subdued throughout the album, but better than the drowsiness induced by his performance on the subsequent "Who Are You".
Ultimately, the weakest album of The Who's era with Keith Moon, the ones without him I wouldn't even include in the discography because they are so awful...
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Summary by Bot
The review describes 'The Who By Numbers' as a creative low point for The Who, following their peak with 'Quadrophenia.' The album's stripped-down style and melancholic lyrics reflect a troubled period for the band. While some tracks like ‘Dreaming from the Waist’ and ‘Imagine a Man’ stand out, much of the album lacks direction. Keith Moon’s subdued drumming and overall weaker compositions mark this as the band’s weakest album during his tenure.Tracklist Videos
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964. Core classic lineup included Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon. They are known for powerful live shows and landmark concept albums such as Tommy and Quadrophenia.53 Reviews
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