Prog Polls - 12 of the greatest Concept Prog rock albums ever!

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12 of the greatest Concept Prog rock albums ever!

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Topic: 12 of the greatest Concept Prog rock albums ever!

Posted By: darksideof
Subject: 12 of the greatest Concept Prog rock albums ever!
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 12:48

The Wall
The lamb Lies Down on Broawday
Thick as Brick
Tales From the Topografic Oceans
Dark side of the Moon
Day The Future Passed
Tommy
2112
Brian Salad Surgery
Hemipheres
Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band
Joe's Garage

After the 70's?

Metropolis Part II:Scenes From A Memory Dream Theater
The Perfect Element Pain of Salvation
Ok Computer Radiohead
Operation Mindcrime Queensrÿche
Misplaced Childhood marillion
Latelarus Tool
Be pain of salvation
A New mythology Symphony X
Aenima Tool
Second Life Syndrome riveside
Fear of A Black Planet PT yeap! their last album
the visitor Arena

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Replies:

Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 14:59

To the best of my knowledge, 2112, Hemispheres, Brain Salad Surgery and Sgt Peppers arent concept albums.

I said disagree, largely because I'm not a that big a fan of The Wall and havnt heard a number of albums off of the list.

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Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005

Posted By: darkmatter
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 15:05

Errrr.... I've seen the argument for Lateralus being a concept album (not sure I agree with it though), but how exactly is Ænima a concept album?

Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 15:30

sleeper wrote:

To the best of my knowledge, 2112, Hemispheres, Brain Salad Surgery and Sgt Peppers aren't concept albums.

I said disagree, largely because I'm not a that big a fan of The Wall and haven't heard a number of albums off of the list.

wow!! you haven't? you go shopping this weekend.

True to extend 2112, Hemispheres and Brain as other songs on the album are completely unrelated to the plot of the suite. However, I do think because their little track is realated to the suite it cab be consider a concept album I think!

almost forgot Sgt Peper is a concept album all right through. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Peppers_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper's_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band follow the link.

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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 15:35

Ayreon is sadly missing from your list. The Human Equation is an excellent concept album, and I find his others to be none too shabby too.

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Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 15:43

Russian wrote:

Ayreon is sadly missing from your list. The Human Equation is an excellent concept album, and I find his others to be none too shabby too.

sorry fella but I hadn't heard that whole album in its entire.

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Posted By: TGM: Orb
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:03

The Wall. Lame. Explained why in other thread. Boring, semi-logical concept, lyrical filler.
The lamb Lies Down on Broawday. Minor spelling details aside, absolutely. Brilliant album, dealing with an interesting and ambiguous overall story, while giving nods to issues. Very lyrically clever.
Thick as Brick. Don't know. Really only a concept in its parodic nature of the epic poem. Themes of youth overpowering old. Not sure its a dead-set concept. Great album, certainly, and I admit that the concept and feel adds to it. Might have given A Passion Play the nod.
Tales From the Topografic Oceans. Hm, probably. I have difficulty confronting it as a concept because the lyrics are rather diffuse. Some brilliant textures and atmospheres, some slips, an overall theme. Very good album.
Dark side of the Moon. I'll give you that one. Perhaps more partial to WYWH (even if less concepty) and Animals, myself.
Day The Future Passed. Semi-concept. Good album, rather than great. Always had problems with the jumpier moments being rather too frequent. Additionally, given that the concept is a little *difficult* to quantify (and it was named by the label, not the band), I'm uncertain whether it qualifies.
Tommy. Some weak lyrical choices, plenty of essentially concept-unrelated material (Pinball Wizard having maybe a line of relevance). Not exactly my thing.
2112. Not exactly a concept album. There's one concept song and a side of entirely unrelated, as far as I can tell, material. I love it (to a four star level), but Tears and Something For Nothing, for instance, bear no relation to each other.
Brian Salad Surgery. It's not a concept album. Not even close, in my opinion. One concept song, with a main weakness in not really tying together the components (I fail to see how the second really relates to the other two, really). Absolutely great album, but again, it's just not a concept album.
Hemipheres. Not a concept album, again. There is a concept to Hemispheres, very loosely continued from Cygnus X-I, and the remaining three bits are all good, but not connected to an over-riding concept. I consider the lyrics to Hemispheres a little awkward, but I like it.
Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band Don't know.
Joe's Garage Don't know.

So. 3/10 I wouldn't even consider concept albums. 1 I'd consider dubious. 3 I'd consider not that great. So, no.

What I'd have gone for (Criteria /5, concept relevance+quality. averaged):

Still Life - Van Der Graaf Generator
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Close To The Edge (underlying theme of spiritual growth)
Dark Side Of The Moon
Animals
Three Friends - Gentle Giant
A Farewell To Kings (in my opinion, the only real Rush concept album of those I've heard)
Rubycon - Tangerine Dream (no vocals, I admit :p)
(The Planets - Holst :p)
Magma - s/t
H to He, Who Am The Only One - Van Der Graaf Generator (I'm confident there's an all-pervading concept in this one. Loneliness and the need for love. Not sure everyone will agree... :) )

Posted By: TGM: Orb
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:11

darksideof wrote:

wow!! you haven't? you go shopping this weekend.

Just justifying my last post.

