Reviews (page 7 of 13)
Genuinely the most bizarre concept for an album, like most albums by the Who, Entwhistle and Moon carry it whilst the other two are annoying throughout. Pinball Wizard - great. Amazing Journey - ok. Fiddle about - mental.
It really needs the movie
Eh, not my favourite. I guess it's interesting artistically but musically I just found it pretty underwhelming. Not bad, but didn't really do anything for me.
not bad but also not crazy good
Not sure I understand the whole concept album thing, do we need a whole album dedicated to this?
When I was younger and lost — trying to find my way towards something I could only vaguely articulate — I listened to enough of The Who to develop opinions about Tommy vs. Quadrophenia with regard to what's their best rock opera. But in truth, I wanted to like The Who more than I actually did. I could never shake that Live at Leeds was my favorite record of theirs (always because: faster, louder, more aggressive). I couldn't really get on board with their rock operas and just about every early album had some song whose references or particularly English humor didn't land. What I appreciate though is that for all its grand ambition, and despite its stumbles, it's a relatively consistent 1 hour and 15 minutes. Here's a band working through how sounds operate at the level of their composition while addressing how they fit together at the level of album. A stronger editorial ear would trim some of the weaker moments and less necessary thematic call-backs but there's so much territory often unthinkingly ceded to a producer and to sequencing decisions generally that I appreciate they stuck to their concept. Tommy, the rock opera, demands you have a structure greater than the songs that The Who must honor (for better or worse). I'll give that level of ambition a measure of grace in listening to it over a recorded document of "songs we had on hand or managed to write" even if I can't deny the power of a less-connected collection of bops. Three stars always reaching but failing to grasp the fourth.
Не мое
I've heard worse concept albums
Is Tommy deaf dumb and blind? Is the whole album a setup to let us know that he plays a mean pinball? Who is Tommy in real life? This isn’t the who that the world came to know, but you can see flashes of it, Pinball Wizard is obviously the centerpiece. One of those albums that really tells a story, makes me curious of the inspiration.
it's the one with pinball wizard on it
uuuuugh another rock opera. this could be better than i think it'll be, but i dunno... Overture - 3/5 It's a Boy - 4/5 1921 - 4/5 Amazing Journey - 4/5 Sparks - 4/5 Eyesight to the Blind (The Hawker) - 4/5 Christmas - 4/5 Cousin Kevin - 4/5 The Acid Queen - 4/5 Underture - 3/5 Do You Think It's Alright? - no rating Fiddle About - 3/5 Pinball Wizard - 5/5 There's a Doctor - no rating Go to the Mirror! - 4/5 Tommy Can You Hear Me? - 3/5 Smash the Mirror - 3/5 Sensation - 3/5 Miracle Cure - no rating Sally Simpson - 4/5 I'm Free - 4/5 Welcome - 3/5 Tommy's Holiday Camp - no rating We're Not Gonna Take It - 5/5 Average score: 3.7/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ oh, apparently this is THE rock album. as in, the first of its kind. just as i suspected, i feel the same way about this as i did with The Wall: it has it's highlights, but boy does it overstay it's welcome it's hard for me to say whether or not this is better than The Wall or not. both stories are kinda wild, and just plain confusing if you don't closely follow along with the lyrics. i personally had to analyze the lyrics in some parts of this album to really grasp what was going on, and i came away from it having a bit more appreciation for the story after that on the bright side, the musical arrangements were interesting (in a good way). Keith Moon absolutely carried the entire performance on his back with his drumming. i dunno, maybe rock operas are just lost on me
Grand sounding album, a bit long
Though it's often overlooked these days in favour of other rock operas of its time (Sgt. Pepper's, Future Passed) and it's since overshadowed by the reappraisal of the Who's own Quadrophenia, this is still a seminal album in not just the Who's own catalogue, but of rock and roll in general. Despite its status as a rock opera, it only really "rocks" in a few select places(the end of "Christmas," "Pinball Wizard" and "Go to the Mirror!" for instance) so its sound is really built around the narrative the album's songs tell. Let's not forget this was one of the first albums to really have theatre-style leitmotifs appear and reappear in a rock album. This is a lot folkier and more progressive pop than I remember it being when I bought it as a Christmas gift for my dad some years ago. With all that hindsight, I would have to say this album is vital as a document for understanding how rock music progressed as an art form, but, as a standalone piece, this album is very much a product of its time and, in modern contexts, can only be considered more influential than good. Key Tracks: 1921, Cousin Kevin, Christmas, Pinball Wizard, Go to the Mirror! We're Not Gonna Take It
This is seriously dark and a bit creepy in places. I liked it but not that much.
Somehow doesn't sound quite as dated as a lot of other stuff from that time. Also, i appreciate the silliness.
Not great, not bad, I just don't have a lot of opinions about The Who. A few cool songs, but the whole concept album thing did not quite click for me.
I can tell this is a classic but It just wasn’t really my sound
Proto-Queen. Like it!
An album I've heard of, at least. I think I'm kind of over "concept albums" as a concept thanks to this project. But as an album, I guess it was fine. Highlight: 'Sensation'
La primer ópera Rock, no? Me es difícil en un día tomarle la vuelta a todo. Debiera sentarme, ver las letras, dejarme llevar por el album y es dificil. Aún así, ya al oído, 2 o 3 temas son geniales. Pero claramente es una experiencia para darle bola y no escuchar así nomás y solo una vez. Crédito parcial. 6/10
I didn’t like it, but I didn’t…not…like it. It was definitely very long (due to the track list) but I did enjoy songs such as Christmas, I’m free, sparks, and overture. But it isn’t an album that I will listen to ever again, probably in another year or sometime in the distant future when I forget about it but it has nothing that made me feel anything, and that’s a big part of how I enjoy and consume a great album. Overall score: Light 5
Wow this cover is.. prety bad.. The more I look at it the more I hate it. Apparently its the first opera rock album, idk if its a good thing or not. Its also a concept album. Holy fucking 1h14. The songs themself are borderline fine but the story telling is prety mediocre. How much does Tommy has to suffer god damn leave him allone. Oh and he suddenly become the pinball king, ofc. Yeah it gets boring after a few songs, you know where they are going. Some are just annoying. Overall, its a really dated album that aged prety badly with maybe 2-3 standouts. Poor Tommy/5
While a rock album it's very melodic and heavy in the instrumental parts. To me that makes it even better though. I read that this was a rock opera album with a story flowing through the songs. I can hear it in the lyrics but I would like the album better if they had skipped the short interlude songs. I could listen to a lot of these songs many times over and today I might, listening through the whole album again I wouldn't really do again.
I don't love the Who, but this is a good Who album.
Ok
3 HORAS
ну, во-первых, обложка супер классная во-вторых, на этом можно и остановиться, так как музыка скучная по крайней мере конкретно в этом альбоме у них просто есть какой-то вайб битлов, но несколько посредственных
I'd never actually listened to this; I know I saw the movie once, but not in an environment that allowed me to appreciate the music. I think it did prove that they were more than a singles rock band.
Decent
I give it a 5.2/10 It's not really for me personally but I see why people would like it.
Best Poo album [low bar]
Better than expected. More down to earth and chill than their other albums. Sounds similar to the Beatles (same weirdness and uniqueness) but packed with more rock n roll. Maybe even CCR adjacent too! A smidge long in my opinion but pretty solid album overall Favorite 2: Pinball Wizard, Tommy Can You Hear Me?
Started out kinda eh but I really enjoyed the vibes in the later half.
30 minutes too long. Cut the fat.
What is there to say that hasn't been said about this album? I enjoy The Who and recognize that they are an important thread in the progression from the 60s vibe to the hard rock of the 70s, with their solid musicianship and pop sensibilities. This album is a significant departure from all that, but not as entirely disappointing as some reviewers here have written. Certainly, it has disturbing elements, characters and themes, but it tells a cohesive story. I had never gotten the backstory of Pinball Wizard until now, but once is enough for this one. I will add that Entwistle's bass is solid throughout the album.
