Museum Musica

UK, 1973, rock opera / hard rock

The Who – Quadrophenia: 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.