Who's Next

the who's fifth album is one of those carved-in-stone landmarks that the rock canon doesn't allow you to bad-mouth. 'baba o'riley' makes a spectacular opener, its hypnotic drone disrupted by power chords that are parachuted in off the backs of meteorites. dave arbus' subtle then frantic viola solo raises it another gear. there has rarely been a more durably evocative refrain than 'teenage wasteland'. as ever, daltrey's ragged voice brings humanity to townshend's over-thinking. moon is typically hyperactive: any drummer playing like this today would be ordered to rein it in. bargain floats on the tension between acoustic guitar and the brave new synth. like most of the album, it's melodramatic without - as with later who - fattening into pomposity. the song is over oozes poignancy and getting in tune and going mobile are simply great songs. behind blue eyes is a soul-searching ballad which bursts into belligerence, reflective then urgent. this 2cd jewel case edition replaces the now-deleted full deluxe edition.