So, reviewing the original unremastered CD, The Who's debut is just another debut, but from a great, great band. I decided to review the original before the remastered (w/ bonus tracks) "Deluxe Edition" is released tomorrow. None of the band's best qualities are represented here, other than their frantic energy - something they would never catch on record again.

First, the lowlights. Two covers, "I Don't Mind" and "Please Please Please" aren't anything special. Daltry's voice just doesn't sound like the type thatr should be singing James Brown covers, and this proves it. It doesn't seem like his style. The rest of the band sounds alright, but it's just not The Who…

But the rest of the album is just golden. "La-La-Lies" and "It's Not True" are underrated; "It's Not True" shows off some humor on Townshend's part, something he'd lose more and more as the Who progressed. "The Good's Gone" is the kind of song the covers should have been. It just has that kind of sounds.

And nobody can review this particular album without mentioning the classics "My Generation" and "The Kids Are Alright." Both are great songs in their own right… I just gave "The Kids Are Alright" the "best song" place because I feel sorry for it. It got left off My Generation: The Very Best of The Who. They're about equal.

The rest of the material is just dandy. "Out in the Street" is nothing special, though from the first note it's obvious (well, in hindsight) what Roger Daltry's vocal limitations at the time were. "The Ox" is the more furious instrumental they every recorded. "Much Too Much" shows off more of their vocal harmonies. "Circles" isn't bad, either. "A Legal Matter," the first song Townshend chose to sing himself, was a hit as well.

The Who set the precedent for punk rock with this record. While not actually being punks themselves (and actually being the object of criticism to some punks in the late 70's), they had the sound down perfectly: Loud, fast, and energetic. And nobody had as much energy as The Who on their best nights. Just check out any of their numerous live albums for more proof.