We need a Peter, we get a Paul; At least Judas had some balls

November 3, 2011 9:31 PM

What are some punk-rock concept albums in the vein of Fucked Up's David Comes to Life and Titus Andronicus's The Monitor

My buddies tell me that all "punk rock" albums are concept albums, by definition, but I am looking for albums with a consistent narrative that runs throughout each song.

posted by holdkris99 to Media & Arts (14 answers total)

Cacophony by Rudimentary Peni
The Gospel According to the Meninblack by The Stranglers
posted by cazoo at 9:50 PM on November 3, 2011

Zen Arcade
posted by hydrophonic at 10:13 PM on November 3, 2011

The Gimme Gimmes
posted by Cuspidx at 10:18 PM on November 3, 2011

The Hold Steady, "Boys and Girls in America"
Hüsker Dü, "Zen Arcade"
The Coolies, "Doug"
Mike Watt, "Contemplating the Engine Room"
Green Day, "American Idiot"
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:20 PM on November 3, 2011

Depending on how broad your definition of punk is, Cursive's The Ugly Organ.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 11:47 PM on November 3, 2011

Milo Goes to College by the Descendents, maybe? Milo really was about to go to college.
posted by Adventurer at 1:23 AM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]

Oh, and speaking of Mike Watt, his latest, Hyphenated-man with the Missingmen, consists of 30 songs "inspired by creatures from the paintings of Hieronymous Bosch." For example.
posted by Adventurer at 1:29 AM on November 4, 2011

Yup, I was going to recommend both those Watt albums.
posted by princelyfox at 4:30 AM on November 4, 2011

Well, there's Schlong's cover of West Side Story. Punk Side Story.
posted by Atom12 at 7:41 AM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]

"That's Life" - Sham 69 tell the story of one day in the life of a young punk

"The Only Lovers Left Alive" - The Wanderers (Stiv Bators' band after the Dead Boys, w/ the bass & Guitar players from Sham 69) has a consistent theme on consiracy theories, but doesn't tell a unified story
posted by InfidelZombie at 9:41 AM on November 4, 2011

Side 2 of the Subhumans (UK) From the Cradle to the Grave. It's prog/punk, one long song. Great album. Also, I suppose some of Crass' stuff could be considered concept records, like Penis Envy
posted by chirico at 10:46 AM on November 4, 2011

NOFX - "The Decline" is just one 18 minute song, but with enough variation that it really feels like a concept album (albeit an 18 minute one.)
posted by oblio_one at 1:04 PM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The Thermals' The Body, the Blood, the Machine is about life in the US under Christian fascism.
posted by hydrophonic at 1:07 PM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks for the responses, I will be checking them all out. The Mike Watt stuff I am somewhat familiar with and the Husker Du stuff I have been listening to for years.

Hydroponic: Thanks for suggesting the The Thermals, I was not aware of this band and they are great. Thanks
posted by holdkris99 at 3:46 PM on November 4, 2011