10 60s Albums That Shaped Rock
3. My Generation - The Who
At first sight, The Who seemed like your standard rock and roll band in the early 1960's. They seemed to be following the model the Stones had made popular: taking American blues and R&B and turning it into rock and roll. While the sound suited them well, guitarist Pete Townshend didn't want to stop there.
On My Generation, the Who found their sound by turning up the intensity while going beyond R&B. Songs like "The Kids Are Alright" show their knack for writing poignant melodies along with powerful statements about the youth culture. The standout on the album though has to be the title track, where the band helps invent punk music with a song that demands the attention of anyone within earshot.
Townshend may have written terrific songs, but the rest of the band sells them 100%. Roger Daltrey's delivery is delightfully intense, which is complimented by Keith Moon's outlandish approach to the drumkit. The secret weapon of the band though has to be John Entwistle, whose bass tone was necessary to give the song's their punch. The Who would go onto greater feats with rock operas like Tommy, but this starting point made the band find their true identity.