Starting with "The Real Me" and ending with "Love, Reign O'er Me" it is hard not to love this album. As I've said before I'm not a huge fan of double albums, and in the end that is my main problem with this album. Side 2 drags a bit and the songs are a bit long on side 4. In other words 3/4 of the album is fantastic, but that other 1/4 drags the album down a bit.
Still this is possibly the greatest double album and greatest concept album ever made. Keith Moon and John Entwistle musically dominate this album with Roger Daltrey's voice never sounding better. Pete Townshend also is at his best with his skill at production. All in all this is my favorite Who album and one of my favorite albums of all time.
One thing that makes The Who so unique is how they can be so overwhelming with their sound and yet offer a song with such a strong melody and with such great cohesion that you are not overwhelmed but instead are drawn in to be a part of the song. This album exemplifies this especially on "The Real Me" and "Love, Reign O'er Me." Townshend may be a lunatic, but he had a sense for blending a group of overpowering artists together in a way that worked like no one before or since.
