Here is my list of the best conceptual albums. I have selected them in terms of theirs concepts significance.
Outstanding Concept Albums:
• Hallowed Ground – Violent Femmes
• We're Only In It For the Money –
Mothers of Invention
• The Mollusk – Ween
• The United States of America – The United States of America
• Spirit of Eden – Talk Talk
• Berlin – Lou Reed
• Desertshore - Nico
• Marble Index - Nico
• To Our Children's Children's
Children – Moody Blues
• Thick as a Brick – Jethro Tull
• Another green world – Brian Eno
• In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida – Iron Butterfly
• The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway -
Genesis
• Wish you were here – Pink Floyd
• Tarkus – Emerson Lake and Palmer
• The Boatman's Call – Nick Cave
& the Bad Seeds
• The Firstborn Is Dead – Nick Cave
& the Bad Seeds
• 666 - Aphrodite's Child
• Flying teapot - Gong
• In the land of grey and pink -
Caravan
• Spiderland - Slint
• Blows against the empire - Paul Kantner
• The
Getty Address - Dirty Projectors
The Most Significant Concept Albums:
11. Beggars’ Banquet - the Rolling Stones
Probably the best concept in roots rock history. This albums has made the Stones icons and created new style in popular music. Its concept is amazing for fusing street lyricism with rhythm and blues, a fusion that has never been repeated by other artists successfully.
10. Selling England by the Pound - Genesis
Progressive rock concepts do not get better. You could argue that The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was Genesis's conceptual masterpiece, but let me say that this one is more original (it came out first) and it is much more cohesive work of art. This is the peak of Peter Gabriel conducted Genesis, and a real gem in band's catalogue.
9. Funeral - Arcade Fire
Possibly the most emotional Pop-rock album. This is music composed after the loss of beloved ones. Win Butler and Régine Chassagne create heart breaking concept by raising motives full of nostalgia and despair. The rest of the band, consisting of fifteen musicians, arranges an impeccable wall of sound, that accurately completes this masterpiece. Funeral is popular music of the most classy quality.
8. Willy and the Poor Boys - Creedence Clearwater Revival
This is not American equivalent of Sgt. Pepper. No, this album is much better conceptually due to the fact, that it is devoted to the concept of rock'n'roll band. This record proves John Forgery's song writing mastery and it shows incredible creativity of the band. I can't say that songs from track listing became popular standards, because today they rather seem to be peerless examples of rock & roll competence. No other band could compete with Creedence in their musical area.
7. Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
After over twenty years since its release, this one sounds like a modern classic. This album, which contains some of the best psychedelic compositions and is responsible for pioneering new musical style, must be a classic. Loveless shows the perspective of a person in crisis of emotional relations. This music goes beyond the format of a song and transfixes the listener with its sound.
6. Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) - the Kinks
The most successful concept album composed by Ray Davies. This album rules on so many dimensions, it is really hard to determine why this is such a masterpiece. It has pioneered political concept in rock music and it has proven that Pop-rock was musically a serious genre.
5. American Pie - Don McLean
It is not only one of the best singer-songwriter albums. This is terrific summary of America in times of Vietnam War. Both, personal statement and music of universal value in context of the times they were a-changin'. This album is so special, because it has expressed what many young people were feeling at that point, kind of insecurity, lonesomeness, and yearning for love. In this work of art, the author perfectly represents and describes his generation.
4. Quadrophenia - the Who
The best rock opera of all time, period. This album presents the story of loneliness, disillusion and desire, as no one other. Pete Townsend has finally composed his personal, lifetime masterpiece. This is one of the most musically perfect works in rock history. It has pushed boundaries or art-rock to stratosphere of unique quality.
3. Strange Days - the Doors
The classic of concept albums, this one is probably the most intriguing concept in history of popular music. Strange Days works as an ultimate psychedelic trip and transforms the spirit of Carnivalesque into the sound of rock music. This incredible and terrifying vision was created by Jim Morrison and crafted with John Densmore, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger. This concept may has not been the most revolutionary, but it has to be the most vital of all.
2. The Good Son - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
The collection of spiritual songs, which is one of the very best rock albums in existence. It has been a result of Nick Cave's visit to Brazil, where he has found spiritual answers as an inspiration for the album. This concept tells stories of inner souls and existential travels, derived from alter egos of the author.The emotionality of music provides the listener with identification of the persona, presented in this art. This is the key concept for human, spiritually torn apart by modern times.
1. Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan
The Album which has resulted in the musical enlightenment of rock conceptualism. Funnily, this is not exactly a concept album, but it surely was the prototype. The most crucial fact about this work, is that it gave good reasons for making concept albums in general. These compositions, that could be heard on this record, have provided rock music with intellectual flow and imaginative symbolism. This does not mean that the album's strength is only in revolutionary aspect, the music itself is still very relevant and not a bit dated.
