The Who's second album is a less impressive outing than their debut, primarily because, at the urging of their managers, all four members penned original material (though
Pete Townshend wrote more than anyone else). The pure adrenaline of
My Generation also subsided somewhat as the band began to grapple with more complex melodic and lyrical themes, especially on the erratic mini-opera "A Quick One While He's Away." Still, there's some great madness on
Keith Moon's instrumental "Cobwebs and Strange," and
Townshend delivered some solid mod pop with "Run Run Run" and "So Sad About Us."
John Entwistle was also revealed to be a writer of considerable talent (and a morbid bent) on "Whiskey Man" and "Boris the Spider." ~ Richie Unterberger