| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
JLocke 
Prog Reviewer
Joined: November 18 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 4900
|
 Topic: Anyone else think that "Tommy" is overrated?
Posted: April 11 2009 at 23:35 |
Yes, yes, I know . . . along with Sgt. Pepper and Days of Future Passed, "Tommy" served as one of the first concepts albums, and I completely understand and appreciate the importance of the piece musically, BUT . . .
I don't care for it much. I think The Who went on to write far, FAR superior work, like "Who's Next", "Quadrophenia" and "Who Are You". I just don't get all the mystique that surrounds "Tommy", other than the fact that it was major step towards Prog, which I absolutely get, but musically it gets a bit draining, at least for me, and the next four albums that followed it left it in the dust.
Is this only my opinion?
Edited by p0mt3 - April 12 2009 at 00:16
|
 |
crimson87
Prog Reviewer
Joined: January 03 2008
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 1818
|
Posted: April 11 2009 at 23:38 |
I haven't listened to that one for almost a year. I ll re listen to it tomorrow and share my thoughts.
|
|
Henry Plainview
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 26 2008
Location: Declined
Status: Offline
Points: 16715
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 00:00 |
Everything is overrated. Everything is underrated.
I have never heard a Who album all the way through, so I can't comment beyond my Zen wisdom.
|
|
Plankowner
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: April 09 2008
Location: Florida
Status: Offline
Points: 4006
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 00:03 |
|
aw c'mon who can argue with the pinball wizard?
|
|
ExittheLemming
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 19 2007
Location: Penal Colony
Status: Offline
Points: 11420
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 01:07 |
|
Yep, I agree with your caution re 'Tommy' and think that Pete Townshend seriously overreached himself there.
The Who have produced their best work when Pete's canvas was significantly smaller i.e 'By Numbers" - Who's Next" - "Sell Out" are much stronger albums IMO
Similarly, I think 'Quadrophenia' a sprawling mess redeemed by a few great songs e.g '5:15'
|
|
June
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 03 2008
Location: Montreal
Status: Offline
Points: 6521
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 05:49 |
I agree that they have other better stuff. But the film is always fun to watch, if only for the cast.
|
|
cobb2
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 25 2007
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 415
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 06:08 |
|
Put it in historical focus and it was quite a milestone.
|
|
June
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 03 2008
Location: Montreal
Status: Offline
Points: 6521
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 06:20 |
 cobb2 wrote:
Put it in historical focus and it was quite a milestone. |
Yeah, but the Kinks had the idea first, and the screenplay too, but it just never got produced. Arthur was actually supposed to be a rock-opera thing too on TV, but the project had so many problems that it was eventually chucked. They came out with the album anyway later, but Tommy was already out (and a success) by then.
(spoken as a very partial Kinks fan  )
|
|
mr.cub
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 06 2009
Location: Lexington, VA
Status: Offline
Points: 971
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 09:47 |
p0mt3 wrote:
Yes, yes, I know . . . along with Sgt. Pepper and Days of Future Passed, "Tommy" served as one of the first concepts albums, and I completely understand and appreciate the importance of the piece musically, BUT . . .
I don't care for it much. I think The Who went on to write far, FAR superior work, like "Who's Next", "Quadrophenia" and "Who Are You". I just don't get all the mystique that surrounds "Tommy", other than the fact that it was major step towards Prog, which I absolutely get, but musically it gets a bit draining, at least for me, and the next four albums that followed it left it in the dust.
Is this only my opinion? |
YES. I cannot agree more. Even their previous album miles ahead of Tommy IMHO. My review, albeit brief, says all I have to say...
Edited by mr.cub - April 12 2009 at 09:50
|
|
|
|
Slartibartfast
Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam
Joined: April 29 2006
Location: Atlantais
Status: Offline
Points: 29630
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 10:04 |
|
I really like the overture which I remember being played on the radio as a kid when the family was going to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. I did watch the movie on video when in college and was not impressed. Correct my memory if I'm wrong but wasn't Phil Collins the fiddle about guy?
|
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
|
|
JLocke
Prog Reviewer
Joined: November 18 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 4900
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 10:10 |
mr.cub wrote:
p0mt3 wrote:
Yes, yes, I know . . . along with Sgt. Pepper and Days of Future Passed, "Tommy" served as one of the first concepts albums, and I completely understand and appreciate the importance of the piece musically, BUT . . .
I don't care for it much. I think The Who went on to write far, FAR superior work, like "Who's Next", "Quadrophenia" and "Who Are You". I just don't get all the mystique that surrounds "Tommy", other than the fact that it was major step towards Prog, which I absolutely get, but musically it gets a bit draining, at least for me, and the next four albums that followed it left it in the dust.
