Concept Albums

All:

Fitz: How could I forget Zarathustra!  Thanks.

Easy Livin: I won't quibble about your most recent post; I think you and I are actually in agreement about more than we are in disagreement about, and you pretty much nailed it on the head re your two types of concept albums.

Re "Six Wives," I suppose it's a concept album of sorts.  Somehow, it is more difficult (or less difficult, depending on how you look at it) to classify a non-lyrical album as a "concept" album.  Still, again, I won't quibble.

My only concern is that if "theme" is enough - and indeed, if "theme" is interchangeable with "concept" - then the definition becomes too broad.  I think this is what I was trying to get at the first time, and what made my original definition "narrow."  As noted, if we accept your definition, then Crest of a Knave is a "theme" album (if not a "concept" album), as are many, many albums that few people would classify as "concept" albums.

It seems that this issue is as tetchy as the definition of "prog rock"...

Peace.

maani wrote: All: From what I can see, the phrase "concept album" is being applied pretty broadly - perhaps too broadly.  For example, I would not consider either Brain Salad Surgery or Skylarking (among others) "concept" albums.  A "concept album" by de facto definition follows a single, cohesive (or reasonably cohesive...) "concept" - it is not simply a group of songs that have a theme, much less a group of songs that simply have a similar style or work together well.  [N.B.  As an example, Tull's "Crest of a Knave" does, indeed, have a very specific "theme" that runs among the songs - observations made "on the road" during a tour - but it is not a "concept" album.  Similarly, on Nektar's "Down to Earth," all the songs have a circus theme, but I do not consider it a "concept" album.]  It has to do with an "approach" to the thematic nature of the album: i.e., "theme" in and of itself is not enough; there must be something more. As an aside - and despite the fact that I will undoubtedly get shot - I'm one of those who does not consider Sgt. Pepper a true "concept" album, despite the fact that it virtually defined that genre.  Indeed, I might even argue that Dark Side is not a true "concept" album either, despite that, like Pepper, it helped define the genre. I obviously define "concept album" more narrowly than most.  Given this, my favorite true "concept" albums, in alphabetical order by band, are: Dream Theater - Metropolis: Scenes From a MemoryGenesis - The Lamb Lies Down on BroadwayGentle Giant - Three FriendsGentle Giant - The Power and the GloryGodley/Creme - ConsequencesJethro Tull - Thick as a BrickKlaatu - HopeMarillion - Misplaced ChildhoodMarillion - BraveMoody Blues - Days of Future PassedNektar - RecycledPink Floyd - The WallRick Wakeman - Journey to the Center of the EarthRick Wakeman - Myths & Legends of King Arthur You will note that, of the nine "seminal" prog-rock groups - Floyd, Crimson, Moody Blues, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Yes, Jethro Tull, VDGG, ELP -  I do not consider any of Crimson's, VDGG's, ELP's, or even Yes' albums to be true "concept" albums (though Tales probably comes closest of any of them). Peace.

I believed Skylarking to be a concept about the weather
and nature.The 'approach'is everything on this album.
You get the feeling of warmth & heat on Grass & Summer's
Couldron.The feeling of greyness on 'Rainy Day,'
The albums production(Todd Rundgren)lends itself wholeheartedly to the'concept'.The feelings of warmth,
oppresiveness (as described before)the sound effects
birds,bees ,cattle,thunder lightening etc.In fact I believe Skylarking to IMHO be firmly with your remit of
a concept album.

Edited by Man Erg

Thanks EASY I forgot about ARENA

 

This is my concept-album Top 18

Dream Theater - Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From a Memory  /  Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway  /  Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick  /  Camel - The Snow Goose  /  Marillion - Misplaced Childhood  /  Marillion - Brave  /  Nektar - Journey to the Center of the Eye  /  IQ - Subterranea  /  Rick Wakeman - The Myths & Legends of King Arthur  /  Arena - The Visitor  /  Peter Hammill - Incoherence  /  Canarios - Ciclos  /  Eloy - Ocean  /  Le Orme - Felona e Sorona  /  Vangelis - Albedo 0.39  / Saga - Generation 13  /  Asgard - Imago Mundi  /  Echolyn - Mei

Regards.