I think a concept album needs an underlying theme (or, concept, if you will), even if it isn't telling a story. 2112, Hemispheres, and BSS don't meet this criterion. The shorter pieces on BSS have, as far as I can tell, no relation to KE-9. Similarly, there is no real relation between 2112 and Tears, or Cygnus X-I book II: Hemispheres and La Villa Strangiato, for instance.

It's not a matter of plot, really, but I cannot see much relation to the shorter bits without trying desperately hard to stretch a concept specifically to fit it. Even then, I still can't find any possible links between Benny The Bouncer or Still... You Turn Me On to KE-9.

Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:24

darkmatter wrote:

Errrr.... I've seen the argument for Lateralus being a concept album (not sure I agree with it though), but how exactly is Ænima a concept album?

the whole album is themed base on Egyptian mythology,ababalon and sacret. geometry. so it does have concept.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mythology - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mythology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_geometry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_geometry

so good info to read.

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Posted By: Statutory-Mike
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:28

I agree for sure. The only thing that I would change is the orders of course.

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Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 16:34

TGM: Orb wrote:

The Wall. Lame. Explained why in other thread. Boring, semi-logical concept, lyrical filler.
The lamb Lies Down on Broawday. Minor spelling details aside, absolutely. Brilliant album, dealing with an interesting and ambiguous overall story, while giving nods to issues. Very lyrically clever.
Thick as Brick. Don't know. Really only a concept in its parodic nature of the epic poem. Themes of youth overpowering old. Not sure its a dead-set concept. Great album, certainly, and I admit that the concept and feel adds to it. Might have given A Passion Play the nod.
Tales From the Topografic Oceans. Hm, probably. I have difficulty confronting it as a concept because the lyrics are rather diffuse. Some brilliant textures and atmospheres, some slips, an overall theme. Very good album.
Dark side of the Moon. I'll give you that one. Perhaps more partial to WYWH (even if less concepty) and Animals, myself.
Day The Future Passed. Semi-concept. Good album, rather than great. Always had problems with the jumpier moments being rather too frequent. Additionally, given that the concept is a little *difficult* to quantify (and it was named by the label, not the band), I'm uncertain whether it qualifies.
Tommy. Some weak lyrical choices, plenty of essentially concept-unrelated material (Pinball Wizard having maybe a line of relevance). Not exactly my thing.
2112. Not exactly a concept album. There's one concept song and a side of entirely unrelated, as far as I can tell, material. I love it (to a four star level), but Tears and Something For Nothing, for instance, bear no relation to each other.
Brian Salad Surgery. It's not a concept album. Not even close, in my opinion. One concept song, with a main weakness in not really tying together the components (I fail to see how the second really relates to the other two, really). Absolutely great album, but again, it's just not a concept album.
Hemipheres. Not a concept album, again. There is a concept to Hemispheres, very loosely continued from Cygnus X-I, and the remaining three bits are all good, but not connected to an over-riding concept. I consider the lyrics to Hemispheres a little awkward, but I like it.
Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band Don't know.
Joe's Garage Don't know.

OK buddy it is OK to say that you don't like the Masterpiece " The Wall" that is just your bared naked opinion, ( the wall is such incredible album regarless its fame in the pop world . I can relate in many diffent ways so I disagree 1,000 times with you.

however I might agree with you regarding that the rest of other albums aren't really concept album anyway!

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Posted By: febus
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:00

-As long as the great THE WALL is included and stand at # 1, i will agree with everything else you said, Darkside

Posted By: fighting sleep
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:01

Besides all the Rush albums, this is a fairly decent list. My only question is: why isn't Tommy at the top?

Here's a few albums I would supplement for the ones that shouldn't be on the list:

Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh for Days of Future Past

Quadrophenia for 2112

Animals for Hemispheres

Selling England by the Pound for Brain Salad Surgery

As for the second list, it would be better if it included Ulver's William Blake album, as well as the Mars Volta's Deloused or Frances. And maybe the Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking. Brilliant album, despite it's flaws.

Posted By: ProgBagel
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:13

darksideof wrote:

darkmatter wrote:

Errrr.... I've seen the argument for Lateralus being a concept album (not sure I agree with it though), but how exactly is Ænima a concept album?

the whole album is themed base on Egyptian mythology,ababalon and sacret. geometry. so it does have concept.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mythology - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mythology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_geometry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_geometry

so good info to read.

I'm sorry, but everytime this band is mentioned I put them down. My blame mostly lies in the fans when things like this appear. This is yet again an over-analyzation of simple music. How is a German reciting a cookie recipe and a song about Los Angeles related to Egyptian mythology. Just over analyzing...I can't take it when people think so highly of this band.

Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:20

ProgBagel wrote:

darksideof wrote:

darkmatter wrote:

Errrr.... I've seen the argument for Lateralus being a concept album (not sure I agree with it though), but how exactly is Ænima a concept album?

the whole album is themed base on Egyptian mythology,ababalon and sacret. geometry. so it does have concept.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mythology - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mythology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_geometry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_geometry

so good info to read.

it is ok Buddy!!! one day you get to understand how Awesome is Tool.

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Posted By: ProgBagel
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:23

Believe me dude, I have tried for many years. I just don't understand where some people come up with these ideas. The band doesn't speak much about their material anyway right?...I feel like it is just open to interpretation like In Absentia. Things just get taken too far.

Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:24

fighting sleep wrote:

Besides all the Rush albums, this is a fairly decent list. My only question is: why isn't Tommy at the top?

Here's a few albums I would supplement for the ones that shouldn't be on the list:

Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh for Days of Future Past

Quadrophenia for 2112

Animals for Hemispheres

Selling England by the Pound for Brain Salad Surgery

I didn't want the guys here at PA start complaining about that I chose 4 Floyd album so I left 2 out but believe I was tempted to do it.

Oh Also i wanted to do with Genesis. Clap

Ha the order doesn't matter they are all awesome stuff!!!

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Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:31

Here are mine:

The Wall
Quadrophenia
Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Tommy
Joe's Garage
Three Friends(great choice TGM)
Animals
The Book of Taliesyn(has a faded concept there, though great)
A Passion Play(much more straightforward concept than TAAB)
Aqualung
Too Old to Rock(the music is weak but the concept is fun and a good novel would have been)
Snow Goose(not sure if it's a concept album though)

Well some other that I can't remember. But from your list, I really can't see as DSOTM as my definition of Concept, it has one but really doesn't fit to me. TAAB, well TGM has said it perfectly. Dunno about Rush. Brain Salad Suregery also has a faded concept, though the name of the album fits the suite the album as a whole don't.
Don't know about the "modern" ones.

I won't vote.

Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:38

Probable wrote:

Believe me dude, I have tried for many years. I just don't understand where some people come up with these ideas. The band doesn't speak much about their material anyway right?...I feel like it is just open to interpretation like In Absentia. Things just get taken too far.

what in the world are YOU talking about?

i think the problem her might be that you had high expectation of this band and they didn't get you here. Tool is a very personal and private band however ifyou study their lyricsyou wont need interpretion is all ready there. But That is OK. many old prog fans give alot praise to hawkind and I found them one the wrost prog band ever but that is truthful my personal opinion.Got it? it is personal choise and prefence of music and lyrics.

To me Tool became a super and important band when lateralus came out . their lyrics are smart, Thruthful ,dark ,sad, pitiful , powerful ,and spiritual that I can relate so much to that. such encouraging and up lifting words and not mentioning their breath taking guitar solos. also I enjoy their music alot because they remind of some my all time favorite bands ( Black sabbath, Pink Floyd, Rush and King crimson)

readi this " up lifting" lyrics

Parabola]
We barely remember who or what came before this precious moment,
We are Choosing to be here, right now. Hold on, stay inside...
This hoooooly reality, this hoooooly experience.
Choosing to be here in...
This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder here that I am not alone in
This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal all this pain is an illusion.

Alive!

In this hoooooly reality, in this hoooooly experience. Choosing to be here in...
This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder here that I am not alone in
This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal all this pain is an illusion...

Twirling round with this familiar parable.
Spinning, weaving round each new experience.
Recognize this as a holy gift and, celebrate this
(chance to beeeeee alive and breathing 2x)

This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality.
Embrace this moment. Remember. we are eternal.
all this pain is an illusion.

so beautiful!!!

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Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:39

febus wrote:

-As long as the great THE WALL is included and stand at # 1, i will agree with everything else you said, Darkside

Thanks Dude!!!

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Posted By: horsewithteeth11
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:44

I'm officially getting annoyed now. Darkside, you need to quit while you're this far behind. So far NOBODY who's posted a response (as far as I can tell) has agreed with you. I'll be amazed if you can find one person who agrees with both of your lists 100% anyway. And besides, these polls are starting to get ridiculous with all the back and forth arguments and nobody is bothering to give an inch. Give it a rest before I lose my sanity, please. Wacko

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Posted By: 1800iareyay
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 17:51

The only discernible concept I can see in Ænima is that it is Bill Hicks' routine set to music.* Take that out and put in The Human Equation, and I'd pretty much agree with your modern prog list. The 70s one, on the other hand...I will accept The Wall at number one over my own opinion of the album (bloated whinging via totalitarian band control) due to it's massive commercial success and long lasting impact on music and pop culture at large. Same for Lamb Lies Down, only on a smaller scale since that one's impact is pretty much restricted to prog. But a sidelong suite does not make the whole album conceptual, so 2112, Hemispheres, and BSS should be swapped out for three others, one of which almost HAS to be Quadrophenia. Also, Zappa's a bit tricky, since a number of his albums are conceptual, but few tell a running story. If you include non-rock operas, then I'd sub We're only In It For the Money for Joe's Garage and bump it up the list.

Please note this is not a put down

Posted By: micky
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 18:10

darksideof wrote:

The Wall
The lamb Lies Down on Broawday
Thick as Brick
Tales From the Topografic Oceans
Dark side of the Moon
Day The Future Passed
Tommy
2112
Brian Salad Surgery
Hemipheres
Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band
Joe's Garage

After the 70's?

Metropolis Part II:Scenes From A Memory Dream Theater
The Perfect Element Pain of Salvation
Ok Computer Radiohead
Operation Mindcrime Queensrÿche
Misplaced Childhood marillion
Latelarus Tool
Be pain of salvation
A New mythology Symphony X
Aenima Tool
Second Life Syndrome riveside
Fear of A Black Planet PT yeap! their last album
the visitor Arena

that 70's list.. .well.. it sucks... many are not concept albums.. and some that are... weren't even GOOD concepts.

