^ This. However, I do feel The Who have created a handful of great songs.
Today I was trying to think of more songs from the '80s that I like, when I finally remembered
"You Better You Bet," which I didn't recall was by The Who. I always enjoy this song because I am amused by its humor. The song also sounds pretty and even beautiful at times to me...fresh, honest, and real.
Then I realized I couldn't remember many other songs by the Who that I like. I can think of some that are meh or that I hate with a passion (like "Who Are You?"). Yet it was harder to remember songs that please me.
After listening to a few of those YouTube videos that provide the starts of 25 songs in a total of only 6 minutes (yeah!), I made my list of the few songs by The Who that I enjoy. Here it is:
1. "You Better You Bet" (1981)
2. "My Generation"
3. "Baba O'Riley"
4. "Won't Get Fooled Again"
5. ? ? ? (If I recall or find other Who songs I like, I'll add them)
"You Better You Bet" -- I like this song very much due to its sound (especially beautiful at the beginning), meaning, humor, and associations -- I associate it with a particular time in my life. I like the song
even though it breaks the cardinal rule of songwriting: Never, never, never, never,
never rhyme "life" with "knife"!! (Shudder.) However, that flaw is counterbalanced by the delightful "your dog keeps licking my nose," which redeems the lyrics.
Hey, I just learned on Wikipedia that this was the 4th song to be played on MTV after its 1981 launch, and "You Better You Bet" was also the first video to be shown on MTV more than once!
The Who - You Better You Bet - YouTube