concept albums

well, as far as i can tell the question over just how pretentious prog artists are is the main question on the PA boards, and oddly enough its always an external source that triggers the debate, as it is here.

to me, it seems that the problem of concept albums stems from the different approaches to music; most prog bands, and fans, consider music to be an art form whereas the general public does not, they consider it a way to have fun (not trying to be diminuitive here...although i ussually would be). a concept album is simply a way of further developing the art and so if one doesnt recognize the art at all, then it gets looped together with common progish w**kery.

nevertheless, alot of concept albums dont quite make the cut, as i see it. often they arent artistic enough and thus drag the artist's music down. to be honest, i havent heard the examples you've cited (but my roomate did laugh at "operation:mindcrime"), so i cant judge them. to me, though, good concept albums are like Dredg's "El Cielo" where the concept is there, but not smacking you in the face repeatedly; for even more deaply hidden concepts i'd cite TMV and thier first two albums. but then, albums that do wear thier concepts on thier sleeve can be awesome, it is all a matter of what that concept is and how stylishly it is employed. take Mastodon, not only does each album have a concept, but thier entire discography is a concept (the elements...fire, water, earth...). Or the big one, Tool's Lateralus (re-sequencing, fibonnacci singing, concept drum beats, commissioned artwork) which i think is incredible.

like everything, the concept album must be used stylishly..not simply for the sake of using it.

i wonder if Chaucer was told he was being pretentious in attempting "The Cantrbury Tales", or Boccaccio and his "Decameron".

 

Prometheus wrote: oh, as for a failed concept album one might consider "Ghost Reveries" by Opeth

Ghost Reveries is not a concept album. There was some good insight on this in the documentary on the re-released version's DVD.

Mikael wanted it to be a concept album at first, but then he wrote Isolation Years, realized it didn't fit the concept, and included it anyway. By the time the album was released, the song-order and lyrics were jumbled up to the point where there was no unifying concept that could be logically followed throughout.

Sure, there are some repeating ideas, but it can't be called a "failed concept album", because it isn't a concept album.

I wouldn't really say pretentious. I think ambitious is the right word.

Personally I like concept albums. The use of a story can enhance the music, give it extra meaning, like in PoS's The Perfect Element, while at other times an album canget too bogged down in the concept and loose its way, like The Wall. 

enteredwinter wrote: Prometheus wrote: oh, as for a failed concept album one might consider "Ghost Reveries" by Opeth Ghost Reveries is not a concept album. There was some good insight on this in the documentary on the re-released version's DVD. Mikael wanted it to be a concept album at first, but then he wrote Isolation Years, realized it didn't fit the concept, and included it anyway. By the time the album was released, the song-order and lyrics were jumbled up to the point where there was no unifying concept that could be logically followed throughout. Sure, there are some repeating ideas, but it can't be called a "failed concept album", because it isn't a concept album.

I always thought I followed the story, I guess now I really don't

and Still Life is another Opeth concept album, which I think conceptually was executed better lyrically. Also, I have only slight trouble at times understainding Akerfeldt's growls, I usually find him quite coherent


also, I never could figure out the concept behind APSOG. Could anyone explain?


Edited by heyitsthatguy - December 13 2006 at 19:13

Abigail, Dimension Hätross and Operation Mindcrime are masterpieces!



otherwise - I don´t care.

Concept albums are the shiznat! Kraftwerk, Pink Floyd, yum.

tdbark wrote: Some of the best moments in Prog music comes out of concept albums: the one that stands out for me is "Animals." In my opinion, it is one of Pink Floyd's best efforts and the concept (Animal Farm/equating humans to animals) works perfectly. Now some, like Genesis' "Duke," fail because even the band doesn't buy totally into the concept, creating a very uneven work.

In my opinion, concept albums are often the pinnacle of prog-bands achievements. Scenes From A Memory for example. One best, if not THE best, albums made by DT.

And In Absentia, an investigation of a serial killers mind, is absolutely Porcupines best album.