Neil Young revives concept album Ryan Nyburg Budget rack Concept albums must have gotten a bad name: You don't see too many of them anymore. It's true that they are often dull, impractical and reeking of the worst sort of artistic pretentious ness, but I don't think this should de tract from the idea as a whole. 1 got on this whole concept album trip with the release of Neil Young's lat est album, "Greendale." The album tells the story of a small California town and the trials and tribulations of its resi dents. It's wrapped up in a distorted ■ roadhouse rock groove that diligently stays in the background while the story takes hold. Great stuff from Young, and more worthwhile than last year's "Are You Passionate?" Remember the knee jerk post-9/11 homage song "Let's Roll"? Neither do I. It's not much of a surprise that an old pro like Young is the one putting out a concept album today. The 1970s were the heyday for them. Now, people just seem to lack the time or patience. But Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and The Who's "Tommy" are great al bums, and what makes them great is not only the quality of the songs, but the themes sustained among them. Most people attribute the birth of the concept album to the same group every other great thing in rock is attributed to: The Beatles. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is usually given the title of the first. As far as the more sophisticated con cept albums go, I've always had a fond ness for Frank Zappa's "Joe's Garage," a three-part rock opera about a musician in a near-future world of obedient con sumers, mechanical pseudo-religions and a totalitarian authority that believes in "total criminalization" of the popu lace The plot is so convoluted that it ap proaches total anarchy, the characters are two-dimensional and the whole thing borders on the irrational. Much like a real opera, when you get down to it. But what is on the outside surface isn't the point; it's what's under the facade that matters. The album shows a depressing vision of a dehumanized society that reality resembles more every passing day. While the album has other merits, like Zappa's stellar guitar work and compositional skills, it is this unifying vision that makes the whole thing worthwhile. Another favorite of mine is The Who's "The Who Sell Out." It's other wise known as the other Who concept album, long overshadowed by the success of "Tommy" and, to some ex tent, "Quadrophenia." The difference is that those two were rock operas with narrative stories. "Sell Out" is just a concept with no story attached or necessarily needed. Incorporating original Radio Lon don commercial ads with songs full of product references, The Who do in fact sell out but in such an extravagant way that you know it's a joke. The songs are tuneful, catchy and melodious, just like radio jingles are supposed to be. Per sonal fave. "Odorono," a song about a singer who is rejected by a man because her antiperspirant breaks down, an em barrassment that leads to her to giving up her musical career. She should have used Odorono. So is anyone releasing concept al bums today? Other than the eminent Mr. Young and his band, Crazy I lorse, Tool is the only group that comes to mind, with the album Minima" in par ticular. Describing life in Southern Cali fornia after an apocalyptic earthquake, the album is a big, rumbling scary trip through the minds of a group of Jungian metal freaks. What could be more fun? So there's still hope for the concept album, so long as musicians keep having ideas bigger than a single song can contain. Keep up that big think ing boys and girls. I'm listening. Contact tiie senior pulse reporter at ryannyburg@dailyemerald.com. His opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald. -IHl mr New, one of a kind, & recycled fashions Buying hours: Thursdays by appointment MARKETPLACE WEST • 3045 W. 11th • EUGENE • [541J 684-0585 ; M 4 II y pay for one dish when you can sample 24 for 1 low price? — Lo Mein noodles ■ .."'""."'""."I Broccoli Beef Orange chicken chicken Soups Appetizers and more Fried Rice life> m Gou>€« Ch»u Buffer 1525 Franklin Blvd. Eugene, OR 97402 541-343 2828 11:30am-9:00pm uaily r 1 to Campus ALL YC (every nk drink ana come eat buffet-style c;: ,N EAT 7 includes ream) Szechwan and Mandarin dishes to ' em /4