Comments on: Operas That Rock [ part 3 ]

By: ib

ib — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:42:17 +0000

Excellent series! I’m biased, of course, but The Pretties’ “S.F. Sorrow” is for me the album deserving of most attention, simply owing to the fact that it rested unfairly in the shade of Pete Townshend’s “Tommy” for so long. The predictable thing here is that despite their documented provenance, both these “operas” do little for me – as a cohesive whole – perhaps because of the pomposity of the notion of competing on a Wagnerian level.

“The Who Sell Out” was altogether a more exciting affair as a reflection of the consumer society which drove English mods to increasing heights (or lows) of competition, and its importance as commentary is inflated by its – relative to “Tommy” – unpolished vigour. Great fucking songs too!

By: dk

dk — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:19:06 +0000

Red Headed Stranger would be my ‘glaring omission’.

Excellent post – thanks for dropping the knowledge…

By: Anders Franzén

Anders Franzén — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:54:09 +0000

Nice idea with these Rock Opera posts! Thumbs Up!

I’ve heard Tommy, The Lamb and The Wall before, but from the others only bits and some, like “The Happy Prince”, are completely new to me.

By: Sean McGee

Sean McGee — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 07:05:16 +0000

I really would have to say, the performance that comes close to touching the original disc would have to be “The Who – Live at Leeds”. Disc two has the whole rock-opera performed from beginning to end…live. It’s my favorite.