***an ok album
Tommy is an ambitious concept album with a genuinely fascinating premise, but the execution never feels as clear or dramatic as the idea deserves. The story is there, yet the album often struggles to communicate progression through the music itself, so what should feel like a journey can instead feel strangely flat. Sonically, though, it is excellent. The mastering is superb, the performances are powerful, and the musicianship is consistently impressive. The problem is that the album is far too homogeneous, similar textures, dynamics and arrangements keep returning until individual songs start bleeding into one another. There are very few obvious bridges, pauses or structural landmarks, so Tommy gives you almost no breathing room. Instead of peaks and valleys, it often feels like one enormous continuous slab of rock music. If the intention was to make something completely monolithic, then mission accomplished, but for a narrative-driven rock opera, a little more contrast would have made the story much easier to follow. Excellent music trapped inside an album that could desperately use more separation, variety and space. By the end, it feels longer than it actually is, not because the material is bad, but because it never really lets you reset. Probably would need to second or third listen to know if I really like or dislike it. 7/10.
The first time I listened to this was in high school and it was one of the first times I tripped on acid. I was vibing to it until I read in the liner notes that Pete Townsend actually wrote it as a criticism of the counter culture’s psychedelic drug use! Listening to it now I still appreciate the grandeur of the idea and think a lot of the compositional elements are impressive with a few decent tunes. “Christmas” for instance is kind of a banger.
Couple of hits, I bet they were great live, but not my favorite album.
Decent album, but it's heavily carried by Pinball Wizard. All time classic. Fave track: Pinball Wizard
24 tracks long whyyyyyyyyy. 2.5/5
Quién?
First listen
There were times when this was a chore to get through, but also some points where it was really good. I remember seeing the film a few times, but some songs I remembered sounded very different this time round. Three stars seems fair.
pinball wizard man........ otherwise meh
first time all the way through
i think the concept album is interesting! i liked following the story, but musically not very good
okay
I could say a lot of words to sum up how I feel. Instead, I choose to state: "Quadrophenia is the superior Townshend opera and it not being here is a crime" (7/10, 3/5 on this scale)
The concept is neat and there is fun to be had and enjoyable moments, but a lot of the songs aren't that memorable and it doesn't half go on a bit
I wish the album was just pinball wizard
Not bad, but not that good either
Hello I'm bored this album is way too long
It's an ambitious project. There are a lot of songs that are essentially scores and they are okay. Not as many great songs. Appreciate the effort of this, but it does drag on a little. 3.5/5 Probably won't listen again
Honestly, this one was kind of disappointing. I love a lot of the other, whose albums, especially their later stuff, I can see this as their first album, leaning into the concept, albums, but it was just fine. Reasonable, but way too long, the instrumentation was not great three stars.
I didn't mind listening to this, however it just felt too long.
Ok guys I know this isn’t the best who album but Jesus you guys are some negative Nancys fr 😭 Overture - instantly recognisable trumpets. Awesome harmonies. Gnarly drums. Love how occasionally the guitar echoes parts later on in the album eg. 3:26 echoes Pinball Wizard It’s a boy - Mrs walker it’s a boy frrr not much to say because it’s only 40 seconds long 1921 - 21 was not in fact gonna be a good year poor Tommy 😔 Amazing Journey - Tommy character properly introduced and tells us the essential part. That he’s deaf, dumb, and blind Sparks - can really hear the bass in the beginning which I love. Not sure what else to say because it’s an instrumental Eyesight to the blind - LOVE this one SO MUCH Christmas - AH AHA AHAH poor Tommy doesn’t even know it’s Christmas 😔 guys Tommy can’t hear you or see you I promise Cousin Kevin - bro poor Tommy leave him alone tf The Acid Queen - breaking news guys disabled people are actually alive Underture - BASS YES JOHN if there’s one thing I absolutely LOVE about the who it’s the AWESOME bass. Lwk tempted to learn this as a bassist myself. GAH DAMN this is a long song I never realised how long it actually is Do You Think It’s Alright - NO ITS NOT ALRIGJT KEEP UNCLE ERNIE AWAY FROM HIM Fiddle About - makes me SO uncomfortable although I guess that’s the point justice for Tommy wtf guys Pinball Wizard - guys this deaf dumb and blind kid can sure play some MEAN PINBALL. The concept of Roger Daltrey completely DESTROYING Elton John in a game of pinball. A belter for SURE There’s a Doctor - can this doctor cure Tommy? Who knows? Go To The Mirror? - kept forgetting to pay attention to the lyrics I love the guitar and the melody Tommy Can You Hear Me? - ok well what if he doesn’t want to 🤨 he probably hates all of you goddamn. So annoying. Smash The Mirror - I mean yeah I wouldn’t blame him for only looking at himself if I were him I wouldn’t want to look at any of you. Great you broke the mirror cool. Sensation - yes lad use your fans for good Miracle cure - not much to say literally 12 seconds long Sally Simpson - it’s alright Sally better luck next time 😔 I’m Free - let’s go bro so close to the end !! end links back to pinball wizard Welcome - preach Tommy fr Tommys Holiday Camp - goofy ass tune fr 😭 like pop off I guess guys We’re Not Gonna Take It - YES AMAZING FINAL SONG I LOVE THIS ONE. Defo one of my favs on this album. I love how it echoes the Overture trumpets. I’m gonna give it 3 stars I love it but I just think that the Who have better albums (my favourite being Quadrophenia). Felt slightly illegal to listen to the album without the film (the film is lwk super goofy but I still love it 😭)
Interesting at points but felt a little lost and repetitive sometimes
Quite fun
A couple of good songs, but meh. 3, maybe even a 2.5.
6.0/10 Didn’t hate it.. would probably need a few more listens to really appreciate it and follow the story
Me parece muy interesante el concepto porque amo los álbumes con historia, pero no me parece increíble. Capaz no le presté mucha atención y en un futuro lo volvería a escuchar pero de todas formas no me impresionó.
When I was in high school I had this album. My parents bought me a pair of tickets to the local production as well. However, due to the pedophilia, I was uncomfortable asking any of my friends to come so I went with my sister. I'm pretty sure I came home with a See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me shirt. I don't think I ever wore it...if someone at my high school could pull that shirt off that person was definitely not me. Anyway, I think Uncle Ernie, Cousin Kevin, the Acid Queen and the more cringe aspects of this album were what stuck with me through the intervening 25 years. Re-listening I am struck by just how good most of the music is. I think the narrative nature of the project puts a pretty low ceiling on how good the collection of songs can possibly be. Given the constraints, these guys did about as well as you could have hoped for.
It's certainly an ambitious album, I found the concept and lyrics hard to get into for most of it. I've never seen the film, it would maybe benefit from that, I'm sometimes more of a visual person. Instrumentally it's good, especially the drums, but nothing blew me away it was all fairly tame. Acid Queen was fun and very 60s. Christmas was evocative and where I kinda got back into the story. Fiddle About made me want to throw up. Pinball Wizard was a happy relief. I'm Free was another favourite. Will I ever listen to this again? Likely never.
Very ambitious And they kind of pull it off Still… fiddle about…
i got a lot of respect for pete townshend and the who as a whole for going thru with creating a 75 minute long concept album, it's a full dick and balls on the table move and they pulled it off. even if the little interludes they included to explicitly move the story along kinda took me out of it a bit i can't say it's not well constructed. but the story the album tells is fuckin wack dude. like, the album covers a lot of really heavy topics, which isn't necessarily a problem but it does kinda put me off listening to it again if i'm not in the right mood for it. and did they really need to give the nonce character a second song? yeesh, regardless, the performances are great throughout, and i enjoyed the variety. i'm having trouble picking out favourites this time but "eyesight to the blind (the hawker)", "underture", "i'm free" and "welcome" stood out in particular. to my surprise, "pinball wizard" didn't really strike me as being substantially better than the rest of the album, but maybe i'm just overexposed...? and i guess "cousin kevin" and "the acid queen" both deserve honourable mentions too but i find it hard to get my head around the lyrics of either, especially the latter. you can't be saying that, dude.... i think overall i enjoyed it, more or less. but being about what it's about, it's been a struggle even to flick back through it for this review, so i don't think i'll be listening again any time soon. it's not bad, and i respect what they were going for, but it's the kind of thing that really requires me to be in the right moodset, and with things being as they are it's one that's rare for me these days.
