January 6, 2009 | 3:30pm ET
The concept album is an unusual beast. Sometimes the plot of the album is blatant and clear. Sometimes you know there’s a concept there, but couldn’t articulate it if you tried. Either way, interweaving and consistent lyrical themes, instrumental motifs and the like produce some of the best albums out there. This list includes all of that, from the clear to the gauzy, from the sublime to the eerie. If you like Rush, Jethro Tull or The Who, this list isn’t for you. This list is for those of you that are really smart, cool people.
Okay?
