thoughts on Tommy

[Caile Kane <gielcl85@snydelab.delhi.edu>]

	I've been needled into posting this... mainly because it is a 
strong opinion of mine, and one that I expound on to anyone who'll 
listen. Please take note that this is NOT intended as flame-bait; it's 
just how I feel, and I wonder if there are others who feel the same way. 

	I don't like Tommy. There I bits and pieces that I really do 
like, and there are a handful of bits that I really like a lot. But 
overall, as an album, and as a concept.... no. I just don't like it. 
Can't listen to it all the way through. I skip around with the search 
function on my cd player. That's the only way I can listen to it. 
	Why? you ask? 
	Because I feel that it is lyrically and conceptually inferior to 
two things, in this order: the complete Who Sell Out, and Quadrophenia. 
	The story is, to me, negligible. A waste of words. It makes utterly no 
sense to me. The only way I could tolerate it is if it were entirely 
instrumental -- that's probably the reason why "Underture" is my 
favourite bit on the whole thing. The instrumental pieces of Tommy, to 
me, express far more clearly the emotions and ideas that Pete was trying 
to get across. 
	The Who Sell Out was, imo, a masterpiece, and it's a damned shame 
that it was cut up so on the original album. It served its purpose and 
did so with precision. Great lyrics. Incredible playing (Go Moonie!!). 
It stuck to what it set out to do.
	Tommy, on the other hand, meanders around the issue, and then 
thoroughly beats it to death.
	Quadrophenia, imo, is the second great album. My only problem 
with Quadrophenia is the annoying necessity of changing the cds half-way 
through. The story is easy to follow (for me) and the lyrics are 
brilliant. The theme is consistent throughout. And equally brilliant is 
the sampling of their old Pete Meaden tunes to illustrate the mod 
sensibility. It's just perfect. Makes me high. 
	Tommy makes me homicidal. It is so *frustrating* to listen to! 
There are a million and one ways it could've been better! It makes me 
want to take Pete by the collar, give him a good shaking, and yell "What 
were you thinking!?!?" One of my good friends is an engineer, and the 
first time he heard Tommy he turned to me and said "Good start, but do 
you know what I could *do* with this?" I think that about sums it up. 
	The recent debate on Tommy live versus studio was the impetus for 
making my feelings known. Is there anyone who agrees with me? 
	

			      Blessings,   	
			       Colleen
			Caile Donachaidh Kane
	     	     gielcl85@snydelab.delhi.edu
	            	      Proud PWFC
	      	       Silver Thread Productions
	   "I don't know where I'm going, I don't know what 
	    I need, but I'll get to where I'm gonna end up, 
            and that's all right by me..." - Pete Townshend