10 Greatest Ever Rock Concept Albums

1973's Quadrophenia is the only Who album to be composed entirely by guitarist Pete Townshend, and his songwriting fingerprints are all over this top-quality rock opera. Centred on young mod Jimmy, the album touches on themes of identity, nostalgia and conformity through Jimmy's perspective as he searches for meaning and contentment in mid-1960's Brighton. Quadrophenia is punctuated by four distinct leitmotifs that not only represent the four distinct facets of Jimmy's personality, but also the four members of The Who, who each get their own song that incorporates their respective theme. These leitmotifs reappear throughout the album in unique ways, creating an overall sense of cohesion and continuity throughout the whole record.

Tracks such as "The Real Me", "Cut My Hair" and "I'm One" explore the protagonist's crisis of identity, whilst Jimmy's emotional trauma is scrutinised in "Helpless Dancer", "Is It In My Head?" and "Drowned". The album sustains the songwriting development that was evident in 1971's Who's Next, but also features the distinct vocal harmonies and instrumentation reminiscent of The Who's earlier works. Various lyrical and musical references to the band's 1960's hits show that the band are able to stick to the sound that made that made them popular in the first place whilst still being able to explore new sounds and instruments, an approach to songwriting that Quadrophenia sums up perfectly. The highlight of the album is the closing track "Love, Reign o'er Me", a cathartic release of emotion and power that concludes the album on a spectacular, yet solemnly ambiguous note.

In it's entirety, the album represents a band that has progressed whilst still staying true to their roots and influences. Quadrophenia not only works as a compelling narrative that highlights many personal issues of the central characters, but could also be considered Townshend's self-portrait of the band as a whole and the legacy that they left behind.