The Who - Quadrophenia

Excellent and improving with Age

This is and carries a different and more intense understanding of a young life seen through his eyes suffering from schizophrennia. Maybe its my age and life experience but sounds great with a life lesson. August 29, 2008

A BRILLIANT PRODUCTION ! (introspective and deeply personal, Quadrophenia is a rock opera that rocks)

The Who's Quadrophenia (1973) is a double album rock opera that covers a Monday through Friday week in the life of Jimmy, a young man afflicted with a multi-personality disorder that includes four personalities.

A tough guy, a helpless dancer.
A romantic, is it me for a moment?
A bloody lunatic, I'll even carry your bags.
A beggar, a hypocrite, love reign over me.

Schizophrenic? I'm bleeding Quadrophrenic.

Each of the four personalities supposedly reflects the personality of a member of The Who. As with all concept albums, the story is somewhat open to interpretation, and in this case that's a good thing. A lot of these songs are so personally affecting that applying the lyrics strictly to the concept might be distracting, and mitigate any personal identification with the songs. The best of this music can be very meaningful even without applying it to the Quadrophenia story.

The production of Quadrophenia is powerful and extraordinarily well developed. Orchestrated and vocal sequences of the main songs play throughout and connect the songs with the story, and several sound effects, including those of the sea and the rain, add an imaginitive visual. The booklet included with the 2-disc set features an essay by Pete Townsend that helps to explain the Quadrophenia story, some relevant black and white photographs, and the lyrics to the songs.

The songs on the album include some of the best The Who have ever done. It just doesn't get any better than The Real Me, 5:15, Doctor Jimmy, and Love Reign O'er Me. These songs rock like nothing the band had ever done, or would ever do again. The Who at the very peak of their powers. Nearly everything else on the album is satisfying, too, although not nearly as epic as the songs mentioned. Quadrophenia is one of The Who's best albums, and an essential and powerful piece of rock n' roll history. The album is an emotional experience, and quite a revelation when listened to in it's entirety. It can be very moving, and even sacred, if you let it take you into it's world. It ends with the spiritual healing of Jimmy while he stands screaming on The Rock in a raging rainstorm.

Only love can bring the rain
That makes you yearn to the sky
Only love can bring the rain
That falls like tears from on high

Love, reign o'er me
Love, reign o'er me, reign o'er me

August 3, 2008

Fantastic album

This would have to be The Who's best album. John Entwistle brings some of his best bass playing on The Real Me. Keith Moon's drumming is awesome. Love Reign O'er Me is a truely awesome song. July 23, 2008

Another masterwork from the Who

The music on Quadrophenia (1973) is sophisticated and represents the second large scale concept album by the group (the other being Tommy). The concept on Quadrophenia, which revolves around English youth, is handled carefully and with great intelligence, resulting in a concept work that is deep, multidimensional, and ever engrossing.

On Quadrophenia, Townshend once again amply demonstrates his ability to embellish just a few central musical themes with instrumental preludes, interludes and postludes, all of which create the impression of something much larger and complex. In addition, highly melodic vocal, guitar and synthesizer parts weave and soar above a positively thunderous rhythm section to create some very interesting music. Speaking of which, John Entwistle is a ripping bass player and drummer Keith Moon is simply phenomenal.

This remastered package is pretty nice and features a nicely detailed booklet and good sound quality.

Quadrophenia is an excellent album and is highly recommended along with Tommy and Who's Next. July 10, 2008

Awesome

Nobody writes stuff this good anymore, except maybe Nick Worrall. Simply stunning in every way possible. July 10, 2008

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