Tommy

5/10 - waaaaay too long of an album, kind of just melds into one song after another; luckily I didn't listen to the extended version, 3+hrs!

I understand why it’s considered a great album but it didn’t grab my attention other than the songs I already knew. I prefer Quadrophenia or Who’s Next

Pretty sure they have The Who's entire discography here with how many albums they recommended it to me, stop doing that, I still think their sound is ass and listening to more of it won't make me think otherwise

the who gets my vote for the most overrated band in rock history. and daltry's vocals are painful to listen to

Let’s face it the Who’s best album is The Singles! Desperate to catch up with the Beatles and The Stones and The Kinks, they seem to have gathered together some songs about abuse in various forms and written a half assed story to bind them all together and called it a rock opera. I never realised Pinball Wizzard wasn’t about Pinball until I heard it in this context. It’s dimminshed as a result. Frankly the best track is a 10 minute instrumental Underture. Overall though grim.

Way too much torture and SA content. Made me angry. Keith moon and the instrumentation are the saving graces. 2!

This was a hard one to rate, the songs were all over the place. Starts out poorly, Overture was a long and dull instrumental. 1921 was ok, would have felt better about it if it wasn't after the previous two tracks. Amazing Journey was fairly decnet. Then the album really started to drag, for the next 8 tracks. And then Pinball Wizard shows up. That one was a lot of fun, it sounds familiar, might have heard it before but not sure. After that, the album finds its groove, with the next several tracks moving along nicely. There are enough good songs on this album to make a solid 3 if you cut out the rest. But the album is too long and filled with junk. Best song: Pinball Wizard

got bored and didnt finish it

Spotify tried to serve me up three and a half hours of this. No ta. I pressed on with the original release. The storyline is BONKERS. I tried to ignore this and focus on the music instead. Rock and opera should never appear in the same sentence. It's a mess of an album that lectures you. YOU MUST LISTEN! I'd rather buzz off me tits with some drum 'n' bass tbh.

This might get me some hate. This is a terrible album.

Ooh - one good song and a lot of pantomine nonsense. I was traumatised as a child when I watched the movie version. Listening back now doesn't improve things.

Mielikuva bändistä oli semmosta 70-luku rokkia ja alkuun olikin ihan menevää meininkiä. Puolessa välissä tuntui muuttuvan 60-lukurokiksi vähän semmosta biitleskopiojuttua ja tulikin tarkastettua julkaisuvuosi ja sehän oli -69 *tirsk*. Ei oikein loppulevy napostellut ja meni vähän fiiliskin siinä samalla sitten. 2,5 voisi olla totuus, mutta känkkäränköissä heti aamussa annetaan kakkonen

Not a big who fan.

My experience of Quadrophenia colours this quite badly. I don't think this comes anywhere close to that. Some good tracks, a lot of pomp and bombast and some frankly weird stuff.

Bit of a long winded way to get people to listen to Pinball Wizard

Generic rock album.

I guess it's an opera because there aren't any songs in it. Well... one. I don't understand music enough to know how to appreciate this.

There is too much of this.

I know it’s a musical but it’s soooooo looooongggg

After reading about the concept of this album and the fact that it's a rock opera, I knew I was in for a strange listen. It's cool that they undertook such an ambitious project and had a vision, but it feels like they missed the mark. Musically, it is completely adequate. The vocals and overall story are where they lost me. The lyrics are way too on the nose. It reminds me of a bad movie or TV show where the characters are essentially narrating everything they are thinking and feeling because the creators don't know how to communicate any of that symbolically through music, set, lighting, body language, etc. Each track on the album sounds pretty musically similar and the lyrics are just saying exactly what happened to Tommy. This album would be much cooler if the lyrics were a bit more symbolic instead of literal and if some emotional context was communicated through the harmony, tempo, dynamics, instrumentation, etc. A lot of the songs are so literal that they come across as incredibly corny and some of them actually make me cringe. The story of Tommy is also whack and doesn't make any sense. I can still appreciate that the concept is creative and respect the fact that they tried something different. This is one of the first rock operas ever created, so at least they were trying to innovate and expand the genre. I do like a few of the songs: Overture, Pinball Wizard, Go To The Mirror!, and Smash The Mirror. 4.5/10.

Not a fan

Some good songs here and there but the rest was a tough listen. The uncle songs *shudder*

if you write a rock opera you get your virginity back

I’ve come to learn I really can’t stand The Who from doing this list. They’re a decent singles band, but Jesus this album fucking sucks. I love a long overwrought concept album but this was bloody awful. I can’t believe it’s held in such high regard.

A camp counselor of mine was obsessed with this album when I was 9 and I remember really wanting to like it then, but I never really got it...and still don't get it (or really care to...oops!). Too long, too all over the place. Sort of became like background music after the first hour.

I am really sorry to say this but I just didn’t enjoy it too much and found myself wanting it to be over. There are some cool tracks and I really like ‘pinball wizard’, but stuff like ‘fiddle about’ and ‘there’s a doctor’ just help to fill out the rest of the album with fodder. There is literally zero need to have 24 tracks on one album.

If you're going to have a Who rock opera on this list it needs to be Quadrophenia which is light years ahead of Tommy. I know this is a concept album, but there are really only 3 good songs: - Acid Queen, I'm Free and Pinball Wizard, which is still a belter. A poor album, a poor movie and an average stage show.

This might be the biggest swing in opinion from expectation to reality. I used to really like this album, but it's just really weird and creepy as I listen now. Just not really something I would want to hear again - Used to like this one, but do I still? - More annoying than I remember. I think the whole 'concept album' thing used to really wow me... - Music is fine, but the content is weird and creepy now. Maybe that's on purpose but it doesn't make me want to listen again

2/5

Really did not like this. Frustrating having never properly listened to The Who before. Felt like music you'd hear at the theatre.

Ik snap dat deze plaat een behoorlijke staat van dienst heeft met het populariseren van het fenomeen 'rock-opera'. Maar los van dat ik überhaupt ver weg wil blijven van opera's, heb ik nooit de pull-factor gezien van het rock aspect. Het sleept mij in ieder geval niet mee. Wel een paar geinige songs, maar net als dat ik met het jaar minder ga hebben met de band, is 'Tommy' ook geen naslagwerk waar ik vaak op terug ga vallen. 5/10 Highlights: Pinball Wizard We're Not Gonna Take It

Wow--this is a lot to get through. I saw Tommy in London in the 90s. As a musical theater experience, it's fine. The album that inspired it all? Ugh. Not something I would ever listen to again. The best I can say is that it's interesting. It's certainly a concept. I'm just not invested and nothing about the music is making me care. Some songs are too short; others are too long. I know this is important, but I just don't connect with it.

3/10

Quite long and unaven which makes it difficult to grasp. It's a rock opera and I ddn't even lokked at the lyrics... can't really find really good songs or tracks . How ibfluencial this was? not sure, my first impression after Two listenings : overrated.

A bit annoying, nothing particular, not bad either

This is alright! Not a favorite, but not at all bad.

