Bands that tell stories over the course of their discography

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

The Final Cut is sort of an extension of various themes from The Wall, albeit a mediocre one.

I know I'm gonna get raged at for this, but here we go...

*sigh*

Final Cut > The Wall

[LeeHarveyKennedy]

Marilyn Manson had a three album run (Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals, Holy Wood) that told a story in reverse. They're also easily his three best albums.

That Arrested Development reference made my smile in my pants.

I'm glad.

[The Letter M]

I have quite a few Ayreon albums, I never knew they were all connected.  I should research that.

The connections of some a are quite arbitrary, though. Like the only way THE is connected is by the terrible ending.

You didn't like that ending.  I thought it was quite good myself, but I understand were you are coming from if you think it's abrupt and a twist that should never have happened.

Wait... so you're saying your version cuts out at the end?!

Seriously though, I love the Ayreon albums - great stuff, very operatic and Broadway-like with the use of multiple vocalists as a cast of sorts. Arjen always puts out great work!

-Marc.

[wolfking]

Sonata Arctica - End of This Chapter, Don't Say a Word, Caleb

I'm pretty sure that "Juliet" from the latest album added on to the story, but it's nowhere near as fucking awesomely as Caleb is.

stalker songs are pretty cool

Yeah, I know it's never been fully clear on the songs involved.

Also, to a lesser extent I forgot about the 'wolf' songs from SA; Wolf and Raven, Full Moon, Ain't Your Fairytale, The Cage and It Won't Fade.

Riverside - Reality Dream trilogy (1st three albums)

Megadeth - Hangar 18 > Return to Hangar

Dream Theater - Metropolis > Scenes From A Memory

Can't believe I forgot these, especially Riverside.

Iron Maiden - Charlotte the Harlot, 22 Acacia Avenue, Hooks in You, From Here to Eternity

Oh, I didn't know that FHtE was part of that "saga"

Pretty loosely, but it has the line "the beast and charlotte they were two of a kind." So it's pretty fitting.

I have quite a few Ayreon albums, I never knew they were all connected.  I should research that.

The connections of some a are quite arbitrary, though. Like the only way THE is connected is by the terrible ending.

You didn't like that ending.  I thought it was quite good myself, but I understand were you are coming from if you think it's abrupt and a twist that should never have happened.

Wait... so you're saying your version cuts out at the end?!

Seriously though, I love the Ayreon albums - great stuff, very operatic and Broadway-like with the use of multiple vocalists as a cast of sorts. Arjen always puts out great work!

-Marc.

   Yes, Arjen is an amazing underrated musician.

[ehra]

I've never listened to them, but a recent thread suggested that ICP does this.

[Zook]

When I listen to SA's The Cage, I picture an old man in a cage begging to be set free all the while fantasizing about being free. I haven't read the lyrics, but where does the wolf come in?

[thecrowing]

The Final Cut is sort of an extension of various themes from The Wall, albeit a mediocre one.

I know I'm gonna get raged at for this, but here we go...

*sigh*

Final Cut > The Wall

If The Wall didn't get me through middle school, I would so agree with this.


EDIT: ...w- wait a minute..

The Final Cut is sort of an extension of various themes from The Wall

Uhhhh...
No.

[KevShmev]

EDIT: ...w- wait a minute..

The Final Cut is sort of an extension of various themes from The Wall

Uhhhh...
No.

Uhhh...
Yes.

You do know that quite a bit of The Final Cut were songs that were deemed not good enough for The Wall, right?

[Fuzzboy]

Iron Maiden - Charlotte the Harlot, 22 Acacia Avenue, Hooks in You, From Here to Eternity

Oh, I didn't know that FHtE was part of that "saga"

Pretty loosely, but it has the line "the beast and charlotte they were two of a kind." So it's pretty fitting.

Also Hooks in You, which is loosely tied as well.

[SoundscapeMN]

Coheed and Cambria
The Dear Hunter
Kaddisfly
The River Empires
The Gloomcatcher
Janelle Monáe

Neverending White Lights
Orphaned Land
Queensryche (O:M -> O:M II)
Shadow Gallery (Tyranny -> Room V)
Soundscape

[wolfking]

Iron Maiden - Charlotte the Harlot, 22 Acacia Avenue, Hooks in You, From Here to Eternity

Oh, I didn't know that FHtE was part of that "saga"

Pretty loosely, but it has the line "the beast and charlotte they were two of a kind." So it's pretty fitting.

Also Hooks in You, which is loosely tied as well.

Yes, hence why I listed it in my original post.

[wolfking]

When I listen to SA's The Cage, I picture an old man in a cage begging to be set free all the while fantasizing about being free. I haven't read the lyrics, but where does the wolf come in?

It's cleary the wolf song on the album, and seems to be about caged animals.  The chorus gives it away;

The dream is alive, I can run up the hills every night,
go around and see another side of the tree.
Freedom has a meaning for me, howl with me.

