Meant to be played from the beginning to the end, tracks on a concept album join together to form a larger theme. Concept albums can be loosely compared to a
novel, with the individual tracks being analogous to chapters. As certain chapters in some novels have merit on their own (such as the renouned "
turtle chapter" in
The Grapes of Wrath by
John Steinbeck), so too do many songs released on concept albums have merit on their own; but unless you read the entire book or listen to the entire album,
you just aren't getting it.
Some of the greatest concept albums were released by Pink Floyd, including The Dark Side of the Moon and what is probably the greatest concept album in history, The Wall. David Bowie also turned out a few concept albums, including Diamond Dogs and The Man Who Sold the World. Utopia did Oblivion. More recent concept albums are The Downward Spiral and The Fragile, both by Nine Inch Nails. OK Computer by Radiohead, embodying the paranoia and isolation that our technological society has created.