It felt a little longer than the 75 minutes it was. I followed along with the story as best as I could, but the overall vibe of the album wasn't necessarily for me. Keith Moon is a hell of a good drummer though. The only real standout song was Pinball Wizard

I like The Who. I did not like this album. I feel like this took away from The WHO that I know and love. It’s an interesting album, and something I’m sure was an artistic venture for someone in the group. But I miss The Who.

First of all… Fiddle… about…? You know what, I have to be honest. I don’t like it. There. I said it. I don’t know what they were going for but they did not succeed in my ears. I kind of liked Sally Simpson and Welcome. Kind of. I really wanted to like The Who but this was overall shite.

Probably a good album if you have the time to listen to it. Unfortunately I didn't finish it and while I did enjoy what I did hear of it, it's just a bit too long.

Tinny and empty. Not for me.

Eh

01) Overture - 5,5 02) It's A Boy - / 03) 1921 - 6,0 04) Amazing Journey - 6,0 05) Sparks - 5,5 06) The Hawker - 6,0 07) Christmas - 6,0 08) Cousin Kevin - 6,0 09) The Acid Queen - 6,0 10) Underture - 7,0 11) Do You Think It's Alright? - / 12) Fiddle About - 5,5 13) Pinball Wizard - 7,5 14) There's a Doctor - / 15) Go to the Mirror! - 6,0 16) Tommy Can You Hear Me? - 5,5 17) Smash the Mirror - 6,0 18) Sensation - 5,5 19) Miracle Cure - / 20) Sally Simpson - 6,0 21) I'm Free - 6,0 22) Welcome - 5,5 23) Tommy's Holiday Camp - 5,0 24) We're Not Gonna Take It - 6,0 TOTAL: 5,93 (59/100) Current ranking: 545/681 Rock opera? I mean, coome oooon.... I hate musicals, this is boring as hell.

The good songs are great. The other songs exist on the album. I can't not think about the Rosie O'Donnell talk show from the 1990s when I hear "Tommy, can you hear me?" For that I give the album extra points.

Not as good as I expected and definitely not as strong as Who’s Next. I’ve never been drawn to The Who based on their hits and this doesn’t change my mind.

Cohesive album. Just not my jam

I rec'd this album on the heels of another high concept album: "They Were Wrong, So We Drowned" by the Liars. While a way easier listen than that, "Tommy" is way so bloated and over-the-top. A concept that should have remained a concept. One of those ideas that stoners come up with, except this time they had the celebrity and the cash to execute the bad idea. 2 stars.

I enjoy a bit of The Who, but this is self-indulgent, over-long, toss. It never made me truly angry, except for Tommy's Holiday Camp, which is mercifully less than a minute long, but I was glad when it was over.

I don’t rate this. Bit dull for me

Too weird. One or two good songs but doesn’t hold up as albumn

I much prefer the Who’s rockier song so as a solely listening experience tjis falls a bit flat. If you ssy Tommy to someone, there’s a good chance Pinball Wizard is what comes to their mind and either good reason the song stands head and shoulders above everything else here.

This album is everything I dislike - it’s by The Who and it’s far too long. I’ve always enjoyed “Pinball Wizard”, so that gets the album an extra star, but that’s all of my positives about this experience used up.

ok - one or two songs that are good and interesting ish instrumentation and progression, but nothing holding it together

How much The Who do you need? I'm telling you, not much. I've never been a fan. I get why My Generation is here, but I really don't feel like it's necessary to have more albums by them.

Much like Deep Purple which I reviewed a few days back, I always considered The Who to be a second tier band. I know it's not fair and there are millions of Who fans that would hit me for saying it. But that's just how they show up in my life. There are some great songs that were (are?) always on classic rock stations, but I didn't go buy these albums or listen to them in their entirety. Obviously, I've heard of Tommy as it's often noted as one of the greatest rock albums and concept albums, and musicals. Outside of the singles, I hadn't heard most of these songs and, as it turns out, that was Ok. Most of them are kind of Roger sing-talking the storylines. There are no classic Daltrey grunts, growls and yells until about halfway through the whole thing. I mostly like Overture and Underture :) but they are both 25% too long and a bit repetitive. It's Ok. The singles were solid, but I think most of their best music is found elsewhere.

🗯 I know it’s a classic, I know people who like it. I don’t. The so-called “rock opera” that turned The Who into stadium giants just doesn’t land with me. The production is thin (frankly, shit), and the whole thing hasn’t aged well — very much “of its time.” I haven’t seen the movie, but I know the live versions fare better. Pinball Wizard is a banger, sure, but who’s sitting through all this to get there? I get that it’s a landmark, and I get that you had to be there. But me? The Who just don’t sit right — they’re the only live band I’ve ever walked out on mid-show. Sorry, Pete. Verdict: Overrated (landmark for some, slog for me) For fans of: Rock operas, prog excess, pinball wizards, being there in ’69

this was 3 discs and hard to listen to all the way through. I like The Who but I don't really like Tommy. there's something scary about it to me and everyone I've said that to kinda looks at me weird but it's true

Live album bylo lepsi

I don't actually like The Who that much. I can appreciate the ambition of this concept album but in practice I don't enjoy it very much. However, Pinball Wizard is the best thing The Who ever did.

A lot of experimental dross that didn’t pull you in. Pinball Wizard was great, but one song out of 24, c’mon!

Didn’t like this at all. Repetitive and monotonous. Wouldn’t listen again. Liked the outro on “we’re not gonna take it” Never heard the word Tommy repeated so often on an album.

Boring

This album passed me by without me even realizing it happened

I want to start off by saying as a guy who doesnt care about lyrics this is very digestible and easy to follow even for me dumb ass. It needs some flowers for that alone. But that thing said this is insane. A rock opera is a cool idea and it does it well but the songs aren't that interesting and the story is bonkers. Why is it about a special needs guy who gets good at pinball and then becomes Jesus. What is going on in this guy's head? And why does he 100% have to get diddled? What the fuck dude. Idk dude, pinball wizard is a classic and its still good but it almost makes it not good knowing the rest of the story. At the ends of the day I didn't love this but I do applaud giving such a wild idea a full swing, pulling no punches. But its just not great in the end.

Not if a madcap concept and just seems to meander without going anywhere in particular. Even the more popular songs from are bit meh. Not a particular fan.

Not bad, especially instrumentally, but god dang some of this is pretty corny

Por tener un nombre que alcance a recordar, pero seguro me será difícil la próxima vez

Good music but separate instruments play in different ears and it ruins it, has to quit listening. 2 stars

So I decided to listen to the non deluxe version, it was already long enough. Very glad I knew it was a concept album before I listen -- I can actually focus on it now. Amazing cover by the way, it looks like a statue. I think this appealed to me because my family listens to music like this a lot (including the Who) but I've never really listened to it on my own. So I'm not too surprised I liked it. Wait. This was '69? No way. This sounds like 80s, so much better than all the other stuff from the 60s and 70s. I did not like the 10 minute long instrumental song. I had trouble following the plot, but it was cool how they talked to Tommy sometimes and it felt like they were talking to you. I wonder how they picked the name Tommy. Fun, interesting, but a little confusing and felt kind of long. Why is the last song 7 minutes it's dragging like crazy. 3.5/10

Wow this fucking sucked. Still not as unlistenable as some of the ones I’ve rated.

