Tommy: A Flawed Masterpiece | ThisIs ReadyMade

The Who's Tommy is an influential piece of music which not only introduced a lot of people to the idea of a rock opera but also put rock in a much more artistic spot. However, this is one that doesn't stick with me for a few reasons. It's a good record with some rough edges. So what are those issues? What makes Tommy a flawed masterpiece?
Find me here:
Second Channel: / @thisisntreadymade
RateYourMusic: rateyourmusic.com/~ThisIsRead...
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Videos used:
The Who - Live at the Isle Of Wight Festival 1970
Almost Famous
Tommy (1975 Movie)
The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus
THE WHO - I Can See For Miles (1969)
The Who: Tommy - Live
The Who - 1921
The Who / Tommy - Overture (1969)
The Who - Eyesight To The Blind - 7/7/1970 - Tanglewood (Official)
Band Aid - Do they know it’s Christmas 1984 | HD - Widescreen 16:9
Quadrophenia (1979 Movie)
The Who “Underture/I’m Free” live in the Royal Albert Hall London, 30.3.2017
The Who -Sparks - Live Woodstock 1969
The Who - Tommy Can You Hear Me?
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Live 1974/5
Pink Floyd - Run Like Hell (Live)
Songs used:
The Who - Overture
The Who - Underture
The Who - Odorono
The Who - Sparks
The Who - It’s A Boy
The Who - 1921
The Who - Amazing Journey
The Who - Eyesight To The Blind / The Hawker
The Who - Christmas
The Who - Cousin Kevin
The Who - The Acid Queen
The Who - The Rock
The Who - Fiddle About
The Who - Pinball Wizard
The Who - Go To The Mirror
The Who - Tommy Can You Hear Me?
The Who - Smash The Mirror
The Who - Miracle Cure
The Who - Sally Simpson
The Who - Welcome
The Who - Tommy’s Holiday Camp
Steely Dan - The Fez (Outro Song)

[@ThisIsReadyMade]

This video really blew up for some reason. I think it's outdated and doesn't live up to my standards now. Would anybody be interested in a follow up that would go much deeper into this (including other adaptations)?

[@zevfeinstein2051]

Definitely, love to hear your take. I think the movie version cleaned up a lot of the issues of the album and all the new songs and rearrangements of existing ones made the plot end up making 10x more sense. The album version to me is pretty much impenetrable if you don't already know what the story is supposed to be. Compared to the movie the songs in the album feel out of order (Fiddle About after Underture, I'm Free after Sensation for instance). I agree on the album a lot feels like filler. I skip songs on it, I skip a lot on "The Wall" too, actually.

[@BlackFlag1719]

First, thank you for this video with all the wonderful footage from live performances and the film! The Underture always seemed like straight-up filler to me, though it has its high points; I thought they probably needed something to fill out both vinyl discs. If "The Hawker" seems like a lame song, then Eric Clapton totally redeemed it in the film. And Tina Turner was so sensational as the Acid Queen that she made it her own song. (I once called in to a radio station requesting that song, thinking of the album version, and they said "Sure!" and spun the Tina Turner version.) But I'm surprised you didn't mention what for me is the really glaring flaw, that is, the sequencing. They follow "Smash the Mirror" not with "I'm Free," but with "Sensation?" That's confusing if one doesn't already know the story. Mother breaks the mirror, and all of a sudden Tommy is a sensation--how does that work? And "I'm Free" sounds anticlimactic after "Sally Simpson," which leaves us with a negative vibe showing Tommy's fame starting to tarnish. As another reviewer noted, the movie got the order right, as did the 1972 orchestral version by the London Symphony Orchestra. This is my favorite album of all time, and I would welcome an updated video that goes deeper into it.

[@belugatoons]

It never occurred to me that 23 minutes of this record is just Tommy's parents worrying.