The post-70's is much better though

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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip

Posted By: ProgBagel
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 18:11

Well darkside, it would be 'progbabble' and not 'progbable'. I never mentioned anything about Tool's music thus far in this topic, just saying I put them down, again, leaving my reasons out to avoid problems. I was just questioning how you believe there is a concept in Aenima.

Instead you ignored what I was trying to adress and came back with a wall of grammatical errors that really insult your intelligence.

I'm just asking why you personal believe that Aenima has to do with whatever mythology you are talking about. You say everything there is left before me, I don't see how a German cooking recipe relates to mythology...or is Tool that awesome?

Apparently there is more then one person that has already stated this...so there is some concensus. Just an explanation is all.

Thanks dorkside

Posted By: darkmatter
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 19:00

I'll pass on the mythology articles. I'm looking over the Wikipedia article of Ænima and I'm not seeing a clear concept of the album. There may be themes, but I don't think that automatically makes it a concept album. I don't see how "Die Eier Von Satan" relates at all to the "concept" of Ænima. And if I'm correct, the song "jimmy" is about Maynard's mother. For an album to be a concept album, there has to be continuity. These two songs suggest a lack a continuity to the so-called "concept", therefore I don't see how it's a concept album.

And about Lateralus: I'm aware it has themes, I think metaphysical, but does that really make it a concept album? I've seen someone say that if you reorder the tracks, that makes it a concept album. Which I think is ridiculous, because if that was the intended order, then why the hell didn't they use that order in the first place?!

I'm with ProgBagel, too much over-analysis for this band. It's just music.

By the way, I am NOT bashing Tool, they are a band I very much like.

Posted By: Clepsydra
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 20:29

SUBTERRANEA - IQ

MISPLACED CHILDHOOD - MARILLION

Posted By: CryoftheCarrots
Date Posted: June 13 2008 at 21:11

For the post 70's scrap the Tool albums and insert a few Mars Volta ones.Francis,Deloused etc.As much as I love Tool,those are thematic rather than conceptual.Like someone else said -where is Ayreon?

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MJK

Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 03:46

The Wall (Dude, my favorite Floyd album EVER. Score.)
The lamb Lies Down on Broawday (never heard it)
Thick as Brick (Dude, my favorite Tull album, favorite prog album, favorite SONG ever. It IS a concept album too; even if it's a "mock-concept.")
Tales From the Topografic Oceans (never heard it; not a Yes fan)
Dark side of the Moon (Meh. S'okay. I mean, no, it's good. Overrated. The concept is an excuse to drape sonic explorations over.)
Day The Future Passed (Good. Great. The concept is an excuse to drape songs over, but, who cares? Better'n Dark Side.)
Tommy (Uh...hadn't heard the album. Saw the movie though. It was cool. Think I can trust the Who though.)
2112 (Haven't heard it; not a Rush fan)
Brian Salad Surgery (Cool album--hardly a concept album though.)
Hemipheres (See #8.)
Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band (Haven't heard it. In the entirety.)
Joe's Garage (Sadly, haven't heard it.)

I'll think of some things to swap out at some point. Or not.

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Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 05:28

Both lists suck! Nothing from the Flying Teapot Trilogy (Gong) or Magma? No excuse for that. I'd keep two or three from the 70's list.

The italians had a good grip on making concept albums (atleast musically speaking)

Il Balletto Di Bronzo: YS
Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso: Darwin!
Pierrot Lunaire: Gudrun
Museo Rosenbach: Zarathustra
Le Orme: Felona e Sorona
Osanna Palepoli
Area: Maldetti

(+more good ones by: Murple, Metamorfosi, Raccomandata Ricevuta Ritorno...)

Dr. Z: Three Parts to my Soul
Residents: Eskimo
Aphrodites Child: 666
Gentle Giant: Three Friends (thin on concept, great on music)
Klaus Schulze: X
Igor Wakhewich: Docteur Faust
I'd choose We're Only in it for the Money by Zappa.

After the 70's:

The Residents: Mark of the Mole, Non Credo: Impropera... eeh... Opeth: Still Life

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Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes
Find a fly and eat his eye
But don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
Don't believe in me

Posted By: paloz
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 06:49

I completely disagree!!

In my list there wouldn't be The Lamb, Sgt pepper (that really isn't a concept) and Tales (good indeed, but not in the best)..

This isn't MY list!

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Periodical publishing of John Zorn's COMPLETE DISCOGRAPHY

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My personal page

Posted By: micky
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 06:53

Rocktopus wrote:

Both lists suck! Nothing from the Flying Teapot Trilogy (Gong) or Magma? No excuse for that. I'd keep two or three from the 70's list.

The italians had a good grip on making concept albums (atleast musically speaking)

Il Balletto Di Bronzo: YS
Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso: Darwin!
Pierrot Lunaire: Gudrun
Museo Rosenbach: Zarathustra
Le Orme: Felona e Sorona
Osanna Palepoli
Area: Maldetti

(+more good ones by: Murple, Metamorfosi, Raccomandata Ricevuta Ritorno...)

amen brother Rocktopus... and let us not forget the I Giganti album....