6/10
i get that this launched the rock opera as a genre, and subsequently some of my favorite albums, but it just has too much of this… cartoony (?) sound.
Interesting idea for a musical, but it was so long and they don't sing a lot of the times and then my brain just tunes it out and I forget that I'm listening to it. Its ok.
Is this the first rock opera? I really do not know, but i can confirm that it is probably the best known one. This is a big, ambitious album for a young band, and it rewards at least one repeat listen. The music has so many foreshadowed themes and callback themes... the overture does the classic Musical feat of cycling through a bunch of important themes (giving us some Entwistle trumpet in the process). The Underture is a really solid propelling piece of music. And then, we get to the lyrics. See, many a rock opera fails to stick the landing when it comes to telling the story. Tommy is little different. We get some character sketches here... obviously Tommy himself, the three major abusive figures in Tommy's life, a girl who devotes herself to Tommy. But the actual thread is jumbled. The whole backstory to the "deaf dumb and blind" Tommy featured in 1921 is only really clear when you've read about the intended story. The messianic final act is just bizarre. The Pinball thing is left field. The abuse feels gratuitous. The brief interstitial tracks are all faff. This wouldnt be a classic if we were rating the story, is the point. But there is some serious music in here, too. We can start with probably the most famous song here... when that electric guitar slide comes in over the speed angle of Pinball Wizard, it always feels a little exciting. It's a weird subject and weird plot point, but it's a pretty solid piece of music. But we also have those drums on Eyesight to the Blind. The uncomfortable trio of kevin/queen/ernie all have musically interesting songs, even as they all have their own cringe factor lyrically. Go To the Mirror gives us a lot of great Who. Tommy Can You Hear Me is possibly one of the most iconic simple minutes and a half in music. Heck, even the goofy stupidity of Tommy's Holiday Camp brings me a little joy. The good bits are very good, but they also kinda make you wish they weren't just a theme here and there. It's rarely a whole song, is the thing. 3.5* I think, against all odds, Christmas is the best song here. That chorus melody is one of the strongest things on the album, and it features the classic, frantic "Tommy can you hear me" refrain as well as the first "see me, feel me" theme. It is arguably as coherent a track on the album when it comes to actually telling a piece of the story.
Twenty or so years ago, some friends made me watch the movie. I don't think I was on the right drugs to appreciate it. Pinball Wizard is a banger, though, and there are a few others. Doubt I'll seek out the whole album again.
¡Gran historia! ¡Grandes canciones!
Clasico!
Initially I really enjoyed the sounds on this album, but I think I ended up being annoyed with the overall length of the project. It felt bloated... or at least as if it dragged on at the end. I am feeling a 3.5 for this one, but I don't feel comfortable with a 4.
Pretty good album. The early 70s vibe was really there and it felt like a "classic". Just a clean album all around. Not my favorite but it was enjoyable. Tommy's story throghout was the best part. Otherwise the vocals were nice and the same can be said about the instrumental. Unfortunately the "WOW" factor wasn't there for me. Rating : 7.0 Favorite track : We're Not Gonna Take It
Consistent throughout with enjoyable and instantly recognizable tracks, the jammy rock energy produces a thoroughly fun ride
Kinda sounded like the beatles
A early rock opera. Others like bat out of hell and the wall are better but pinball wizard is such a good song.
With the exception of Pinball Wizard and I’m Free nothing particularly stands out. The other tracks are generally ok, but not worth the hype which followed this album.
Apart from the obvious classics that this album contains, I've never been a fan of the other tracks on this album. Because of the album's length I've never listened to it all the way through and this project has forced me to do just that. I found that I enjoyed parts of the album and its concept and , due to its length, got bored. Overall because of the classic tracks, although there are some weak tracks and the very fine musicianship, this album was better than I expected. It's not great, but it is not a complete dud.
Good for a rock opera but too long for regular enjoyment.
Good
Good album, perfect eclectic while working.
Pretty good but didn't grab me except, for some reason, 1921. Pinball is of course a banger though. Torn.
un poil long
6/10 It feels like the album just serves as a backstory for it's obvious highlight - Pinball Wizard. It's not a bad album by any means. I quite liked '1921', 'Sparks', 'Go To The Mirror!', and 'Sally Simpson'. There's just not much more substance there. I also wish 'Fiddle About' didn't exist, but here we are. Best track: Pinball Wizard Will I revisit? Probably not
While I enjoyed listening to Tommy, I couldn't help wanting to listen to other albums like My Generation, Sells Out or Who's Next. The rock opera thing can be grandiose or at times too ethereal for this album.
I have a big soft spot for these mad conceptual swings that bands from the 60s started making. There's some really good stuff on here but also come on it doesn't need to be an hour and a half long lads!!
el otro dia me compre una remera vintage de the who así que estoy contenta de que haya salido este album hoy
Transmite vibras de una nueva etapa, dejar cosas atrás y avanzar sintiendo calidez, tiene buen ímpetu para mandarle para adelante, te saca de la pesadez del cansancio, entre en un modo de atención y concentración al detalle durante la realización de una actividad con este álbum.
This album went from good to mediocre. It started off with high quality music that was fully instrumental, to the singing and less musically focused songs that I didn't like at much. This album felt like listening to a musical, which was pretty cool, but I don’t think I really prefer it to a regular album. It’s definitely interesting, though, and I can understand why people might like it.
Album #58: Tommy - The Who Genre (W): Rock, hard rock Singles: Pinball Wizard, I’m Free / We’re Not Gonna Take It, See Me, Feel Me / Overture from Tommy I have listened to this album twice before. Thoughts?: I love the story of this rock opera. This is the first time I’ll be listening to the songs as songs and rating an album based on the music. The story is pretty convoluted, but the musicianship is great! I can see how this album inspired a bunch of concept albums in the future. Favorite songs: Overture/It’s a Boy, 1921, Amazing Journey/Sparks, Cousin Kevin, The Acid Queen, Underture, Pinball Wizard, Go to the Mirror!, Smash the Mirror, Sally Simpson, I’m Free, Welcome, We’re Not Gonna Take It
It was fun to hear the context around Pinball Wizard but wow this was way too much. It felt like a dragging broadway musical after a while
Really don't understand why Quadrophenia is not on the list but this is, when it's largely a dry-run of the "rock opera"/broadway-esque sound they continued to pursue on that record. Its successor has an easier to follow story, better lyrics, instrumental parts, and more memorable motifs throughout. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of big swings here and some aspects are done quite well, but it does not fully earn its length and was surpassed by a record largely of the same vein and style so I don't consider it essential Who.
