Credits:The WhoDescription:Thefull-blownrockoperaaboutadeaf,dumb,andblindboythatlaunchedthebandtointernationalsuperstardom,writtenalmostentirelybyPeteTownshend.Hailedasabreakthroughuponitsrelease,itscriticalstandinghasdiminishedsomewhatintheensuingdecadesbecauseoftheoccasionalpretensionsoftheconceptandbecauseoftheinsubstantialnatureofsomeofthesongsthatfunctionedaslittlemorethandevicestoadvancetherathersketchyplot.Nonetheless,thedoublealbumhasmanyexcellentsongs,including"I'mFree,""PinballWizard,""Sensation,""Christmas,""We'reNotGonnaTakeIt,"andthedramaticten-minuteinstrumental"Underture."Thoughthealbumwasslightlyflawed,Townshend'sabilitytoconstructalengthyconceptualnarrativebroughtnewpossibilitiestorockmusic.Despitethecomplexityoftheproject,heandtheWhoneverlostsightofsolidpopmelodies,harmonies,andforcefulinstrumentation,imbuingthematerialwithasuitablypowerfulgrace.~RichieUnterbergerTracklisting:1.Overture