Museum Musica

UK, 1969, rock opera

The Who – Tommy: I’ve got a soft spot for rock operas, be they pretentious or no. I just enjoy narrative, especially in song. I guess that’s why I dig show tunes and musicals, too. The Who’s first three albums bore me to tears. Mod is definitely not for me, but then they switch gears and do a rock opera? Yeah, people saw it as pretentious, but coming at this album many years later, I judge it based on what it is, not on what came before it. It’s a solid concept album with a lot of passion and energy in its clever songwriting.