ambitious and ground breaking - pinball wizzard is the standout
I see why this was so huge when it came out, but I have mixed feelings. It works way better as an album than a musical. I respect how much it pioneered the concept album, but the “story” is not very exciting for me. That said, it has some great standalone songs and a lot of filler. But it’s a fun listen overall. Top Songs: Christmas, Pinball Wizard, I’m Free
Album #94 The Who: Tommy Being a kid and listening to “Pinball Wizard”, I always just assumed the track was a one-off joke. Despite being a very good song, I always found it strange that the band who made “Who’s Next” would have a song about a deaf, dumb, and blind kid who played pinball via sense of smell. I will admit to not being the most hardcore fan of The Who despite loving “Who’s Next” and many of their hits. I never felt too compelled to listen to their other albums since I was aware that they were very ambitious and long concept albums. So going into this, I knew to expect a concept album, and I knew that there was a track which focused on the Helen Keller of pinball, yet somehow I didn’t piece it together that the entire album would be about that very pinball wizard. You have to respect The Who, one of the biggest bands in the world at the time, could essentially go into the studio and create anything, and it would sell, and they decided to make an hour-plus rock opera about a deaf, dumb, and blind person's entire life. I don’t know whether it is genius or insane, but knowing The Who’s lifestyle, it is likely both. As far as musicianship goes, The Who were amongst the best of their class, John Entwiste on bass, Pete Townshend on guitar, and Keith Moon on drugs, I mean, Keith Moon on drums, is one of the most stacked lineups of the 60s. The issues with Tommy will likely come with whether or not you can stomach a concept album this inherently silly, and if the answer is that you can look past tracks about cousin Kevin torturing his disabled relative, and Uncle Ernie ‘fiddling’ him, then you will be met with a rather compelling narrative that actually has a lot to say about the treatment of outcasts and how it feels to not fit in amongst society. Tommy is an album which can be tedious to listen to in it’s entirety, but it is absolutely necessary that it is consumed that way; if you are engaged with the story being told, it is almost like watching a movie, but if you are barely following along, it is like watching paint dry. Personally, I find it to be quite an easy and pleasant listen, though not one that I would look to experience too much. Best Songs: Pinball Wizard, Overture, We’re Not Gonna Take It Worst Song: Fiddle About Score out of 10: 7.5
I like The Who but I'm not a fan of Musicals. Having the storyline when listening did make the listening experience better but it is a very long story (and kinda horrible story). My favourite concept album/song is 2112 by Rush and I feel this did not capture me in the same way. Pinball wizard is a Classic but the rest don't really resonate with me. I feel this has a place on this list because it paved the way for other similar albums like the wall and 2112... But it's not that great of an album to be honest.
A complete soup of an album, all over the shop and a poorly paced story. But occasionally brilliant. And obviously basically created (or at least popularised) the rock opera.
6/10
Done - Overtorture, It's a Boy, 1921, Amazing Journey, Sparks,
Good album, some tracks drag it but the highs are high with this, solid 7/10 album First listen tracklist ranking: 1. We’re Not Gonna Take It 2. I’m Free 3. Amazing Journey 4. Pinball Wizard 5. Sparks 6. The Acid Queen 7. Sally Simpson 8. Christmas 9. Welcome 10. Go To The Mirror! 11. Overture 12. Underture 13. Cousin Kevin 14. Sensation 15. Tommy Can You Hear Me? 16. Eyesight to the Blind 17. Smash the Mirror 18. Fiddle About 19. 1921 20. Do You Think It’s Alright? 21. It’s A Boy 22. There’s A Doctor 23. Tommy’s Holiday Camp 24. Miracle Cure
曲は楽しいけど歌詞の内容が好みではない。
pinball wizard is so important to me tbh another album that i know is excellent but i was not in the mood for when it came to me this time 😔 feels bad to rate a 3 but this is the truth of this most recent listening session
Hmm didn't enjoy that as much as I'd hoped - it felt a little unfocused - maybe with the visuals I'd have enjoyed it more
I was really up for this, but actually I think it doesn't hold up as well outside of the movie. It's good, but you could cut a ton and make it great.
My grandad’s favourite band, excited to hear more of them! The album has such an interesting story, I really wanna see the film !! Fav song is ‘Pinball Wizard’.
Álbuns duplos vão sempre significar um desafio nessa lista. A história que esse projeto conta é muito curiosa: é quase um pastiche sobre os lideres religiosos milenaristas; porém poderia muito bem ser uma história sobre neurodivergência e as consequências dos pais do Tommy tentando "curá-lo" desesperadamente. Diria que a instrumentação é mais legal que a história, que não é exatamente muito clara sem o uso de materiais suplementares.
Like a play. I like pinball wizard
Put it on and did something else. Faded into the background.
Unsure between a 3 and a 3.5 so going to round down. It's enjoyable, but they have better albums than this.
Plodding
Good album, it sound like a musical rhapsody sometimes. Song I like: 1921, we’re not gonna take it
I'm a fan of The Who, but the studio album of Tommy is actually quite disappointing. I like the live versions recorded in 1969/70 much better.
Pretty cool
Heyyyyy not bad!
Okay. So. I grew up a huge devotee of the Who. They were a awkward little part of my even more awkward preteen identity (and beyond). I love(d) them. I listened to this record obsessively for a year or so. I remained a Who fan many many years, still am. Here is the thing: Tommy just isn't great. It's ambitious, urgent, unsettling and there are some great songs, some amazing playing (thanks, Keith!), and moments of pop genius. But it is pretty goofy, thematically inchoate, loaded with crappy filler, excessive, and its aims exceed its grasp. This is Pete's tragic flaw: dreaming up wild conceptual shit that is never brought to fruition. This is a failure to which I am sympathetic: I feel for Pete and with Pete in ways that I never could or would for or with John Lennon or Mick Jagger/Keith Richards or Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Nicks or Bob Dylan or Lucinda Williams or anyone. My sympathetic connection to Pete's failures makes the music, when it is good, even better. But Tommy. Still not great.
There are high highlights, to be sure, but as a rock opera, it doesn’t sustain itself fully.
I liked this one! Some songs better than others, some felt kind of like filler. But overall I enjoyed it.
Very long, got bored 'album' should just probably be disc 1, 3.5 hours unneeded
Listening to this divorced from the film is a bizarre experience. It feels so random and strange, it's hard to follow the story from the sonic cues alone. While that problem is endemic to rock operas in general, Tommy suffers from the fact that only a few songs are good as standalone songs. The majority of these compositions make sense primarily as part of a soundtrack, resulting in a goofy and cheesy listening experience more often than not. Impressive? Sure. Enjoyable? Not so much.
Yooo ik ken n nummer hiervan Nicee
I first have to give The Who credit for somehow making a rock opera about a mute pinball wizard and not making it feel like a pretentious mess. I admire their ambition, even if I'm unsure how often I will return to this as a full album. I am curious to check out the movie after spending time with this today. They pull the concept off well and I didn't feel like this double album dragged at all during its 74 minute runtime. There's a lot of dark themes to be found here, with the protagonist getting abused throughout the story. 'Cousin Kevin' is a song sung from the perspective of a particularly mean school bully and it handles the premise well. On the other hand, you have 'Fiddle About', which is a song about sexual abuse and it is tackled so clumsily that it almost feels like a joke. 'Tommy's Holiday Camp' is another song that is too damn goofy for its own good. Whilst we do get some good tracks like 'Pinball Wizard', this record made me realise that I much prefer The Who when they are putting out simplistic rockers instead of grandiose concept records like this.
Yeah I still really am not a fan of big concept albums. This had some good songs I enjoyed and I respect it for what it is, but overall it wasn’t for me. I didn’t care for the overall story and that was a big draw back as well.
Good songs mixed with some not so good; the first three or four were my favorites, the rest felt repetitive. Anyway, it's a band I like.
I actually felt like this was a bit mid
Cute
Great album. Liked the mix of soft rock and some songs being a bit heavier. Didn’t like get the “story” on the album. The little I’ve heard of The Who (Qaudrophenia) was more riff heavy. This was less show and I few songs did sound rather similar
I did'n like this as much as I thought I would. The album felt too long and I didn't really get in to the albums concept. There was good stuff in the album and parts/songs I enjoyed but the experience in whole was... well a little meh. Would rate this 2.5/5 but I think it deserves 3 more than 2 when there is no half star option. Best song was Pinball Wizard.
This is such a weird album to review because at times it's great and at times it's a dud. It's catchy in a way it shouldn't have the chance to be. They're at 10/10 band doing a lot of 10 and a lot of 3 but it's unique and creative. Go on. Listen. I'm glad bands make weird crap like this when they could just make an album, but make sure not to just do this.
The Who have such strong songs compositions and I've always liked the storytelling aspect of many of their songs. This was an interesting listen but maybe not the strongest album.
About three songs in I realized it was a rock opera - that's on me the first song is literally called Overture. The writing is way better than the music imo, but I do really love the world building. What I can say about this album is that each instrument has a purpose and connection to the albums overall allegory which I thought was really cool: Highlights: Acid Queen, Sally Simpson, We're Not Gonna Take It
Good enough. Rock Opera doesn't usually excite me when I'm not also watching it. Saw the show put on several years ago and had a blast. But just sitting here listening to it makes me feel like I'm missing 'the rest'.