Sat through waiting for pinball wizard, then sat through the rest of the original. I was not going to sit through the rest of the 2+ hours of bonus content in the platinum edition

The Poo

I don’t much like the who

This is really, really poor. Pinball Wizard is still a great track, but the rest is just crap. The Beach Boys-esque "Tommy Can You Hear Me?" is the best of a bad lot apart from that, and it's pretty poor itself!

Not for me, didn't really enjoy it.

Nah

Listened in the truck via YouTube music. This was a slog to get through. Repetitive motifs throughout and some long jams that seemed over the top. Glad it’s done.

You know, I think as time goes on and more albums are generated from this era, the more I cannot stand albums that go over the 45 min mark. I get that Tommy's whole deal is the fact that its a Rock Opera and that it is telling a story, which is all well and good, plus The Who are one of the better bands of this era and it isn't an unlistenable album... But I really cannot begin to care about what this album is doing or where it's going. It's just a miss for me

I like The Who, I've watched Tommy, it's trucking bizarre, has such a loose storyline some of it is just absolute crap. With one or two good songs. Far from their best work and quite frankly probably their most drug inspired idea. 😅

Much vaunted but I never took to this rambling show of self-indulgence. Redeemed only partially by the magnificent Pinball Wizard, which stands better on its own anyway 😐

Obnoxiously long. I understand it's telling a story but a lot of it was instrumental and many tracks added nothing narratively. Meaning, however good, this is an auto DNF. It's not a flex to have an album that long, quality must be sacrificed to quantity. Learn to curate! Also, the narrative was weird...

This one is hard to rank, as I did listen to it but not with the attention a story album really needs. I thought the music itself was decent and the set up in the first few songs very good but I didn’t pay it enough mind to fully get what was being communicated. But I guess not really wanting to come back to this … very long album is a ranking in itself.

way too long

Bland, overlong and boring…apart from Pinball Wizard. Might have to stick to the greatest hits.

Truly dreadful.

Cool for what it is. For the deaf dumb and blind.

Wouldn’t listen to it again, but a few good songs

Alguna canción suelta notable pero no me ha despertado demasiado interés.

Keine Ahnung mehr

Yeah, I just wasn’t really into this one.

Honestly, this one felt tedious. I will give them their props for musical talent but other than the ones I knew, I didn’t love any of it. In fact, some of the lyrics were just weird af.

Didn't like it. Disturbing and also just lacking in good tunes.

Pinball wizard and a bunch of b-sides

There are a couple of good songs but not enough to keep my interest. Boy, does it drag. Favorite: Pinball Wizard Would I listen to it again: No

The Who? When? Okay album, none of the big hits

Oh super! 37.5 hours of The Who

only decent when accompanying the film

This...simply was not for me.

The Who are a top tier band, so of course the standard of performance is going to be good. But seriously? What the fuck. This is the reference point for when people parody concept albums right? There's some good moments but a double album? It's incredibly indulgent, repetitive and just not as interesting or high art as Pete Townsend was aiming for. They could've just recorded the intro and Pinball Wizard and saved us the rest.

There are some good songs on here, I am just not much into the album.

Ehhh...rock operas are boring

Why are there so many songs? Not a big who fan

Somehow made it to 30 without hearing most of this album. But I love The Who and I am an absolute sucker for goofy rock operas, so this should have been a home run. Alas, uncharacteristic of The Who and of goofy rock operas, I found this is be very boring musically. And far too many songs about rape. If only the makers of this list had the courage to replace this entry with a far superior rock opera of a similar era about a religious superstar figure and his followers.

Sounds dated and a bit long winded.

Kad znam šta inače rade ovo je dosta razočaravajuće. Predugo, s bespotrebno brutalnim tekstovima, a bez nekih naročitih dobrih muzičkih odluka.

perhaps the best thing i can say about tommy is that im genuinely curious about why exactly it was so meaningful to pete townshend. surely all of its famously completely demented narrative choices have intuitive emotional roots in something a very real and probably very weird human being cared deeply about, like this was pete's Baby. but i just cant comprehend it at all. at best i can see some anxieties about reality falling apart and the fruitless search for some kind of universally satisfying truth, certainly still applicable to the present but obviously pronounced in the 60s. at worst, it feels like a never-ending first draft that uses disability and child abuse as (sometimes kinda comedic??????) window dressing on the most sterile and stilted performances/production u will find on a who album. i rly feel like i cant ignore the whole narrative framework because its the only way this record functions at All...if taken just as a regular rock album with arty framing, as i kinda saw it as as a teenager, its just a complete disaster. pete writes a handful of solid (even great) themes, and almost no good Songs, theyre so jaggedy and graceless, as if random pieces have been glued together. the larger context and structure is completely load-bearing in a way i dont think is nearly as true of many other somewhat contentious rock operas...The Wall is sometimes in song mode and sometimes in fragment mode in a way that makes total sense to me, but tommy feels stuck halfway between the two at all times in a deeply unflattering way. and so the most positive way i can think of this record is as a fascinating but kind of bad rock opera, rather than an extremely bad regular rock album. in the interest of fairness, i should point out it improves a lot live, as it fixes the sterility of the studio presentation...hope leeds is on here at the very least!

Expected so much more. Pinball Wizard an island in this sea of mediocrity.

What a slog. Most of the double record is over before you get to the best songs. Pinball Wizard is a classic.

The Who is just massively overrated. I know its very unpopular opinion. As a big fan of rock, metal and everything alternative that came after that I appreciate their place in history. I can hear that they are great musicians. If I was born in the 50-s I would love the shit out of them. But I am born in the 80-s, grew up with Tool, Radiohead, Mars Volta and all the other stuff so I just don't hear what is so special about The Who.

Klassisk rockopera/musikal. Men är det så jävla bra egentligen?

Few good songs but bloody weird.

Not really a fan of the story on this one, especially repeatedly using the word "rape" at the end of the album.

The idea of a rock opera is interesting, but it just resulted in a lot of random songs on the album, like some that were less than a minute long just to describe something like a plot point. I love The Who as a band and Pinball Wizard is a classic, but this album just lacks good songs to jam out to.

pretty weird, not gonna lie

not for me

First off, I am not a big fan of the Who. I find a lot of their work pretty boring as Pete Townsend was not much for guitar solos or really anything other than chords. This album does not sway my opinion. I'm sure it was grand for it's time. Now it's just a lot of jangly, directionless guitars with an occasional hook from Roger Daltry. I could not make it through "Underture", so boring. I don't think this rock "opera" would even be much more interesting if it was actually performed on broadway. The premise of the tale of a dumb, deaf, and blind boy's life is just not interesting, at least to me.