[@BostonWhoFan515]

How dare you mock the genius of Pete Townshend. He was 22 years old when he wrote it. The album sold 200,000 copies in the first two weeks in the US alone, and shortly after it went gold. At this point The Who would blow any one off the stage with their aggressively driven sets featuring the entirety of Tommy (eg. Live at Leeds.) Many would say, including me, The Who were at their peak as a live act, and that's because of Tommy. It really introduced the audience to the Roger Daltrey we'd come to know and love. You can't take the album track by track. It's not meant to be heard that way. It's flowing. It's....an opera... a rock opera. Its quirkiness adds light and shade, which a single storyline needs to keep it interesting. The tracks you spoke highly of are just beyond incredible, I agree, and I think that's why you see the others as weak. The Hawker is great. I have to disagree there. Roger sounds fantastic in it. You lost me there. But hey, to each their own... you admitted Tommy is a great album that you had some issues with but is nonetheless a necessary album to own. I can live with that. I couldn't help but laugh every time Keith Moon popped up in your b-roll backdrop. What a character! What a drummer! What an album! What a band! Long live rock!

[@officialjohnsmith4127]

Tommy has now sold over 20 million.

[@BostonWhoFan515]

@officialjohnsmith4127 I know. 200,000 in the first two weeks! It's a bloody masterpiece!

[@lippscantelon9144]

I think the album is absolutely remarkable R we critiquing the music or the story I absolutely love both

[@BostonWhoFan515]

@lippscantelon9144 I'm admittedly a biased Who fan, but regardless, this album is amazing! There aren't many rock fans that'll deny that, and if they do, they don't know what the hell they're talking about. The album is mixed great, but it's rather low for The Who. When they performed it live, though, it's extremely heavy. Great album. This was Townshend's first full-length concept album endeavor. It's amazing that he was able to go on to later write both Who's Next and Quadrophenia. He's a rock icon. Everyone in the damn band is, for that matter!

[@hugostiglitz491]

I love the Acid Queen I'm surprised you skipped

[@MeadowFarmer]

Tommy is an incredible work of genius, particularly for its time. It has a unique premise, that a kid was traumatized to the point of being psychosomatically blind and deaf. No one had ever even heard of such a thing. Connecting that to becoming a pinball wizard, what an incredible concept. It makes me wonder how Pete Townsend even came up with the idea. The songs on the album aren't meant to be taken individually. It's an opera. I love the album and I love the movie. I love when Ann Margaret sings the champagne part. I wish she had sung more rock songs. What an amazing performance she had in that movie.

[@WingoEthan]

I've always preferred the 1975 film adaptation more, and can take it way more seriously despite its campiness. It released 6 years after the album and in that time we got Who's Next and Quadrophenia, and I think that shows itself throughout the movie. The songs in the movie are a lot more powerful and hard-hitting. For example, I'm Free goes from one of the softer songs on the record to a kind of reprise of Won't Get Fooled Again. The 1-song characters which dragged the album made the movie memorable. The Pinball Wizard scene is absolutely iconic. I also can't complain about the new songs to replace Underture's filler. I guess the introduction of a visual element further separates us from the deaf and blind protagonist, which makes not a flawed intimate experence, but a spectacle. It may be cheesy as hell, and it may screw up some songs so much worse like with Christmas, but it holds a special place in my heart.

[@fossie32]

Yikes I'm Free '....softer...' - it's my fave song on the album; and Underture 'filler' ? Sure it's repetitive but in a great way ..... IMHO IMHO

[@tmamone83]

I personally love "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia" equally. Yes, I'll have to agree that musically the latter is more developed, but I still love "Tommy" because I can relate to it so much. That feeling of disconnect from the world.

[@WillieWeed]

Quadrophenia took Pete 40 years to write because they were waiting to make it in quadrophonic stereo.

[@FlorianFlorian573]

I respect your opinion, but something about this album is just special to me in a way that makes me not worry about it’s flaws.

[@ThatFaceMelter94]

There is nothing like hearing Tommy from Live at Leeds (Deluxe Edition). I actually listened to this version before listening to Tommy in it’s entirety. The Who omitted a few of the insignificant songs and it’s hard to listen to Tommy after hearing The Who do it live.

[@BobbysArchive]

Facts. Live 1969-1970 versions of Tommy is a different album entirely and I prefer it any day.

[@nazfrde]

The real problem is that the album was never finished. They ran out of time to do overdubs because they had a tour scheduled. I think if Pete had gotten to do overdubs like he did on Quadrophenia, or hell, maybe the same overdubs he did on the Tommy soundtrack, it could be a think of beauty. As it is, it just sounds like demos.

