Quadrophenia

I think this is the first time I listened to this album all the way through. And my first impressions are that this is not my favorite The Who album.

Despite basically inventing the indulgent concept album as we understand it, I’ve always liked The Who’s overwrought output less than the overwrought output of Pink Floyd, Genesis, King Crimson, etc. Even Jethro Tull making fun of this kind of thing with “Thick As A Brick” is more engaging to me.

It’s still alright, just lower-tier in my rankings

I prefer Tommy but this one is really great too. I appreciate the increased focus on samples and synths.

Without getting into the actual plot of the music or the film, these are my general impressions of just the music (without narrative). When you feel the world is against you, when the idea of social conformity frightens you, when no one (including yourself) knows the real you, when none of the street fights you've brawled in or halls you've danced in can provide any answers to the burning questions of your youth, this album is for you. This is youthful rebellion standing up and declaring that all the virtue of the world is contained in youth. I especially enjoy the sound bytes from TV and other pop culture, giving me a slice of life experience. A water motif runs throughout this opera, which makes the wordplay of "rain" and "reign" on the album's ultimate track all the better.

Great little rock opera

I think I'd have dropped one of The Who's lesser albums like "The Who Sell Out" and replaced it with this album on the official 1001 list. This album is fantastic. Completely missed somehow by me until today. Of The Who's rock operas, this one is better than the rest as far as I'm concerned. Great addition!! Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Glad to have discovered it!

Favorite songs: 5:15, I'm One, Drowned, The Punk and the Godfather, Sea and Sand, The Real Me, Quadrophenia, The Dirty Jobs, Helpless Dancer, Love Reign O'er Me

Least favorite songs: Doctor Jimmy

5/5

Very wild and self indulgent. a real record for the fans, casuals will be a little bored.

This ain’t a bad album, on its own hard to argue against, but I would rank Tommy over this. So hard to make an argument for another who album on the list, that being said I prefer this to the who sells out. So I would replace that album with this.