An Ode to Concept Albums
Dear Concept Albums,
In a world of constantly changing songwriting, concept albums remain one of the most immersive forms of music-making. Story-telling albums go beyond a simple compilation of tracks but create a string of songs that all contribute to one cohesive narrative. Each song can mimic a different chapter in a book, creating a genuine and immersive storyline for listeners.
Concept albums contain a level of intricacy that isn’t as apparent in modern music, specifically in its lyricism. It’s become overly common for artists to create straightforward and uncomplicated lyrics so they can place their spot on charts, but the depth of well-crafted, thought-out lyrics is an irreplaceable experience. Artists of story-telling albums frequently incorporate more sophisticated writing techniques, using poetic devices like allusions and euphemisms to create a more impactful experience. Music with this level of detail and sequence isn’t something to be played as background noise, it requires a higher extent of attention and thought.
Beyonce’s Lemonade marks one of the most well-renowned concept albums as she unfolds the emotional complexities of marital issues and infidelity. Beyonce breaks her story into several stages, mirroring the emotional stages of her life as she navigates the challenges of confronting an unfaithful husband. Listeners witness the feelings of denial and resentment eventually develop into acceptance as they achieve reconciliation within their relationship. Tracks like “Pray You Can Catch Me” encapsulate the pure fury built inside of her all the way to one of the album’s final tracks “All Night” which yearns to rediscover their once love and rebuild their marriage. What makes Lemonade truly an exceptional experience is its authenticity and relatability. Beyonce expresses a side of vulnerability and raw, undeniable emotions that resonates with countless amount of people who face relationship challenges. She is able to take a compelling storyline of love and loss and intertwine it in a world of sound and music-making.
Preacher's Daughter by Hayden Anhedonia (known professionally as Ethel Cain) takes an equally impassioned approach through a fictional story of Ethel in a small town whirled up in a life of religious and romantic trauma. Following the loss of her preacher father and of her ex-partner who left town, Ethel encounters a new lover, Logan, in the fourth track, “Western Nights”. She is desperately in love with him despite his many flaws, until his tragic death in a police shootout. The midpoint of the album indicates a new path for Ethel, one in which she runs away from her hometown and develops an affection for a new man, Isaiah. The two begin a life in California, consumed by sex work and drug dependency, much of which can be attributed to Isaiah. Just as Ethel realizes her lifestyle contradicts the religious values she was brought up on, her lifestyle catches up to her. Some of the last tracks on the album narrate the downfall of Ethel’s demise. “Don’t think about it too hard/Mama, just know that I love you /And I’ll see you when you get here” In the album's final lyrics, Ethel looks over her mother in the afterlife and implores her not to dwell on her death, as she’ll be waiting for her in heaven. Cain goes beyond expectations of conceptual albums by diving into a world of fiction, fantasy and complex characters. Cain forms intricate storylines and relationships between each song, creating an emotional dynamic between the listener and Ethel as we watch her face struggles, and finally sympathize with her death. Cain creates a multi-dimensional world within her words, with every line making listeners more involved in her restless lifestyle to the point that people feel for her emotions alongside her as if she’s become their favorite character in a new TV show.
I am simply in love with the magic of conceptual albums, as they create a profound connection between artists and listeners that transcends the standards of ordinary music. This Valentine's Day, I yearn to send my favorite concept artists a heartfelt chocolate box and love letters as a token of my appreciation.
Love, Claire