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speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
 Posted - 08/13/2003 : 09:07:22
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| My above post about TOTY has got me thinking about Concept Albums. What do you cats think of them? They can be really pretentious, or really brilliant, but they're usually interesting. There have been some major malfunctions, like "the Elder", by Kiss, and some real success, like Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by the Flaming Lips. So, Concept Albums, what do you think? What are some good ones? Bad ones? Are they totally pathetic? Are they the ultimate artistic statement for a musician? Could Teenager by a concept record in hiding? |
Edited by - speedy_m on 08/13/2003 09:18:35 |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 09:15:58
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Concept albums are alright...if done properly. Good: Dark Side of the Moon.
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FRANK BLACK SATAN WORKSHIP BLACK MASS |
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speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 09:17:45
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| How about the whole Dark Side of the Moon/Wizard of Oz thing? There are some scary paralles there. |
Edited by - speedy_m on 08/13/2003 09:19:11 |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 09:22:27
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What exactly constitutes a concept album?
Would Beck's Mellow Gold be one as it was all written for the same movie?
Metallica's St.Anger is starting to really get on my nerves as my husband plays it non-stop. It's all about being angry, every freaking song. |
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speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 09:30:26
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| I guess the definition of a concept album varies, from something like the Who's "Tommy" which is, to something more loosely a concept album, like Yoshimi. I guess every record has a "concept" of somekind, even if it's just "let's record an album". The traditional concept record is one where all of the songs tie into one central theme or story. |
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guy_nolan
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
417 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 09:36:10
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| I'm really starting to get into the 'The Dark Side of the Moon' by Pink Floyd. I borrowed it from my mom so I could try the 'Wizard of Oz' synchronization thing, not thinking I would actually like the album but I was pleasently surprised. Some of the sound effects are a little annoying but I like the actual songs. The base-line for money is top class :) |
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mereubu
= FB QuizMistress =
USA
2677 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 09:43:50
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| Worst concept album ever: Styx's "Kilroy Was Here." Hilariously, horribly bad. I actually have a copy of the 13 minute film that they would screen at the beginning of live shows to set up their craptastic little futuristic world and it's pee-your-pants funny. |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 10:04:11
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| Oh you know you like it mere. It was pretty cool back in the day. |
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ObfuscateByWill
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1887 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 10:15:54
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Preservation - the Kinks -> Always described as a 'Rock Opera'. Is there a difference between that and a concept album?
God In 3 Persons - the Residents -> I've only listened to this one once, but I remember being fairly blown away.
Thick As A Brick & A Passion Play - Jethro Tull -> 
*Shka-pow! |
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speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 10:22:17
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| I'd say Concept Album and Rock Opera fall under the same umbrella. I suppose the rock opera is a type of concept album. How does that sound? |
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the swimmer
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1602 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 11:10:35
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| I like the one by this band called RADIOHEAD. It's called OK COMPUTER. |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 11:11:55
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| Jeez I never heard of that, who is this Radiohead? |
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Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 11:23:33
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Kilroy..hilarious!!
I think concept albums are great. Neil Young - Trans, yeah baby!!!
Neil's Dead Man album is pretty cool too..soundtrack for the movie. It'd be neat to see musicians tied into movies more.
I think the 'hit' thing has made concept albums really unpopular.. |
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ivandivel
= Cult of Ray =
394 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 12:28:32
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| I am an old Kiss fan so I might be biased, but The elder is not malfunction - and i thought that flaming lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots was boring (compared to their previous stuff - but ok - kill me). I remember digging Operation Mindcrime by Queensryche - which has some great songs (considering it is 80's metal). Most concept albums fail though, because the the music tends to be sacrificed to the big god of CONCEPT - which in turn boost the band's grandiose egos into ridiculous proportions. |
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paintmeister
= Cult of Ray =
USA
347 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 19:56:58
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| When I think of a Concept album, I think of Jeff Wayne's "The War of the Worlds". It came out in the '70's sometime. It was about HG Wells novel. It had members from The Moody Blues (Justin Hayward), Manfred Mann, Thin Lizzy (Phil Lynott), David Essex and others. Richard Burton narrated it. I thought it was pretty unique. Like someone else said "usually the music is lacking" but it had a couple of good songs on it. |
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Atheist4Catholics
= Cult of Ray =
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2003 : 23:18:09
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I think Pink Floyd are the kings of this category. They had more subtlety and focus with their themes than most.
Other than that I like:
Joe's Garage - Frank Zappa,
We're Only In It For The Money - The Mothers of Invention,
69 Love Songs - Magnetic Fields,
Passion Play - Jethro Tull
Larks Tongue in Aspic - King Crimson
Dirt - Alice in Chains
Exile in Guyville - Liz Phair
Skylarking - XTC
I think one of the worst ever is "Leftoverture" by Kansas
www.mp3.com/clootie |
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Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 00:05:35
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| Would the Electric Six's 'Fire' be considered a concept album? =) |
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vilainde
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Niue
7446 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 01:11:08
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I like concept albums. The best ever: Bowie's Ziggy Stardust.
Denis |
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Scarla O
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
947 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 01:52:52
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I have to agree with vilainde. Although 'Diamond Dogs' was another fine concept album. |
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NimrodsSon
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1938 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 13:20:37
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| Dark Side Of The Moon is great, but as far as a full blown concept album, I think The Wall blows it away, even though the songs aren't necessarily all as good. Concept albums are my favorite because that's really what an album should be. That's also why I hate greatest hits and compilation CDs, because all albums have somewhat of a concept to them. |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 13:35:45
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The Wall sucks. I hate double CDs with a passion. Dark Side of the Moon is one of the greatest albums ever recorded if you ask me, and I don't like Floyd that much (besides their early Syd Barrett stuff). The sound of that album...wow...it just sounds so, I don't know...full. And real. Three dimensional. It's amazing. I always tell this story, but when I first heard the entire album, I listened to it non-stop that entire week...back to back...I put headphones on and listened to it while I fell asleep. It's an amazing album.