Is this only my opinion? |
YES. I cannot agree more. Even their previous album miles ahead of Tommy IMHO. My review, albeit brief, says all I have to say...
|
Glad someone else here shares my feelings about the whole thing. 
|
|
Raff
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: July 29 2005
Location: None
Status: Offline
Points: 24429
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 10:11 |
No, it was Keith Moon himself  .... Anyway, I do tend to agree with most of the other posters here. Tommy has some strong moments, but overall it is not a very cohesive effort from a musical point of view. This is why, I believe, the movie is generally better than the CD... Such a story needs visuals to really come to life, and with the help of the visual element even its musical shortcomings can be forgotten.
|
|
mr.cub
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 06 2009
Location: Lexington, VA
Status: Offline
Points: 971
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 10:27 |
p0mt3 wrote:
mr.cub wrote:
p0mt3 wrote:
Yes, yes, I know . . . along with Sgt. Pepper and Days of Future Passed, "Tommy" served as one of the first concepts albums, and I completely understand and appreciate the importance of the piece musically, BUT . . .
I don't care for it much. I think The Who went on to write far, FAR superior work, like "Who's Next", "Quadrophenia" and "Who Are You". I just don't get all the mystique that surrounds "Tommy", other than the fact that it was major step towards Prog, which I absolutely get, but musically it gets a bit draining, at least for me, and the next four albums that followed it left it in the dust.
Is this only my opinion? |
YES. I cannot agree more. Even their previous album miles ahead of Tommy IMHO. My review, albeit brief, says all I have to say...
|
Glad someone else here shares my feelings about the whole thing. |
 I'm an avid Who fan and feel Townsend is a much better writer when he focuses on real, personal topics. Tommy seems to be the anomoly in The Who catalouge in its seemingly abstract concept; sure it has its emotional moments, but it comes nowhere near something like Quadrophenia or By the Numbers in its ability to grab me in 110%.
If it was a single album with the great musical ideas Tommy only briefly covers and no rock opera label etc, I would hold it in much higher esteem. For this reason I am thankful Lifehouse fell flat on its face...the passion on Who's Next is so enjoyable for me, so many moods and emotions.
|
|
|
|
The Quiet One
Prog Reviewer
Joined: January 16 2008
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 15745
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 10:28 |
|
I agree, from all the acclaimed Who efforts, Tommy is the least rewarding for me. I haven't listen to the album since last year, I think, however, the movie, IMO is much better, and was my introduction to the band and to a lot of 60's/70's music, so I have a lot of respect for it.
Though just like with The Wall, since I started both with the movie of each, I find superior the movie, and the studio versions kind of weak, since these albums are full-blown Rock Opera's, and the concentration is in the story, rather than in the music, it's better to see and listen, rather to just listen..
|
|
omri
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 21 2005
Location: Israel
Status: Offline
Points: 1250
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 10:38 |
|
You can count me too. Musically I find it quite dull and boring. Pinball wizard is the only track I realy enjoy in this album. Also the wall is not PF's great output IMO but it's miles better than Tommy.
|
|
omri
|
|
mr.cub
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 06 2009
Location: Lexington, VA
Status: Offline
Points: 971
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 10:56 |
|
^ I actually find both rather dull...The Wall is more unpleasant to me while Tommy is much too pleasant. Certainly in a live setting both were a lot better. Personally ,The Lamb and Quadrophenia are my rock operas of choice...
|
|
|
|
Raff
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: July 29 2005
Location: None
Status: Offline
Points: 24429
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 11:09 |
|
Personally, I think The Wall is much better musically than Tommy, and I don't believe the movie did it much justice. However, I saw PF's opus performed on stage in 1980 - that, IMHO, was its ideal setting.
|
|
micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 02 2005
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 46838
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 11:18 |
|
yep... Tommy 'live' was where the brilliance came out... remember before Tommy was released the group was noted for smashing guitars and a few hit songs... with Tommy they skyrocketed to the rarified air of the Beatles and Stones and became a world-class rock band. Before Tommy... they could hardly pay the bills.
what is overrated about that... too many confuse their own tastes for fact... no... it isn't overrated not at all...
but no.. the album musically wasn't a patch on what they did with it live....
sure they weren't the first to do a rock opera... but what they were ...were the first to make Joe Six-Pack in bum-f**k Oklahoma sit up.. take notice.. and buy the albums. So what is overrated about that hahha.
|
|
The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
|
|
mr.cub
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 06 2009
Location: Lexington, VA
Status: Offline
Points: 971
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 11:34 |
|
|
|
|
|
inrainbows
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 20 2008
Location: on a rainbow
Status: Offline
Points: 489
|
Posted: April 12 2009 at 16:41 |
|
|
|
|
|
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.
/PAlogo_v2.gif "Progarchives.com Homepage")
Anyone else think that "Tommy" is overrated?
