Favorite Concept Album(s)

[Bastardous Bassist]

Uhhhh 2 pages and nobody mentioning Blind Guardian's Nightfall in Middle Earth? For shame!

Except this guy:

Anyways, I actually like a lot of the songs off of Blind Guardian's "Nightfall in Middle-Earth."

[Zingoleb]

Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull

So, uh, what's the concept here?

Other than, y'know, "LOL prog rock"

[Mr. Doctor]

Uhhhh 2 pages and nobody mentioning Blind Guardian's Nightfall in Middle Earth? For shame!

I knew about the album. But I just can't stand power metal any longer 

[Theriandros]

All 3 of Haggard's older albums: Neo-classical metal wrapped around a historical story, like the trial of Galileo. 

Also, Rick Wakeman's Return to the Center of the Earth is pretty cool, but the definition of it as an album is possibly questionable. At this point, when Patrick Stewart narrates spoken parts of a story, I really don't care.

[skydivingninja]

Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull

So, uh, what's the concept here?

Other than, y'know, "LOL prog rock"

Its a send-up of concept albums, inspired by a bunch of people saying Aqualung was a concept album.  Basically LOL prog rock making fun of LOL prog rock.

[Kyros]

The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday
Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls

Just though I'd drop a few more recent ones people have yet to mention.

[Lummer]

Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull

So, uh, what's the concept here?

Other than, y'know, "LOL prog rock"

Its a send-up of concept albums, inspired by a bunch of people saying Aqualung was a concept album.  Basically LOL prog rock making fun of LOL prog rock.

Still a fantastic album!

[Zingoleb]

Well, duh.

It was the first vinyl record I ever owned, too.

[epoch]

I just got Sufjan Steven's latest, and now Illinoise is on the list. Amazing piece of work.

[uselessrant] I hate it when people say that his albums are concept albums. They are NOT. They are about states, but the songs have nothing to do with each other. If you can tell me how John Wayne Gacy, Casimir Pulaski, and Mary Todd Lincoln have anything to do with each other (besides that state bullshit) than you must be a goddamn genius. [/uselessrant]
Although I do his enjoy enjoy his music, they just aren't concept albums.

[Brian Majestic]

Serge Gainsbourg's "Melody Nelson".

[SWOON! at My Gravitas]

I adore all of Opeth's concept albums-- Ghost Reveries, My Arms Your Hearse, and Still Life.  Apart from Blackwater Park, they are by and large Opeth at their best.

[spoon_of_grimbo]

I adore all of Opeth's concept albums-- Ghost Reveries, My Arms Your Hearse, and Still Life.  Apart from Blackwater Park, they are by and large Opeth at their best.

did you just imply that Blackwater Park is NOT among their best material?

better 'splain yerself or you and i and are gonna have fisticuffs!

[Bastardous Bassist]

I think he said that their concept albums are their best work aside from Blackwater Park.  I thought the same thing, so I went back and read it a few more times and arrived at that conclusion.

[negative creep]

Ahab - The Divinity Of Oceans

WHAT THE FUCK NEW AHAB ALBUM!! WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED?!

[SWOON! at My Gravitas]

I think he said that their concept albums are their best work aside from Blackwater Park.  I thought the same thing, so I went back and read it a few more times and arrived at that conclusion.

Yeah, that's what I meant.

[Mr. Doctor]

did you just imply that Blackwater Park is NOT among their best material?
better 'splain yerself or you and i and are gonna have fisticuffs!

Meh...
Yo dude, I'm really happy for you and I'mma let you finish but the first 4 albums are the best albums of all their discography, OF ALL THEIR DISCOGRAPHY.
Yeah... Blackwater Park is awesome, but everything before that it's just 10 times better. Morningrise being their best imho.

Ahab - The Divinity Of Oceans

WHAT THE FUCK NEW AHAB ALBUM!! WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED?!

Now you are informed, the album came out 22 july, and from what I've heard... This dudes did it again, amazing album and the best thing is that it's fresh... It's not a copy of what they did in the debut, something that I was really afraid of, but no... The album is fresh and they tried a lot of new things that work really good. And the artwork is a killer as well.
Doom ahoy, mateys

[spoon_of_grimbo]

i'd agree that morningrise and still life are awesome (those two plus blackwater park collectively make up their best IMO), but i just can't get into orchid or my arms your hearse though.  one things for sure, they should never have fired the bassist who played on morningrise, his lines were beautiful!

[negative creep]

Yeah I ordered the album about 30 seconds after my post last night. Thanks!

[Mr. Doctor]

Not a problem dude, I hope you'll enjoy it !!!  
_

i'd agree that morningrise and still life are awesome (those two plus blackwater park collectively make up their best IMO), but i just can't get into orchid or my arms your hearse though.  one things for sure, they should never have fired the bassist who played on morningrise, his lines were beautiful!

Orchid and My Arms Your Hearse are way darker and have a more "brutal" approach than the others and The influences of Death and Black are more clear if you hear Mikaels haunting growls almost black-like on Orchid and the "fuzzy" production of My Arms. So I see what you mean. Then again, One of the things I like about Orchid is that it's their debut but it's incredibly well done, they knew what they wanted to do since their very first beginning. And that flower is beautiful!

Mendez is a great dude, Still Life has some sweet bass, but yeah... Everytime I see "bass" and "Opeth" in the same sentence... I think about Morningrise.

[RedLion]

Does Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty" count? It's a loose concept album I guess..but the first 3 songs are some of my favorite songs. Ever. Period.

[BeoPuppy]

Just figured out I forgot Misplace Childhood.

Also, I second the Haggard mention. Haggard are awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ2Y9_MwiE8