[The Letter M]

Rush - Fear - The Enemy Within, The Weapon, Witch Hunt, Freeze

I'm not sure you could call "Fear" a "story" in the sense of being a narrative. It's more thematic, in the same way songs on Roll The Bones are about luck and chance, or songs on Counterparts are about opposites and pairings. They're just songs about Neil's ideas regarding fear and different kinds of fear - "how fear works inside us ("The Enemy Within"), how fear is used against us ("The Weapon"), and how fear feeds the mob mentality ("Witch Hunt")." - Neil Peart.

When you said "tell stories", I assumed you meant a narrative, so I would agree with "Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage" and "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres". I would also add, to some extent, "By-Tor & The Snowdog" and "The Necromancer", as both songs feature "By-Tor".

-Marc.

[wolfking]

Rush - Fear - The Enemy Within, The Weapon, Witch Hunt, Freeze

I'm not sure you could call "Fear" a "story" in the sense of being a narrative. It's more thematic, in the same way songs on Roll The Bones are about luck and chance, or songs on Counterparts are about opposites and pairings. They're just songs about Neil's ideas regarding fear and different kinds of fear - "how fear works inside us ("The Enemy Within"), how fear is used against us ("The Weapon"), and how fear feeds the mob mentality ("Witch Hunt")." - Neil Peart.

When you said "tell stories", I assumed you meant a narrative, so I would agree with "Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage" and "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres". I would also add, to some extent, "By-Tor & The Snowdog" and "The Necromancer", as both songs feature "By-Tor".

-Marc.

Fair call, maybe I said telling stories, but I like this idea too with Fear and wanted to include it in the thread, but didn't know how to put it in words.

Just connecting pieces from album to album maybe the best way to put it.  I like when bands can have something that connect their work together, no matter how big or small.

[Zook]

Oh, didn't know he says howl with me. I guess there's no reason an old man should be howling.

[wolfking]

Oh, didn't know he says howl with me. I guess there's no reason an old man should be howling.

 

I think the song could easily be portrayed into a human concept, there's a few metaphors that could do that IMO. (But it's mainly about wolves  )

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

Although Arjen is pretty amazing, sometimes I can't stand the cheesiness in some of his songs. I really can't point out, but there really are moments. I kinda stopped his discography for a while.

[sonatafanica]

Oh, didn't know he says howl with me. I guess there's no reason an old man should be howling.

 

I think the song could easily be portrayed into a human concept, there's a few metaphors that could do that IMO. (But it's mainly about wolves  )

Then I guess it should be mentioned for the thread that Sonata Arctica, alongside having a song for every album as part of the "stalker story", has one song per album that is themed around wolves. I don't think it follows a story, though.

I think The Last Amazing Grays is the best wolf song they've done.

[Bombardana]

Edge of Sanity : Crimson -> Crimson II

[Ravenheart]

Edge of Sanity : Crimson -> Crimson II

How did I forget Crimson through Crimson II? 

I have betrayed my Swano fanboyism 

[The Letter M]

Rush - Fear - The Enemy Within, The Weapon, Witch Hunt, Freeze

I'm not sure you could call "Fear" a "story" in the sense of being a narrative. It's more thematic, in the same way songs on Roll The Bones are about luck and chance, or songs on Counterparts are about opposites and pairings. They're just songs about Neil's ideas regarding fear and different kinds of fear - "how fear works inside us ("The Enemy Within"), how fear is used against us ("The Weapon"), and how fear feeds the mob mentality ("Witch Hunt")." - Neil Peart.

When you said "tell stories", I assumed you meant a narrative, so I would agree with "Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage" and "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres". I would also add, to some extent, "By-Tor & The Snowdog" and "The Necromancer", as both songs feature "By-Tor".

-Marc.

Fair call, maybe I said telling stories, but I like this idea too with Fear and wanted to include it in the thread, but didn't know how to put it in words.

Just connecting pieces from album to album maybe the best way to put it.  I like when bands can have something that connect their work together, no matter how big or small.

That's true. I do like the idea of connecting albums via songs with concepts or themes that tie them together.

Did anyone here mention "Larks' Tongues In Aspic", King Crimson's instrumentals? I like to think that The Power To Belive's "Level Five" is the fifth "Lark's Tongues In Aspic", given the title begins with an "L" and has "Five" in it, which would follow the sequence since Part IV was on the band's previous album, The ConstruKction Of Light.

-Marc.

[Birch Boy]

Don't think it's a story as much of a theme, but Exodus has the Exhibits.

[kirbywelch92]

I'm not really a huge fan of the idea, just seems to kind of appeal to 14 year olds that purvey the Hot Topic for merchandise.

