Story Telling in Music
Storytelling in Music
Storytelling is a pivotal part of human history. Escaping into another world to examine interesting themes and characters opens up viewpoints many find fascinating and cathartic. In the common zeitgeist, storytelling is closely related to movies, books, television, and video games. However, a commonly overlooked and, in my opinion, most interesting medium for telling a story is through the lens of music.
A concept album is a collection of songs made with a central theme or story, unlike normal albums with little to no correlation between songs. What does and does not qualify is subjective, as there are varying degrees of interconnectedness. Depending on how far you bend the meter, you approach high-concept territory. Extensive callbacks, sequencing, arcing narratives, and common inspirations all fall under the umbrella.
The first pseudo concept album was released in 1940 and called Dust Bowl Ballads. Inspired by John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Chronicling the escape to California during the Dust Bowl. It was released in six separate vinyl disks due to technological restraints. The earliest concept album that fits the most basic description was Marty Robbins' Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. The narrative nature of country music pairing itself with concept albums.
Popularity for concept albums exploded during the rock revolution in the 1960s after the groundwork for the idea was set. After the most influential band of the era experimented their with the idea, the concept album was cemented as a key aspect of music. Sgt. Pepper’s by the Beatles is known to many as the first true concept album. While this is the most famous early concept album, it does not hold up to the standard of today's works; the album consists of the Beatles introducing alter egos of themselves, however, the writing and style do not change in any significant ways.. By the late 60s, more complex concept albums began to surface.
Many relate concept albums to the Rock Opera, albums which took heavy inspiration from storytelling displayed in theater. In 1969, Tommy by The Who played an integral role in the explosion of popularity of rock operas. Following a physically and mentally disabled boy faced with a life of hardship, Tommy explores themes of self-identity and trauma. In the following decade, concept albums boomed in popularity. The Who dropped their second rock opera, Quadrophenia, Genesis dropped The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, David Bowie introduced his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, and the decade culminated in Pink Floyd releasing their masterpiece, The Wall, one of the most well-known narrative albums of all time.
After the 1970s, concept albums saw a decline. With the coming and going of different genres and the loud and purposely meaningless anti-mainstream music of the 1990s, concept albums were seen as overindulgent. That was until the rise of hip-hop in the late 1990s, when hip-hop became one of the largest exporters of narrative concept albums. Much like country music, the preexisting storytelling found in rap transitioned easily into concept albums.
Starting in 1996, Dr. Octagon created Dr. Octogonocologis, setting the example of how important characters and alter egos would become in the hip-hop community. However, one man exemplified character building best after his Debut album in 1999.
Rap in the '90s had become about how cool you were. Lyrics were filled with references to drug and gang life. During this era, an up-and-coming rapper named Daniel Dumile would release his first album titled Operation: Doomsday, where we are first introduced to the iconic character MF DOOM. Parodying the hardcore and braggadocious climate of hip-hop, Dumile created a true super-villain. He portrayed himself as an evil mastermind bent on world domination, hiding his face behind an emblematic metal mask, rarely taking it off. He used heavy inspiration from Marvel Comics character Dr. Doom, which he would name himself after, and sample clips of in various songs. DOOM would become influential in the underground hip-hop scene through his intricate rhyme schemes, wordplay, and detailed production, as well as displaying an air of mystery and apathetic attitude to the larger hip-hop world. DOOM had an extensive discography, going under several different names inspired by different sci-fi concepts, eventually releasing his magnum opus, Madvilliany, in 2004 in a joint production with legendary producer Madlib, becoming one of the highest-rated rap albums of all time.
At this time, other genres were experimenting with storytelling as well. Bands such as Green Day and My Chemical Romance would bring back ambitious concept albums to rock through acclaimed albums, American Idiot and The Black Parade, respectively. By the 2010s, the concept album had made a full comeback through huge artists such as Kendrick Lamar, The Gorillaz, Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Tyler the Creator, Freddie Gibbs, Mac Miller, Travis Scott, Childish Gambino, and many more.
Light concept albums include works such as MF DOOM’s MM… Food, which titles itself and references different cuisines from around the world, and Tame Impala’s Currents, each song describing different aspects of an unpleasant breakup. These albums are interconnected through an umbrella theme but do not tell an overarching story.
A good example of a modern high-concept album is Tyler the Creator's Igor, which displays masterful storytelling. Starting his career in the rap collective Odd Future alongside notable members Frank Ocean and Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler would become well known for his edgy and loud style/personality. As his music evolved, he began to dip his toes into storytelling. Tyler's gimmick is introducing a new character in every new album. We are introduced to a new character in his 2019 album, Igor. Igor is a troubled character struggling with his sexuality and in the middle of a breakup. Along with being some of Tyler’s best work, each song on the album continues the story. Starting with IGOR’S THEME, we see the character starting to fall in love. When Igor discovers his love interest is not over his ex, he is filled with doubt. In New Magic Wand, he considers killing both of them. The rest of the album sees Igor realising how toxic and manipulative their relationship had become, taking a step back in PUPPET. We see Igor begin to get over his crush in GONE, GONE / THANK YOU, and I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE. His love for the person is gone, and Igor is finally ok with distancing himself from them. However, there is still one song left. ARE WE STILL FRIENDS sees Igor regressing to being dependent on his love interest once again, asking himself if they are still friends. The last note we hear as the song trails off is the note B Flat, which is the note the album begins with, creating an endless loop that Igor can not escape from.
While Igor is an example of a complete story on one single album, some artists have pushed forward to explore multi-album narratives. The Gorillaz have become well-known for creating a continuous story since their first album in 2001, following a series of unfortunate events happening to the fictional band. The band members are characters created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. The band members are displayed as 2d animated characters, as the real artists have come and gone. Kendrick Lamar has done something similar. Kendrick’s albums are often personal but dramatized looks into his life. Throughout the years, we have seen the way he depicts himself in his albums and the themes he talks about change. In his debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, he is young and living in the ghetto of Compton. He talks about gang violence, revenge, and drugs throughout. A few years later, in To Pimp a Butterfly, he tackled topics such as the messed up aspects of the music industry, young artists such as himself metaphorically being “pimp out” by record labels to maximize profits. Later in Damn, we see the tolls becoming one of the largest artists in the world has had on him. In this album, he focuses on themes of religion, redemption, and choice. His 2022 album Mr. Morale and the Big Stepper is a personal reflection of himself, framed as therapy sessions, Kendrick explores his tendencies to rely on vices such as sex and pawn off blame to other people; watching as Kendrick grows through different phases of his life
The concept album remains a testament to challenging norms and reflects the landscape around us. Messaging has evolved from the spacey, psychedelic exploration of war in the 70s, to discussions of race, identity, and ever-expanding technologies of the new world. Despite this, one clear goal has remained- to take the listeners on a journey. As long as artists keep pushing the medium forward and consumers keep seeking deeper meaning, the concept album will remain not a relic of music history, but a living, adaptive art form.