A project on concept albums

[WindMaster]

As for Octavarium being a concept album, I do think it is a concept album (fuck you official forum definitions!), its just that the concept is more about the whole 5/8 divine proportion, along with musical themes (one song for each note in the octave).  I don't think that's enough to really cover in a paper, though.  The Incident would be easier, but it would just come down to "blah blah blah SW was fascinated with the word 'incident,' each song is about an incident for x reason" and would be pretty boring.

Theirs more than that. You've got the 5/8 on the artwork, the 8vm theme within each track. The influences of their favorite bands, which is part of the Octavarium. The whole theme of ending where you began

The problem is, outside of the title track, there's nothing about that in the rest of the album besides the first note in TROAE.

@Windmaster, The Incident (at least the first disc) is way more of a concept album than 2112 ever was. 

  I meant the idea that it is a long title track followed by non-relevant shorter tracks. But yeah it is.

[WindMaster]

BE by Pain of Salvation would be a really interesting one.

I haven't listened to much PoS, but the couple songs I found for that album on YouTube and such sounded really cool. It also has a cool concept. The only problem would be that it falls under the category obscure, at least to me. Would you agree?

[Sigz]

BE by Pain of Salvation would be a really interesting one.

I haven't listened to much PoS, but the couple songs I found for that album on YouTube and such sounded really cool. It also has a cool concept. The only problem would be that it falls under the category obscure, at least to me. Would you agree?

Besides Pink Floyd, I'd say all the albums you're considering fall under the 'obscure' category

[Dr. DTVT]

Besides Pink Floyd, I'd say all the albums you're considering fall under the 'obscure' category

This.  Which is why Pink Floyd and The Who should be the main emphasis points - because even if they aren't familiar with the music they should at least know of the bands and the albums you would reference.  Then use the prog bands back them up.  Mabool would be great to use because they are an Israeli band promoting peace among the three Abraramic religions so you could link the story telling to contemporary social issues.  I think there is a lot to pull from that album.

I would stick to concrete examples.  Remember, your audience is more than likely not going to be familiar with complex musical ideas or have the time to go listen to the music.  If you can't solidly back up your ideas with facts with sources like interviews and reputable sources your arguements will carry no weight even if you are making true statements.

I keep stressing audience because it seems people often forget who their audience is and instead try to communicate with their ideal audience.

[WindMaster]

Sounds good. Decided to do Quadrophenia, now I only need one more. I don't want to do another Pink Floyd (or two of the same band, for that matter).

[lonestar]

Sounds good. Decided to do Quadrophenia, now I only need one more. I don't want to do another Pink Floyd (or two of the same band, for that matter).

Excellent choice.  One of my favorite albums. 

[Sigz]

mmmmm Quadrophenia.

What about My Arms, Your Hearse or Still Life for the last one?

[theseoafs]

Hotel California is a good example of a concept album with a theme rather than a storyline, and a stupidly popular album to boot.

[Elaitch]

Read this:
https://dt.spatang.com/octavarium.php

Yeah well, that's an interesting read and all would be fine and dandy, except from the fact that the one who wrote that quotes NO official sources, and it's all basically based on popular belief rather than fact. I wouldn't base a project report (even partly) on that, because of the fact that the source is extremely unreliable Some of it may, and probably is, correct, but there's no way to tell.

Anyway, I'm surprised no one has suggested Ayreon yet. The Human Equation, for example? or Universal Migrator?

And why Quadrophenia, but not Tommy?

Snow by Spock's Beard, perhaps?

[Aramatheis]

You should pick an album by Metallica.  Any one of them will do.  They all share the general concept of relentless E-string pounding and muddy distorted power chords.

Agreed. I've always hated that one with the absolutely terrible vocals.


Orion, I think it was called

[WindMaster]

You should pick an album by Metallica.  Any one of them will do.  They all share the general concept of relentless E-string pounding and muddy distorted power chords.

Agreed. I've always hated that one with the absolutely terrible vocals.


Orion, I think it was called

BEST CONCEPT ALBUMS EVER

[Phantasmatron]

You should pick an album by Metallica.  Any one of them will do.  They all share the general concept of relentless E-string pounding and muddy distorted power chords.

Agreed. I've always hated that one with the absolutely terrible vocals.


Orion, I think it was called

I see what you did there.  Nice little jab. 

[The Letter M]

Anyway, I'm surprised no one has suggested Ayreon yet. The Human Equation, for example? or Universal Migrator?

You could bring up Ayreon in general, considering all 6 of the albums (Well, with some exception to Actual Fantasy) are self-contained concept albums of the narrative type, but they also all fall under an over-arching grand story that involves  the characters revealed in their last album 01011001. I think those albums are great examples of how different types of narrative concept stories can be used, and then all be tied together to make one HUGE story, something I think very VERY few bands have ever done.

I would also dare say you could bring up the cross-album concept, and reference things like Rush's "Fear Series", or the obvious choice, Dream Theater's/Mike Portnoy's "Twelve-Step Suite". While not really an "album" per se, these songs across different albums all connect into one theme or idea, and when put together could even make an album (well, at least for the latter).

-Marc.

[WindMaster]

I'll definitely have something about cross-album concepts, like the twelve step suite.

[Dimitrius]

You should pick an album by Metallica.  Any one of them will do.  They all share the general concept of relentless E-string pounding and muddy distorted power chords.

Agreed. I've always hated that one with the absolutely terrible vocals.


Orion, I think it was called

[Ħ]

Yes, I confess my mistake.  I thought Orion was a generic Metallica song with horrible vocals and horrible thrash guitar.  Turns out it's just a generic Metallica song with horrible thrash guitar.  I'm not sure if the omission of vocals is a good or a bad thing.  At least they distract you from the music, but it's the equivalent of opting to eat dirt over clay.

[Aramatheis]

dude, no worries
it's just one of those things that you'll get lightly mocked about at every turn


honestly, the majority of us have something we get made fun of for, so don't feel bad about it

[lonestar]

And why Quadrophenia, but not Tommy?

I suggested Quadrophenia over Tommy because I feel the overall theme of Quadrophenia is simpler, and it is more applicable to most people.  All of us have felt, when we were pissed off disgruntled teens, like our personality was divided as we worked to sort out the insanity of adolescence, battling in between what we felt intrinsicly was right and what the "theme of the day" was.  Not many can relate to a blind, deaf, mute who kicks ass on the pinbal machine, and then through his healing, becomes a messiah who falls from grace.

[WindMaster]

Pretty much, yeah.

[WindMaster]

Totally doing Still Life, the concept rocks. That's my five, then. I should get to work...