Fail Post of 2010 confirmed

I just don't really see the appeal in some plot line that would barely make a good B-movie spread across 6 albums for an entire decade. I feel the same way about Metropolis Pt. 2, as far as stories are concerned that story is really uninteresting and just kind of thrown together. Seems to be a way for bands to say, "hey, you know we worked really hard on this because it tells a whole story, so you have to listen to the whole thing." Brings back memories of Middle School when we were all flipping out about songs that were longer than 10 minutes.

[wolfking]

Edge of Sanity : Crimson -> Crimson II

How did I forget Crimson through Crimson II? 

I have betrayed my Swano fanboyism 

How could I forget 2 of the best pieces of metal ever!! 

[wolfking]

Oh, didn't know he says howl with me. I guess there's no reason an old man should be howling.

 

I think the song could easily be portrayed into a human concept, there's a few metaphors that could do that IMO. (But it's mainly about wolves  )

Then I guess it should be mentioned for the thread that Sonata Arctica, alongside having a song for every album as part of the "stalker story", has one song per album that is themed around wolves. I don't think it follows a story, though.

I think The Last Amazing Grays is the best wolf song they've done.

Yes, I mentioed that before.

Sonata Arctica - End of This Chapter, Don't Say a Word, Caleb

I'm pretty sure that "Juliet" from the latest album added on to the story, but it's nowhere near as fucking awesomely as Caleb is.

stalker songs are pretty cool

Yeah, I know it's never been fully clear on the songs involved.

Also, to a lesser extent I forgot about the 'wolf' songs from SA; Wolf and Raven, Full Moon, Ain't Your Fairytale, The Cage and It Won't Fade.

[sonatafanica]

I'm not really a huge fan of the idea, just seems to kind of appeal to 14 year olds that purvey the Hot Topic for merchandise.

Fail Post of 2010 confirmed

I just don't really see the appeal in some plot line that would barely make a good B-movie spread across 6 albums for an entire decade. I feel the same way about Metropolis Pt. 2, as far as stories are concerned that story is really uninteresting and just kind of thrown together. Seems to be a way for bands to say, "hey, you know we worked really hard on this because it tells a whole story, so you have to listen to the whole thing." Brings back memories of Middle School when we were all flipping out about songs that were longer than 10 minutes.

heh?

[Ravenheart]

I'm not really a huge fan of the idea, just seems to kind of appeal to 14 year olds that purvey the Hot Topic for merchandise.

Fail Post of 2010 confirmed

I just don't really see the appeal in some plot line that would barely make a good B-movie spread across 6 albums for an entire decade. I feel the same way about Metropolis Pt. 2, as far as stories are concerned that story is really uninteresting and just kind of thrown together. Seems to be a way for bands to say, "hey, you know we worked really hard on this because it tells a whole story, so you have to listen to the whole thing." Brings back memories of Middle School when we were all flipping out about songs that were longer than 10 minutes.

And this somehow equates to concept albums only appealing to people who have an affinity for Hot Topic apparel?

[lateralus88]

The Hold Steady kind of have something like this going on. They have one concept album out there titled Separation Sunday (fantastic album, a personal favourite of mine) and then if I remember correctly, there are references to characters and such mixed between some older and maybe newer material. I think.


Seriously, Separation Sunday is cool beans. Listen to it.

[Fuzzboy]

Iron Maiden - Charlotte the Harlot, 22 Acacia Avenue, Hooks in You, From Here to Eternity

Oh, I didn't know that FHtE was part of that "saga"

Pretty loosely, but it has the line "the beast and charlotte they were two of a kind." So it's pretty fitting.

Also Hooks in You, which is loosely tied as well.

Yes, hence why I listed it in my original post.

Whoops. I was drunk, sorry

[wolfking]

Iron Maiden - Charlotte the Harlot, 22 Acacia Avenue, Hooks in You, From Here to Eternity

Oh, I didn't know that FHtE was part of that "saga"

Pretty loosely, but it has the line "the beast and charlotte they were two of a kind." So it's pretty fitting.

Also Hooks in You, which is loosely tied as well.

Yes, hence why I listed it in my original post.

Whoops. I was drunk, sorry

Nothing wrong with that my friend!

[ThroughHerEyesDude6]

Oh, also Rhapsody. All of their albums are one big story.

A lame story, but still a story.

I think you have to appreciate Lord of the Rings and Dungeons & Dragons to get into them. I'm not a LotR fan, but I love D&D, so Rhapsody is good to me when game time comes.

[Global Laziness]

Neverending White Lights

Really?

[SoundscapeMN]

Neverending White Lights

Really?

Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies
Act 2: The Blood and the Life Eternal
Act 3: Love Will Ruin

[emindead]

The Final Cut is sort of an extension of various themes from The Wall, albeit a mediocre one.

I know I'm gonna get raged at for this, but here we go...

*sigh*

Final Cut > The Wall

*Rages LieLowTheWantedMan*

[Zook]

Not really a story, but Redemption has the songs, Sapphire, Memory and Love Kills Us All/Life In One Day which are all about the same thing: a fucking bitch.