For the entire first half, I was debating how long I’d have to listen to give this a fair shake. I decided I’d go through “pinball wizard,” the one song I knew I knew. I did that. Then, I had to run a quick errand and while doing that, I got through “go to the mirror,” which I actually liked. That was one of those “I’ve heard this song before but didn’t know it” songs. From there, it felt like I was pretty close to the end, so I decided to finish it. Oof. What a mistake. Each of the final three songs had me itching for the stop button. But I did it. Bravery. A 1.5 rounded up.

I am not a fan of prog rock. I can hear why it's good, sonically, but it does nothing for me. There are some good tracks, definitely.

Not for me.

Strange….

One of those albums that I've heard the hit songs way too much on the radio, but have rarely listened to the rock opera as intended. Turns out there's a reason for that. Many of the tunes don't amount to much and the story falls flat. I saw the film at the drive-in in the seventies and that version gave the project a little more interest and color.

Album No. 5 Never heard a song by The Who but have heard of the artist. This was a long album in terms of number of tracks (though to be fair most of the tracks are rather short) and so I didn't really focus much on any of the songs I wasn't engaged in but I like the energy and sound of the tracks overall. I think if the album was a bit less long and I guess dramatic I would rate it higher. The tracks definitely have an older feel to them but not in a necessarily outdated way. I like the whole concept of the storyline, and I enjoy albums that are very cohesive but I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the whole very like almost musical-theatre style storytelling. Would rate it a 2.5 but I may put it down to a 2. Who knows if my opinion will change in the future. Favourites: - Pinball Wizard - Go To The Mirror! - Smash The Mirror

Som en överklassunges studentspex

Disjointed with a lot of filler. Just like a real opera! There are moments here and there that are fun or interesting, but it mostly feels like children's music (about child sexual assault). Underture is the highlight, with themes and passages building and twisting on each other. Most of the rest is forgettable.

Twas fine I guess.

I’ve never understood the fame of The Who. There’s nearly no registration of excitement for me when I listen to Tommy or almost any other who album. I love a few of their individual songs, but after three of them, I’m done. I figured there must be something wrong with me.

As a soundtrack / concept album this is really heavy to listen to. Most likely I just don't understand this album without seeing the movie. If I think this just as album, I didn't fancy this at all throughout few really cool tracks.

Too long album to my taste. Few good songs, but that's it.

Simple Jack: The Album. But seriously I didn't enjoy this at all, I get that it's very influential to a certain type of British guy with high-minded ideas about "what rock music can be" or whatever but I just was not impressed. I thought the concept was both pretentious and kind of stupid, and the songs mostly aren't good enough to make up for it

Oh, this one is boring. What a great start to the year. To me, this has nothing amazing, and only a few real standouts. Tommy is a double LP rock opera with a story about a kid gone blind and his life and challenges he faces. The story is a weird way of getting Pete's thoughts on enlightenment and youthful alienation, and ultimately, like a bad movie, it's full of something that's mostly nothing. The songs are also really inoffensive, which is the Who's studio motto. They're cut from a different cloth than their hard rock colleagues, obviously, but everything here is far from good, other than maybe Pinball Wizard. No song has that oomph or fire that makes me want to return to the album. It also doesn't help that, being a rock opera, having good standalone tracks is a hard task in itself. The instrumental -tures are a showcase of their ability to play, which are good, but what is their ultimate purpose? Overall, anemic and bleak, despite its size. ⭐⭐1/2

kinda boring

This felt like something I would have been told to listen to for high school English. I understood the concept and respect its historical significance, but I didn’t really enjoy it for the most part. There are some good tracks though.

Odd…

I don't get it. Maybe I lost focus somewhere, but the storytelling aspect of the album was completely lost on me. The tracks are mostly fine, but it's a very long album.

Pretty long and boring album. Pretty overrated for me.

I spent half of it waiting for one track and it only lasted 3 minutes. This whole Rock Opera thing is a waste fo time.

Nicht so meins

det isch en langer alber liebe who. overture cools waldhorn. oke irgendwie schono cool plötzlch gsang und s isch sochli folky und d gitarre wanderet im stereobild ume ohyeaaah. oke apparently isch da so for real e rock opere. glaub schono innovativ gsi da züg. ischer 1921 gebohrt? okay. gad synopsis überfloge. am townshend isch glaub nöd guet gange. fucked up story. underture isch etz no cute aber eaasy repetitiv. ich möst das glaub viel ufmerksamer lose? jo finds bitz langwilig. ok pinball wizard isch seeeehr geil die beide mirror songs au easy. sensation chli sehr meh. ich finds echt nöd sooo geil? isch glaub afoch no mega guet galteret? im free findi no nice aber s isch alles sehr verhalte irgendwie wells d story will verzelle. naja. we're not gonna take it kenntmer glaaaaub? ich check das album null s gitmer nüt git e zwei sorry who.

I was expecting Dayman, fighter of the Nightman, to appear at some point

I just can't get through this album, not interesting enough to be over an hour. There are some good songs still Will I listen to again: 5%

It was good - but just wasn't my fav

I can see the vision and appreciate the execution but I’m just not a big enough fan of The Who to enjoy this particular album

i like the whomst but i can’t with this one

Has some ok bits but is generally pretty dull

Heard various Who songs here and there. I will be honest with you, after just 6 songs it felt as if I've been listening to the album for an hour. I'm just not interested in the concept of this concept album. 2/5

I'm like 70% sure that this album is mainly meandering instrumental, 20% meandering story, and then, like, 10% solid songwriting. The Who had assuredly come into their own musically at this point, but this weird middle-ground between what the Rolling Stones were doing and what the Beatles were doing just leads the album to feeling wholly unoriginal, not helped by its constant credits with inventing the rock opera, which is just not the case. Sure, there are hits from this, but does Pinball Wizard truly stand against the other 1969 powerhouse hits every other band was releasing at the time, let alone a whole album? No, not really. Would be entirely forgotten were it not for the fact that somehow the Who managed to squirm into the upper echelons of the British Invasion, and for that I'll forever be just confused.

liked songs: Overture, Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker), Pinball Wizard First off, I disagree with calling this album a rock opera. It's just a concept album. And yes, it tells a long, extended story over many different songs, but it doesn't have the sense of scale or pomp needed to call it an opera. Second, I broke this album into two listens and I was still bored. There's some standout tracks (which include their huge hit single and a cover), but I can't say I loved most of them. Overall: meh 2.5

I'm sure this was pretty ground breaking back then, but when i heard the live album kick off after listening to the whole double album, I panicked and closed spotify.

the first song is okay i don't really like it because the voice is lowkey weird but like the background music is good ig the lyrics I hear are ight but I can barely understand wha its saying oms oh wait nvm there's lyrics on da screen but without the screen I don't know what there saying bru. the second song started off alr its not that good but I can understand the lyrics kinda but I like the background music like I said in the first song the last song is the most clearest like I can hear the lyrics and understand them oms its igh

Why is the cover like that? "Pinball Wizard" I did not like. It was too slow for me and it just sounded a little weird but it wasn't terrible. "Smash the Mirror" I didn't like. It sounded super weird with the "rise rise rise" part and also the smashing mirror sound. "We're Not Gonna Take It" is the best out of all of them but I still didn't like it. The soft voices sound super weird. Overall I didn't like this album and would give it 1.5 stars and I wouldn't reccomend this album to anyone because all of the songs are just to soft and don't match the tempo.