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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip

Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 06:56

darksideof wrote:

wow!! you haven't? you go shopping this weekend.

Didnt read that link did you, it says they abandoned the concept after recording the first two songs and reprise, so it cant be a concept album. Just because an album has a side long track (or more in the case of Karn Evil 9) with a unifying story (not sure that KE9 has one) doesnt make them concept albums. I havnt heard Hemispheres but the title track is just a continuation of Cygnus X-1 and I believe the other tracks are unrealted (obviously I'm open to be proven wrong on this). The shorter tracks on 2112 are very definitely unrelated to the titel track, so definitely not a concept album.Benny the Bouncer, Toccata and Jeruselam have nothing to do with KE9.

My personal list would go something like this:

Pain of Salvation- The Perfect Element Part 1
Dream Theater- Scenes From A Memory: Metropolis Part 2
White Willow- Storm Season
Van der Graaf Generator- Still Life
Pink Floyd- Animals
The Mars Volta- The Bedlam in Goliath
Virgin Black- Requiem Mezzo Forte
The Mars Volta- De-Loused in the Comatorium
Le Orme- Felona e Sorona
Jethro Tull -Thick as a Brick
Marillion- Misplaced Childhood
Pain of Salvation- Entropia

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Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005

Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 07:00

IMHO, Tommy, 2112, Brain Salad Surgery and Hemispheres aren'n concept albums at all. Animals, Quadrophenia, The Snow Goose and a few Tull or early Magma albums would be a fitting choice.

To mention a few post-70's great prog concept albums: Nude (Camel), The Book if Kells (Iona) and Sola Scriptra (Neal Morse).

Posted By: Norbert
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 08:00

The 70's list is full of non concept albums, they should be replaced by some real ones, by Magma, Gong , Osanna etc.

Why is sitting Necropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Cemetary on the top of the post-70's list?

For me one of the weakest concepts I've experienced.

Posted By: Relayer09
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 08:16

My list would be in no particular order....

Quadrophenia - The Who

Tommy - The Who

Heaven And Hell - Vangelis

Tales From Topographic Oceans - Yes

Metropolis Part II:Scenes From A Memory - Dream Theater

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway - Genesis

The Wall - Pink Floyd

Animals - Pink Floyd

Ocean - Eloy

Days Of Future Passed - Moody Blues

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If you lose your temper, you've lost the arguement. -Proverb

Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 08:41

sleeper wrote:

To the best of my knowledge, 2112, Hemispheres, Brain Salad Surgery and Sgt Peppers arent concept albums.

I said disagree, largely because I'm not a that big a fan of The Wall and havnt heard a number of albums off of the list.

Sgt. Pepper's is a concept album about a concert of the imaginary "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", with "A Day in Live" being the encore. Or, to be more exact, it is a concert of the imaginary singer Billy Shears with the Sgt: Pepper's band as backing band.

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BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.

Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 08:43

micky wrote:

amen brother Rocktopus... and let us not forget the I Giganti album....

I think there are many more concepts coming from the Italian scene, both in the Seventies and later... That Jumbo album you like so much, Vietato ai minori di 18 anni?, is also considered to be a concept. And how could you forget your beloved Pholas Dactylus Wink

Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 08:58

Some other great concept albums (and favourites of Jean and me):
Peter Hammill - "The Fall of the the House of Usher" (1999 version)
Mother Gong - "Fairy Tales" and the "Robot Woman" trilogy (actually the first two albums of the trilogy only; the third suffers from the absence of drums and the presence of a drum machine instead; else it would have been a good album too)
Nik Turner -" Xitintoday"

Three of these albums are my favourite (studio) albums of all time! ("The Fall of the House of Usher", "Fairy Tales", "Xitintoday"). Of course I prefer live albums to studio albums. Well, perhaps not "of course" LOL

, but I do.

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BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.

Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: June 14 2008 at 10:28

Some more modern ones for consideration:

Spock's Bearrd - Snow

Neal Morse - Testimony or Sola Scriptura

Saga - Chapters or Generation 13

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Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 15 2008 at 04:55

ProgBagel wrote:

Well darkside, it would be 'progbabble' and not 'progbable'. I never mentioned anything about Tool's music thus far in this topic, just saying I put them down, again, leaving my reasons out to avoid problems. I was just questioning how you believe there is a concept in Aenima.

Instead you ignored what I was trying to adress and came back with a wall of grammatical errors that really insult your intelligence.

I'm just asking why you personal believe that Aenima has to do with whatever mythology you are talking about. You say everything there is left before me, I don't see how a German cooking recipe relates to mythology...or is Tool that awesome?

Apparently there is more then one person that has already stated this...so there is some concensus. Just an explanation is all.

ok kid you had you fun !!!!!!!!!
Thanks dorkside

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Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 15 2008 at 05:11

well,Mother of Prog forgive me because I had sinned!! I have made many mistake. starting with this list

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Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: June 15 2008 at 05:51

darksideof wrote:

Russian wrote:

Ayreon is sadly missing from your list. The Human Equation is an excellent concept album, and I find his others to be none too shabby too.

sorry fella but I hadn't heard that whole album in its entire.

That should be the least of your concerns. Ayreon missing is one of the few things right about these lists.

Getting into Gong, Magma and italianprog is what you need to do.

