Concept Albums
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This is a list of the best/important/whatever I thought of concept albums. I have a massive soft spot for concept albums and they automatically make me want to enjoy an album, so I made a list of some of the popular ones (by some of I mean way too many of them). I tried adding a lil summary for each that I've listened to already.
If I missed your favorite concept album, or you just see a gap I forgot about, let me know and I'll add it!
EDIT: yeah i havent touched this list in quite a while and i probably won't for the forseeable future
Noted as more a "Production Concept" than a lyrical or story concept, but it still counts. The album is a series of small art pieces that combine together to create one large art piece, according to Wikipedia.
A satirical album about American pop culture and 'scenes' in the 1960s.
A circus-like concert by the eponymous fictional band Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
![Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice - Jesus Christ Superstar [Original Concept Recording]](https://cdn2.albumoftheyear.org/100x/album/47557-jesus-christ-superstar-3.jpg)
The final three days of Jesus' life through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.
A king learning how to rule properly evolving from just another Schizoid Man to a real leader.
A Vietnam veteran returns to the United States to be met with hatred, suffering and injustice.
An alien is sent to Earth to save it from impending apocalypse, becomes a rock star and dies from his fame? I really have no idea.
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4mo
The Impossible Kid (2016) by Aesop Rock seems to have a narrative running through it. I wrote an extended explanation on my account but the general story is that:
Aesop is full of regret and grief, and feels isolated from society and the music landscape. He moves to a barn, where he reminisces on his brothers and deceased best friend. He goes to therapy for his anxiety and depression, which fails. He then gets a pet cat, Kirby, which works. He finishes the album by accepting the concepts of life and death. Regardless of if this story is real or not, the album still circles around themes of grief, regret, loneliness, frustration, and acceptance.
Aesop is full of regret and grief, and feels isolated from society and the music landscape. He moves to a barn, where he reminisces on his brothers and deceased best friend. He goes to therapy for his anxiety and depression, which fails. He then gets a pet cat, Kirby, which works. He finishes the album by accepting the concepts of life and death. Regardless of if this story is real or not, the album still circles around themes of grief, regret, loneliness, frustration, and acceptance.
7mo
@21stcenturyschi I found them cited on a few lists on concept albums, I'll see if I can find those again
11mo
I would say Dream Theater's Octavarium is a concept album. It's their eighth album and thirteenth release counting live albums. This mirrored a musical octave. The first song "The Root of All Evil" being in F minor, followed by "The Answer Lies Within" in G minor. The two tracks are connected by an interlude in the key of F# minor. And so on and so forth.
11mo
I'm not sure if I've read into it too much, or if it's just a very messy concept album, but turn on the bright lights by Interpol atleast has enough to he considered a concept album if weezer is in here. From the moment I first heard it I thought there was an underlying story, and I actually managed to piece one together, but again I may have just found one cuz I was looking.
1y
@ImplicitDoom great I just added it, grew up listening to Korn but haven't sat down with that record yet and listened in full
1y
Not sure if you added them yet, IDK, i might have missed it, but Marillion has some good concept albums:
Misplaced Childhood (1985)
Clutching At Straws (1987)
Brave (1993)
Misplaced Childhood (1985)
Clutching At Straws (1987)
Brave (1993)
1y
@GeMann Only added ITCOTCK cause I saw fan theories about it being a concept album (same with Weezer's White Album) and wikipedia said it was, I'll find whatever source wikipedia used and decide if I should keep it on or not.
1y
@Raccoon⁵ No idea, one of my friends said it was once and when I looked it up it said it was a semi-concept
1y
SF Sorrow is another really good concept album and one of the first prog ones iirc. Also based inclusion of 1. Outside, it’s such an underrated Bowie album imo
1y
you should include andy shauf’s two most recent albums: ‘the neon skyline’ and ‘the party’, he verified that they are both concept albums, each with their own locations and characters
1y
@Stal @cakenator I added both of your additions to the list, hopefully one day I'll get around to listening to all of these!
1y
Here’s my description for three cheers for sweet revenge:
Two lovers are separated by death when they are sent to different afterlives
Two lovers are separated by death when they are sent to different afterlives
1y
Great list! You covered about all the ones I could think of but heres just one more, Gangstalkers by Rusty Cage.
