Albums you listen to start-to-finish which tell a story

[false_aesthetic]

Hum - You'd Prefer an Astronaut (It's like an Isaac Asimov love/divorce story).
Constructus Corp - . Before there was Die Antwoord, there was Constructus.


And as mentioned above Pedro the Lion.

[lumpy]

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

And,

Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning is a heck of a record.

Oh and The Greatest by Cat Power, reinforced by the superb live show I saw at Berklee when she toured it.

I love Roxy Music, too, and used to be nuts about Avalon when I was in a mopey mood. Country Life is probably my favorite but there is so much goodness from that band. The version of Both Ends Burning on Viva is a particular high point.

[bking]

some is story, but these for me wouldn't be the same if just one cut were missing, everything belongs:
Jethro Tull, Thick as a Brick, of course
Dylan, Blood on the Tracks
Allman Bros, Fillmore East
Peter Frampton (sorry, never heard of the guy till this one came out, then we all did), Comes Alive
Steely Dan, The Royal Scam. each song here had to be where it was

[CJones]

One that hasn't been mentioned yet:

Drive By Truckers album Southern Rock Opera

[Matthew Strongin]

Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning is a heck of a record.

Agreed. It's pretty different than the majority of what I listen to, but I loved it the first time through and it's definitely one that doesn't get played on shuffle. Start to finish in order.

[Britishbane]

I'm an entire album kind of guy. If I'm listening, its almost always the entire album or at least the entire side of the lp. Doesn't have to be story based, but a lot of my collection falls into that category. I enjoy the progression of an album, usually there is something linear about the music I enjoy. Some sort of story can be divined from the below.

This week its been:
War On Drugs - Lost in a Dream.
High on Fire - Death is this Communion
Walkmen - Bows + Arrows
Tinariwen - Aman Iman

Off the top of my head favorites:
My Bloody Valentine - Super mood and rich textures apply to the whole album. Sort of a sonic story telling.
Several Pink Floyd Albums (DSOTM and Animals especially) - I can/could relate to the angsty, middle class, what am I going to do with my life themes of their middle and early years.
On an Island/David Gilmour - Super Chill
Genesis-ABACAB. Feeling a bit like patrick bateman on this one, but its a fucking great album. I'm a Gabriel era fan, but damn if this synthed up, generic at times album doesn't kick ass. Always one I listen to in its entirety.

[edoz]

I was going to mention Rush's 2112 and Systematic Chaos by Dream Theater, but DT beat me to it. I'll add Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime, Judas Priest's Nostradamus and the Iced Earth albums The Dark Saga, and The Crucible of Man.

[Brandon White]

I'm seeing some non-concept albums listed here people! Full stories - start to finish. come on.

Agreed. It's pretty different than the majority of what I listen to, but I loved it the first time through and it's definitely one that doesn't get played on shuffle. Start to finish in order.

Digital Ash in a Digital Urn is just as good.

Which leads me to a shuffle comment. I normally go with "shuffle" in my car but when it comes to a song that is part of a greater concept album, I think "You can't just drop me into that song half way through the story" and skip the song.

[Brandon White]

One to me that feels like there is a "scene" taking place throughout the album is Luna - Penthouse. Feels like it starts at a divey bar in rural California on a warm spring night with the sun setting and the rest is the adventure that takes place over the course of the night. I guess I have an imagination when it comes to music.

[Matthew Strongin]

Which leads me to a shuffle comment. I normally go with "shuffle" in my car but when it comes to a song that is part of a greater concept album, I think "You can't just drop me into that song half way through the story" and skip the song.

Totally agree. Driving to work I'm in shuffle mode. Mostly punk where the order makes no difference. I think it has to do with how little I'm paying attention to the music when I drive. When I'm working at home (like right now) I only listen to albums start to finish.

[seanile]

jukebox the ghost does a lot of fictional story telling with their albums. but i like safe travels the most for the more personal angle.

