The (Definitively Non-Definitive) True Meaning of Concept Albums

What is a concept album? Nobody knows or has the same answer to that question. The definition of a concept album has never truly been narrowed down to its exact definition; it has just been a broad idea that certain artists follow (or don’t). However, from my perspective, a concept album is a conjunction of songs surrounding a main theme, a continuous story that follows the songs, or even one long song cut into an album (or not). I have always been fascinated by music that tells a story and have even thought hard on creating some myself. However, this article is about pre-existing concept albums that I’ve enjoyed.

Songs Tied Together by One Story

The most popular type of concept album is the classic “this album isn’t just an album; there is an underlying story”. A great example is Tenacious D’s The Pick of Destiny, a 33-minute album that tells the story of two rockstars that, after going through ups and downs, ending up fighting Beelzebub himself. After the album came out, they ended up making a movie out of it. Or could it have been the other way around? Nope, it’s the soundtrack for the movie, I tricked you. Or did I? Would that technically be considered a concept album? I’m not so sure about the answer for that one, but I am sure that the movie is great. It shows that nothing can resist the combined power of friendship and rock ‘n’ roll.

If somebody tells you that you can’t make a concept album, just make a musical and tell them it is a concept album.

Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage is an incredible demonstration of how one amazing story can be told by a great album with banger music. Joe’s Garage tells the story of a musician living through a government led initiative that makes music illegal, all the while his life spirals to the ground. This album is divided into three acts that are filled with genius songs that describe the insane life of a rockstar, how a dystopian government acts, and the troubles and dangers of having an STI. The songs that highlight these themes in the album are: “Catholic Girls”, “Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?” and “Watermelon In Easter Hay”, the latter being a nine-minute guitar solo that reaches into the deep parts of a mere human’s brain, guiding one through the grand finale of the album. Although it’s immediately followed up by “Little Green Rosetta”, which gives a warm yet haunting actual goodbye to the listener. This track is Frank Zappa out of character, after narrating the album as the Central Scrutinizer (an authoritarian method of the government to control and monitor citizens), speaking to the musicians that worked on the album as they all have fun singing the song together.

Combination/Separation of Songs

Kikuo’s Kikuoworld 3 – Sight, Noise, Life, and the Earth, is as diverse and surprising as a multi-cultural all-you-can-eat buffet at the center of a bustling city. Diverse because of its immense number of different genres and approaches to songwriting, and surprising because of how musically silly (stupid? weird? I am not sure of a word that could describe my feelings) this concept album is. There are many instances where the album goes directly from what can be described as the music that comes from inside of Dracula’s Evil Lair, to hard dubstep. A friend of mine showed me this album while we were hanging out, and whenever I stopped paying attention to the album for one second and zoned back in, I had to rewind 30 seconds to understand the context. Although it is incredibly produced…. The album was musically disorienting— a truly unique experience! Through mansion soundtracks, dubstep, Brazilian samba, electronic dance music, and many other weird genres, Kikuo creates an incredible 38-minute-long track that conveys joy, mischievousness, and need for dancing.

Expressing yourself through art can be seen as weird to some, but genius to others.

Hella’s Church Gone Wild / Chirpin Hard has many layers. First, it is a double album: half of it made by drummer Zach Hill, and the second half made by guitarist Spencer Seim. However, the important part is the first half in the collection, Church Gone Wild. Zach Hill has an incredibly mind for drumming, and he has given that musical energy to this project also. The album has separated tracks, but it was originally conceived as one long track. None of the songs in this album follow a normal song structure, being mainly led by the insane drumming of Zach Hill that never stops once they start. These features of the album might be what lead listeners to turn it off, but inside lies a melancholic and apocalyptic sound. Hill’s vocals are in almost every song of the album and beautifully complement the “destructive” instrumental. The album’s eighth track is my favorite, having an eerie church choir being followed by a bizarre background drum solo that gives the track a feeling of “something is very wrong here”. One of my favorite live performances that I have seen of Hella shows a live rendition of this same song. While the recording of the singing choir plays, Zach Hill performs his drum solo while kicking and dismantling his own drum set.

How Concept Albums Touch Hearts

There are no real guidelines to making a concept album or, for that matter, making music in general. People may like your music or might only like your story, but all that matters is your impact through music in your life and people’s lives, be that good or bad. When I write my music, I try to not think about how it fits in the greater musical view of the world, and just do what I want to do. So, make music, create art, let your creativity take control so that your feelings can be expressed in whatever art form is the most touching for you, and let the world know who you really are inside.

I recommend all the albums mentioned in the article. Extra concept albums if you liked these: Songs for the Deaf by Queens of the Stone Age, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars by David Bowie, Frances the Mute by The Mars Volta, Kid A by Radiohead, and Plastic Beach by Gorillaz.