It's Hard sounds to me like a band going through the motions because they're contractually obliged by the record company to do so. This utter lack of interest for me is reflected in the mediocre songwriting (Townshend was effectively 'writing to order' for this album, and boy, does it show, and Entwistle's contributions are just rotten, plodding stadium rock), and the stiffness of the performances. A horrible album to go out on, and it's not surprising that Townshend insisted The Who's record contract be cancelled after the winter 1982 tour - even though it cost him a lot of money as a result. 'Eminence Front' apart (which is the only track where Townshend sounds like he cares, which is probably not surprising as it reflects his spiral into near-fatal drug addiction), It's Hard is a truly dismal album, imho; probably one of the worst ever put out by a band of The Who's stature, and indicative of nothing more than the fact that this time it really was over.
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