I am not getting this at all. It's like listening to the songs from some grimy musical, but without the sparkly costumes and choreography to distract you.

Just not into The Who. Always liked the title track, though.

Speaking of old school, oof. NGL, although I listened to the whole album it was a total slog. In particular there was a little too much talk of r**e and soforth in what is basically a fancy pop song. 2 stars, sorry buds.

Sorry, dad! No album should have this many songs that exist solely for plot exposition.

Ok. Ish. In places.

Gne insomma

Tommy cazzo fai

I like the album cover. But it is not my taste of music. Despite that, there are 2-3 songs I liked. For example: "We're Not Gonna Take It" (which I liked the most).

I would listen to maybe 1 of these on its own ever

tommmyyyyyyy

It wasn't great to listen to. 2/5

Very boring compared to Who's next

Today I learned that Pinball Wizard was part of a really boring rock opera… and that the preceding song is about the kid getting fiddled by his uncle. Cool.

I’ve never seen any stage or film production of this “rock opera.” Would I feel differently about it if I had that connection? Without it, you can still pick up on the story and themes, but something is lacking. Being forced to stick to the narrative does perhaps keep The Who more focused on the message they constantly pursued about the state of their generation, and which felt underdeveloped on “My Generation” and “The Who Sell Out.” Ultimately, though, the music is better on those aforementioned albums. Maybe the full experience of “Tommy” would make me feel otherwise, but it certainly seems like The Who’s best songs are found elsewhere.

I can see where the idea of a concept album or theatre show could seem like a cool playground for a rock band to mess around in. And any one of the social issues that Pete brought with his Tommy (murder, bullying, pedophilia, drug use, cult of celebrity, etc) could be the basis of an interesting inquiry. But Tommy throws way too much into the mix to make any of it seem important. And on top of that, the music just isn’t that good - in fact, it’s boring, with long stretches of nothing compelling in either the music or the lyrics. Daltry’s voice is not in good form and he’s not given much by the score to show off his strengths. When Pete takes the mic, it’s only too clear that he should stick to the guitar. Some of these songs fare better on the movie soundtrack, but the whole outing was really just a big miss on The Who’s part.

I’ll keep Pinball Wizard as a great classic song on its own, but a rock opera just doesn’t belong on this list any more than a soundtrack does. It’s meant to be consumed in a different delivery system.

Another double album that is too long. There are good songs buried amongst the extended atonal-ish instrumental passages. It’s too much and I lose interest.

2 stars. Fine, will be never listen to again.

I didn’t love this, but I think a big part of it was that feeling of listening to the soundtrack to a musical or movie that I haven’t seen, which tends to really frustrate me because I’m constantly wondering, “what’s happening in this part? What are they doing?” I get that this was a really cool thing when it came out in 1969, but it does not work for me. If I ever actually see it performed I might have a better appreciation for it? But for now, it’s a no thank you.

Impactful, and a lot of people hardcore love this album, but I’ve always felt it was overrated. Bits and pieces are catchy, but I’m just not into the concept

My god it's too long There are moments...the outro to we're not going to take it, pinball wizard...few and far between Much much better live but after more than an hour I don't have the will to go all the way through the live discs too Studio 2 live 3+

For a transgressive, genre pushing work it's just rather boring.

So I like the album telling the story, but it was at the expense of lyrics that had any personal feelings.. it felt a bit gimmicky, a bit try hard.

The first “successful” rock opera is a story of a boy who retreats within himself as the result of trauma. It’s a trope that we’ll see again and again, whether in “The Wall” – where our hero builds a literal wall around himself, substantially achieving the same thing as Tommy does here – or the later biographies of many youthful, rebellious rock and rollers (a genre that’s perhaps always thought of itself as safe harbour for misunderstood or under appreciated artistic genius). Anyway, Tommy. To put it gently, by the time “Fiddle About” had finished its first chorus of “fiddle, fiddle, fiddle, fiddle” you too may want to achieve a dissociative state of semi-torpor. The rock opera, it turns out, walks a fine line. Done well it’s expansive, a rousing appeal to what can be achieved with fairly limited means. Done poorly, as here, it’s almost an indictment on the whole genre – an incoherently rambling, serially uninteresting solipsism that dares to reveal the superficiality of all that pretends to rock. I feel sorry for Tommy, I really do.

Not really a fan of The Who. Especially Rock Opera Who.

Firstly, really surprised this was a 60’s album. Thought it was early/mid 70’s. Started quite brightly and could see the idea behind it, but soon descended into self indulgent mediocrity. Didn’t make it past the end of disc2. It was that much of an uninspiring grind.

Crazy musical vibes. Mehr kann ich nicht sagen, über drei Stunden sind echt zu viel und hab schon mitbekommen, dass the who hier jetzt nicht so hoch angesehen ist...

Mir sind zrug mit The Who cares und The Who has time for a 2 hours deluxe album? (liebi Grüess an Basil) Ich ufjedefall ned. (und de Basil au ned) Sorry The Who aber nebed ganz vielne anderne "The ..."-Bands um die gliich ziit sinder mir eifach z wenig speziell und chli z langwiilig. vereinzelti biz spassigeri lieder hender gha, gibi zue. Aber bi 2 Stunde album wird da hald me uf quantität wie qualität gsetzt. Zwei ahkauti und zemekratzti Pünkt, defür super deluxe.

interesting to listen to with headphones all the songs sound really similar

What was this?? First time listening all the way through. Poor Tommy. 2.4

Kein Zugang zur Stimme

The movie is so much more interesting than the album which is so disappointing.

interessant, teilweise nahe an den beatles, alles in allem aber kein bleibendes highlight für mich.

Bin etwas gespalten, ist schon ein wichtiges Werk aber am Schluss halt ein Kind seiner Zeit.

It’s the one with pinball wizard on it

Ok

the only ones that were being deaf, dumb, and blind on this album were the who

Ihan ok. Aika pitkä mutta silti mitään ihmeellistä ei oikeen tapahtunut. Kaikki kappaleet olivat keskenään suhteellisen samanlaisia. Eli vaikka sinäänsä ei mitään erityisen huonoa ollut niin mitättömyys jää päälimmäisenä mieleen.

Jojah reacted on airbuds while I was listening to this, so if you're reading this Jojah, I'm sorry. I just don't get The Who. I was bored listening to this. It was boring.

Long rock opera, like albums

давно слушал, щас точно не скажу почему мне не оч зашел, простите

I just can’t. I know this is a great piece of work but it has bored me so much over the years. Ok so it’s a rock opera and that wasn’t a thing until they did it? But it’s just like most musicals. Why?

