Why Can't Some People Just Admit That They've Made A Concept Album?

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I'm sure you've all read press releases like this, but here's an example from today:

(Architecture In Helsinki's) In Case We Die is not a concept album, but you could liken it to a rock opera.

That seems very half-assed to me. On one hand, they've clearly made something which holds together as a unified piece of art with common musical and lyrical themes, but oh no, it's not a "concept album" because that would imply A) that the entire record is coherant and cohesive, and maybe they are admitting that it's not and B) they are probably afraid of the negative connotations of doing a concept album. B) just seems cowardly to me, and A) seems like laziness or a lack of discipline.

Why are so many people in pop music reticent to commit to a concept, or admit that they have commited to one?

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:29 (twenty years ago)

Because albums with overarching concepts suck.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:31 (twenty years ago)

Radiohead to thread!

― David Allen (David Allen), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:32 (twenty years ago)

(not in reply to Alex in SF); just saying, they denied it too.

― David Allen (David Allen), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:32 (twenty years ago)

Well, yeah, that's why there's a stigma. But that doesn't have to be true, and it isn't always true, and I'm asking this question more from an artistic point of view rather than a critical one that's focused on the value of the work.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:33 (twenty years ago)

Because punk is still a negative influence on music, almost 30 years on.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:36 (twenty years ago)

That's funny, cos the most popular concept album by a rock band in years (Green Day's American Idiot) is by a punk band.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:38 (twenty years ago)

Is Green Day's American Idiot album as good as the side-long "From The Cradle To The Grave" by the Subhumans? Cuz that Subhumans album is one of my faves. But then they are one of my fave bands. Same idea as Godfather's song "Birth School Work Death" only earlier. Although the Godfathers song is nice too. (But maybe not as nice as "this damn nation".) also, i own Cursive's Domestica, but I only listened to it once. I will have to play it again.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

what did skinner say about "a grand don't..." being a concept album/overarching theme/opera?

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:47 (twenty years ago)

There's been a LOT of punk concept albums, hasn't there? Contrary to what Geir says, it seems like punks (and metal people too) are pretty open to concept records. But that's maybe not a shock since people in those kind of bands tend to be okay with focusing their musical focus to one subgenre, and are already invested in thematic unity.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:48 (twenty years ago)

Because The Wall was so fucking great you'd be intimidated too, 25 years on or not.

― Brian Teasley, Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:48 (twenty years ago)

Jordan:The Comeback -vs- The Wall

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:50 (twenty years ago)

Is there a different The Wall then that doesn't consist of 3 sides worth of turgid filler?

― Ferlin Husky (noodle vague), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 19:51 (twenty years ago)

Wilco to thread. For realz.

― giboyeux (skowly), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 20:01 (twenty years ago)

Andrew WK 'I Get Wet' vs Sham 69 'Adventures of Hersham Boys'

― dave q (listerine), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

Haha Camper Van Beethoven fearlessly owned up on their recent (GREAT) album.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 20:07 (twenty years ago)

I don't think I'd ever wanna make a concept album because why write a dozen songs about one thing when you can write a dozen songs about a dozen things?

― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 20:08 (twenty years ago)

Jordan:The Comeback -vs- The Wall

Jordan is such an obvious winner it isn't even any fun.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

and I'm asking this question more from an artistic point of view rather than a critical one that's focused on the value of the work.

But you're referring to a press release, which comes from the artist (or their management) but is specifically designed for critics to help shape their reviews and thus contribute to the general public image of the record.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

222,000 Google hits for "concept album"
316,000 Google hits for "rock opera"

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 20:23 (twenty years ago)

and for people who won't fully admit to it, 1,300 Google hits for "sort of concept album"

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 20:24 (twenty years ago)

NOFX to thread (for punk concept albums)

― deathlike technical blasting death metal with a soul of suicidal rationalis (Jor, Tuesday, 8 March 2005 20:27 (twenty years ago)

Fair enough, jaymc.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 20:42 (twenty years ago)

i think in a way so many albums are in a way "conceptual" that arent considered to be. in many cases i think you can consider albums recorded within a particular time period with a particular idea for sound and feel to be conceptual.......if that makes any sense.
for instance, the way beck records albums is kinda conceptual, to me anyway.

in that regard, i'm a self confessed fan of 'concept' albums.

― glenny g2003 (glenny g2003), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 01:01 (twenty years ago)

Is Spirit of Eden a Concept album?

