Concept albums are a feat in and of themselves. In the ’70s, a slew of classic-rock heroes expanded the concept album into what we know today — rife with intricate plotlines, complex characters, and lyrical references that feel bottomless. In the digital era, none of that is lost. Giants like Coheed and Cambria and Dan Campbell have deepened the story through mediums like comic books and live shows, offering fans an even more rewarding experience. That led us to ask our readers to name their favorite concept albums of all time, and they sounded off with an impressive number of projects, ranging from classic-rock worship to modern-day triumphs. These are their top picks, ranked accordingly below.
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5. Boys Night Out – Trainwreck
This one’s a throwback. Helmed by guitarist Jeff Davis, Boys Night Out’s Trainwreck follows The Patient, who loses his grip on reality after murdering his wife in his sleep. This launches a long journey in and out of hospitals and rehabilitation centers, although they do little for him — the song he’s composing in his head, a complete obsession, leads to more carnage, and he can only hear it when he takes a life. It’s a dark and depraved tale that travels across 12 songs, meticulously crafted and a total left-turn for the Ontario outfit.
4. Pink Floyd – The Wall
Pink Floyd’s The Wall is an ambitious, sometimes bloated double album that transcends generations. It’s the record you inherit from your grandparents or stoner uncle that opens the door to another world — one where things get a little heady. Following up the George Orwell-inspired Animals was never going to be easy, but during that tour, Roger Waters got increasingly unnerved by the audience and yearned to form a barrier between him and them, hence its name. Unlike that project, though, The Wall boasted mostly shorter, far more approachable songs for people to latch onto. “Hey You,” “Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2,” and “Comfortably Numb” still ring out to this day.
3. Green Day – American Idiot
American Idiot is the album that proved Green Day weren’t just ’90s punk darlings — they could thrive in the 21st century. After beginning their next record, Cigarettes and Valentines, the band had to start a new project from scratch after the master tapes were stolen. The blank slate bred an album that was just as ambitious, imaginative, and complex as Quadrophenia and Ziggy Stardust, offering winding epics that peaked into the dysphoria of the modern era. It turned out to be a complete blockbuster, taking the band higher than they ever dreamed and launching them into the giants we know today.
2. twenty one pilots – Trench
Later this month, twenty one pilots will wrap up their immersive multi-album narrative with Clancy, but to appreciate that sentiment, you should look back at Trench. Following up Blurryface and their Fueled By Ramen debut Vessel, Trench is one of their most daring, intensive LPs. Taking place within the city of Dema, the story centers on a group — dubbed the Banditos — who attempt to liberate its people from the nine ruling bishops. The result is a thrilling journey that uses a disorienting blend of genres — rap, reggae, and electronic rock, to name a few — to unravel the story.
1. My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade
My Chemical Romance’s The Black Parade isn’t just a daring, enrapturing concept album — it’s the band at the very top of their game, executing a comprehensive vision that’s told through some of their greatest songs ever. Revolving around a young man — aka “The Patient” — facing the end of his life, then passing on into the afterlife, MCR take notes from Queen, Pink Floyd, and Bowie but elevate the tracks into a saga fit for the modern age. Theatrical, tear-jerking, and celebratory in equal measure, The Black Parade nails everything the band set out to accomplish. No wonder readers named it the greatest concept album of all time.
