Best Concept Album

[Dralix]

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, since the definition of a concept album is open to interpretation. In fact, I included some albums which I don't consider to be concept albums, but are often included in a list of the greatest concept albums. If your favourite is not on the list, let me know and I will ask for it to be added.

 

[CurtSibling]

Tsk!

No rock or metal epics?

Pah!

Rhapsody's Emerald Sword Saga, as described through 4 stunning metal/symphonic albums, ranks as a great work.

But I could list many more in the same genre!

 

[WinterRose]

Theatre of Tragedy - Velvet Darkness They Fear ... Oh well.

 

[Pillager]

Beatles: Sgt. Pepper

 

[Mr. Republican]

Where's Dream Theater's "Scenes from a memory" on that list?

 

[Dralix]

Originally posted by Mr. Republican
Where's Dream Theater's "Scenes from a memory" on that list?

I think it's number 9¾

As I tried to say in the first post, compiling an exhaustive list of every album that someone considers "the best concept album of all time" would be most difficult. I did not intend to do so.

 

[Alice]

I voted for the Wall, but I actually think it's a tie between the Wall and Tommy (but I wish I had voted for Tommy because it has 0 votes )

 

[thestonesfan]

While for me, music always wins over concept, there are a couple I like.

Animals - Pink Floyd - Just flat out brilliant instrumentation. I'm not really an Orwellian kind of guy, but I love this album.

Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd - Again, brilliant playing and songwriting. The subject matter is more down to earth compared with other Floyd albums, which makes it all the more enjoyable to me. We've all missed friends.

Dark Side - Pink Floyd - "Time" alone makes it better than most albums.

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars - Bowie - I just like Bowie's general weirdness, and this has some great tunes. Don't ask me what the concept is though.

Anyway, I'm not really a huge fan of concept albums.

 

[Ancient Grudge]

The Who-Tommy

 

[G-Man]

When it comes to concept albums, the wall is simply the best. Few other albums have made such a strong concept.

BTW I wouldn't consider sgt. pepper to be a concept album - a track in the start and a track in the end aren't exactly an album...

 

[onejayhawk]

The Wall is great. I cold mention JC Superstar, but I'll go with War of the Worlds.

J

 

[taper]

After voting for Tommy, I thought of Jethro Tull's Thick As A Brick. On the edges of being a concept, but very good anyway.

 

[Jayne]

David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'

 

[JonathanValjean]

I think "The Wall" is the best concept album of all time, followed closely by "The Dark Side of the Moon."

 

[satchel]

"The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" is one of my most favorite albums. I wouldn't say it's the greatest, objectively, but it's definitely my favorite.

It was also the first CD I ever bought, before I got a CD player. It was in 1989, and I figured I'd be getting a CD player eventually, so I picked up the CD of it prospectively, so I could retire my old worn-out vinyl pressing of it the instant I got the new player.

 

[Civddict]

Where is King Diamond ?
Abigail? Them? Consiparacy? The Eye? The Spider's Lullabye? the Graveyard? Voodoo? House of God?

none of them damn

 

[Mojotronica]

Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon narrowly edges out the Wall, in my opinion. There's plenty of great stuff on the Wall, but it has a few merely okay songs. Every song on DSOTM is great. Even the overplayed "Money."

I think that Roger Waters works best when he's reigned in a little bit. The best PF songs were collaborations.

By himself, PF's "new" driving force David Gilmore can get hung up on recreating the PF "sound," and his subject matter is not deep the way Waters' subject matter is. "Learning to Fly" is, literally, about learning to fly a small plane. Not deep stuff. Not an accessible universal human experience. He needs Waters freaky vision.

Waters needs someone to keep him from writing the same ultra-pared down vocal and light instrumental nearly spoken-word song he insists on putting two or three times on every album since the Wall...

You know it -- it sounds like the opening to "Nobody Home." But he keeps on recreating it.

The Who's Tommy is more cohesive than PF's stuff. I just prefer Floyd.

The others are all good too -- especially Sgt Peppers... But PF is maybe my favorite band ever! If gotta go w/ them.

 

[Raijer]

Not a big fan of the "concept" album. It's all a bit too self-important for rock.

Having said that, I'll choose some concepts that rock anyway:

Rush's 2112
Pink Floyd's Animals
Genesis' Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

 

[sysyphus]

Rush: 2112

Does Pink Floyd's Ummagumma qualify?

 

[Sultan Bhargash]

I've outgrown concept albums but Rush 2112, Pink Floyd's Animals, King Crimson's first two albums (eponymous and "The Wake of Poseidon"), and Snoop Doggy Dogg's "Doggystyle" were among the best back in the day.