Ei toiminut itselle tämä sitten lain. Ei vaan ei.

First populaire rock opera album but didn't like it. Lyrics were a bit to simplistic in my opinion.

Well, I like the concept. I like a rock opera (American Idiot being one of my favourite albums). However this was just a crazy ride. It was amusing to look into the story, and to find out that there was a musical and a film of it. Glad to have gotten through it, but it wasn't easy. Bonkers mate

Ujdzie w tłoku. Może 2 piosenki warte zapisania. Nie mój klimat.

WTF was this theatre core ass album? 3/10

So freaking long. There are some good songs, but the length just drags.

I'm very sad to not like this one. Maybe it will hit later in life, but I didn't really enjoy any of this. I'll definitely try again another time.

I just don’t get rock operas. Get your head out of your own backsides. No one cares. The Who - what are they even about. I hoped this project would give me a better insight into why they are so revered. I’ve always wondered why a band so widely talked about as one of the ‘greatest’ is hardly ever played by anyone anymore. It’s cos they are rubbish! A few bonus decimal points when you consider this was made in 1969 though - i didn’t realise this was that old. It does sound a bit ahead of its time! 2.2

See, I *like* 60s/70s bullshit and soundtracks to musicals I haven't seen, but this is still getting on my nerves. Like, at its best it's approaching the less good bits of 2112, but then we go straight back into clunky recitative and magical crip narratives.

WENT ON FOREVER

Not my cup of tea. So OK tunes.

God, this was pretty unbearable at times. I can't believe how hard I've forced myself to like Tommy. When I was in high school and was obsessed with bands like The Jam and The Specials (definitely flirting with punk without being outright fully into punk yet) and dressed like a little mod revivalist I really wanted to make myself like The Who in turn, I've even seen them live. And The Who Sell Out still is great to me. But Tommy can get really whiny and corny! Will never be someone who enjoys these big indulgent rock operas and I don't know why I forced myself to pretend I particularly liked this one. It has its moments though.

Well that was disappointing and not what I was expecting. Very flat, not so much dull more uninspiring. The concept just didn’t work.

So The Who wrote a rock opera huh? It fucking sucks

Now this was underwhelming! A drag to get through this overindulgent bore of an album! Pinball Wizard isn’t even that good!

Never realized "Pinball Wizard" was part of a rock opera but I regret learning the story. Before, I was like an impressed bystander in the arcade watching this mysterious pinball prodigy smoke the machine and wondering about his secret sauce. Can't wait to get home from the arcade and tell my wife about this guy. But later I find out it's not his supple wrist, it's actually a byproduct of his childhood abuse, and now going to the arcade isn't fun anymore. Overall, Tommy is a disappointment. It starts off promising - early in the album there's the little "You didn't hear it / You didn't see it / You won't say nothing to no one / Never in your life" part in "1921" which I really like. But the story's a big bummer and the songs mostly aren't that great. The 10-minute instrumental "Underture" is alright and "Pinball Wizard" is a classic but nothing else stands out. On the bright side, there's a "Tommy can you hear me? Can you feel me near you?" joke in the 1991 Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode "Pod People" and I didn't get that reference until today. Great episode.

It is a musical score, a rockier Jesus Christ Superstar if you will. Very self indulgent fare from Pete " just doing some research" Townsend. Obviously a few stand out tunes but it's a very long arduous listen. It's slightly better than Cats though.

The inevitable bloated concept rock opera album, their 'The Wall', if you will, is a clunky, chunky, messy drag with a curious song here and there but mostly moving sluggishly, making each new minute a chore and all the more unpleasant.

Il y a des noms qui résonnent dans le panthéon du rock avec la subtilité d'un coup de masse. "Tommy", rien que le titre, on sent le poids de l'histoire, la révérence quasi-obligatoire. Un des premiers, si ce n'est LE premier "opéra rock". Un concept, une histoire, une ambition démesurée. C'est le genre de disque que tu abordes avec un mélange de respect et de méfiance, un peu comme on rend visite à une vieille tante acariâtre dont tout le monde dit qu'elle a été une grande beauté dans sa jeunesse. On veut bien le croire, mais on a quand même un peu peur de s'ennuyer poliment pendant deux heures en sentant la naphtaline. Mettons les choses au clair tout de suite : Tommy est une oeuvre monumentale. L'ambition est colossale, presque arrogante pour l'époque. 1969, les Beatles sont en train de se dire adieu sur un toit, Hendrix met le feu à l'Amérique, et pendant ce temps, Pete Townshend, ce grand échalas aux bras de moulin à vent, décide de raconter l'histoire d'un gamin sourd, muet et aveugle qui, suite à un traumatisme d'enfance (son père bute l'amant de sa mère, ambiance), se réfugie dans un monde intérieur avant de devenir un messie du flipper. Sur le papier, c'est soit un coup de génie absolu, soit le projet le plus fumeux et prétentieux de la décennie. La vérité, comme souvent, se trouve quelque part entre les deux. Musicalement, c'est indéniable, il y a des fulgurances. Quand l'intro de "Overture" déboule, avec cette guitare acoustique qui s'entrelace avec les cuivres, on se dit qu'on embarque pour un truc épique. Et puis il y a "Pinball Wizard". Putain, "Pinball Wizard", c'est le genre de morceau qui justifie presque à lui seul l'existence de l'album. Une tornade de guitare, un refrain qui s'incruste dans le crâne pour ne plus jamais en sortir. C'est l'hymne rock parfait, la chanson qui a probablement rapporté plus de pognon aux fabricants de flippers que n'importe quelle campagne de pub. Il y a aussi la pureté quasi-divine de "See Me, Feel Me / Listening To You", ce moment où tout l'opéra converge vers une catharsis, un appel à la libération qui file des frissons, même au plus cynique d'entre nous. Mais voilà le problème car pour accoucher de ces quelques sommets, il faut se bouffer le reste. Et le reste, c'est un double album, un putain de double album. Et qui dit double album en 1969 dit... remplissage. C'est long et c'est parfois chiant. Entre les grands morceaux, on a des interludes, des petits bouts de chansons qui servent plus de liant narratif que de véritable proposition musicale. "Fiddle About", "Cousin Kevin"... on a compris, l'enfance de Tommy fut un enfer de sévices. Mais musicalement, ça patine, on sent la lourdeur du concept, cette obligation de tout raconter, de ne laisser aucun blanc, quitte à sacrifier l'efficacité rock'n'roll qui faisait la gloire des Who. Et puis, il y a cette grandiloquence, "Opéra rock", le mot est lâché et il pèse une tonne. J'ai grandi avec le post-punk, le shoegaze, le rock indé. Pour moi, la souffrance, le trauma, ça s'exprime dans l'urgence, dans la dissonance d'un accord de Sonic Youth, dans la voix sépulcrale de Ian Curtis. Ça n'a pas besoin de choeurs, de cuivres et d'une narration qui s'étale sur quatre faces de vinyle. Les Who, sur Tommy, sont parfois à la limite du pompeux. On sent cette volonté de faire une oeuvre, avec un grand O, de prouver que le rock peut être aussi "sérieux" que la musique classique. Une quête de légitimité qui, avec le recul, a un peu mal vieilli. En tant que disquaire dans les années 90, je voyais bien qui achetait "Tommy" et c'était rarement les jeunes qui venaient chercher le dernier Pavement ou le nouveau single de The Cure. C'était les pères de famille, les nostalgiques, ceux pour qui cet album représentait un souvenir, un marqueur de leur propre jeunesse. Et c'est peut-être ça, la clé. "Tommy" est un formidable document sur son époque, une époque où tout semblait possible, où le rock pouvait se permettre d'être démesuré, théâtral, parfois jusqu'à l'excès. C'est une pièce de musée, et une pièce importante. Il faut l'écouter, ne serait-ce que pour comprendre d'où viennent Queen, Meat Loaf, et toute une frange du rock progressif. Mais est-ce que j'ai envie de me le réécouter en boucle ? Est-ce que ça me procure le même plaisir brut, la même décharge électrique que, disons, "Daydream Nation" ou "Disintegration" ? Non. Absolument pas. C'est un voyage intéressant, mais un peu longuet. Je salue l'effort, je respecte le monument, mais au final, je reste un peu sur le bord de la route, à regarder passer le cortège en me disant que c'est un sacré beau bordel, mais que ce n'est pas tout à fait le mien. Un 2 sur 5, c'est la note parfaite. Ce n'est pas un échec, loin de là, c'est un album qu'il faut entendre avant de mourir, le contrat du blog est rempli. Mais ce n'est pas un album qui me fait me sentir plus vivant. C'est une étape, une leçon d'histoire. Parfois, une leçon d'histoire, c'est un peu long et surtout quand elle dure 75 minutes.