Я ожидал большего от любимой The Who. Впрочем, не отменяет культовости пластинки. Не очень мелодично.
Nope don't get the hype
I liked this. I need to listen again I think 3.5
OK
The soundtrack of my childhood, my parents worked on a Tommy production when they first met. Not my favorite Who album but I respect the concept and generally enjoyed.
Anyone expecting traditional 3-4 minute, stand alone tunes is probably going to be disappointed by Tommy. However, they are also missing the point. This is an album that must be heard as a cohesive unit to be appreciated, it is, after all, a rock opera. This album was damn innovative when it was released, people were blown away for the same reason that seems to turn people off today. Listening to the album for this review was a mixed bag. I think there was some good songwriting. The musicianship was also impressive with classic rock riffs that I enjoyed. This is an album that I feel needs to be listened to intently, several times to appreciate. This is usually fine. I like giving albums several listens before reviewing. However, this is a crazy long album. Tough to get through.
You shouldn't miss out on this tribute: https://youtu.be/G4wlLFM0Ps8?si=wjfnPxmyS7jV9EJy 😉
6.5/10
I like the movie soundtrack better.
I was surprised at how long this album was for a concept album is one's for about an hour and 14 minutes and I think 24 songs there are common themes throughout the album and it's actually very laid back and easy going for the most part but of course pinball Wizard being the outstandard outstanding track in the on the whole album I really enjoyed it but I still think there's a lot of filler and not the 23 tracks could have been 10 quite easily and for that reason I'm giving it to three
Mukavaa taas kerran Beatles meininkiä. Tietysti omalla who mausteella
3 stars
i prefer this over the last rock album i got (hot fuss), its got a very "sunny day road trip" vibe yk, like the saturation in the scene is put to a max, those typa scenes. its a bit too long and dragged out imo, but i can see this being a good road trip album, pretty mid still. 6/10
My favorite part is in Smash The Mirror at 1:19. Otherwise I just don't really have much to say about it. I think the Who should be on this list somewhere, I already had 'My Generation' previously and I think that is probably more appropriate. This album is more for big fans of The Who. I don't find it interesting as a concept album and the songs aren't really interesting standalone either.
I'm not a big fan of The Who, but I think this is one of their more solid efforts. It's very well produced and ambitious instrumentally as well as lyrically, and has some serious bangers (Christmas, Pinball Wizard). Still, they're not exactly a band I would listen to for 75 minutes straight and that remains the album's biggest flaw.
I appreciate and respect the attempt to do something different, but more often than not if the question is “should we expand this story over a 24 song rock opera” the answer is “no”
This is the first time I have struggled to finish my daily album (okay, I never finished Dagmar Crause - Tank Battles, but that was crap and only playable through youtube so it almost dorsn’t count). Not because it’s that bad, but it’s just too long and I’ve had a busy day. The music is a blend of classic rock and musical-style, which sometimes works pretty well, but it also get quite tedious. Especially when it goes on and on for too long. Pinball Wizard is a great classic, but it can’t save the rest of the album.
I feel like the album has a plot/tracklisting issue, you cant have fiddle about right next to Pinball Wizard.
Some interesting songs and I could imagine it would be a good movie...but doesn't really work as an album to me. Too much plot exposition etc.
A handful of good songs but it didn’t really blow me away. I think a lot of the appeal back then was the live performance of it. I still enjoyed it though.
I read once that this album was written during Townshend's mystical moments in life, and it's based on his own horrible abuse from his grandmother. This album follows a deaf, mute, and blind boy who suffers terrible abuse and transforms into a spiritual leader. Sometimes, the reason a song is written is almost as good as the sound.
Kein schlechtes Album, aber auch nicht sonderlich spannend. Kann man gut hören, aber holt mich auch nicht unbedingt ab
Grand, theatrical movements built from ringing guitars, pounding drums, sweeping acoustic passages, and declamatory, emotionally stretched vocals move this rock opera album like watching an elaborate stage musical from the balcony—the storytelling feels compelling, but without the visual movement (there's a movie to this) the music alone feels strangely empty and incomplete.
Shrugs. It's fine.
Boring
Kind weird :p
quite good but quite repetitive and boring at times
Really not my genre. I tried listening to this album as the day went by (70 tracks!) but it didn't strike me as something I would listen to again. Then again, I'm sure a lot of people from the previous generation would have loved this. 3 stars.
I remember being a bit mixed on this one, but let's see! Nope, still mixed. I can see why someone would love this, but I don't.
fun storytelling, i enjoyed it
Pinball wizard highlight Long album
Nice listening experience, lots of thought put into it and some great guitar writing. 6.5/10, Favorite Song: Underture
So good songs on the album, and a great concept all round.
not bad in the least but incredibly long
I think it's legacy has likely been saved by a decent Ken Russell film (which I am yet to watch and shall do so as part of 1001 movies). It does have a cult quality which I like, a handful of great tracks, but too many instances of nothing going on for too long.
Just okay but obviously i obviously didn’t listen to all 70 songs lol
eh wasn’t feeling it, too dad-like
I get why it's important and would have been groundbreaking at the time, but it's too long and there aren't actually that many good songs on there, if you take away pinball wizard there isn't realy anything worth listening to. Also the songs about him being bullied by his cousing and then sexually assaulted are a pretty tough listen
I like The Who as much as the next boomer dad, but this album always seems so silly.
fine, some highlights (pinball wizard). not something I'd listen to on my own 2.5
Pretty good
Não sei se os The Who influenciaram os Pink Floyd, mas este álbum faz-me lembrar muito do Dark Side Of The Moon e o The Wall. Sinto que este álbum é Pink Floyd antes de atingirem o seu auge (Animals, DSOTM, Wish You Were Here, The Wall). Tommy é um album "engraçado", mas é demasiado longo (24 músicas?!). Tem músicas longas mas boas, mas tem outras que são demasiado grandes e perco-me a meio de tão chatas que se tornam. Destaque para o baterista, Keith Moon, não é por acaso que é considerado um dos melhores de sempre e neste álbum prova isso mesmo. É um 3/5, mas nao é um forte 3, mas também não é fraquinho. É a definição de álbum mediano, para mim.
This is certainly a creative concept album. Tommy had a rough life! I feel like I should like this more since it’s so iconic. Musically, it didn't do a lot for me. Keeping up with the story distracted me from whatever else was going on with the music, and it seemed like keeping up with the story may have distracted the band too. Aside from Pinball Wizard, there weren't a lot of good hooks or anything that was terribly interesting to latch onto, and this felt like a slog to get through as it went on.
Ah yes, a rock opera from a very important pedophile who had something very important and creative to say. I tend to dislike rock operas because I feel they are overly bombastic, self-involved and haughty. Pete Townsend loves himself some rock operas because it seems his fans love to hear his rock operas. I understand the historical relevance of Tommy and this is one of the first rock operas. It's fine. There are quite a few Who albums I would put on prior to playing Tommy. I assumed this album would be in the book because The Who are a British band and Boomers will have fond memories hearing Tommy. For me, I struggle to get past the music getting lost in having to follow the narrative of the story.
Definitely one to return to. An epic.
I didn't think I was going to like it! I'm especially impressed by the melodic choices, which mostly follow my taste. Yeah, it's long and maybe lyrically childish, but I think it's a good rock album.
Not as interesting as I hoped.
7/10 I enjoyed this album & it is actually the only who album I have not listened to that is on this list. the songs themselves are mostly strong, and memorable, even when I wasn’t fully locked into the narrative. I also feel like I didn’t quite listen to it properly the first time, this isn’t a record you can half-absorb. That said, it feels like an album you don’t totally get on first listen. The concept is dark and intriguing, but I think it needs time (and probably a few relistens) to fully click. Definitely one of those records that makes you curious to go deeper- I kind of want to watch the film and come back to it with fresh ears. Favorite song: Pinball wizard Least favorite: Underture (literally an unnecessary extended version of “sparks”)
Eg klarar ikkje heilt bli kjempeglad The Who
Some classics, bit too long for a casual listen
"Super Deluxe" Disc 2 (Demos) not available on Spotify, only listened to Discs 1 & 3
i forgot ahhh, good tho
I didn't get into the story but it was alright
Pete Townshend is a nonce
Normally, I dont care for rock operas...but, in this case, I still don't really care for it.
