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| 31 Concept Albums for May - Week Two
Throughout May, I am revisiting 31 select hard rock or metal concept albums. These are the concept albums that have moved me the most over the last 25 years (give or take). Or conversely, they are concept albums that I have long desired to expend further study upon. Some of these albums will be quite familiar to most of you – others maybe less so. Below, I aim to provide a high level summary of “my take” or interpretation on their content. Specifically on the key messages I feel are being expressed and received (by myself) through these works of art. Little to no comment will be made on the music itself - there are plenty of reviews for that. | | 1 |  | Queens of the Stone Age
Songs for the Deaf
Day 10: Songs for the Deaf is a loose concept album, which tracks a driver's radio journey from LA to the desert. In LA, the radio station KLON LA (LA's Infinite Repeat) plays the same tripe every day, all day. As the album journeys past LA, the radio stations become more varied but hard to key into – including a hispanic station, a death metal station (followed by the heavy song Six Shooter), and a religious station (followed by the song “God is in the Radio”). As the album progresses, it trends from hard rockers (I guess as close as QOTSA can get to nu metal) to more desert rock tracks. Both final tracks “God is in the Radio” and “A Song for the Deaf” have strong desert rock vibes, with Kyuss-like noodling. Finally, upon reaching the desert, Dave Catching provides the message on WANT radio, the favorite station of the high desert. | | 2 |  | Stone Sour
House of Gold and Bones - Part 2
Day 11: Similar to Part 1, the lyrics loosely follow the story in the liner, which goes like this. The author finds himself at a self-thrown party, with booze, drugs, and many beautiful women. As the party/night progresses, he finds himself and a few friends by the water. A blood-curtling cry reaches him from out in the water, where he sees someone drowning. Swimming out, he finds his neighbor Rachel. Before she sinks under, he pulls her towards the shore, sinking himself while pushing her to safety. The author then awakens in a pitch black room. As the light resolves, he finds a shut door (with a slit of light below). Becoming accustomed to the light, he realizes that this is a basement – guarded by Black John and the Numbers. A window becomes visible with light pouring in. A tight squeeze, but the Author makes his way through before being stuck at the hips. The Numbers stream in from the stairs, ready to pull him back in. While Allen (in female form) pulls him out the window. | | 3 | | Stone Sour
House of Gold and Bones - Part 2
Day 11 continued. Allen pulls him into a world where people, “the dead”, walk around aimlessly. The sky of Red City is volcano red. Where dreams come but do not leave. And then disappears. The Author is soon surrounded by Black John and the Numbers. Ready to fight, the Author finds that Peckinpah is behind him, ready to fight too. They break out of the ring and run (a mile) away to escape. Peckinpah reveals that he is an older and good version of the Author. And that this world is essentially the many diverse fragments of the Author, both good and bad. | | 4 | | Stone Sour
House of Gold and Bones - Part 2
Day 11 continued. The Author makes his way to a Church – a safe place to hide. There, Allen reveals that he is the Author's evil side – a result of traumatizing happenings back in September 1982. The Author runs to the door, opening it to see Black John, the Numbers, and Peckinpah. Allowing Peckinpah in, Allen and Peckinpah jump into the air and battle. Whilst watching this battle, the Author realizes that this is his inner conflict. He then approaches the alter and destroys the church, the House of Gold and Bones, in order to make himself anew and better. The author wakes up. | | 5 |  | Fear Factory
Obsolete
Day 12: In brief, this album regards human creation and reliance on technology, leading to machines taking over and humanity becoming obsolete in the year 2076. One man, Edgecrusher, attempts to thwart Securitron, the machine-controlled law enforcement, ultimately becoming captured and jailed in the end. I tried to flesh out the story more, but got a bit bored. Decided I would spend more time on the more recent album "The Industrialist" later. | | 6 |  | Coheed and Cambria
The Afterman: Ascension
Day 13: see prior list | | 7 |  | Coheed and Cambria
The Afterman: Descension
Day 14: see prior list | | 8 |  | Dog Fashion Disco
Adultery
Day 15: A Tarantino-type story that follows an ordinary family man's descent into debauchery. Murder ensues when this man engages his sexual and violent urges, and embraces sadistic lunacy. I'll let you delve into each track and lyrics to get more sordid details - but this album is a great and varied listen. | | 9 |  | Caligula's Horse
In Contact
Day 16: See review | |
JDubb
05.16.20 | Feel free to chime in with your thoughts. But note, that I am not making this list for you, Sputnikers. More for me to record my voyage through these concept albums during these “Strange Days” of Covid 19. Bon Voyage. | JeffKing1992
05.16.20 | The lack of The Downward Spiral and The Wall on the list disappoints me. :-( | JDubb
05.16.20 | Hey, I'm not done yet. Still have 15 days to go... I will add that, whatever albums end up on the final list is totally up to my listening mood at the time. Tough to say what the final 15 will be. | JeffKing1992
05.16.20 | Eh, I was kidding. Just bein' silly ol' Jeff. :-P | JDubb
05.16.20 | No worries. The Downward Spiral is a tempting add.... I will note that I have been averting those concept albums well known (e.g., Operation Mindcrime, Crack the Skye, etc.) - The Wall would likely fall in that bucket. |
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