Best Concept Albums of All Time

Concept or thematic albums are always fun to listen. They’re often the most experimental a band can get, choosing themes that seemingly don’t fit their narrative. While some music fans prefer straightforward lyrics and tunes, others love to be drawn into such a story.

There’s no denying the fact that bands want to experiment and take the odd path at least once in their career. Which is a great thing as we’ve been treated to a variety of fantastic concept albums. We’ll cover some of the best on this list – give them a spin and you may find a new favorite.

We’ll start with a recent concept album by English rockers Arctic Monkeys. Released in the era of online casino sites, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino is about a luxury gaming resort on the moon. It talks about the casino’s escapades through the eyes of several characters, including the singer and in-house band on Star Treatment, represented by the members of the band itself.

As concept albums go, this one is a departure from Arctic Monkeys’ usual sound. It’s much softer and introduces elements of space pop, glam rock, and lounge rock, with a few touches of psychedelic pop. The result is a blend that sounds great, despite the fact it’s not a classic Arctic Monkeys sound. It’s a truly interesting concept that weaves casino adventures in the lyrics, and one of the best concept albums to date.

Tommy is the fourth The Who album released in 1969. It’s a double-album and a rock opera by Pete Townsend at his best. It’s a much darker concept compared to the other The Who records, talking about murder, sexual abuse, and childhood pain. It’s one of the most evocative concept albums of all times, even if it’s not the first rock opera released like many experts believe.

Tommy tells the story of an imaginary character, Tommy Walker, and his journey from a traumatized kid to a fake messiah. Townsend has masterfully used the double LP to dissect rock culture and fame, telling a story track by track that remains forever etched in the history of rock music.

How big was its influence? Tommy was developed in other media, most notably a 1975 movie of the same name starring the band’s members and singer Roger Daltrey in the titular role. Other roles went to Jack Nicholson, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Tina Turner, and Oliver Reed. The rock opera has also inspired a 1992 Broadway musical which was as successful as the album and the movie.

You may not realize it from a few singles, but Green Day’s American Idiot is another concept album. It tells the story of post-9/11 America through the eyes of a teen and his group of friends. They do nothing but slack around every day, as indicated by the main character, Jesus of Suburbia, and his alter ego, St. Jimmy.

The album is significant because it managed to break through the band’s punk boundaries and tap into new themes and musical landscapes, which was previously unheard of for Green Day. It’s their most mature songwriting to date, ranging from stadium-rocking songs to mosh-head ballads. Due to its great sound and the album’s popularity, it was briefly turned into a Broadway musical.

If there’s one most popular concept album of all time, it must be Pink Floyd’s The Wall. In essence, it tells the story of a rock star, who loses himself in his ego, becoming a drug addict and fascist who blames his mom, wife, and school teacher for his failings.

It’s a bit of a simplistic way to describe Pink Floyd’s magnum opus. If you delve deep into the lyrics, you’ll find a meditation on humanity and war and the consequences of asking for too much. The main protagonist’s battle with himself is masterfully described in many of the songs, including classics such as Run Like Hell, Mother, Comfortably Numb, and of course, Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2.

My Chemical Romance is more than just another emo band. The band proved its value as much more in its penultimate album, The Black Parade. It’s a rock opera concept album that tells the story of a cancer-stricken man, The Patient, who dies and watches death come for him in the form of a black parade where a marching band sings the story.

It’s one of the band’s finest works and a huge commercial success. The members show off their range on the album’s thematically different songs. Welcome to the Black Parade shows My Chemical Romance in full swing, before giving way to dark humor tracks and defiant party hits in Teenagers and The Sharpest Lives.

Fun fact: Liza Minelli makes a guest appearance on Mama. That’s a testament to My Chemical Romance’s ambitions, which were cut short after only one more album.

The Beatles have had several incredibly successful albums, but none match the soundscapes and ideas of Sg. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Released in 1967, reviews by experts said that it pushes the boundaries of rock music, and is classified as an early concept album. Its psychedelic imagery and tunes and advance sound composition make it stand out in the band’s portfolio, which is nothing short of perfect.

Thematically, t his album touches on several factors associated with the late-1960s era, including fashion, mysticism, drugs, and a heightened sense of optimism. It sort of bridges a cultural divide between art and popular music, finding its roots in contemporary youth and counter-culture. It’s one of those albums you shouldn’t miss, even if you’re not a fan of The Beatles’ work.

It stands as one of the finest concept albums of all time, producing ageless hits such as Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, the titular track, and With a Little Help from my Friends.