A little long winded but more good than bad when it comes to the actual tunes/storytelling on this one.
5.5/10 I really hoped this would be better than it was. The story makes no sense. The uncle parts are a particular low point. Three stars for the ambition and for the top2000 tune. Highlights: Overture Pinball Wizars We're Not Gonna Take It Go to the Mirror!
Tommy es el cuarto álbum de la banda y es su primer álbum conceptual que nace en medio del inicio de los álbumes conceptuales con sgt pepper (gracias Beatles de nuevo). Es un disco de ópera rock, parece un gran medley. Musicalmente hay varias cosas interesantes que me llamaron la atención, el sonido de la batería es tremenda, tiene muy buenos fill el baterista, caja bien presente, platillos brillantes, tombs potentes. Lindo sonido de guitarras, me gustó como se mezclaba la guitarra acústica a un lado y la eléctrica al otro haciendo una rítmica interesante. Pero creo que lo importante está en lo siguiente. Este disco habla de Tommy, un niño que queda sordo, ciego y mudo por un estrés postraumático posterior a que su padre matara al amante de su mamá, leí que lo que buscaba Townsend (vocalista y compositor) era que las canciones representaran el sentir de Tommy y la forma de expresarse y sentir el mundo dado su discapacidad. En este cada cancion es un capítulo en la vida de Tommy, yo leí la reseña de wikipedia (ojalá la lean porque explica muy bien que onda cada cancion). Tommy pasa por episodios de violencia por parte de su primo y abuso de su tío quienes se aprovechan de su discapacidad y se vuelve un crack en el pinball viviéndolo a partir del único sentido que le quedaba, el tacto. En un momento y dado otro evento estresante Tommy recupera sus sentidos de forma casi divina lo que lo convierte en un gurú ( este es un resumen a la rápida, pero la historia tiene más detalles). Cuando caché todo esto empecé a escuchar el disco de otra forma y me parece un concepto terrible bueno pa un disco. La música en gran parte tiene tintes alegres si se puede encasillar en una sola emoción, pero tiene letras oscuras. a mi la música me hizo entender un poco el sentir de Tommy y es la representación del como townsend quería que viviéramos lo que él vivió. Quizás no son las mejores canciones de la época, pero la música y el concepto del álbum es buenisimo, muy original y simbólico. Por temas de tiempo y lo atrasado que estoy con los discos lo escuché una sola vez, pero definitivamente tengo ganas de escucharlo nuevamente con las letras y poniendo más atención a la música. Canciones favorita: quizás overture, christmas
Kinda fun, kinda depressing, someone musta been working through some shit.
Classic tunes. Pinball wizard
Pleasantly surprised by this album. I don't much about The Who with exception for their standout singles.
gak dengerin full, but okelah
Look. I like The Who. But Tommy all seems so rushed. Like they went into a studio in the morning with a story and no music, and they'd knocked out a double album by teatime. It's a bit like modern comedy sketches of West End/Broadway musicals where they just stick any old melody onto any old dialogue. There are a few great tunes on here. Pinball Wizard for one. And some really bad stuff. Underture, a 10 minute jam that sounds like it was recorded because they had a bit of studio time left. And Fiddle About? that's rather unsavoury and I don't particularly want to know where the idea came from. Most of the good stuff is unfortunately mixed up with a lot of chaff. The only time I saw The Who play live, they extracted chords from here and lines from there and just played those. I think they knew that the album as an opus didn't really work. The good stuff is very good.
Great concept.
Weird
Its honestly one of my least favorite Who albums. As far as rock operas go, its really not all that musically interesting as a whole. I'm not a huge fan of the ballad-y nature of many of the songs since its not Roger Dalton's strength. Outside a couple great songs like Pinball Wizard and Acid Queen, the rest of the album is forgettable.
When Tommy arrived in 1969, it announced itself as a rock opera with capital letters, a double album aiming for mythic scope and spiritual weight. More than half a century later, it still sounds ambitious and occasionally thrilling—but also a bit overcanonized. Pete Townshend’s narrative about a “deaf, dumb, and blind” messiah is dense and sometimes convoluted, and the album’s reputation can feel heavier than its actual emotional payoff. That said, the band’s sheer momentum carries the project through its weaker stretches. “Amazing Journey” and “Sensation” pair strummy acoustic guitars with oddly fey, almost pastoral vocals, offering moments of genuine lift amid the bombast, while “The Acid Queen” leans into sleazy theatrics with relish. And “Pinball Wizard” remains the undeniable hook—a pinched, propulsive anthem that distills Tommy’s big ideas into three perfect minutes. Tommy may not fully justify its untouchable status, but as a bold, uneven swing from a band at full power, it earns its place in the conversation.
Although I'm sure it's genius, it is simply too long
Interesting themes, will need to look deeper into the lyrics
I'll take their live albums over this, but you gotta give them credit for their ambition alone. Artists had done concept albums before, of course, but this one felt different, and was marketed as such. There's been plenty of concept albums since that have lapped Tommy, but maybe acts like Pink Floyd or Frank Zappa wouldn't have swung for the fences if the Who didn't first. I find Tommy to be a little self-indulgent and there are a lot of times where things don't seem to click for me. But when they do, there are some great nuggets of music to enjoy.
Has some really notable highs and I love the ambition of it but once it gets past Go to the Mirror!, the falling action of the plot really hampers the rest of the album. Nothing on here is bad but damn, they went really strong for like 42 minutes but then you've got another 20 minutes of a dismount. Sally Simpson's alright. But Pinball Wizard? Hell yeah. Movie's fun too! Favorite Tracks: Christmas, Underture, Pinball Wizard, Go to the Mirror, Sally Simpson
I've always been told that The Who are one of the most improtant and influential bands, but I've never really understood it when listening to their music casually. I had to listen to Tommy quite a few times before I could really make a judgement - there are some outstanding songs on here (though I much prefer the Tina Turner psychotic take on Acid Queen) and the scale of grandiose is admirable, but I fear the music never quite lives up to it, and 24 songs really do blend into each other.
interesting
Wow! An hour and 45 minute album with maybe two good songs on it. Pure trash. I don’t care about the story. I care for good music. This isn’t that. Repetitive. Boring. Forgettable.
It's fine; good story
Supposed to be one of their best
I dunno, if I’m Zooey Deschanel in Almost Famous I just don’t think this is the album I would pick to show my brother that music is good
Quadrophenia is better.
Not as strong as Who’s Next or Quadrophenia. Pinball Wizard is still a bop though.
a little too long, solid album though. i like the pinball song
So i've been putting this off for a couple weeks now, this is #63 and I'm now at #95! It's double album, and even if I do not dislike The Who, I DO know what they sound like, so I wasn't that excited in a "I'm gonna discover this" kinda way. Eyesight [...] and Christmas were my favorites from disc 1. Pinball Wizard's the big one on disc2, like the album, I like it but I don't looove it!
First I want to say I absolutely love long concept albums. But I have to admit I have not heard this all the way through, or if I did, I listened to it once and it did not stick with me. I get what the Who accomplished with this classic album. But I dont know if today, it just sounds dated, or that I just completely lost interest. It felt like a slog until Pinball Wizard, and then I was just waiting for it to be over. Again I love concepts, but this one is just not for me. I will give them three stars for being one of the first bands to pull off this kind of presentation at this scale.
aunque tiene varios temas que quiero volver a escuchar, hay mucha repetición en los instrumentales y las melodías a veces son monótonas. la historia es entretenida pero no muy profunda. todo extremos, pocos grises. el album tambien sufre porque es muy largo. igual me gustó y tiene momentos muy buenos. canciones favoritas: 1921, Cousin Kevin
reminded me of being young at home, dad listened to lots of rock from this era. recognized a few songs, was a fun journey.
