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Entertainment & Arts

The return of the concept album

By Todd Martens, Times Staff Writer Artist: My Chemical Romance Album The Black Parade Concept: The emo rockers went all Broadway on last year’s “The Black Parade,” a song-cycle about a hospital patient dying of cancer (those crazy rock ‘n’ roll kids and their obsession with life-threatening illnesses). It’s part Queen, part Smashing Pumpkins and one of the weirdest mainstream rock records in recent history.

By Todd Martens, Times Staff Writer

Artist:
My Chemical Romance

Album
The Black Parade

Concept:
The emo rockers went all Broadway on last year’s “The Black Parade,” a song-cycle about a hospital patient dying of cancer (those crazy rock ‘n’ roll kids and their obsession with life-threatening illnesses). It’s part Queen, part Smashing Pumpkins and one of the weirdest mainstream rock records in recent history.  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Nine Inch Nails

Artist:
Nine Inch Nails

Album
Year Zero

Concept:
“Year Zero” presents a vision of the future that’s a slightly exaggerated view of the present, inspired by the war in Iraq and the current presidential regime. Its more challenging, notion, however, is whether industrial music can maintain its relevancy.  (Richard Hartog / LAT)

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