Couple of decent songs but mostly rubbish

I'm a bigger fan of The What, the Why, the Where, the When and the How!

meh idk not so good

They must’ve had a quota on the number of songs to make bc jfc this is a long boring album

This is not a musical I'd watch.

I could listen to it just half of the album, nothing interesting

I have never liked the who. This album does nothing to change that.

I remember watching the film with the family when I was a small person, laughing at the antics of Uncle Ernie, it all seemed very innocent and fun. Yesterday, I listened to this album and realised it is just disturbing. These things happen nowadays unfortunately and are dealt with a bit more sympathetically. The themes of paedophilia, underage sex, mental and physical abuse, all in one album is quite an undertaking, and then to make light of it, obviously must have been a 60's and 70's thing (probably why i laughed at it as a kid in the 70's). How times have changed. Musically it's OK in places, 'Pinball Wizzard' is still a great tune. Lyrically, I think I have covered that. I think I'll give it 2 stars for the entertainment Keith Moon's 'Fiddle About' gave me as a child. (That last sentence doesn't look so good in print, but what the hell).

I almost like 1921, Pinball Wizard

Way to experimental to be memorable other than the uncle fiddler song that should never have existed.

The Who at their most pretentious and self indulgent. There are some decent songs on here, but I never actively choose to listen to this, and relistening to it now confirms I am correct in this decision.

Christmas sounds like the Beatles! This album is just a bit too meandery for me. All songs sound like a derivative of the pinball wizard. I am kind of over this one.

all the songs sound the same

I can't honestly review it.. as 3hr30 is too much. there were parts I like, but the concept didn't sell for me as a whole.

Well that took awhile didn’t it…. Shocked at how annoyed it made me. There were at least 10 irritating sounds that I can’t ever remember hearing before. The concept of musical theatre just doesn’t work for me. I just don’t like exposition being so blatantly and cornily used. It’s embarrassing. And is “Wicked Uncle Ernie” Fiddling Tommy?! What a musical abomination that song is. I think I’m glad I’ve never listened to the whole damn thing before! Love Keith Moon on the skins and there are undeniably a couple bangers in here but so much awkward and uncomfortable fluff. Less is more for fuck’s sake. Grumpy old git gives it a 2. Unfair maybe, take it up with Meatloaf.

When I saw that the album-du-jour was Tommy, I was all excited, as I'd never really listened to that album, but am well aware of the Rock Opera... I could have skipped this album without a doubt as it didn't meet my expectations one bit. Yes, Pinball Wizard is an excellent song, but the rest of album was... annoying. There are better "concept" albums out there in my humblest of opinion... 2*

Love The Who, but what a slog this album is. Plus I always forget that one of their most famous songs (Pinball Wizard) is preceded by two songs about Uncle pedophile

Kinda blah

I’m starting to think the Who are just OK at best.

It took me a minimum of two full-listens to give this a fair review (I felt very conflicted after just one play). I get the cultural significance of being the first real rock-opera but on a purely auditory level it's really not that enjoyable (and on a lyrical level it's absolutely bonkers). I personally wouldn't play any of these songs individually so you really have to consume the album as a whole (which is daunting). The entire thing feels like a "you had to be there" moment. I respect the ambition but it could have been cut down a bit. Too much Townshend on vocals and his lyrics are borderline creepy, how is he already such a cynical grouch at age 24? I don't like musicals but I'd be down to give the movie a chance.

Not the best by The Who for sure but for its place in music history it deserves the list. Can't say I enjoyed the theatrical release of this album either but will need to watch again. Pinball Wizard will always hold as a top hit for the band and is the only real strong track here. Couple others like I'm Free and the final track help bring the rating up a bit...2.1.

Self indulgent really, do people really enjoy listening to this the whole way through? 2*

own

This is exactly what I would expect a concept rock opera album from early Who to sound like. Very elaborate, grandiose, a bit pompous. Fine.

I expected a better album. A lot of the songs were quite boring and forgettable. It's a concept album, probably the first, but Pink Floyd's The Wall did it better. There's no highlights here for me, not even "Pinball Wizard". At least it wasn't a total mess. 2 stars for "Tommy".

Talk about overstaying your welcome, sheesh. I feel like I could've liked some of these songs individually but it just goes on and on, and the "story" of the album doesn't really add anything to the experience in my opinion

It was all right, Pinball Wizard was a slapper, the rest was not for me

weirdos

Doesn't excite me.

jesus this drags

Not sure what all the fuss is about

reale momento mio padre rym 3.71 un'ora e un quarto non so se reggo papà ti voglio tanto bene ma per me 2/5....

This'd be a one if it wasn't for Pinball Wizard

Stodgy, underwhelming, with (especially in the first half) too many very similar, not very good, songs. It all feels a bit “take me seriously”. Keith Moon is on muted form throughout

i genuinely cant stand the 60s

Nice concept, just boring and repetative

You want me to listen to 24 songs of The Who? No.

Too long, and while I get that it was important at the time, the music is kind of meh. The search for a good rock opera continues

The Who? More like The Snooze amiright?

got bored not gonna lie

Długie i nudne

2 - After listening to this, I'm just left not caring. It wasn't my least favourite Who album, and it certainly wasn't my favourite. It's just nothing.