 

Edited by Cesar Inca

maani wrote: "...the phrase "concept album" is being applied pretty broadly - perhaps too broadly."

! agree. I've never considered "Brain Salad Surgery", for example, to be a concept album. And neither do I consider "Sgt Pepper" a concept album.

penguindf12, of course nobody is losing sleep over the word, but I think the meaning does matter a little. Otherwise why bother using the term at all?

And, just to add to the excellent albums mentioned so far:

LE ORME - "Felona E Sorona"

MUSEO ROSENBACH - "Zarathustra"

BANCO - "Darwin!" (Could possibly be argued it's a theme, I agree!)

Don't forget all that wonderful Italian Prog!

Others have mentioned TRIUMVIRAT's "Spartacus" and "Pompeii", very much concept albums. But I think TRIUMVIRAT's "Illusions On A Double Dimple" could just about be classified as a concept album too - even the album title sets the scene - but I could concede that it could be seen purely as thematic rather than a true concept album.

 

All:

From what I can see, the phrase "concept album" is being applied pretty broadly - perhaps too broadly.  For example, I would not consider either Brain Salad Surgery or Skylarking (among others) "concept" albums.  A "concept album" by de facto definition follows a single, cohesive (or reasonably cohesive...) "concept" - it is not simply a group of songs that have a theme, much less a group of songs that simply have a similar style or work together well.  [N.B.  As an example, Tull's "Crest of a Knave" does, indeed, have a very specific "theme" that runs among the songs - observations made "on the road" during a tour - but it is not a "concept" album.  Similarly, on Nektar's "Down to Earth," all the songs have a circus theme, but I do not consider it a "concept" album.]  It has to do with an "approach" to the thematic nature of the album: i.e., "theme" in and of itself is not enough; there must be something more.

As an aside - and despite the fact that I will undoubtedly get shot - I'm one of those who does not consider Sgt. Pepper a true "concept" album, despite the fact that it virtually defined that genre.  Indeed, I might even argue that Dark Side is not a true "concept" album either, despite that, like Pepper, it helped define the genre.

I obviously define "concept album" more narrowly than most.  Given this, my favorite true "concept" albums, in alphabetical order by band, are:

Dream Theater - Metropolis: Scenes From a Memory
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Gentle Giant - Three Friends
Gentle Giant - The Power and the Glory
Godley/Creme - Consequences
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
Klaatu - Hope
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
Marillion - Brave
Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
Nektar - Recycled
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Rick Wakeman - Journey to the Center of the Earth
Rick Wakeman - Myths & Legends of King Arthur

You will note that, of the nine "seminal" prog-rock groups - Floyd, Crimson, Moody Blues, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Yes, Jethro Tull, VDGG, ELP -  I do not consider any of Crimson's, VDGG's, ELP's, or even Yes' albums to be true "concept" albums (though Tales probably comes closest of any of them).

Peace.

Edited by maani

The Lamb by Genesis. I can't believe how beautifully written this album is. It's wonderful, I love all the symbolism.

I also like pink floyd's dark side of the moon, I never liked it that much at first, but it grew on me.

Marillion's Misplaced Childhood.

There's a whole lot more but i cant think of them.

In no Particular order

Genesis - The Lamb
Camel - Moonmadness
Camel - Snowgoose
Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
Jethro Tull - Passion Play
Fruup - Prince of Heavens Eyes(?)
Aphrodites Child - 666
Pretty Things - SF Sorrow
Who - Quadrophenia
XTC - Skylarking

Edited by Man Erg

SERGE GAINSBOURG : HISTOIRE DE MELODY NELSON