― Grand Epic (Grand Epic), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 05:29 (twenty years ago)

Greendale by Neil Young worked as a concept album, though not so much by itself. It was greatly helped by the movie and live shows with the theatrics.

I LOVE Music From the Elder though admittedly every other KISS fan feels its a piece of shit (as Alex in NYC has called me on SO many times before)

― Bryan Moore (Bryan Moore), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 05:43 (twenty years ago)

'Computer World' vs 'Kilroy Was Here'

― dave q (listerine), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 06:27 (twenty years ago)

There's been a LOT of punk concept albums, hasn't there?

Zen Arcade is a concept album, isn't it? Altho I don't think I've ever understood the concept.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 08:27 (twenty years ago)

it's arguable whether it was punk, but gary numan's replicas certainly seems to be a concept album.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 08:53 (twenty years ago)

I think of "concept" as referring to a deliberate, unifying lyrical theme. So the new Mars Volta album (from what I gather) is a concept album as it is based on somebody's diary entries.

Some people here seem to be saying that a particular unifying sound or being recorded at the same time implies a "concept album" although surely that means pretty much any non-compilation album is a concept by this definition?

I think the fact that it's deliberate is also important. Is there a difference between an album where the songs are about similar ideas because they've been written at a particular time by the same person and an album where the songs are specifically written about a central theme to create a single, considered package?

(i'm kind of new to posting here so ... Hello)

― Wobble, Wednesday, 9 March 2005 16:24 (twenty years ago)

I agree with Wobble. (Hi!)

― sleep (sleep), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 16:44 (twenty years ago)

I like the idea of concept albums. however, i dont think it's really necessary for there to be a deliberate unifying theme.

"Is there a difference between an album where the songs are about similar ideas because they've been written at a particular time by the same person and an album where the songs are specifically written about a central theme to create a single, considered package?"

yes, i'd say there's a difference. You wont get a cover to cover story like you do in Greendale simply cuz it fell into place a little more loosly and on its own. But i dont think you could say its any *less* of a concept album if it wasnt initially deliberate.

― AaronK (AaronK), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

Zen Arcade: Nameless kid grows up all wrong after his parents divorce. He moves to the city and gets a junkie girlfriend, who quickly O.D.s and dies (as you do). He ends up running a video game company.

I don't hear it either, but Bob said it was so (I paraphrased it though)

― Doobie Keebler (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

maybe there's so many punk rock concept albums b/c punk bands so frequently are high-concept BANDS (read: ramones, etc.). i count let it be as a concept album, by the way. although it isn't exactly linear, it does retain some kind of suburban-disillusioned narrative throughout. and does it better than zen arcade, too.

― lichtenberg, Wednesday, 9 March 2005 22:52 (twenty years ago)

is outkast indie, rap or rock?

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 22:59 (twenty years ago)

concepts are for white music.

― irrigation can save your people (irrigation can save your peopl), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 23:04 (twenty years ago)

i own Cursive's Domestica, but I only listened to it once. I will have to play it again

Dude, don't do that to yourself.

― Ian John50n (orion), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 23:57 (twenty years ago)

Sgt. Pepper being the best example of this. They drop the concept two songs in, after "With A Little Help from My Friends," and don't pick it up again 'til the second-to-last song. Yet few albums sound so cohesive.

― mike a, Thursday, 10 March 2005 01:29 (twenty years ago)

concepts are for white music.

About 80-90 per cent of all concept albums since the mid 80s have been by black acts.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 10 March 2005 01:36 (twenty years ago)

oh, you can use statistics to prove anything. that's a particularly good one, though.

― irrigation can save your people (irrigation can save your peopl), Thursday, 10 March 2005 06:27 (twenty years ago)

the most popular concept album by a rock band in years (Green Day's American Idiot) is by a punk band.

i'd say that The College Dropout takes that title.

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Thursday, 10 March 2005 06:51 (twenty years ago)

"But i dont think you could say its any *less* of a concept album if it wasnt initially deliberate."

I agree that you don't have to set out with the concept before you've written the first song but I think you have to make a conscious decision at some point before the album is released. Maybe "conscious" is what i mean rather than "deliberate".

Sometimes it's difficult to know whether it was conscious or not though.

Also any artist who has a collection of songs to put on an album is likely to select the songs which form the most cohesive unit. Does that constitue a "concept"?

― Wobble, Thursday, 10 March 2005 12:49 (twenty years ago)

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