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FRANK BLACK SATAN WORKSHIP BLACK MASS |
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Carolynanna
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Canada
6556 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 13:38:03
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How come so few people mention Animals by Pink Floyd.
that's a concept, every song named after an animal.
Its really good though. |
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Snowmaiden
- FB Fan -
Canada
34 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 13:59:24
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| Bowie - Outside |
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Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 14:42:32
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| Oh yeah - Roger Waters - just about any of his solo stuff.. Amused is brilliant. |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 16:11:07
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| If you like rock music, I recommend "Arthur" by The Kinks. |
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guy_nolan
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
417 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 16:30:52
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| Has anyone tried the Wiz of Oz/Darkside synchronization yet? If so what did you think? I think it's got to be total coincidence but it's still pretty interesting to try. |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 08/15/2003 : 11:14:06
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It's definitely a crazy synch. Some of it is a stretch, but the scene changes are what get me the most. The opening song fading in with the credit (of the producer?) fading in, the ringing bells opening Time when the scene changes to the witch on the bike, the "cha-ching" when Dorthy (sp) opens the door after the storm, the Great Gig in the Sky drum and singing coming in after the tree is ripped from the ground...the fact that that song is so chaotic sounding during the tornado. It's really weird.
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FRANK BLACK SATAN WORKSHIP BLACK MASS |
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paintmeister
= Cult of Ray =
USA
347 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2003 : 11:46:24
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Alan Parsons Project-- Tales of mystery and imagination.
And pretty much every album they did.
Alan engineered the Dark Side of the Moon and at least one other Pink Floyd album. |
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Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2003 : 13:31:32
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| Neil Young's newest album 'Greendale' (?) is a concept / theme album too. |
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Little Black Francis
> Teenager of the Year <
3648 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2003 : 15:15:13
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what about that 4 disc set by the Flaming Lips that came out around 1996, I can't remember the name, but you could play all 4 discs at the same time on 4 stereos and they'd go together, or any 1 disc or any combination of discs. That's a concept right?
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ain't it |
Edited by - Little Black Francis on 08/17/2003 15:15:55 |
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Brackish Girl
~ Soul Eater ~
Ireland
1750 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2003 : 17:10:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Little Black Francis
what about that 4 disc set by the Flaming Lips that came out around 1996, I can't remember the name, but you could play all 4 discs at the same time on 4 stereos and they'd go together, or any 1 disc or any combination of discs. That's a concept right?
Zaireeka.
oh, and i found this compilation cd which is called 'Colonel Jeffrey Pumpernickel-a Concept Album' and includes Guided by Voices, Sentridoh, Grandaddy and Stephen Malkmus.it's about this colonel, jeffrey(with two f's) who GBV both 'create' and 'destroy'. they don't really talk about him in the inlay, they just talk about concept albums. so obviously this is some sort of piss take.
-Jessie
'She picked up the phone,
the bombs were deployed,
the people they groaned,
the world was destroyed' |
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Chris Knight
= Cult of Ray =
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2003 : 17:59:46
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| No offense intended, but I honestly don't give a fuck about "concepts"; all I really care about is the music on so-called concept albums. The fact that there's an underlying theme or two doesn't enhance the listening experience for me one iota. And in what sense is Mellow Gold a concept album? I've never heard (or read) this before. |
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Brackish Girl
~ Soul Eater ~
Ireland
1750 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2003 : 18:39:12
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but chris, are you really gonna 'let those robots win'??
-Jessie
'She picked up the phone,
the bombs were deployed,
the people they groaned,
the world was destroyed' |
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Brackish Girl
~ Soul Eater ~
Ireland
1750 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2003 : 18:43:50
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and really, according to Frank, SMYT is really a concept album of angry sorrow, so there you go...
-Jessie
'She picked up the phone,
the bombs were deployed,
the people they groaned,
the world was destroyed' |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2003 : 23:43:30
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That would be blurring the definition, Brackish, I think. A concept album is a conscious decision...the concept is decided before the album is written, not after. I haven't heard the album yet (as should none of you FUCKING PIRATES ;)), but just because the songs might all be sad doesn't mean it's a concept album. Now, if the album consciously and clearly tells a tale of one man's sadness in a sort of structured form, then that would be a concept album.
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FRANK BLACK SATAN WORKSHIP BLACK MASS |
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Brackish Girl
~ Soul Eater ~
Ireland
1750 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2003 : 05:53:15
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quote:
Originally posted by El Barto
That would be blurring the definition, Brackish, I think. A concept album is a conscious decision...the concept is decided before the album is written, not after. I haven't heard the album yet (as should none of you FUCKING PIRATES ;)), but just because the songs might all be sad doesn't mean it's a concept album. Now, if the album consciously and clearly tells a tale of one man's sadness in a sort of structured form, then that would be a concept album.
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FRANK BLACK SATAN WORKSHIP BLACK MASS
sooooorry. but "they were singin' 'bout my immenent divorce!"
and i'm not a pirate. did anyone see 'pirates of the carribean? that is one long film.
-Jessie
'She picked up the phone,
the bombs were deployed,
the people they groaned,
the world was destroyed' |
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