[@Fuzcapp]

Fascinating comment and I absolutely agree. I didn't know that the album was under-dubbed due to tour pressure. You are right and I have always thought - it sounds like a demo. I recently took possession of Band on the Run Underdubbed and you can see the foundation of the final album but it sounds like the unfinished demo - just like Tommy. Glad I read this comment - I understand the Tommy album better.

[@jmmurica2885]

Overture from Tommy is my favorite ( in tune with my cosmic harmony) piece of music

[@DinChaddle]

Tommy is weird. When I read the synopsis for the album, I assumed it would be dark and depressing like The Wall. What I got was a really goofy album with similar-sounding songs and not many standout moments.

[@jack_myers]

I must admit that I actually prefer the film soundtrack and version overall. The album is alright and incredibly influential but the film version just rocks way more in my opinion

[@Dweezil1996]

My opinion: Brooooo the hawker is incredible. Especially when Roger sings it. Screw Clapton's version. I also love the Acid Queen (I like Tina's version more) and I like Cousin Kevin (movie version is also better), although I do understand how his character is an afterthought. I totally get why some people don't love Underture. I personally freaking love it, and it's because of one word: anticipation. If it wasn't as long and monotonous, the question mark of ending wouldn't hit as hard. On top, if you envision the visuals of Tommy looking through the junkyard of pinball machines, like in the movie, Underture will work even MORE for you. Honestly, that's a movie moment that gives me chills, Underture + Tommy in the junkyard. Fiddle About is cool with me. Pinball Wizard is a classic. Go to the Mirror and Smash the Mirror are my favorite moments on the record. Love Tommy Can you Hear Me -- a Beach Boys nod. Sensation is one of the few songs, I too, don't have a ton to say about it. I'm surprised by your Sally Simpson stance, because that's one I almost 100% skip. Never liked that tune, sounds like some Three Dog Night. I'm Free kicks ass (again, movie version is better). I have a soft spot for Welcome. Love the "come to this, into this house" hook. It's great stuff. Tommy's Holiday Camp is fun, as anything with Keith Moon is. We're not Gonna Take it is a lot of fun too. One of my favorites of all time -- a lopsided story -- but as a collection of songs -- timeless.

[@spookshowreviews7117]

Great analysis! Tommy is important to me, because it was given to me by my Grandmother (the original viynl from '74) and the critics were very well handled.

[@reillyjamessullivan6940]

The Tommy Soundtrack version of "The Hawker" is super awesome, Eric Clapton really made the song drive

[@WorseReviews]

Amazing analysis as always!!

[@pedrorocha9722]

One has to remember that between Tommy and Quadrophenia, there were 4 years of intense writing, composing and concepting. Quadrophenia is the work of a much more experienced creator.

[@joannbelcher3576]

I'm glad 1921 was fixed to 1951 in movie soundtrack. How did that get past original release? Captain Walker would have had to been shot down in WWII. The Overature and Underature to Tommy is music you can just kick back, turn off the lights and zone out.

[@foto21]

The idea that this album is anything but genius, especially compared to the garbage being created in the 21st century, is hard to believe. I agree that as a story, it has a lot of problems, mostly that it is super opaque and hard to figure out, but that's also a reflection of Townshend's high expectations for audiences. Musically, it's hard to criticize very little the WHO completed while Keith Moon was alive, including the last few albums he played on.

[@cutg2722]

These critiques are pretty fair and personally I don't find myself listening to the studio version of Tommy all that often. It was executed MUCH BETTER in a live environment like pretty much everything The Who ever did (exception of this is the early Quadrophenia tour which the band themselves have spoken about numerous times and everyone has seen Cow Palace). The complete Leeds release has the Tommy section included so anyone who hasn't heard it yet do yourself a favour, they cut a few songs and it's a much better paced/organised piece, plus much more energetic and it just gets to you...

[@Kodaigon72]

This is why I love both the film soundtrack and the original album.

[@tonygunk8157]

Lol and right after I got the Tommy vinyl record

[@jameskennedy721]

Dont be silly . This was the best thing THE WHO ever did , and they were clearly one of the best bands of the 1960's . The flaw was allowing the huge project to be re-released over and over with various famous people singing different parts , even actors who couldnt sing singing parts that required singers . None of the rehashes touch the original , impressive work .