This one was kind of a slog for me … I prefer the later stuff the Who put out. And 24 songs is too many when they all sound similar.

40 minutes of rock opera crap before you get to pinball wizard? Stick it up your ass. 1921 is good though

I was *shocked* how underwhelming this is, outside of the few songs we all know

Nothing other than "classic rock" - Who's Next is better IMO.

It’s alright. The unthinking man’s sgt peppers?

Bloated and doesn't really stand up as an album in its own right. A poor man's SF Sorrow.

A bit pretentious and "highbrow" for me. I saw the movie and had the soundtrack album. It's just not an album that I'd sit down to and listen.

I understand this is considered an innovative concept album, especially for the time, but that does not make it good or an enjoyable listen. Several of the songs were actively annoying, and by the end I hated the character of Tommy. The highlight of the album by far was Pinball Wizard. Lowlights were plentiful but Tommy Can You Hear Me and Tommy's Holiday Camp were especially rough.

I've given this a lot of listens, and although I no longer dislike it, I also don't see myself volunarily playing it again. There's some great musicianship in places, but overall, it's a swing and a miss for me.

12 tracks of preamble to Pinball Wizard. Pinball Wizard. 9 more tracks of mostly filler. OH MY BLOODY CHRIST WHAT THE HELL IS TOMMYS HOLIDAY CAMP. 1.5/5

una verga

You knooooooooow……….not great. I was not excited when this came up, but figured I’d give it at least a three. But it didn’t earn it, and instead just had a bunch of weird, lamenting with bad rhymes.

I didn’t like this album when I was younger and I found out I still don’t. I don’t like the music or the strange unsettling storyline. They are very gifted musicians and I can understand why people enjoy their music, just not for me.

Gear: Hifiman Arya Mix (2013 Remaster): "authentischer" (=mitunter arg limitierter) Remaster mit krachenden Drums und mickriger Soundstage Musik: knallhart durchgezogenes Konzept-Album - leider mit einer überwätigenden Zahl von Fillern generischen, "narrativ" schwachen Opera-Rocks oder, um es mit Ian Malcolm zu sagen: "Your Scientists Were So Preoccupied With Whether Or Not They Could, They Didn’t Stop To Think If They Should" Wertung: 🧙‍♂️🧙‍♂️/5 (inkl. +1 für "Pinball Wizard")

Not so good. I hope this is not their best

Underture is nowhere near interesting enough to merit being 10 minutes long. Pinball Wizard is the only memorable song on this album and saves it from a lower score.

Just not my thing

The WHO is a band that enjoys the smell of their own farts.

Aside from the hit singles a bit of a chore to get through

overrated and try-hard - let's come up with a theme and force everything to fit it even if it ends up being mostly bad christmas underture pinball wizard

Not a fan.

Just don’t get it, no matter how many times I try.

I still have yet to understand The Who's popularity, especially with this album. I don't get it.

Musical Ideas I never heard before. Sometimes they were not interesting enough to keep me excited over the duration span of a song. The rhythmical interaction between the guitar and the drums stood out to me. They made heavily use of key switches by moving a pattern up and down on the fretboard of the guitar. Interesting/oldschool panning decisions (e.g. vocal to the left and guitar to the right or drums to the left and the bass to the right, also they moved the guitar to the center when it was the only instrument (including the vocal) playing). They already used some modern sampling methods (e.g. reversed sound on Amazing Journey). I like the small imperfections and subtle tempo changes. Didn’t fully listen through. Couldn’t find a personal connection. Takeaways: Rech Vocal Depth through harmonization. Make panning decisions in dependence to the song/genre/effect you want to achieve.

i was going to write a book here about Tommy, but i've run out of time. bottom line is i think this record is yugely overrated. I will say that it is one of the the most opera of the rock operas. eg refrains, callbacks, codas etc that many other rock operas forgo. Also it has a story that is mostly coherent. Really the entire record revolves around pinball wizard and nothing else really stands out.

I’ve seen the movie and have the album but haven’t listened to it for many years and found it just marginally okay. I can’t imagine how awful this would be as just an album without knowing it’s a soundtrack or having some background on the story.

Bzvz

feels like an album by teh who - don't necessarily feel like it did anything special. Maybe a little more creative and nuanced than other stuff i've heard?

Too weird

it was given my attention sad the plot did not enthrall but that dumb long album sure plays a mean pinball

I'm convinced The Who are the most overrated band in rock history. This album really ain't it. Like, REALLY ain't it. Lemme put it this way, if you're even semi-halfway into rock, you've heard the title of Pinball Wizard. It's one of those big, inescapable titles in rock history. I somehow managed to not listen to it til now. And the song sucks. That's basically The Who's entire discography, a big name hiding what is subpar music.

An old favorite

Concept albums, rock operas, etc can't be great. I'll die on that hill. The greatest albums are full of songs that speak to specifics of the human condition. They can't exist to tell some half ass, ill explained tale. Some good tracks here though.

Meh.... Mostly whatever and a little annoying.

I don't know if I'm looking forward to this or not. I'm getting a little tired of music from the 60's. There's a 10 minute song on here. Kill me. I will say, I like their sound though. Whoever this Tommy is, did not have a great time of it based on what I'm hearing... 2/5 I'm a hard sell on concept albums. I usually don't vibe with them. This album is no different.

What a boring spectacle of british music by beloved band "The Who". The tribe has spoken!! I don't like how he signs either.

Didn’t really pay much attention to the story

Started out with a strong "not hating this" which I started to doubt very much about 25 minutes in ... and then there were 2.5 more sides of albums left to go. I was stunned to learn that this is an album about the protagonist of the "sure plays a mean pinball" song. i wasn't paying enough attention to the lyrics to get much more out of it. This one was not for me. 1.5 rounded up to 2.

concept albums have no effect on me, a person who struggles to process lyrics in teal time started actually surprisingly into it, but absolutely overstated it's welcome. pinball wizard sure does come outta nowhere

"This developmentally disabled boy is so stupid he doesn't even know who Jesus is so I guess his soul is eternally doomed: the song" was really weird and also surprising to hear anywhere outside of, you know, maybe Mass or The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Pinball Wizard dragging this kicking and screaming to a two star review. Not their best.

I like concept albums, but there isn't much that stands out in this one save for Pinball Wizard.

Ugh

Y'a un épisode des Simpsons avec le groupe ! Homer est un fan

Cool

Ein Album dass früher jeder kennen musste, so eine Art Kult-Album wie In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. Und zu meinem eigenen Erstaunen habe ich es bis heute noch nie gehört. Wurde also Zeit. Und was soll ich sagen? Ich habe nichts versäumt.

A lot to take in with this one. Rock Operas are hit or miss for me usually. There’s some really interesting songs on this one. Did he murder his cousin in that one song? Are we just going to ignore that? Anyways, not my favorite Who record but still some cool stuff in there. (2.5)