The Who
WHO

It has been thirteen years since the last studio effort by The Who, namely the good "Endless Wire," and it's time for the seminal British rock band to dive in once again.

Unfortunately, the identity cards speak clearly, with seventy-four for Townshend and seventy-five for Daltrey; however, on the record, we find very few traces of senility. The new self-titled album, recorded over six months in London (between the British Grove and Metropolis Studios) with the help of producers Dave Sardy, Dave Eringa, and Bob Pridden, is a proper album, which certainly does not rejuvenate the glories of the enormous classics The Who have given us over the past fifty-five years, but it reminds us once again (if ever needed) of the greatness of this immortal band. The cover designed by the legendary Peter Blake is also beautiful.

Daltrey and Townshend indeed find a surprising balance among the eleven tracks of this album; the only lapse in style is found in the strange closure of "She Rocked My World," a Latin exercise of dubious utility. For the rest, however, the pace is swift: "All This Music Must Fade" opens in perfect Who style, the single "Ball And Chain" is an overwhelming reworking of a solo piece by Townshend ("Guantanamo," featured in "Truancy: The Very Best Of Pete Townshend" from 2015), "Detour" pleasantly pays homage to "Magic Bus," and "Hero Ground Zero" is epic and inspired.

In "Break The News" (composed by Pete's brother, Simon), The Who enjoy following the current of Mumford & Sons' new folk rock, managing quite well. The production by Dave Sardy (Oasis) and company is perfectly respectful of the band's heritage and contributes to the preservation of a unique and now immortal sound, just as the musicians involved (Pino Palladino, Zak Starkey, Matt Chamberlain, and many others) fit perfectly into the context.

It's no longer useful to ask The Who for more masterpieces. So let's enjoy a surprising return to high levels, which reminds us once again of what these former reckless boys are capable of.

Best track: All This Music Must Fade