[@michaelcap9550]

First time Jack Nicholson sang?

[@krisscanlon4051]

I think Townsend was getting there in terms of these so-called rock opera. Tommy as a whole piece doesn't work but Lifehouse and Quadrophenia certainly does as an overall piece...flowing together well.

[@sspringNG]

Nice video man

[@matthewmedley8532]

Interesting take. Personally love the album. But my favourite would be who’s next. With the outstanding quadrophenia a close second. Good video.

[@JB-Deadskins]

You don't even have the opening scene right, it's Capt Walker who is killed, not Mrs Walker's lover. How can I take your review seriously? I will say, that the live performance, and even the movie soundtrack blows the studio album away. Don't be a hater. This is one of the greatest compositions of all time.

[@ThisIsReadyMade]

Thanks for pointing out a serious flaw about my take. Still not the biggest fan all these years later (far from a hater) but it is an important work.

[@mcardlepm]

Yes there was masterful musicianship, yes it was groundbreaking, but what I long suspected has finally been admitted: the subject matter - pinball - was totally random, based on a record exec's likes. In that sense, the emperor has no clothes.

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

Check-out the full ‘Live at Leeds’ performance of Tommy. It has more edge and the songs all drive more. I’ve always thought that Tommy is a bit victim of the way that most people recording at the time.

[@ThisIsReadyMade]

Personally I like the Isle of Wight performance just a bit more but the Leeds one is good.

[@canalsincontenido]

I never could really fall in love with this. I think I caught the second half of the movie and the ending felt so... meh. It soured the rest of the album and movie.

[@MrGb1965]

Couldn’t disagree with you more concerning your criticizing of Underture. Favorite cut on the album.

[@fossie32]

Yes that is brill. Haven't watched this video yet, just reading the comments are hurting my eyes!

[@MrGb1965]

@@fossie32thanks. Cheers.

[@kevinmcc3147]

I prefer quadrophenia 100 times over tommy as far as the actual story jimmy was more relatable than tommy even the wall i prefer more but i think the live at leeds version is more better than the studio album in my opinion 4:08

[@rileyroo922]

I just wanted to come to the comments to say that cousin kevin is my favorite song on the album... specifically the version from the movie though. It's just SO good. I know its a bit irrelevant to the story of the album but there's something so hypnotic about the descending notes of the chorus and the bass line really draws me in. Plus It's one of my favorite sequences in the film with the coloring. I love how it goes from a fun kiddy song when the parents are there to something much more sinister towards the middle. I find it to be a sort of genius song, but to each their own!

[@dowmck]

You should probably know that one of Townshend's original ideas for this album was that we'd experience the same events from two perspectives, one of which was the external "real world" where people communicated with voice and vision, and the other was Tommy's perspective, being deaf and blind, who "lived in a vibration world." That was the purpose of both the instrumental section of "Sparks" and "Underture," the only two songs from this concept that made it to the final version. To experience life as Tommy would have. Keep that in mind the next time you listen to the album, it may enhance your understanding of what Townshend was trying to get across.

[@ThisIsReadyMade]

I get that point and I think it’s a cool concept. That’s the point of Amazing Journey/Sparks - to introduce how Tommy sees the world compared to the external view. I still find Underture to be a drag, though. For reasons I detailed I have some reservations about it that go larger than concept. Great idea like much of Townshend’s work, just find it to be a bit much.

[@TerribleUsernameAmirite]

You need more views this is great

[@joshapril1393]

I got this Album at about age 15 in the mid 1990s. My feeling on it then is the same feeling I have now it’s just OK. I knew upon first listen in the 1990s that it was “the first rock opera“ which gives it some extra points for originality but does certainly fall short of true greatness.

[@joannbelcher3576]

I found Original Tommy release in a Thrift Store. Sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispy Cereal but I love it. I finally gave in and purchased a new TOMMY and WHO'S NEXT after 43yrs. Had to be albums and albums disappeared for awhile. So glad they are coming back. The album cover was so much a part of experience.