-------------
Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes
Find a fly and eat his eye
But don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
Don't believe in me

Posted By: toolis
Date Posted: June 15 2008 at 06:21

Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade Of Gray

Savatage - Dead Winter Dead

Tool - Lateralus

Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime

Isn't Clutching At Straws a concept album? if it is, that one too...

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sometimes amateurs turn us on, even more...

-sometimes you are the pigeon and sometimes you are the statue...

Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: June 15 2008 at 10:01

BaldFriede wrote:

See my post on the previous page, the concept was droped after they recorded three of the songs, inculding A Day in the Life.

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Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005

Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 15 2008 at 16:02

OK I admited. Most of you guys disagree.. but that is ok' no one is going to die' LOL . it is fine I admited. Embarrassed

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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: June 15 2008 at 16:17

^ well can't blame people when the 70's list for example, is only half made of true concept albums.. and many that were.. weren't exactly great. concepts anyway LOL

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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip

Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 15 2008 at 16:26

Rocktopus wrote:

darksideof wrote:

Russian wrote:

Ayreon is sadly missing from your list. The Human Equation is an excellent concept album, and I find his others to be none too shabby too.

sorry fella but I hadn't heard that whole album in its entire.

That should be the least of your concerns. Ayreon missing is one of the few things right about these lists.

Getting into Gong, Magma and italianprog is what you need to do.

you are telling me to get into GONG< MAGMA< AND the Italian!! LOL

I am NOT! a new prog convert. I have been a prog fan for 25 looooong years now! and I had been a fan of the Italian prog bands for years toooo.! Gong is one of my fav of the Canterbury bands With Magma I am not their biggest fan, but they made quiet a lot interesting albums. Talking to the wrong dude!!.. Big%20smile

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Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: June 16 2008 at 04:11

Wait, I'm confused, how are we doing this? Is this "best albums that happen to be concept albums," or "really good albums with a really clever concept?" Because, for example, I don't think that Days of Future Passed is all THAT great of a concept (I mean, c'mon! Life stretched out over a day? Not terribly original), but I DO think that it's a great album musically.

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Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: June 16 2008 at 05:27

darksideof wrote:

Rocktopus wrote:

darksideof wrote:

Russian wrote:

Ayreon is sadly missing from your list. The Human Equation is an excellent concept album, and I find his others to be none too shabby too.

sorry fella but I hadn't heard that whole album in its entire.

That should be the least of your concerns. Ayreon missing is one of the few things right about these lists.

Getting into Gong, Magma and italianprog is what you need to do.

you are telling me to get into GONG< MAGMA< AND the Italian!!
I am NOT! a new prog conver. I have been a prog fasn for 25 long years now! and I had been a fan of the Italian prog bands for years and Gong album and their fusion albums as too With Magma I am not their biggest fan, but they made quiet a lot interesting albums. I am very open when it comes down to prog. I enjoy from avant garde prog to prog metal..

From your opening post there was no way of telling, as you didn't include any of them. It looked more like you only knew about a dozen 70's concept albums or so, in total.

-------------
Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes
Find a fly and eat his eye
But don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
Don't believe in me

Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: June 16 2008 at 07:21

TGM: Orb wrote:

The Wall. Lame. Explained why in other thread. Boring, semi-logical concept, lyrical filler.
The lamb Lies Down on Broawday. Minor spelling details aside, absolutely. Brilliant album, dealing with an interesting and ambiguous overall story, while giving nods to issues. Very lyrically clever.
Thick as Brick. Don't know. Really only a concept in its parodic nature of the epic poem. Themes of youth overpowering old. Not sure its a dead-set concept. Great album, certainly, and I admit that the concept and feel adds to it. Might have given A Passion Play the nod.
Tales From the Topografic Oceans. Hm, probably. I have difficulty confronting it as a concept because the lyrics are rather diffuse. Some brilliant textures and atmospheres, some slips, an overall theme. Very good album.
Dark side of the Moon. I'll give you that one. Perhaps more partial to WYWH (even if less concepty) and Animals, myself.
Day The Future Passed. Semi-concept. Good album, rather than great. Always had problems with the jumpier moments being rather too frequent. Additionally, given that the concept is a little *difficult* to quantify (and it was named by the label, not the band), I'm uncertain whether it qualifies.
Tommy. Some weak lyrical choices, plenty of essentially concept-unrelated material (Pinball Wizard having maybe a line of relevance). Not exactly my thing.
2112. Not exactly a concept album. There's one concept song and a side of entirely unrelated, as far as I can tell, material. I love it (to a four star level), but Tears and Something For Nothing, for instance, bear no relation to each other.
Brian Salad Surgery. It's not a concept album. Not even close, in my opinion. One concept song, with a main weakness in not really tying together the components (I fail to see how the second really relates to the other two, really). Absolutely great album, but again, it's just not a concept album.
Hemipheres. Not a concept album, again. There is a concept to Hemispheres, very loosely continued from Cygnus X-I, and the remaining three bits are all good, but not connected to an over-riding concept. I consider the lyrics to Hemispheres a little awkward, but I like it.
Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band Don't know.
Joe's Garage Don't know.

