Album Rock

Album Rock emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when artists realised that a collection of songs strung together could be a more profound statement than mere hit singles; it’s a bit like hosting a dinner party where everyone pretends to have strong opinions about soufflés. Characterised by elaborate production, extended musical compositions, and a vague sense of existential dread, it sounds a bit like a group of musicians having a grand philosophical debate while someone nudges a synthesiser in the background. This genre gave us the concept of the 'concept album', which is less about concepts and more about artists who needed a reason to stretch their creativity across an hour of music.