Ghost of Electricity Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 So I was listening to Neil Young's "Greendale" today- great record-it's got drama, humour, it's got elements of personal as well as social, and all tied up nicely with a narrative thread. It's like a novel. It got me thinking- what other records do this, or something similar? Some old ones like "The Wall" and "Tommy," but is there anything more recent? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Sting's Soul Cages Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Aimee Mann's The Forgotten ArmDonald Fagen's Kamakiriad Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Dogbowl - FlanCreating an album based on a novel may sound like a prog rock atrocity, but then again, Stephen Tunney actually wrote the novel himself, so there's no reason why his Dogbowl incarnation shouldn't give it a go. A classic Shimmy-Disc production in more than one sense of the word -- there's Kramer's echoed shroud of production, the goofy cover art, and the whole air of gentle shambolic oddity -- Flan is also a happy demonstration of Tunney's particular vision. Starting with "Flan Awoke," the beginning of the title character's unhappy day, Flan dips into winsome psychedelia (Gorky's Zygotic Mynci would probably some of the arrangements, while the Olivia Tremor Control definitely had to be listening in), wacky '20s jazz jams, and whatever else takes Tunney and company's fancy. Strong moments often occur when Tunney cuts through the Kramer-produced Shimmy-Disc house style -- check out the staccato lyric delivery on "Walking Away," with a brisk, clipped guitar chime offset by various odd overdubs, or the almost unplugged "Hello Helen" and "Metropolis," with Tunney's voice as clear and direct as it gets. Then there are the song titles, of course -- "Michael the Human Headed Dog" and "Here Come the Cannibals" aren't exactly going to be featuring on most sunny-day singalong selections. Not everything is on the verge of crazed weirdness, to be sure, and that's Flan's strength -- even if the lyrics of "Grey Tulip" or "Mermaid in My Coffee Cup" are a bit unusual, the inclusion of low-key clarinet from Christopher Tunney is downright soothing. Still, any song sequence that has a character confront a naked cannibal queen, only to immediately result in a dream that the characters are in an episode of Roseanne, is never going to be entirely easy listening. Also...De La Soul - 3 Feet High and RisingDe La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead(although much more loosely) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Pretty Things: S.F. Sorrow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wild Frank Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Just a few: The Decemberists - Hazards of Love (Plot is somewhat confusing!?*$)San South Gabriel - The Carlton Chronicles (Naritive about a Cat)Marillion - Brave (Seriously good piece of work)Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight (Concerning the pitfalls of fame)Davie Bowie - Outside Part One (Strange concept. Couple of great tunes on it though).Grandaddy - The Sophtware Slump (Concerning decay and technology).Eels - Electro Shock Blues (Concerning cancer, suicide, death, depression and things like that). Plus, although its an old one, the best of the lot: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway by Genesis. Personallly, I find that 'Sky Blue Sky' has a loose naritive running through it relating to Jeff Tweedy's personal problems and how he, and his family, have dealt with them (Please be patient with me, Hate it here, On and on). That maybe just me but, as someone who has suffered from depression, that album is very poinant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Zen Arcade - Husker Du (very loose narrative) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Mike Watt: The Secondman's Middle Stand And to a slightly lesser extent, Mike Watt: Contemplating the Engine Room Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Los Lobos - Town and the City. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Isn'tGreen Day - 21st Century Breakdownsupposed to have a running narriative? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Isn'tGreen Day - 21st Century Breakdownsupposed to have a running narriative? If it's "Green Day sucks" then they pulled it off mightily. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Runaway Jim Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 If it's "Green Day sucks" then they pulled it off mightily. That's awesome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GtrPlyr Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 That's awesome.Seconded. Anyway, back on topic: Richard Buckner - The Hill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Zappa's Joe's Garage trilogy. Not a big fan of the musical narrative, overall. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hardwood floor Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Plus, although its an old one, the best of the lot: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway by Genesis. great record, although the story is kind of hard to follow let's see ... Rael goes to New York, then ... Banks plays a synth solo ... after that i get lost Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wild Frank Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 great record, although the story is kind of hard to follow let's see ... Rael goes to New York, then ... Banks plays a synth solo ... after that i get lostThe plot gets even more confusing if you read Gabriels liner notes!. If you look on wikipedia someone has actually written an essay on 'The Lamb' but it still makes no sense. Great album though. Songs like 'Anyway' and 'In The Cage' are just quality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Zappa's Joe's Garage trilogy. Not a big fan of the musical narrative, overall. Good call. Thing Fish is another one. Possibly the worst album of all time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SarahC Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 basically every opera ever written.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 great record, although the story is kind of hard to follow let's see ... Rael goes to New York, then ... Banks plays a synth solo ... after that i get lostI am CONVINCED that album holds the key to understanding the universe and the human soul's role in it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime Just about any Roger Waters solo album. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I am CONVINCED that album holds the key to understanding the universe and the human soul's role in it. Aren't you thinking of Paul's Boutique? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CortezTheKiller Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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