3 hours!!
Operatic as hell. This one is pretty good, though I find it hard to see the attraction of the Who. There's a couple on here I like, and the story is engaging, but not my favorite on the list.
Too long … some classics on there though …
I enjoy The WHO, old and new, but I'm not into drama rock and the theatrics of musical storytelling. This may be a masterpiece but the first 11 songs were all just average and incomplete I felt. It sounds folksy and dated. Song 12, "Pinball Wizard" is a rock and roll royalty track but we 'fiddled about' too long to get there. "Go To The Mirror" and "I'm Free" are really good songs and rock radio staples from when I was a little kid first getting into rock. The other 19 tracks are just filler. The story of Tommy is lost on this guy, I'm not willing to sift through all the blah songs to find out who he is and what makes him tick. It's 2.5 stars for me but I'll round up because there's likely a good reason for it being on this list, so the half star is for whatever influence or staying power this album has.
I can appreciate the ambition, but I think it's not that interesting to listen to, and goes on for a bit too long. Faves: Overture, It's A Boy, Pinball Wizard, Go To The Mirror
Habe ich nicht komplett gehört und ich habe immer Probleme damit, neue Musik zu hören. Aber es war ganz gut
Wel leuk beetje saai maar goed
Interesting concept, some quite challenging lyrics. I know it's a rock opera but I would have liked some difference in musical style here and there. Some good tunes dusted around though!
Realistically, I just don't understand this. I feel like it's probably good -- maybe even fantastic -- but the story went completely over my head, and none of the music is particularly enjoyable on its own. If I gave this a lot more time, energy, and relistens, maybe this would shoot up a lot for me. But that's just not happening. Fave track: - Pinball Wizard
This is a movie that really freaked me out when I saw it as a kid and have stayed away from it ever since. It’s still true after listening to it. Some really good songs in there but some really messed up stuff too, but it’s telling a story so I get it. Overall pretty ok. Sounds like The Who wanted to make an album that sounds like the Beatles made a musical at times.
The transitions to the next song is pretty cool, the acid queen was the best one.
By the halfway point, I had thought up a funny review to write which was the following: "Give me a second to savor this moment. I think this is the only time in my life I will ever hear a song about Pinball so I want to enjoy it while I can." Imagine the look of excitement on my face when I got to the end of the album
Trop long
While I generally like The Who, this is not my favorite album by a long shot. I also didn’t like the movie. Quadrophenia is a far superior concept album as is the abandoned and now reconstructed LifeHouse project. As for Tommy, it’s a pretty mellow Who record with only a few passable tracks worth playing again. Pinball Wizard is still a quality track both music and lyrics still hold up after 50 years. It is a bit of a struggle to take in the entire record in one sitting and most tracks are forgettable with one still regrettable. The regrettable track is Fiddle About which makes light of childhood molestation. I’m Free/We’re Not Going To Take It is another okay track. This is a worthwhile attempt by The Who to craft a thematicly linked album but there are just too many unanswered questions and gaps to be a complete work. A for effort C- for execution. 3/5
Nag
Love The Who, hate musicals. What's a guy to do?
I tried to go into this rock opera with an open mind--as a rock afficionado, I feel like I need to enjoy The Who more, and I'm a big fan of a well-done rock opera (Jesus Christ Superstar remains one of my favorite albums of all time). And there was a lot here that I enjoyed--but I guess I wanted most straight up rock. You've got the big hits like Pinball Wizard, but then there's a lot of really short little storytelling tracks that didn't really hook me with a forward-driving story the way JCS or Rent did, for example. I feel like a better rock fan now that I've listened to it, but I feel like unless I'm willing to dedicate some more listens to it, it may not get stuck in my head and heart the way the others do.
It's amazing that The Who ever convinced anyone they were a rock band. I haven't heard this in forever and man is it weird, even by rock-opera standards. But it's better than The Wall, I guess? (Can it be that Quadrophenia isn't on the list?)
Actually quite liked that
151/1001 The Who - Tommy Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ❎ I have a friend who was obsessed with this album at college and tried it back then, but did nothing for me then and on re-listen, it hasn't done an awful lot more for me. I get why it's included, as it's one of the first rock operas, yes it tells an effective story, but it never engages me musically unfortunately. Pinball Wizard is the only real standout.
A difficult dated story - I'd have picked Quadrophenia over this...good but not great
But much
Very distinct sound that is uniquely "The Who". Enjoyed the listen but would not come back to it regularly.
Not a patch on Quadrophenia.
Some classic tunes.
Solid concept album. A bit overrated. Who's other records are better.
First Rock Opera on the list - I liked it
While I realize the historical significance of this album, I found it tedious. I felt I was listening to different versions of ‘Pinball Wizard’ even though they were completely different songs.
Kovaa yritystä mutta ei lennä ihan maaliin.
Oopperaa. Rokkioopperaa. Nyt on tääkin sit kuultu kokonaan. Pitäs varmaan nähä jossain jämsän kesäteatterissa tää niin aukeis enempi. Musassa ei sillai oo vikaa, mut parempii ne kuka:n normibiisit on. Eli taas särmätöntä arvosanaa.
Ihan menevää rokettirollia. Alkusoitolle aina peukku ylöspäin, ihan sama minkälaisesta taidepläjäyksestä onkaan kyse. Tästä ei itseasiassa entuudestaan ollut tuttu mikään muu kuin flipperivelho. Ehkä tätäkin pitäisi ihan ajatuksella kuunnella, että saisi vielä enemmän irti. Nyt jäi yhtenäisestä teemasta huolimatta vähän hajanaiseksi kokonaisuudeksi. Pidän edelleen Meat Loafin Bat Out of Helliä parhaana rock-oopperana, hyvänä kakkosena Green Dayn American Idiot. Tämä menee sitten ehkä kolmanneksi.
Stylistically incoherent
3.5/5 Nice, solid British rock album. One iconic song in here. You definitely hear influences from the Beatles / Led Zeppelin / Rolling Stones / Cream and many other related groups for the late 60s 70s. Solid era for music imo, I grew up listening to this type of stuff lots so I may be biased. The first bit of disc 1 which I assume was side A of the record, flowed together nicely. You can tell this was made during an era when people listened to albums not just disjointed singles. The backup vocals oscillating going “Ah ah ah ah” in Christmas is pretty fuckin rad. Some lyrics in We’re Not Gonna Take It were a bit gross, didn’t age well. Overall enjoyed listening to this album as background music, not sure I’d go back to any song tbh, maybe the pinball wizard one cause the hook goes hard and it’s kinda funny. The Who and this genre has a lot of influence in my music making.
Not the best Who album.
Rock opera is a really cool idea and this album seemed to start artists dipping their toes in it. The story telling is done well and easy to follow trough the album. But The Who are a bit rubbish and boring, don't excite me enough to want to listen to more of their stuff.
Until today I had never heard this album. It is great that The Who were able to conceive of something so grand even if it is not executed as well as some of their other albums. I think that the rock opera album is an interesting genre and this may not be the best one but is the first or among the first, and that coupled with the first half of this album is why I rate this as a 3.
I feel incredibly whelmed. I guess it's a start into concept albums.
I'm a big Who fan and play quite a few of their tracks in my covers band but had never actually listened to this album. I sort of enjoyed this but felt like a massive self indulgence punctuated by a few decent tracks. I've never worked out how they were such an amazing live band, possibly one of that best of all time, but they failed to get that raw brilliance down in much of their studio recordings.
Quite a dark, sobering story to tell. I wonder as a Who fan at the time how this would have been received to knock out a rock opera like this. Tackling abuse is always a hard battle, straddling crude and upsetting with thoughtful reflections, but that's kind of the point. Not much to refer to as a single. I felt like I needed to listen to it, and am glad to have seen it through. I didn't necessarily enjoy it as an experience all that much though.
