Best concept album of all time?

[zxlkho]

I think The Wall is not a very good album. Your opinion is now invalid.

[jammindude]

But "best" and "favorite" are both subjective aren't they? So whatever one you think is the best is your favorite. "The Wall" used to be ure favorite but now you are burned out on it so SFAM is now ure favorite. So ure favorite is subject to change.

Yes...favorite is subject to change...but that doesn't really have anything to do with it.  (see my Kix/Extreme comparison)  Even though I prefer SFAM these days...I still think The Wall is a stronger album.  Not saying SFAM isn't great, but someone's gotta be second best.   The Wall is better written, better executed, more emotional, reaches a wider range of emotions and is more *personal* of an album than SFAM is.    It's just a better album IMO. 

"Best" can also be subjective.   If I were to ever hear an album that absolutely hit a home run on an emotional and artistic level even more than The Wall (which I can't imagine, but I suppose it's possible) then that album would become "the best"....but if there's another album that I simply enjoy listening to...even if it's NOT the artistic genius that the first one is...then that will be my favorite.   

I judge "best" strictly on artistic merit...I judge "favorite" over whether or not I like it regardless of whether or not it's great from an artistic standpoint.   

[jammindude]

I think The Wall is not a very good album. Your opinion is now invalid.

 

[chaotic_ripper]

Marilllion - Misplaced Childhood (Best album of all-time.) Full Stop Period.

This

[1neeto]

Mudvayne: LD 50
Pearl Jam: Vitalogy
Opeth: Damnation
Thrice: Artist in the Ambulance
BTBAM: Alaska
Tool: Lateralus
Metallica: AJFA
DT: ADTOE
The Number 12 Looks Like You: Mongrel

Pretty much none of these are concept albums.

Hmmm you might be right since most of these are more like experimental albums. Except Lateralus, that one is definitely a concept album. Vitalogy is very experimental which is why I like it so much but it kinda sounds and flows like a concept album.

Other concept albums I forgot and I really like:

Mastodon: CTS
A Perfect Circle: Thirteenth Step

[ZBomber]

I have a pretty loose definition of a concept album. Some people are probably gonna argue "thematic album blahblahblah" but i don't care so shut up

DT - SFAM (the one DT album i still thoroughly enjoy, lots of interesting stuff going on in it)
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing, FOABP
The Dear Hunter - All of them, including TCS
Pink Floyd - Animals
The Mars Volta - Bedlam in Goliath
Emilie Autumn - Opheliac
Thrice - The Alchemy Index

[i am fabio]

But "best" and "favorite" are both subjective aren't they? So whatever one you think is the best is your favorite. "The Wall" used to be ure favorite but now you are burned out on it so SFAM is now ure favorite. So ure favorite is subject to change.

Yes...favorite is subject to change...but that doesn't really have anything to do with it.  (see my Kix/Extreme comparison)  Even though I prefer SFAM these days...I still think The Wall is a stronger album.  Not saying SFAM isn't great, but someone's gotta be second best.   The Wall is better written, better executed, more emotional, reaches a wider range of emotions and is more *personal* of an album than SFAM is.    It's just a better album IMO. 

"Best" can also be subjective.   If I were to ever hear an album that absolutely hit a home run on an emotional and artistic level even more than The Wall (which I can't imagine, but I suppose it's possible) then that album would become "the best"....but if there's another album that I simply enjoy listening to...even if it's NOT the artistic genius that the first one is...then that will be my favorite.   

I judge "best" strictly on artistic merit...I judge "favorite" over whether or not I like it regardless of whether or not it's great from an artistic standpoint.   

OK well said I hear where you are coming from. Our tastes are similar also. I still don't necessarily agree but thanks for the explanation.

[jingle.boy]

<begin rant here>

Why do some people have such a difficult time grasping the English fucking language?  *Best* and *favorite* mean two different things.  Look it up in a dictionary if you have to.  Jammin... you're spot on.  Letters... the fact you think The Wall isn't a very good album pretty much sums it up (unless you were just trollin).

In my opinion, The Wall is the best (which is what the OP asked for... but then ironically lists his favorites).

<end rant>

[i am fabio]

Also I've never heard a PT song...not one. My favorite bands are DT, Pagans Mind, Rhapsody, Sonata Arctica, Adagio, ect...What album should I order of PT? Or would I even like them based on those favorites i listed? I don't wanna listen to a single song I just wanna gamble and dive into an album. Where to start?

[i am fabio]

<begin rant here>

Why do some people have such a difficult time grasping the English fucking language?  *Best* and *favorite* mean two different things.  Look it up in a dictionary if you have to.  Jammin... you're spot on.  Letters... the fact you think The Wall isn't a very good album pretty much sums it up (unless you were just trollin).

In my opinion, The Wall is the best (which is what the OP asked for... but then ironically lists his favorites).

<end rant>

Sorry man just for me if I think it's the best it's my favorite. Anyways it's no big deal

[Dr. DTVT]

Also I've never heard a PT song...not one. My favorite bands are DT, Pagans Mind, Rhapsody, Sonata Arctica, Adagio, ect...What album should I order of PT? Or would I even like them based on those favorites i listed? I don't wanna listen to a single song I just wanna gamble and dive into an album. Where to start?

I'd put myself in the same boat as you, except I have listened to PT.  While I'm a fairly vocal critic of PT, I still think In Absentia and Deadwing should be decent for you to start and you may like it, but don't start on the early albums or you might be turned off by them all together since their early albums are more Floydian and subdued.

[i am fabio]

Also I've never heard a PT song...not one. My favorite bands are DT, Pagans Mind, Rhapsody, Sonata Arctica, Adagio, ect...What album should I order of PT? Or would I even like them based on those favorites i listed? I don't wanna listen to a single song I just wanna gamble and dive into an album. Where to start?

I'd put myself in the same boat as you, except I have listened to PT.  While I'm a fairly vocal critic of PT, I still think In Absentia and Deadwing should be decent for you to start and you may like it, but don't start on the early albums or you might be turned off by them all together since their early albums are more Floydian and subdued.

Ok thanks dude. What don't you like about them?

[contest_sanity]

Pain Of Salvation - Remedy Lane

Not actually a huge concept album enthusiast, but that one owns my soul each and every time.

[The Letter M]

Snow by Spock's Beard

Yep. I really do love this album and it's one of my favorite albums of all time, not just among concept albums.

Also, NDV's re-imagining of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway with Rewiring Genesis was brilliant! It gave new life to a classic, and it's slightly more entertaining with it's unique interpretations of many songs!

-Marc.