Concept Albums. Does the concept matter?

[winebeavis]

I've noticed in other threads that a lot members seem to be big fans of the concept album. I'm wondering if this intentional and because of the concept or just dig the tunes. Several of my all time favorites are concept albums. But often times I don't "get" the concept, or I get it and roll my eyes and just enjoy the songs.

To me it rarely made a difference. The few I can think of to me where the concept and storyline enhanced the music are "Tommy" by the Who and "The Wall" by Pink Floyd.

A deaf, dumb, and blind kid becomes a pinball champ


Abandonment and isolation in a biography


An example of a concept going too far and forcing the matter is "Kilroy Was Here" by Styx. Their previous album was Paradise Theater, another concept album that was their first No. 1. But it had strong songs. Kilroy was songs about robots???? Styx never recovered from this catastrophe.

An album with songs about Robots


An album where it just didn't matter to this listener was "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" by Genesis. I didn't even know it until read the album liner on the CD. The previous vinyl edition I had was an import and didn't come with the liner note explaining the story. I went over 30 years without even knowing the story of Rael. I really, really just liked the songs on it. Looking back now, I have no idea how I could have been so dense.

Rael looks for John and offers criticism on a bunch of stuff.


Any other favorites or hates? Stupid or Brilliant?

[billybunter]

I suppose it does if it's telling a story.

[winebeavis]

Originally Posted by billybunter

I suppose it does if it's telling a story.

Of course, you're the The Who fan. The Godfather's of concepts and rock operas. Quadrophenia is an awesome album with great songs. The story is kind of lost me.

[HugoHackenbush]

Good question, WineBevis...

After pondering a moment, I'd have to say the songs and forget the concept. I differentiate with "Tommy" and Quadrophenia" as these are rock operas and they'd better damn well tell a story.

Otherwise, do the songs hold up? I mean Yes' Tales from Topographic Oceans was "supposed" to be a concept album, but who knew what Jon Anderson was singing about anyway? It was'nt till much later I found out his lyrics didn't really mean anything, and words were chosen for the sound, not the meaning. And this was after all the time spent trying to figure out what the heck "total mass retain" was supposed to mean.

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway has a story but it's so surreal I find it doesn't matter. ELP's "Karn Evil 9" was supposed to have a theme, but damned if I can figure out what it was. Gentle Giant's "Three Friends" had a definite theme, but I only find about half the songs musically compelling enough to put on my iPod.

[billybunter]

Originally Posted by winebeavis

Of course, you're the The Who fan. The Godfather's of concepts and rock operas. Quadrophenia is an awesome album with great songs. The story is kind of lost me.

Quadrophenia is British. When they first toured it they had to explain to US fans.

[tygrkhat40]

Here's two I enjoy.


Remote Control by the Tubes. The concept is TV controlling your life from cradle to grave.


And if we mention Tommy, we've got to bring up Quadrophenia, the story of Jimmy the Mod.

I've been a fan of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway since my college years and I still can't figure out what the hell it's about. Is it about an acid trip? A line from the title track, "Something inside me has just begun, Lord knows what I have done." The song "it" is chock full of drug references; purple haze, dope, horse without a hoof. But the song "The Light Dies Down on Broadway" is about Rael seeing a "window in the bank above his head" that leads back to New York. Is that a dimensional portal of sorts? Did Rael walk out of the subway into an alternate reality?

And as far as Styx' Kilroy Was Here goes, Dennis DeYoung lost the plot.

[ubu55]

Free Jazz ______ Ornette Coleman (1960)

The concept was all: providing a loose musical structure for a 40 minute 'free' improvisation, by a 'Double Quartet': two units of sax, trumpet, bass, and drums... one from the left channel, the other the right.

Wild, dissonant, adventurous, and elusive when first heard, in college... rather less so after a few years diverse listening, still very enjoyable for the quality of the players.

[billybunter]

I didn't say they had to tell a story. But Tommy & Quadrophenia do.

[tygrkhat40]

True, a concept album doesn't have to tell a story. Dark Side of the Moon is about madness and the varying degrees it affects us, but there isn't a connecting story between the songs.

And occasionally, the concept is only part of the album. Rush's 2112 is about a dystopic future where all aspects of life are controlled by a malevolent priesthood and one man's struggle against them. 2112 is only the first side of the album.

The Genesis album Duke contains songs that tell a story, but to avoid comparisons with earlier works, the songs were separated on the final album.

[natas777]

Originally Posted by tygrkhat40

And occasionally, the concept is only part of the album. Rush's 2112 is about a dystopic future where all aspects of life are controlled by a malevolent priesthood and one man's struggle against them. 2112 is only the first side of the album.

While the final track of A Farewell to Kings, Cygnus-X1, is followed by the first half of Hemispheres, and the entire Clockwork Angels disc is a single concept.