"Thick as a Brick" is a concept album for sure, and on a larger scale than most other concept albums. if you have it with the original cover and fully read the newspaper you will understand what I mean

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A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta

Posted By: zbida
Date Posted: June 16 2008 at 07:51

darksideof wrote:

The Wall
The lamb Lies Down on Broawday
Thick as Brick
Tales From the Topografic Oceans
Dark side of the Moon
Day The Future Passed
Tommy
2112
Brian Salad Surgery
Hemipheres
Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band
Joe's Garage

After the 70's?

Metropolis Part II:Scenes From A Memory Dream Theater
The Perfect Element Pain of Salvation
Ok Computer Radiohead
Operation Mindcrime Queensrÿche
Misplaced Childhood marillion
Latelarus Tool
Be pain of salvation
A New mythology Symphony X
Aenima Tool
Second Life Syndrome riveside
Fear of A Black Planet PT yeap! their last album
the visitor Arena

Put The Snow Goose instead of The Wall and you will have quite essential selection of really great 70's concept or quasi-concept prog albums.

Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: June 16 2008 at 08:01

Gong - You
Marillion - Brave
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element
Yes - Close to the Edge
Opeth - Still Life
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
IQ - Subterranea
Magma - MDK
Pain of Salvation - BE
Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane

There you go.

Concept album = tells a story over multiple tracks, or movements within a large track. Exception: Thick as a Brick, the concept of which is defined and apparent, unlike Dark Side of the Moon, which is just a collection of songs with similar themes.

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Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 16 2008 at 10:08

Rocktopus wrote:

darksideof wrote:

Rocktopus wrote:

darksideof wrote:

Russian wrote:

Ayreon is sadly missing from your list. The Human Equation is an excellent concept album, and I find his others to be none too shabby too.

sorry fella but I hadn't heard that whole album in its entire.

That should be the least of your concerns. Ayreon missing is one of the few things right about these lists.

Getting into Gong, Magma and italianprog is what you need to do.

you are telling me to get into GONG< MAGMA< AND the Italian!! LOL

From your opening post there was no way of telling, as you didn't include any of them. It looked more like you only knew about a dozen 70's concept albums or so, in total.

have you ever heard the saying: " Dont' judge a book by its cover?

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Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 16 2008 at 10:10

zbida wrote:

darksideof wrote:

The Wall
The lamb Lies Down on Broawday
Thick as Brick
Tales From the Topografic Oceans
Dark side of the Moon
Day The Future Passed
Tommy
2112
Brian Salad Surgery
Hemipheres
Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band
Joe's Garage

After the 70's?

Metropolis Part II:Scenes From A Memory Dream Theater
The Perfect Element Pain of Salvation
Ok Computer Radiohead
Operation Mindcrime Queensrÿche
Misplaced Childhood marillion
Latelarus Tool
Be pain of salvation
A New mythology Symphony X
Aenima Tool
Second Life Syndrome riveside
Fear of A Black Planet PT yeap! their last album
the visitor Arena

Put The Snow Goose instead of The Wall and you will have quite essential selection of really great 70's concept or quasi-concept prog albums.

OK I am a Camel fan but come on! dont push it!!

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Posted By: Treasure
Date Posted: June 16 2008 at 14:06

What in christ are you talking about? You spelt half the names wrong

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Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: June 16 2008 at 17:47

darksideof wrote:

From your opening post there was no way of telling, as you didn't include any of them. It looked more like you only knew about a dozen 70's concept albums or so, in total.

have you ever heard the saying: " Dont' judge a book by its cover?

[/QUOTE]

Yes, but it doesn't really make any sense using it here.

-------------
Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes
Find a fly and eat his eye
But don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
Don't believe in me

Posted By: micky
Date Posted: June 16 2008 at 20:32

Rocktopus wrote:

darksideof wrote:

Rocktopus wrote:

From your opening post there was no way of telling, as you didn't include any of them. It looked more like you only knew about a dozen 70's concept albums or so, in total.

have you ever heard the saying: " Dont' judge a book by its cover?

Yes, but it doesn't really make any sense using it here.

amen brother Rocktopus... I think what he meant to say was...

darksideof wrote:

have you ever heard the saying: " Forgive me master... I haven't discovered that prog was more than that same old f**king Anglo-centric prog?

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Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: June 17 2008 at 02:38

Any list that leaves out Journey to the Center of the Earth and Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds is shockingly deficient.

Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: June 17 2008 at 02:45

Oh heck, let me give you a list of twelve. Don't take the order too seriously.

1. Rick Wakeman -- Journey to the Center of the Earth.

2. The Moody Blues -- Days of Future Passed

3. Yes -- Tales from Topographic Oceans

4. Genesis -- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

5. Pink Floyd -- Dark Side of the Moon

6. Camel -- The Snow Goose

7. Frank Zappa -- Joe's Garage

8. Jeff Wayne -- Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds

9. Queensryche -- Operation Mindcrime

10. Pink Floyd -- Animals

11. Le Orme -- Felona e Sorona

12. Jon Anderson -- Olias of Sunhillow

Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 17 2008 at 12:31

ghost_of_morphy wrote:

Oh heck, let me give you a list of twelve. Don't take the order too seriously.

