I just played American Idiot and The Wall from start to finish. For me, both are absolute masterpieces. I wouldn’t be able to say which is better than the other.
What’s the best concept album for you?
Time by ELO
Kendrick Lamar - Good kid M.A.A.D. city
I’ve listened to most of the other concept albums mentioned in this thread, but I believe deep in my heart of hearts, this album has the strongest story and emotional impact.
My favorite is Queensrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime. It gets pretty regular listenings still.
Hemispheres (the first side is one long concept piece, but the flip side is awesome too) - Rush
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Ayreon’s early stuff is great. The Final Experiment, Into the Electric Castle, and The Universal Migrator (pt I and II).
Kamelot’s back to back albums Epica and The Black Halo are top of my list though.
Kate Bush - The Ninth Wave
Roger Waters - Amused to DeathI’ve always preferred Radio: K.A.O.S. even if the concept of hacking nuclear bombs with a cordless phone is… really fucking dumb.
…i adore radio KAOS but its aesthetic sensibilities are definitely an acquired taste…
Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime, or
Dream Theater - Metropolis, Part 2: Scenes From a MemorySFaM was my answer. I bought that on CD when it was still newish and it was on repeat for a long long time. And I’ve listened to it at least twice a year for the last 15 years. (sobs) I’m so old.
If I die tomorrow I’d be alright Because I believe That after we’re gone The spirit carries on
I tried to limit my picks to one per artist and omitted the only loosely conceptual albums.
Top 3:
The Who - Quadrophenia
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
(Not UK) Frank Zappa - Joe’s Garage
Other great ones:
Kinks - Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part 1
Marillion - Clutching at Straws
Moody Blues - Days of Future Past
David Bowie - Diamond Dogs
Pink Floyd - it’s impossible to choose just 1
Edit: how could I have forgotten Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds?
The Wall is good but I like Animals more. The mood hits a bit harder imo.
Yeah but there’s a film of The Wall and all the tracks are different versions, plus Bob Geldof, plus animation by Gerald Scarfe
A genuine work of art
Oh for movie night it’s gold!
Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, mAAd city
I may not be his biggest fan anymore but this album was incredibly influential for me personally and in my opinion, for the whole genre.
Not the best, but Joe’s Garage by Frank Zappa is one of the oddest
Unleash the Archer - Abyss
Sturgill Simpson - Sound and Fury.
Especially if you watch the anime that was created specifically for it on Netflix. Flat out amazing.
Great suggestion, but I’d actually say The Ballad of Dood and Juanita and Sailor’s Guide to Earth are better concept albums from Sturgill Simpson. Although, OP seems to lean toward rock more than bluegrass/country, so Sound and Fury might be a better place to start.
Foreign Skies by The Dreadnoughts
It’s a concept album by a folk-punk/cider-punk band about WWI, released for the centennial. True to the punk roots, most of the songs deal with the dark, ugly, and gritty sides of war.
There’s “Anna Maria”, a metal love/revenge ballad about a sailor losing his beloved brigantine to a U-boat.
“Gavrilo” about the horrific consequences of the murder of Archduke Ferdinand.
“Black Letters”, a rather haunting song inspired by the last correspondence that a young Canadian soldier wrote to his wife.
“Back Home in Bristol” tells the story of a young man, afflicted by PTSD, facing court-martial for failing to obey orders due to his condition.
“A Broken World” is a reading of English poet Amy Lowell’s “September, 1918”, which is both heart-wrenching and blossoming with hope.
It’s not all bleak though. There’s also an original instrumental piece called “The Amiens Polka”. And am original shanty called “The Bay of Suvla”, which I feel is an upbeat prequel to The Pogues’ “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda”.
To top it off, they saved songs that didn’t make the cut and released a B sides album as well.
In my opinion, this album does such a great job of striking the emotions that it makes “The Wall” and any of the other “greats” seem vapid and mediocre.
Foreign Skies by The Dreadnoughts
Mmm. Just had a listen. I thought it was ok but not a challenger to the “greats”. Certainly not musically.
But that’s ok, different people like different things.
But that’s ok, different people like different things.
<3 That’s very fair.
I personally find most of the “greats” to be significantly overrated. They were incredible for their time as a departure from what preceded them but, over-produced and lacking in genuine-ness. They may have had higher levels of instrumental virtuosity but lack relatability, depth, and exploration of the human condition.
To be fair, there’s a lot of people who don’t want any of that. Many people want escapism, heavy bass with questionable lyrics, or something weird and fun to trip balls to at a laser show. That’s fine. I don’t care for out of touch celebrity musicians; I want something “real” that evokes emotions across the spectrum and unafraid to dwelling in unpleasant places when the subject matter calls for it.
