The Who is an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic line-up consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon.
In doing so, I attempt to determine what makes the good songs good, the bad songs bad, and the weird songs (that's a lot of them) weird. I tackle songs I've known and loved for years, as well as songs I heard for the first time recently and am already trying to forget. While the song reviews constitute the bulk of this book, I also offer analyses of each album, as well as essays on each member of The Who.
My goal is to hit that sweet spot between musical theory and musical ignorance - between "Townshend solos in the Mixolydian mode, with several chromatic flourishes up to G minor" and "Dude!" It's an analysis by a listener, for listeners. Across all of it, I attempt to get to the heart of what made The Who tick musically, why they were unique, and why their best music is still beloved decades after it was recorded. I hope this book introduces you to Who music that you haven't heard before, but even more that it provides you with a new perspective on music you've known and loved for years.