Best Rock Opera

The Wall for me

One vote for Quadrophenia? You guys are being silly, right?

el böthy wrote: Philéas wrote: The Human Equation by Ayreon! By far the most operatic Rock opera I've ever heard.  l

Certif1ed wrote: Jesus Christ Superstar. None of those on the list are Rock operas.

Certif1ed wrote: Jesus Christ Superstar. None of those on the list are Rock operas.

sure they are.

Tommy most designated.

Certif1ed wrote: Ricochet wrote: Certif1ed wrote: Jesus Christ Superstar. None of those on the list are Rock operas. sure they are. Tommy most designated.      All together now... "Oh no they aren't!!!" "Tommy" may be "most designated", but it's still not an Opera.

It sounds a bit like a "musical" story.

or are you taking the Opera word literally?

out of interest, a "popular" list of (presumed?) rock-operas

Notable rock operas

• The Who, Tommy (1969): The album which arguably popularized the term rock opera. Later a movie and revival as well, in a Broadway production.

• Meat Loaf, Bat Out Of Hell (1977): Sold more than 30 million records worldwide. Features Jim Steinman's unique style of Wagnerian rock. Spawned two sequels Back into Hell and The Monster is Loose

• Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jesus Christ Superstar (1970)

• David Bowie, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

• Ariaphonics, Act One (2006) Act One is a concept album by Ariaphonics. A mix of analog synthesizers, vintage keyboards, and operactic voice.

• The Who, Quadrophenia (1973)

• Genesis, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974): Famous prog-rock opera.

• Phoenix, Cantafabule (1975)- Romanian mythology is brought to its maximum potential.

• Jethro Tull, Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die (1976)

• Blue Öyster Cult, Imaginos (1988)

• Rush, 2112 (1976): The first half of this album is a space rock opera complete with an overture as in The Who's Tommy.

• Frank Zappa, Joe's Garage (1979)

• Pink Floyd, The Wall (1979): Famous rock opera by Roger Waters, following the nervous breakdown of a rocker named "Pink". Well known for its extensive and expensive stage show. Later made into a movie.

• Queensrÿche, Operation: Mindcrime, (1988): A story of love, sex, death, power, religion, corruption, betrayal, greed, and madness. Considered to be one of the first progressive metal operas.

• Queensrÿche, Operation: Mindcrime II, (2006): A continuation dealing with the protagonist, Nikki, and his need for revenge after serving 18 years in prison.

• Edge of Sanity, Crimson (1996): Features a single 40 minute track, telling a story in the distant future when human civilization is about to end.

• Lacrimosa, Elodia (1999): A tragic-love story divided into three acts. An album about love being slowly overwhelmed, separation, murder and a second chance.

• Dream Theater, Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes from a Memory, (1999): A story of a man, who in his dreams can see his past life, the tale of two brothers and a girl (Victoria). A modern progressive metal album.

• Drive-By Truckers, Southern Rock Opera (2000):As its name suggests, a Southern Rock Opera. Traces the history of the south, socially, economically and musically while presenting a southern rock star and his demise purposely similar to Lynyrd Skynyrd.

• Spock's Beard, Snow (2002): Has a storyline and themes very similar to The Who's album Tommy.

• Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Greendale (2003): The story of the Green family (Grandpa, Jed, and Sun)

• Ayreon, The Human Equation (2004): A man experiences a car crash and enters a 20 day coma, during which he is confronted by a new memory or emotion every day, such as pain, hope, his old school days, betrayal, and love.

• Mastodon, Leviathan (2004): A sludge metal opera that tells the story of captain Ahab searching for his arch enemy,the White Whale, Moby Dick. Based on the book by Herman Melville.

• Green Day, American Idiot (2004) - A punk-rock opera, telling the life of an outsider, wanting acceptance. Green Day's most sucessful album since Dookie.

Edited by Ricochet - October 16 2006 at 07:50

This is so difficult, because it's hard to differentiate between a rock-opera and a concept album. I agree with Friede that different roles sung by different people could be a point to make the difference (but keep in mind that there are different people/roles in Tommy, although Roger Daltrey took over all the parts in the original version; same applies - on a lower level - to Quadrophenia). And besides the soundtrack version of Tommy Friede mentioned one shouldn't forget the orchestral version with guest appearances by David Essex, Meggie Bell, the wonderful Sandy Denny, Steve Winwood, Rod Stewart, Richie Havens and Ringo Starr, which is pure opera I think.
A lot has been said about Jesus Christ Superstar and as I have been listening to that pretty much in the past few weeks I'd say that that one comes very close to being a rock-opera in every sense.
But one cannot simply leave this thread without pointing to two marvelous albums, which very few of the younger progheads here will ever have heard of: SF Sorrow by The Pretty Things and Arthur by The Kinks.


Edited by Guzzman - October 16 2006 at 13:28

TOMMY.

Pulse wrote: The Lamb. I don't understand the concept ( I loose it after they introduce Rael), but musically it's the best of all those albums.