[@supernauta8593]

The Hawker is one of my favorite songs of the record, but it's nice to hear a different opinion.

[@robertwiles8106]

Eyesight To The Blind in the movie with Clapton is an absolute funk rager.

[@map3384]

I think not allowing to listen to one or more songs is taking away from its meaning. It’s telling a story which leads to its conclusion. I learned 35 years ago when I was a teen it’s not about liking or disliking a song but it’s meaning.

[@SpaceShip-Orion]

I need to watch more music reviews.

[@rosemarywessel1294]

The album is SOOO much better than the recordings for the 1975 film. I finally saw the film and was severely underwhelmed.

[@robsthedon]

You just haven’t listened to it enough.

[@KhayJayArt]

Great

[@straitJacketFashion]

What would make a good double bill of films is Tommy and The Wall - narratively similar but tonally distinct. The rock opera double bill to Ghiblis’ Totoro/Grave of the fireflies

[@thomasmiller5057]

My least favorite tracks are probably Fiddle About and Cousin Kevin not only for the subject matter but the songs are goofier. I love the whole album though Christmas and Underure included That track was always very relaxing My faves are I’m Free and Pinball Wizard My take on the movie is a bit different with the songs

[@BaronM]

You are using the narrative of the 75 film which is different from the original album. Does Caption Walker die in the song, 1921? Cheers

[@afa78djd]

If you're going to be skipping parts of concept albums, you might as well just leave them be. Do you skip forward movies too when no one's being killed or stuff isn't blowing up?

[@ThisIsReadyMade]

Can't compare a movie to a concept record largely because of differences in mediums. Albums are meant to be taken both as a whole and as select songs. The Who didn't even do Tommy as a whole live back in 1969/1970. Even they selected their cuts. I've listened to Tommy tons of times since I first heard it, I've listened to the songs on their own as well. When the songs are (subjectively) not as good or don't push the story forward in a meaningful way, you can't be surprised when people skip them. Rock operas have a balancing act they must pull off and Tommy doesn't stick the landing completely in my personal opinion.

[@riethc]

There's some goofy stuff on Tommy, but I think most of the album is great with some parts which are transcendent.

[@paulj0557tonehead]

Pete Townshend understands lesser content in the name of ebb and flow.

[@rjnuzzi1648]

Townsend worked out the 'plot' best in the film adaptation... more importantly he added more reprises of the shorter ditties, as well as corrected song order ( I'm Free after Smash the Mirror, most noticeably)... as a Who album, the original '69 release is very acoustic, few classic electric Townsend overdubs, this mostly due to the possibility of orchestral overdubbing... yes, the original LP opens brilliantly, & closes dramatically, but it doesn't have the big great Who punch as its awesomely displayed on Quadrophenia... You wouldn't have the superior Jesus Christ Superstar, if not for the innovation of Townsend's Tommy

[@JPproductions303]

Can you talk about how Quadrophenia is basically tommy fully realized

[@ThisIsReadyMade]

I plan to talk about Quadrophenia in October for the 50th anniversary. Can't promise it'll happen but I want to do that.

[@cgfftrophilessspursfan9952]

​@@ThisIsReadyMadeI'd love that video it sounds like a great idea

[@lglg64]

This album is fuckin weird

[@timlee7682]

I just watched the film and saw they took out "Underture". Wonder why?

[@TomorrowisYesterday]

Such a bizarre film (1975). Gets the psychology of trauma totally wrong. I read somewhere that he is supposed to be catatonic. That’s not what catatonia is. It’s a neurological issue where you can’t move or think, you just sit still like a statue and resist movement. It’s associated with things like schizophrenia and some of the odd/eccentric personality disorders, I believe, but I could be wrong about that. It seems like they’re going more for trauma dissociation, but again, that’s not how dissociation works. Not even close. This isn’t a case of artistic license - this is a case of the writer just not understanding how trauma actually affects the brain. Dissociation is episodic in nature and would never, ever be confused for any form of blindness/deafness or lack of speech. Either you’re “present” in your body, or you’re not and you’re on autopilot and behave more or less normally. There are times when this mimics catatonia due to fight, flight, fawn, freeze, (freeze response, sort of like a possum), but again, this would never present like sensory impairment or speech paralysis. The key thing is that these episodes are abnormal fear responses triggered by things in the immediate external environment. Those “triggers” bring up memories which trigger the intense fear. Another key thing to remember is that if the character Tommy actually perceived the murder as trauma and later began overusing this coping mechanism, you would have expected to have seen him using it excessively during the incident. The closest type of dissociation to what we’re looking for - DID or a generic dissociative disorder - these are brought on by repeated exposure to trauma and repeated usage of the dissociation as a defense mechanism.