1. Rick Wakeman -- Journey to the Center of the Earth. love it

2. The Moody Blues -- Days of Future Passed love it is on my list

3. Yes -- Tales from Topographic Oceans love it it is on my list

4. Genesis -- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway also

5. Pink Floyd -- Dark Side of the Moon also

6. Camel -- The Snow Goose love it too

7. Frank Zappa -- Joe's Garage on my list

8. Jeff Wayne -- Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds

9. Queensryche -- Operation Mindcrime on my list of the moderm ones

10. Pink Floyd -- Animals love it too!!

11. Le Orme -- Felona e Sorona I forgot about this Italian masterpiece!! love it

12. Jon Anderson -- Olias of Sunhillow and of course love it too.!!!

great one indeed!!!

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Posted By: Okocha
Date Posted: June 17 2008 at 12:49

Nope

Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: June 18 2008 at 04:34

darksideof wrote:

ghost_of_morphy wrote:

Oh heck, let me give you a list of twelve. Don't take the order too seriously.

1. Rick Wakeman -- Journey to the Center of the Earth. love it

2. The Moody Blues -- Days of Future Passed love it is on my list

3. Yes -- Tales from Topographic Oceans love it it is on my list

4. Genesis -- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway also

5. Pink Floyd -- Dark Side of the Moon also

6. Camel -- The Snow Goose love it too

7. Frank Zappa -- Joe's Garage on my list

8. Jeff Wayne -- Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds

9. Queensryche -- Operation Mindcrime on my list of the moderm ones

10. Pink Floyd -- Animals love it too!!

11. Le Orme -- Felona e Sorona I forgot about this Italian masterpiece!! love it

12. Jon Anderson -- Olias of Sunhillow and of course love it too.!!!

great one indeed!!!

I assume that you are already familiar with DSOTM, but if you haven't heard War of the Worlds, you need to. It's like Rick Wakeman's Return to the Center of the Earth but it's GOOD!!! LOL

Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 18 2008 at 11:21

ghost_of_morphy wrote:

darksideof wrote:

ghost_of_morphy wrote:

Oh heck, let me give you a list of twelve. Don't take the order too seriously.

1. Rick Wakeman -- Journey to the Center of the Earth. love it

2. The Moody Blues -- Days of Future Passed love it is on my list

3. Yes -- Tales from Topographic Oceans love it it is on my list

4. Genesis -- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway also

5. Pink Floyd -- Dark Side of the Moon also

6. Camel -- The Snow Goose love it too

7. Frank Zappa -- Joe's Garage on my list

8. Jeff Wayne -- Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds

9. Queensryche -- Operation Mindcrime on my list of the moderm ones

10. Pink Floyd -- Animals love it too!!

11. Le Orme -- Felona e Sorona I forgot about this Italian masterpiece!! love it

12. Jon Anderson -- Olias of Sunhillow and of course love it too.!!!

great one indeed!!!

I assume that you are already familiar with DSOTM, but if you haven't heard War of the Worlds, you need to. It's like Rick Wakeman's Return to the Center of the Earth but it's GOOD!!! LOL

Ok I check it out!! thanks!!!

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Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 18 2008 at 11:23

micky wrote:

Rocktopus wrote:

darksideof wrote:

Rocktopus wrote:

From your opening post there was no way of telling, as you didn't include any of them. It looked more like you only knew about a dozen 70's concept albums or so, in total.

have you ever heard the saying: " Dont' judge a book by its cover?

Yes, but it doesn't really make any sense using it here.

amen brother Rocktopus... I think what he meant to say was...

darksideof wrote:

have you ever heard the saying: " Forgive me master... I haven't discovered that prog was more than that same old f**king Anglo-centric prog?

JAJAJAJAJA!!!!!

real Funny!!

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Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 18 2008 at 11:24

micky wrote:

Rocktopus wrote:

darksideof wrote:

Rocktopus wrote:

From your opening post there was no way of telling, as you didn't include any of them. It looked more like you only knew about a dozen 70's concept albums or so, in total.

have you ever heard the saying: " Dont' judge a book by its cover?

Yes, but it doesn't really make any sense using it here.

amen brother Rocktopus... I think what he meant to say was...

darksideof wrote:

have you ever heard the saying: " Forgive me master... I haven't discovered that prog was more than that same old f**king Anglo-centric prog?

JAJAJAJA!!!!

Real funny

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Posted By: BroSpence
Date Posted: June 19 2008 at 03:23

I disagree.

I think:

Animals
Quadrophenia
Thick as a Brick
Selling England by the Pound
Aqualung
The Snow Goose
Days of Future Past
Ys
Frances the Mute

are better.

Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: June 19 2008 at 07:40

darksideof wrote:

wow!! you haven't? you go shopping this weekend.

Sgt Pepper is NOT a concept album in the traditional sense that all the songs are part of an overall story such as Olias or Lamb Lies Down. It was originally conceived as a "concept" in that the album would be by the fictitious Lonely Hearts Club Band and would be a continual show but only the first 2 tracks were ever recorded like this. The band and Lennon in particular got bored with the idea (as that Wikipedia article itself says "However, the Beatles effectively abandoned the concept after recording the first two songs and the reprise") . Even the reprise was a later suggestion from Neil Aspinall.

There is no common theme between the songs, although I have read articles suggesting otherwise.

Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: June 19 2008 at 07:44

BaldFriede wrote:

That was the original idea but it doesn't really follow either as Ringo is Billy Shears and only sings one song on the album.