Concept Albums?

**LaserAntigrav** · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 615 Location: South of Heaven

So, I searched around and I couldn't find a thread that discusses/recommends/compares/etc. concept albums, so I figured, why not start one?

Being a huge fan of concept albums, but not knowing where to look has put me in quite a predicament. So, I start off by stating my favorite concept albums...

American Idiot by Green Day: The story is absolutely beautiful, and Billie Joe's lyrics really put you in a good state of mind for this album.

Ziltoid: The Omniscient by Devin Townsend: Amazing music, great story.

A Thousand Suns by Linkin Park: Absolutely beautiful. Very abstract, and it speaks of how war is a destructive path. Simply amazing.

What do you guys think about concept albums, and what are your favorite?
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**thecaptainof** · Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 7571 Location: ¯\(°_o)/¯

I guess my favourites would be De-loused In The Comatorium and Frances The Mute, both by The Mars Volta, and Kezia by Protest The Hero.

That said, I have a hard time regarding the Mars Volta ones as concept albums 'cos they're so lyrically oblique that it's hard to grasp any sort of story.
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**LaserAntigrav** · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 615 Location: South of Heaven

**inv4der** · Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 9658 Location: Meridian, ID

Besides American Idiot and Ziltoid I've enjoyed these:

Hospice by The Antlers
Funeral by Arcade Fire
Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
The Human Equation by Ayreon
Colors by Between the Buried and Me
The Great Misdirect by Between the Buried and Me
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa by Cradle of Filth
Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory by Dream Theater
De-Loused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta
Crack The Skye by Mastodon
Blood Mountain by Mastodon
The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
The Wall by Pink Floyd
Deadwing by Porcupine Tree
Fortress by Protest the Hero
2112 by Rush
10,000 Days by Tool

Now since that's a pretty long list, I'm not gonna get into why I liked each one, but I might be willing to make recommendations.
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**LaserAntigrav** · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 615 Location: South of Heaven

Thanks for the contribution, inv4der.

I definitely should have put 2112 in my original list. Incredible story.

I'll be checking out the vast majority of what you've posted.

EDIT: Wow, how dumb am I for not realizing Crack The Skye was a concept album? That's also a great album, and I will be looking a bit deeper for the story.
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**lazor** · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 1079

i wouldn't really call 2112 a concept album

**LaserAntigrav** · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 615 Location: South of Heaven

**inv4der** · Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 9658 Location: Meridian, ID

To be honest I made that list by looking thought wikipedia's list of concept albums and listed the albums I remember liking. I'd say 2112 counts, personally, but whatever.
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**thecaptainof** · Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 7571 Location: ¯\(°_o)/¯

**TheLonging** · Joined: 07 Apr 2008 Posts: 4191

Phantom on the Horizon by The Fall of Troy (tells a story about a marooned ship and its crew... and ghostly shit)

Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys by My Chemical Romance (the band's alter egos, the Fabulous Killjoys, battle an evil corporation... through catchy hooks!)

technically if you consider themes concepts, then:

OK Computer/Amnesiac/Kid A/The Bends by Radiohead

There's A Riot Goin' On by Sly & The Family Stone

I know there's more, my music class is doing a unit on them.
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**LaserAntigrav** · Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 615 Location: South of Heaven

**b.vicious** · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 2075 Location: Internet

supposedly the march by unearth was a concept album which includes "symbolizing both the evil and hopeful sides of humanity"

i personally just love the album but i didn't really know there was meaning behind it till i wikipedia'd it the other day.
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**Nubnut** · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 2078 Location: Denver, CO

**JLynn** · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 302

I haven't met an Ayreon album I didn't like, and of course the aforementioned The Human Equation is stellar.

Other concept albums I enjoy, that have not been mentioned already:

Iced Earth - Dark Saga (based on Spawn), Horror Show (based on favorite scary monsters)
Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite

Once upon a time I enjoyed the Symphony of Enchanted Lands album series by Rhapsody (later known as Rhapsody of Fire) but haven't listened to them in a LONG time.
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**inv4der** · Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 9658 Location: Meridian, ID