[@Luileadolfo]

Surprised that you skipped "Cousin Kevin", "Acid Queen" and "Underture". You should have comment "Cousin Kevin s Model Child" to me the songs introduces a interesting character

[@gilberth_]

Whatever.

[@Survivor2002]

As much as I love the original album, I find the soundtrack is far superior, which is not the opinion of many Who fans, but I don't care. The film fleshes out the three "useless" characters, emphasizing their importance to Tommy's journey back to the world. Plus, some of rock's best musicians were brought in to perform on songs not performed solely by the group or Pete. Plus Nicky Hopkins' assistance on arrangements and playing made a huge difference.

[@cowboyflipflopped]

Tommy is an allegory about growing up gay in a society that pathologized and criminalized homosexuality. Townsend had no way to talk about his difficulties, no one to tell him how to even live as a gay man, and no rolemodels to follow (mute, deaf, blind). But even with all that oppression against his heart and soul, he was miraculously talented at playing music (pinball). Smashing the mirror (his opposite self, his straight persona) is analogous to coming out to himself and those close to him. He would come out publicly many years later.

[@QuagmiresDooflab]

No it's not.

[@TeleCaster66]

What? No.

[@stevenclarke5606]

I noticed that theirs a difference between the original and the movie version in the date 1921 and 1951

[@pinguinobc]

I agree with your conclusion. I saw the movie twice in a cinema when I was 14. Most of the songs were performed with more emotion in the movie version, but that didn't really make up for the weakness of the songwriting on a few tracks. At the core of an opera there is a story, and unfortunately, the story of Tommy is not all that compelling or believable. Nonetheless, there are some good songs in the mix, and the performances by Tina Turner and Elton John were amazing. Somehow I doubt Gen Z would view Tommy as very entertaining, though. (I suspect they don't even know what pinball is.)

[@alanafaria3001]

cousin kevin film version slaps though

[@johnoberle9750]

I like the album more than the movie. The music is fantastic . The story is choppy. Tommy made more sense to me than Quadrophenia. The music .

[@shataytay420]

I'm relieved that somebody else is also bored with a lot of Tommy. It's refreshing to see fair criticism of an album that's considered such a classic. Fantastic editing on this video, by the way. =]

[@KellyMarshall-hd8hf]

Quadrophenia is very close to my heart love it love a quick one love alot of tommy isnt it all just a matter of opinion?

[@britishfellow962]

Bro likes The Final Cut and not Tommy

[@potatocouch3709]

I'm actually on a very similar position. I actually like side b, and it's side d that really takes me out of it. The ending's just so out of left field, I can't take the rest of the experience seriously. Plus, the music on display never really grabbed me the same way a lot of other albums do. I agree the first side is fantastic throughout, but the rest just feels average, with a few exceptions. The whole thing feels like a great experience that's held back by lackluster execution. Good album, but a bit of a disappointment.

[@potatocouch3709]

Good review, glad I'm not entirely crazy for not liking it as much as some, lol.

[@Avboyyy]

I just finished watching it and it's cool. But the overall theme is muddied. I LIKED IT IT WASNT BAD but it 100% could've been better

[@RJS1974]

I always thought Tommy was pretentious crap. And always thought that Elton John’s glam rock version of Pinball Wizard rocks harder and is better than the plodding acoustical original.

[@davidferrara1105]

What's it like having bad taste?

[@ThisIsReadyMade]

Pretty great. I can listen to masterpieces like Tommy and albums I personally like more.

