21st-Century Concept Albums

By Laura Leebove

Even with MP3s serving as many listeners' first-choice music format, some artists are still adamant about making pieces of work that are meant to be heard from start to finish. Sample some of the 21st century's most innovative concept records, ranging from orchestral folk to prog rock and taking place in fantasy lands, the Underworld, remote islands, a hospital...even Michigan!

CRITICAL LIST
Anaïs Mitchell Wedding Song
Sufjan Stevens Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)
Okkervil River Plus Ones
The Acorn Flood Pt. 1
Christine Fellows The Spinster's Almanac
Owen Pallett Lewis Takes Off His Shirt
The Antlers Two
Of Montreal Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse
The Mars Volta Intertiatic ESP
Dirty Projectors No More
Shearwater Black Eyes
The Decemberists The Wanting Comes In Waves / Repaid

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Critical Questions: Slow Country

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21st-Century Concept Albums

Anaïs Mitchell

Sufjan Stevens

Okkervil River

The Acorn

Christine Fellows

Owen Pallett

The Antlers

Of Montreal

The Mars Volta

Dirty Projectors

Shearwater

The Decemberists

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