Launching a concept album has always been difficult. Now, getting the concept off the ground is approaching the impossible. In the 1960s and 1970s, music lovers would buy an album, drop the needle, and pay attention to each song. If the album was thematic and the songs were well written, the messaging was recognized. The Who had success with their Rock Operas (“Tommy” and “Quadrophenia”) and The Moody Blues were almost cult-like, until they announced to saddened followers, “We’re just singers in a Rock and Roll band.”
Today, most of us look for favorite songs from album releases and allow the other tracks on the albums to become disenfranchised. If an album has a continuing theme and communicates a concept, they are unrecognized. Indie Obsessive admits to being part of the problem and not the solution. We cheer for a return to the days of listening to entire albums, but continue to post only “favorite songs.”
Instant Empire recently released a concept album – “Last of the Lovers.” Quoting material we received from a member of Instant Empire (Scotty Saunders):
"'Last of the Lovers’ is a relatively dark affair. But it’s punctuated, briefly, by moments of light and clarity. It’s an album which struggles with the relentless march of time but is consumed with finding grace and beauty in life’s tiny moments. It’s desolate yet dense all the same. It’s about your friends and lovers drifting away; the distance between you and your sun-bleached childhood memories; the emptiness and aftermath of our addictions; the sadness of watching the ones you love die; and our constant struggle against apathy."
Instant Empire is in Denver, Colorado. The members are Scotty Saunders (vocals, lyrics), Sean Connaughty (guitar, keys), Lou Kucera (guitar, keys), Jacob Porter (bass), and Tristan Kelley (drums).
“Slow to Reveal” by Instant Empire (Sheepishly, we are only posting our favorite song from the concept album.)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/instantempire/
Website: http://www.instantempireband.com/
Lyrics of “Slow to Reveal” by Instant Empire
It’s true what they say - it’s all fun and games
Until it ain’t
The devil is real
He’s been walking with us since the apple peeled
He knows restraint and when to wait
He’s on the tip of the tongue, he’s in the nails that she paints
It’s true what they say - it’s all fun and games
Then it ain’t
The devil is real
He’s the perfect pitch in the hog’s slaughter squeal
He’s just slow to reveal himself
Whispers and sideways glances
Billboards of tongue-tied savages
Lemons sweating under the ruthless sun
Idiots smiling, having fun
Lemons sweating under the savage sun
Idiots smiling, having fun
Yeah, we’re having fun
Yeah, we’re having fun
It’s true what they say - it’s all fun and games
Until it ain’t
The devil is real
Hidden within, he is well-concealed
There’s a beast inside these city walls, evil lies where my shadow falls
It’s true what they say - it’s all fun and games
Then it ain’t
The devil is real
He’s in her hot, hot breath - he’s the revolver’s steel
He’s just slow to reveal himself
Whispers and sideways glances
Billboards of tongue-tied savages
Lemons sweating under the ruthless sun
Idiots smiling, having fun
Lemons sweating under the savage sun
Idiots smiling having fun
Yeah, we’re having fun
Yeah, we’re having fun
Yeah, we’re having fun
It’s true what they say - it’s all fun and games
Until it ain’t
The devil is real
He’s the blacklight in the neon night, too confused
He’s just slow to reveal himself
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