[@doggorman]

FIND YOURSELF A DECENT TURNTANLE GO OUT AND PURCHASE AN ORIGINAL COPY OF THIS RECORD darken the room LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN CLOSE YOUR EYES I just feel one might judge this record differently if trying to listen to it early morning or cruising around in your car All classic rock albums sound much better listening to them in analog form l I'm sure there are decent copies of this record for listening on headphones etc But the best way is in its original vinyl pressing form

[@ThisIsReadyMade]

I’m a vinyl listener, I’ve had Tommy for at least ten years now.

[@adrianselbst6777]

Yeah but you're wrong, so

[@victorrodriguez2435]

Put captions, otherwise thumb down.

[@uphollandlatic]

I’m surprised that you have a grasp of the whole concept given that you skip so much.

[@veledajohnson1511]

Lol... did u even listen...???

[@jfder3677]

To start- I am a huge Who fan. That said, Townsend's writing was always unconventional. You even use the example of "A Quick One." You reference the 1921 lyrics but fail to understand the story. Tommy witnesses Bernie and his mother killing Captain Walker - your narration insists that Captain Walker kills the man? It is following this that Bernie and his mother insist that Tommy "didn't see it, didn't hear it"as the basis for the trauma. Effectively this is the verify thing Tommy will not do. He is now functionally blind, deaf, and dumb. Overture and Sparks is the inward journey. The film, that you show, deliberately uses military imagery and theme to reinforce the constant nature of the trauma. The ongoing exposition illustrates the sustained impersonal selfish disinterest and perverted guilt of Bernie and Mom associated with their actions. Tommy is a matter of interest only by association. Mom expresses concern, but at the same time, disinterest for Tommy and repeatedly leaving Tommy to the whims of others- a Charlatan, a Sadist, and a molester while she eats bonbons and drinks alcohol. Bernie, the father substitute, does nothing to protect the boy. Ernie, likely Bernie's brother, is shown later, as still an offending molester, but, an active member of the family, as too often was the case. In fact, Bernie explicitly only shows interest when he realizes that Tommy's exceptional pinball skills, or the recovery cult, can be profitable to him. I will ignore that your critique of Townsend's artistic use of an Underture, but suffice to say that you talk more about Quadraphenia than Tommy. You also reference Tommy having three abusers but ignore it may actually be a reference to the recurring use of three in the Jesus narrative (three serves as a powerful symbol of completeness, emphasis, and spiritual significance (resurrection after three days, Peter's three denials and threefold affirmation, Jesus' three predictions). Ultimately, Tommy does exploit resurrection themes but if that doesn't float your boat the number three is a potent symbol in various mystical and spiritual traditions, often representing completeness, balance, and the interconnection of different elements or concepts across diverse cultures suggesting a universal significance and profound resonance in the human experience. But who's counting? K- Underture- is used to describe an instrumental piece that occurs within the work that serves to develop and elaborate on the musical themes, offering both a musical and a narrative interlude. It is a narrative pause to reflect on the story. It is still 4 kick ass musicians but... Ok, what is your point? I wasn't a fan of Face Dances. Also, I thank God Townsend didn't expound upon the themes, you would be critiquing the equivalent of the Ring Cycle by Wagner. Ultimately, when you get back on topic, you also mistake Tommy's fascination with the mirror, as a treatment. No!!!!!!!! It is his only object of interest. Mom seeking out the doctor is still punctuated by her tryst with the Doctor. It is about her. Not him. She explicitly sings ""What does he see in the mirror". This leads to "Tommy can you see me" and "Smash the mirror" is another context of neglect, disinterest and ultimately guilt fueled anger well illustrated in the film. Smash the mirror is all about her. Now, I do not think Townsend is a critical psychological theorist, but this event liberates Tommy from his isolation. If you want to critique that premise, I would say look at all the shitty plot devices used in Opera, pulp fiction, modern crap sitcoms as a baseline and suck it up and remember it is about the music- it is a rock opera not "'The Brothers Karamazov." You offered gems that I am going to skip, but look dude, opera is a story with devices to move the story forward. I suspect that amidst the libraries of Opera's most of them are not memorable. In summary, you don't like the album that is ok, but, your critique seems to be suggesting Townsend should have "made it better". WTF?

[@michaelward9880]

I've always thought the music on "Tommy" was fantastic and the story was lame. I thought the story on "Quadrophenia" was great, but the music was crap.