Not a big rock opera guy
I've never listened to this entire album and I enjoyed it. It is unique as a "Rock Opera"/Concept album. This is definitely not the Who's best music, but listening to Tommy is not a terrible way to spend 75 minutes.
I spent a long time listening to this one to really let it sink it, as I found it to be quite a complex work. It's pretty cool, but didn't set me alight. Favourite tracks: 1921, Cousin Kevin, Pinball Wizard, I'm Free.
This was an audacious album that hit huge and established a whole new form for rock. I never liked it, the Who always had a couple of really weak songs on the early albums, songs that made them sound like a folk act instead of a swaggering heavy rock band. To my ears that's what this album was filled with, excepting Pinball Wizard and the "Listening to You" build at the very end, the rest nearly all seemed written only to fill in the plot and narration, produced to sound harmless. BUT they played nearly the whole album on the road for a couple of years which was supposed to be pretty amazing. After listening again to the whole album yesterday, I realized the Super Deluxe version had the whole live recording. And yeah, it's amazing, it actually sounds like the Who. I still don't like the material, but the performance difference from the studio version is incredible.
Very high concept. Quite a strange idea for an album but did enjoy it
Thought this album sounded terrible and wooden at first. It wasn't until listen 3 that i realized the equalizer settings were just weird and had washed out all the sparkle from the guitar and any edge from the voice. PSA for the Spotify listeners: make sure the equalizer is NOT set to 'rock'! >:(
I still like The Who alright, and this record wasn’t bad at all, but I found myself struggling to engage with the story they were trying to tell…and while Pinball Wizard is great, I guess I felt like there wasn’t much else on this record to get really excited about. 3/5
On paper, I should love this more. But even though it's a sprawling affair with tons of brilliant ideas (confession time: I have a knack for opulent and imperfect concept and double albums), it's hard to immerserve myself into the occasionally meandering execution. Also, the storyline… It feels undercooked.
it was okay
Not my cup of tea
6/10… Rock opera
It's fine, but a lot of unnecessary tracks. The concept is wonderful though. Especially "Pinball Wizard".
I've never heard the full album or seen the film before. I was expecting a lot more really, it was ok without being amazing. I can imagine it was groundbreaking at the time, so I'll go with 3 stars rather than 2.
Liked it a lot!
Of all the major concept albums/rock operas that came out in the late '60's and '70's I think this one is probably the weakest and my least favorite. The Who were way better at writing major one off hits than cohesive story telling albums. Pinball Wizard is a classic, but some of the filler tracks are just annoying. That said, you can start to hear sounds on this that they would later come to perfect on their hits from Who's Next and later albums.
Impressive and sometimes disturbing I’ve listened to this many times, but never this closely.
I already like a concept album and I like this one especially, having seen the musical revival bring the absolute batshit plot to life.
What an unhinged premise. I don’t know how to feel but Pinball Wizard is a great song.
as much as I want to love The Who, i still feel like you had to be there with most of their output.
I hear the beginnings of the 80s power ballads. could use a little more variety?
Just not a fan of concept albums. Some great songs but a lot of nonsense as well
I have a hot take on The Who, which is that they really only have one great album. I think Who’s Next is one of the greatest rock albums of all time, and The Who have a handful of great songs, but Tommy and Quadrophenia have never captured my attention in many attempts. I will say this spin highlighted a few more interesting moments on Tommy, particularly Overture and Underture. Tommy the song is always fun, but overall a record that doesn’t hit in its classic status for me.
Such a strange band, the Who. In my opinion this album deserves its place in the list. And there are fantastic passages, riffs etc. But then sections that are creepy, outdated, too long.
So long, each song is a separate narrative which is fun
Tidlig rockopera, respekt og alt det der, fortjener helt sikkert en plads på listen. Vi ville helt sikker ikke have The Wall eller The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway uden den. Stadig kedelig i længden. Pinball Wizard er en banger
Ingen anelse om hvad den handlede om men jeg synese altså det var ret fed!
Enjoyable. Crisp vocals and enjoyable riffs. I also got a bit more into the lyrics of this and found a new Christmas song. I don't think I've ever listened to an album all the way through that it a story about a character - so an interesting first for me.
Little overstuffed, but obviously some classic tracks and they really paved the way for other rock operas that I just musically enjoy more.
On a preliminary listen, Tommy is about a nonverbal autistic kid who loves pinball who grows up to be a cult leader. It's some kind of story I guess, but I honestly think the album is overrated. I can't overstate it's importance to pop and rock, but I don't think it's an objectively amazing project. I'm bumping it up mainly for it's influence. Best Songs: Pinball Wizard Worst Songs: Tommy's Holiday Camp
Their first rock opera has some great songs like pinball wizard but does get dragged down by guitar *anking.
Ah yes, the "rock opera". Cute idea. Pretty good album
Good but blended together
Hey, another Who. It's been a good while since the last one - nearly two hundred albums since I listened to My Generation, which I gave a scandalous 1/5 rating to. Why? I've no clue. I musta been off my gourd when I listened to it, I guess. The title track of that album occasionally pops into my head, so it's probably not a 1/5 by my current standards. I'm curious to see what this middle point in their included discography will sound like. It's another hour-tenner. Right after Kanye's The College Dropout, no less. I need a break. Timeskip because we do those now. I am redefining the review medium through my exploration of abstract, avant-garde storytelling techniques. This truly holds a mirror to our own society or however the bloviating goes. Anyways, this was pretty alright. Maybe I shouldn't have sat out on this one yesterday. This style of pop rock is generally within my ballpark - the acoustic and electric guitars have a nice sound to 'em. Some pretty good percussion, too. Obviously, this thing is much too long and it kind of completely comes apart as it nears the end, though the avarice that this album has for my time and attention could lessen overtime as I come to appreciate this music more. I'm open to giving it a relisten sometime down the line. "Overture" is a solid opener - I love me a good instrumental track. The guitars go a long way in giving the track a satisfying sense of forward momentum, and the piano/horns are a nice touch. "Underture" is another good tune, no surprises there. I had to do a double take when I read the track name. Truth be told, none of the other songs really stuck out to me, though the album is an admirable kind of listenable from start to finish. I'm too laaaaazyyyy to check the book for this entry, so I'm gonna shirk my gatekeeping duties and let this one mosey on through. I cosign this inclusion.
Totally different vibe vs my generation
nuts
Liked the concept and cohesiveness, liked the music more than my generation, but it's still the who, who i am moderately lukewarm on, still
Having heard about the album, but not having heard the album, I was very enthusiastic about this album. I really like rock operas in general, and so I was looking forward to finally listening to it in its entirety. However, it was very underwhelming to me. It felt very samey throughout the entire album, and I found myself bored with it quite quickly. The music is still good, and the songs can be enjoyable separately. Therefore this album cannot score any higher for me than it does. Was expecting at least a 4/5, but it falls short of that. 3/5
I’ve never felt so much like I only skimmed through an album. I’m biased by the only two Who songs I really know (I’m Free and Pinball Wizard) which share that same riff reminding you it’s part of a concept. My single listen was clearly not enough to take it all in. I often get the awkward feeling that the music is just there to serve the lyrics, rather than the other way around, whereas what I usually love about The Who is their musical energy. It’s still fairly easy to listen to and must have been pretty revolutionary back in 69, but in 2025, I struggled to make it to the end but I could come back to it.
It's a cool album with a great concept, it's just too long. There are some great songs on here. From the standpoint of a whole album, it's a little challenging for me.
The closest my dad has ever come to disowning me was when I told him I prefer Elton John’s version of Pinball Wizard to the original. Sorry dad, but I’m now doubling down and saying that Tina Turner’s version of Acid Queen is better too. Essentially, my ideal version of Tommy would combine the best tracks from this album with the highlights from the soundtrack to the (completely bonkers) movie - and it would be a single disc.
Sparks est pas pire je déteste pas, mais cet album est victime du classique de la musique des années 60: il manque quelque chose
Hmm no big feelings, quite liked it
I didn’t know this is where pinball wizard originated- great song! Rest of the album was not my favorite
Couple of bangers but not their best