WHO
by The Who
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 30
  3. Negative: 4 out of 30
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. notor12
    Dec 7, 2019
    6
    Pros: It still has the classic Who sound. It is technically proficient and it is easy to listen to.

    Cons: The main failing of this album is the songwriting. The lyrics are preachy and cliched to the point where it makes me want to turn it off. The rhymes are just annoyingly poor.
  2. reynpapaul
    Dec 6, 2019
    9
    Forgive the pun, but Who knew they had an album this good in them? Townshend's writing is terse, melodic, and thematically timely. And he's written masterfully around Daltrey's fraying voice, so the singing sounds superb....and better than Rog has sounded on recent youTube live recordings. Also, whatever trickery they employed to fill out the baking vocals worked brilliantly; they soundForgive the pun, but Who knew they had an album this good in them? Townshend's writing is terse, melodic, and thematically timely. And he's written masterfully around Daltrey's fraying voice, so the singing sounds superb....and better than Rog has sounded on recent youTube live recordings. Also, whatever trickery they employed to fill out the baking vocals worked brilliantly; they sound like The Who slightly thickened and synthed out. A wow all the way for me.… Expand
  3. fourlambs
    Dec 6, 2019
    10
    Simply astonishing, never expected this, so diverse, reflective yet so fresh. Rock on guys.
  4. Hassu
    Dec 12, 2019
    0
    Could have been way better. I dont know them much and haven't listened to their previous work but this could be way way better
  5. jimmypowder
    Dec 10, 2019
    1
    Horrific songwriting. I think we should send all Guantanamo prisoners to live in the Who's neighborhood and see how that works.
  6. jakfromrva
    Dec 6, 2019
    10
    Pretty remarkable album for a band that's been around for more than half a century
  7. jstraszewski
    Dec 6, 2019
    9
    Back and as powerful as ever, The Who show how to make a proper rock album in 2019
  8. Vsenese
    Dec 7, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Brilliant in every possible way, to have this last piece of art from this band in 2019 is truly a blessing and a miracle!… Expand
  9. thebowmanbody
    Dec 7, 2019
    10
    Great. Better than I could have hoped for. A welcome return. It's most definitely The Who.
  10. ChuckAmok
    Dec 9, 2019
    7
    Dayum, this thing - first of all - sounds great: great guitar sounds and excellent playing by PT and Roger's aged croak is a wonderful sound. The songs are really good, too - hard to weigh this record without the band's entire history somewhere in the mix, but it's a vibrant record, full of invention - and a very, very pleasant surprise.
  11. CPL953H
    Dec 19, 2019
    10
    I was expecting much, much worse, but this is surprisingly good. There are a few poor songs, the album doesn't reach the same exalted heights of their most celebrated work, and Entwistle and Moon will always be missed, but it's a well crafted album, and Daltrey and Townshend perform with vigor. A commendable effort.
  12. fonzea
    Apr 20, 2020
    7
    Who knew the titular band had another strong album ahead of them, but their newest work rings well and sounds true.
  13. buggy_boy
    Dec 14, 2019
    10
    Great album! Not a dull song in the bunch. “Break the News” is one of the standouts.
  14. ACLGC
    Dec 20, 2019
    8
    This is a typical Who's album. Awkard at the beginning, but it grows in you along the time. We are unfair with The Who 'cause we are always expecting something great as Tommy, Who's Next or Quadrophenia, but this is not possible anymore, right? This album is pairing with Who By Numbers and Face Dances, almost as good as Who Are You. It has great and not so great tunes, but those that shineThis is a typical Who's album. Awkard at the beginning, but it grows in you along the time. We are unfair with The Who 'cause we are always expecting something great as Tommy, Who's Next or Quadrophenia, but this is not possible anymore, right? This album is pairing with Who By Numbers and Face Dances, almost as good as Who Are You. It has great and not so great tunes, but those that shine are truly good. Greats songs: Hero Ground Zero, Beads on One String, I'll Be Back and She Rocked My World. Not so greats songs: Break the News, Street Song, All This Music Must Fade and I Don't Wanna Get Wise. The rest is ok, but can grow with time... afterall, is The Who we're facing!… Expand

Awards & Rankings

78
#78 Most Discussed Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Variety
    Dec 6, 2019
    85
    This album could easily be meant to stand as the band’s collective last word, even while Townshend and Daltrey sound like they’re ready to bang out 10 more closing statements where this one came from.
    Read full review
  2. Exclaim
    Dec 6, 2019
    80
    It's the best album the Who have released since Who Are You in 1978.
    Read full review
  3. AllMusic
    Dec 5, 2019
    80
    Who feels like a Who album: The two still bring out the best in each other.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »