# Whatever happened to the "concept album"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2002, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390 "2002-12-04T07:55:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![qshapadooy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c67d28/32.png) [@qshapadooy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qshapadooy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/21 "2002-12-05T01:27:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UWmite \* > **I think _Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots_ from The Flaming Lips could qualify as a concept album.** From the mouth of [Wayne](http://www.flaminglips.com/content/discography/a/11_notes.php?sid=a2e90c11e76ee8a9fa108fda14dbfb10) > [@](#): > > “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots” is not a concept album - but it does have several “sound story” compositions connected throughout the record - the Yoshimi depicted in the songs and titles is a fictional character. IMO, I’d consider it a concept album, but I figure I’d throw in the band’s opinion. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/22 "2002-12-05T01:52:12Z")
Tom Waits’ _Frank’s Wild Years_ was the basis for a stage show that toured in the 80’s. I gather from reviews at the time that his last release _Alice_ is also a “concept album”. ---
**Author:** ![B.Pants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@B.Pants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Pants)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/23 "2002-12-05T02:35:08Z")
> [@](#): > > On the other hand, Tull, Floyd, and Yes were all popular rock bands who headlined tours. I think what’s changed is that the average rock fan is not as interested in the music anymore Tool’s _Lateralus_ is a great concept album, and I’d say that they are definitely a popular rock band headlining tours (I’ve seen them, they headlined, they rocked). However, the average rock fan _doesn’t_ care as much about the music and what it means. Even at a Tool concert, you see the usual mix of jackasses who listen to crap like Slipknot and could not care less about content, and the true fans who care about the message. If only Pink Floyd would get back together, we wouldn’t _need_ any other bands! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/24 "2002-12-05T03:06:23Z")
The Smashing Pumpkins’ _Machina/The Machines of God_ is a concept album. The album is supposed to reflect the the trials and tribulations of a rock band called Machina and its star “Glass” and its fans. Any simularities between Machina and The Smashing Pumpkins and “Glass” and Billy Corgan are completely coincidental. 😉 😉 Before the departure of D’arcy prior to the album’s completion, Billy’s ideas for it included doing the entire tour “in character” as Machina rather than The Smashing Pumpkins. Corgan’s never been one for subtlety or small plans. 🙂 If you can get past Corgan’s nearly unreadable prose/poetry and a whole lot o’ Flash, you can see the story laid out on [The Smashing Pumpkins’](http://www.smashingpumpkins.com) website. Also, their big opus double album _Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness_ started out as a concept album as a day in a life of a teenager, but Corgan mostly gave up on the concept during the album’s production, though pieces of it remain, the two discs are entitled Dawn to Dusk & Twilight to Starlight for one… ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/25 "2002-12-05T03:16:59Z")
Bruce Springsteen made several concept abulms in the 80’s and 90’s. _Nebraska_ (violent crime as seen through the eyes of the offenders and those close to them), _Born In the USA_, (the disenchantment of the Vietnam era youth as they approach middle age), _Tunnel of Love_ (emotional isolation and it’s impact on relationships), and most recently _The Ghost of Tom Joad_ (the immigrant experience in the modern Southwest). ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/26 "2002-12-05T03:23:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by qshapadooy \* > \*\*From the mouth of [Wayne](http://www.flaminglips.com/content/discography/a/11_notes.php?sid=a2e90c11e76ee8a9fa108fda14dbfb10) > > IMO, I’d consider it a concept album, but I figure I’d throw in the band’s opinion. \*\* As far as the **Flaming Lips** , I think _Zaireeka_ is more of a concept album. 4 discs, meant to be played separately, or simultaneously, or 1,3, simultaneously, or 2,4, or… I’m curious, but not curious enough to gather four CD players up in one room. 🙂 **Tom Waits’** new disc, _Alice_ was originally written as an opera, so I think that qualifies as a concept disc. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/27 "2002-12-05T04:29:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fiddlesticks \* > \*\*The Smashing Pumpkins’ _Machina/The Machines of God_ is a concept album. The album is supposed to reflect the the trials and tribulations of a rock band called Machina and its star “Glass” and its fans. Self correction - the rock band is called Machines of God and their album is Machina. Details, details… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/28 "2002-12-05T04:37:18Z")
Sarah Brightman did a pretty good concept album a couple years ago. _La Luna_ has a bunch of songs about the moon, La Luna, Hijo de la Luna, Moon River, and La Lune. The other songs fit in quite well, though, even if they aren’t about the moon. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/29 "2002-12-05T05:38:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hazel-rah \* > \*\* > Kate Bush did “The Ninth Wave” back in 1985, that’s well beyond the 70’s stuff you’ve named… best concept album (album side anyway) ever. It’s about a shipwrecked girl trying to stay awake. > > \*\* [www.allmusic.com](http://www.allmusic.com) only lists “Hounds of Love” for 1985 and I can find no reference to Kate Bush doing anything called “Ninth Wave”. Are you sure the artist/title is correct? Chris W ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/30 "2002-12-05T05:47:00Z")
An old fogey checking in here. Just for the record, rock bands did not pioneer concept albums. Frank Sinatra did it before anybody. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/31 "2002-12-05T06:03:47Z")
**A Prince Among Thieves** by Prince Paul is most definitely a concept album. **Deltronic 3030** is also definitely a concept album. I’d say that **( )** by Sigur Ros is a concept album of sorts. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/32 "2002-12-05T15:33:15Z")
Guys, guys. The term “concept album” is being used way, way too broadly here. In my mind, a concept album is one that adheres to a specific storyline, not a bunch of songs thrown together that happen to have the same theme. _Born in the U.S.A._ is NOT a concept album. _Close to the Edge_ is NOT a concept album. One could even argue against _Dark Side of the Moon_, except it’s too spacey for me to tell. I’m not terribly familiar with the rest, but as for Jethro Tull, “Thick as a Brick” (and the followup, “A Passion Play”) aren’t so much concepts as opposed to one really, really, really, really long song. 🙂 To find really good concept albums, you gotta explore the murky underworld of prog-metal and death-metal. **Edward The Head** has given many good examples. To those I would add, _Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory_ by Dream Theater, _Into the Electric Castle_ by Ayreon (as well as every other album Ayreon ever made), and _The Edge_ by Eternity X. Oh, and don’t forget _Misplaced Childhood_ by Marillion (which was released in 1985.) As for the Jethro Tull “One Big Ass Long Song” type of concept, check out Edge of Sanity’s “Crimson” (40:00), Green Carnation’s “Light of Day, Day of Darkness” (60:05), or Fates Warning’s “A Pleasant Shade of Grey” (52+min, broken in to 12 parts.) ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/33 "2002-12-05T15:39:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stuyguy \* > \*\*An old fogey checking in here. > > Just for the record, rock bands did not pioneer concept albums. Frank Sinatra did it before anybody. \*\* Really? What was the concept? Did he write any (or many) of his own songs? I always hear that The Beach Boy’s Pet Sounds was the first “Concept Album”. I don’t have the album so I can’t tell you the concept. A lot of people say The Beatles’ Sgt Peppers was the first but Pet Sounds is what I usually hear as the “trump card” to Sgt Peppers. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/34 "2002-12-05T16:12:45Z")
I’d certainly include Alan Parsons’ **I Robot** in the list. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/35 "2002-12-05T16:22:13Z")
These are all older, but come to think of it I’d include **Sgt. Pepper’s, Tommy, Ziggy Stardust, The 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus and A Passion Play** as well. Again, these are more dated than those mentioned above. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/36 "2002-12-05T19:25:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*I’d certainly include Alan Parsons’ **I Robot** in the list. \*\* I would too. As well as these other by various incarnations of the Alan Parsons Project: Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Edgar Allan Poe) Pyramid Eve Turn of a Friendly Card Eye in the Sky Vulture Culture Gaudi On Air The Time Machine Freudiana (this one is listed as Eric Woolfson, but it’s the Project all the way) I’ll also second the recommendations for Savatage’s albums, particularly “The Wake of Magellan,” “Dead Winter Dead,” and “Poets and Madmen,” the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Beethoven’s Last Night” (which is essentially Savatage under a different name), and Alice Cooper’s “The Last Temptation,” “Brutal Planet,” and “Dragontown.” ---
**Author:** ![typhoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@typhoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typhoon)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/37 "2002-12-05T19:32:32Z")
What’s a concept album anyway? _The Wall_ and Roger Waters’ solo albums definitely are, because every song is about the same subject. The Who’s _Tommy_ is too. But _The Dark Side of the Moon_ isn’t and _OK Computer_ definitely isn’t, even though they vaguely keep a theme or motif running through the entire album. _Kid A_ doesn’t even have that. As for Sinatra’s concept albums, take a look at the tracklist for 1957’s _Come Fly With Me_: 1. Come Fly With Me 2. Around The World 3. Isle Of Capri 4. Moonlight In Vermont 5. Autumn In New York 6. On The Road To Mandalay 7. Let’s Get Away From It All 8. April In Paris 9. London By Night 10. Brazil 11. Blue Hawaii 12. It’s Nice To Go Trav’ling ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/38 "2002-12-05T19:54:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Much progressive rock was intelligent and musically complex, which is more than you can say for most rock music genres of today. I don’t see why a real music fan would want to limit himself to what’s “hip”, when he should be appreciating the sound. I agree entirely and was even thinking of starting a thread about that. Why does music have to suck in order to not suck? ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/39 "2002-12-05T20:10:58Z")
NIN’s The Downward Spiral is, Mr Reznor has said so himself. ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390/40 "2002-12-05T21:00:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KGS \* > \*\*Guys, guys. The term “concept album” is being used way, way too broadly here. In my mind, a concept album is one that adheres to a specific storyline, not a bunch of songs thrown together that happen to have the same theme. > > but as for Jethro Tull, “Thick as a Brick” (and the followup, “A Passion Play”) aren’t so much concepts as opposed to one really, really, really, really long song. 🙂 > > \*\* _A Passion Play_ is most definitely a concept album by your definition. There certainly is a specific storyline, check out this: [Jethro Tull's album 'A Passion Play' annotated at the Ministry Of Information](http://www.ministry-of-information.co.uk/app/index.htm). In brief, the album follows the journey of a man recently deceased throughout his wanderings in the afterlife. And although you could argue that _Thick as a Brick_ is merely a collection of songs strung together and connected by intrumental interludes and a common theme, I’d say the album cover clearly shows the “concept” of the album. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-concept-album/140390.md?page=3)