[Pi Guy]

Man, this is great, I'll have to check out a bunch of these! I have been looking for some new to me music lately. In keeping with the 30 something white boys that like hip hop I'll add these two:

J Dilla, Jay Dee Donuts. It's all instrumental, so doesn't tell a specific story, but each track really blends with the next nicely. A lot of the tracks are great on there own, but I think that the album, as an entire composition, is pretty amazing.

Jay Electronica, . Also, not a specific story, but a 15 minute piece made up of 5 "songs." Again, as an entire composition, I think it's pretty amazing.

[lbarber]

Punch Brothers - Punch: remarkable bluegrass/classical fusion album telling the story of a rather nasty divorce.

[alexstar]

Wow, some great stuff already mentioned here, Neutral Milk Hotel, Pink Floyd (Dark Side, Animals, Momentary Lapse of Reason, The Wall, Wish You Were Here), Bright Eyes, Graceland, Roxy Music, Springsteen...

I'm surprised nobody has yet said "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac, so I'll say it: it's a fantastic album.

I'll also add: "Rid of Me" and "White Chalk" by PJ Harvey, "No More Shall We Part" by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Elton John's eponymous album, "Out Of Time" by REM, "Goddess" by Banks, "Alive 2007" by Daft Punk, "Beginnings" by the Allman Brothers Band, "De-Loused In The Comatorium" by The Mars Volta, "Cry Is For The Flies" by Le Butcherettes, Antemasque's eponymous album, "Two Hunters" by Wolves In The Throne Room, "London Calling" by The Clash, "Breakfast in America" by Supertramp, "The Trials of Van Occupanther" by Midlake, "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" by Springsteen, "Days Are Gone" by Haim, "Holy Mountain" by SLEEP (with bonus tracks!) ... man, I could go on and on, but I'll stop here. I love listening to a complete album when the artist intended it to be heard that way.

[Octave]

Wow, some really great suggestions in here. A lot of albums I had forgotten about.


The first album that ever gave me the understanding that a record was more than just a collection of songs is Kid A by Radiohead. I remember my father coming back from a business trip, deep into my teenage rebellion, and bringing me a Japanese print of Kid A. I shrugged, probably rolled my eyes halfway into the back of my skull, and put it on my shelf. A year or so later I remember taking it out of the packaging, putting it on my stereo, laying on the carpet and staring up at my ceiling fan. 50 minutes later I came back to the world. I've never looked at music the same way again.

Others:

DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven!
Sigur Ros - Von
Amon Tobin - Foley Room
Do Make Say Think - Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord is Dead
M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
The Antlers - Hospice

[Brandon White]

Wow, some really great suggestions in here. A lot of albums I had forgotten about.


The first album that ever gave me the understanding that a record was more than just a collection of songs is Kid A by Radiohead. I remember my father coming back from a business trip, deep into my teenage rebellion, and bringing me a Japanese print of Kid A. I shrugged, probably rolled my eyes halfway into the back of my skull, and put it on my shelf. A year or so later I remember taking it out of the packaging, putting it on my stereo, laying on the carpet and staring up at my ceiling fan. 50 minutes later I came back to the world. I've never looked at music the same way again.

Others:

DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven!
Sigur Ros - Von
Amon Tobin - Foley Room
Do Make Say Think - Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord is Dead
M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
The Antlers - Hospice

Jeez - how did I miss Hospice. When I stumbled upon that - it was on an endless loop.

[steve garro]

One that hasn't been mentioned yet:

Drive By Truckers album Southern Rock Opera

Hell Yeah!

+ Anything by Manu Chau

De La Soul, three feet high & rising

Tom Waits, Swordfishtrombones

Shovels & Rope, Swimmin' Time

- Garro.

[nortonnels]

Trout Mask Replica
Shoot Out the Lights
Blood on the Tracks
Frank's Wild Years
Rite of Spring
Kind of Blue

[dstbl]

Sun Ra - Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy

[classtimesailer]

My mom had Harry Nilsson's The Point which I listened to many an afternoon after school. I'm on my way to i-tunes so I can listen on the way home.