15 Greatest Rock Concept Albums From The Last 15 Years

2. The Antlers - Hospice

The Antlers figured out what was missing from the typical concept album: a depressingly realistic storyline that destroys your soul from the inside for weeks after you listen to it. Hospice is about the relationship between a hospice worker and a patient with terminal cancer. It explores the initial diagnosis, the romantic that ensues amidst the physical trauma, and the spiral into deep, mutual heartache that results from the disease. To further explain the story (and each song's place in the narrative), the band included alternate titles for the tracks in the liner notes. So a song like "Two," which may have appeared just bouncy enough to be considered upbeat (until you listen closely to the lyrics) gets a much sadder tinge to it when you see that it's alternately called "I Would Have Saved Her If I Could." It's an album that haunts you long after the epilogue has finished. Musically, it's remarkable. Lyrically, it's not something you want popping up on your shuffled playlist. This is definitely one to sit down and take in as a whole. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsXKa97J6pM