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The Who - Face Dances CD (album) cover

FACE DANCES

The Who

 

Proto-Prog

2.50 | 147 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
2 stars After Keith's death it would have been wiser for The Who to call it quit. I don't know their history well enough to define whether or not the links within the band members were as strong as between Bonham and Plant. Probably not, which led to the situation that after three years, The Who produced this "album".

In terms of compositions, Entwistle is only responsible for two songs ("The Quiet Zone" which is a solid rocking number but with extremely poor production and "You" which is also rocking alright). These two songs are not worse than most of the other ones.

Actually, there are two good numbers on this album, of which the title track which belongs to the classic Who repertoire. "Cache Cache" is also very pleasant : rocking very nicely and harmonious. In one word : a good Who number after all.

Of course, the worse is also represented with songs like "Don't Let Go the Coat" an insipid reggae-ish song. "Did You Steal My Money" sounds as a very poor pre-Police number (although very interesting to hear from where Police took part of their inspiration to write some great rock numbers...).

I am more mixed about "How Can You Do It Alone" which sounds again as a mini-opera with its good but alas some poor aspects as well. As if Pete was willing to re-create "A Quick One, While He's Away". Needless to say that the objective is not met. Same seems to happen with "Daily Records". Pete can't help : he is still willing to write more complex tracks like he used to be but the enthusiasm is not there any longer.

The closing number "Another Tricky Day" is also combining different themes but can't hold the comparison with previous great Who songs.

The Who will release SEVEN singles out of this album of which the title track will hit the first spot on the US charts. The album will unexpectedly reach the second place in the UK and the fourth one in the US. So, as far as charts and sales are concerned, there is nothing wrong. But in this case, charts mean nothing to me. Unlike Daltrey who will say in a (much) later interview that he was happy with this recording I can only advice you to stay away from this album.

Two stars.

ZowieZiggy | 2/5 |

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