The concept album, initially defined as an LP (long-playing record) recording wherein the songs were unified by a dramatic idea instead of being disparate entities with no common theme, became a form of expression in popular music in the mid-1960s,...

In popular music, a concept album is an album which is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical".[1] Most often they are pre-planned (conceived) and with all songs contributing to a single overall theme or...

Whatever happened to the concept of an album? These days it's a rare occurrence-an event, nearly-when something drops that spins in a new direction, gels magnificently, presents any sort of cohesive statement. Though the album is a form ultimately not suited for pop music (it's...

Reviewers have been noticing a certain resonance about the fiery-tressed femme fatale portrayed on the cover of Maureen Dowd's new book, Are Men Necessary?. Is the "bombshell in a clinging red dress" or the "flame-haired bombshell in a clingy crimson dress and matching pumps,"...

Given the unlikely, phenomenal success of Modest Mouse's 2004 disc, "Good News for People Who Love Bad News," the story line on their new album seemed sure to focus on the long-indie band's response to their sudden popularity.Then Johnny Marr joined the band.Music fans could...

“I’m sure I’ll be drawn and quartered,” said Peter Gallagher, the actor who is probably best known these days as rad dad Sandy Cohen on The O.C.­—Fox’s megawatt nighttime soap series, which was laid to rest last February. Speaking on his cell phone from the...