Visual albums have been a thing for quite some time. Outside of the occasional music video for a single, plenty of artists have put their albums against full feature-length films with stunning results. Let’s take a look at five notable rock albums from the last few decades that were also masterpieces of visual art!
1. ‘Purple Rain’ by Prince
We’re not going to pretend that narrative-wise, the Purple Rain film from 1984 is entirely well-aged. The storyline isn’t incredibly captivating, and the misogyny in the film is difficult to stomach at times.
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However, Prince’s presence is what makes this one of the best rock albums ever turned into a visual rock film. It’s visually stunning in a way you wouldn’t expect; the color purple is everywhere, but it never gets old. Prince puts on a powerhouse performance by being more or less himself, with no acting chops needed.
2. ‘The Wall’ by Pink Floyd
What would a list of the best visual art rock albums be without The Wall from 1982? This is one of Pink Floyd’s best albums and by far their most well-known, and the subsequent artistic film is as close to perfect as you can get.
The album and film follow the story of a musician who struggles with putting down the emotional walls he built around himself. It’s surreal, psychedelic, and quite depressing; but it’s also a compelling piece of work.
3. ‘ODDSAC’ by Animal Collective
This is a more modern example of experimental visual art accompanied by music. ODDSAC was Animal Collective’s 2010 venture into new experimental territory. It also happened to be their first visual album, and it feels like a wild acid trip with inspirations from The Wall. Though, potential inspirations aside, this visual album is incredibly unique.
4. ‘Tommy’ by The Who
The 1975 film Tommy was filmed after the release of The Who’s 1969 rock album of the same name. The film explores the life of a young man who is deaf and blind. The titular Tommy goes on an odyssey of sorts through pinball, cults, and more throughout the film. It’s not an easy album to adapt, but director Ken Russell did an amazing job. Elton John makes an appearance, too, and that’s not even the wildest thing about this movie.
5. ‘The Line, The Cross, And The Curve’/‘The Red Shoes’ by Kate Bush
The Line, The Cross, And The Curve is a visual film adaptation of Kate Bush’s 1993 record The Red Shoes. It’s a little silly, very colorful, a bit campy, and loaded with everything from occult visuals to ballet dancing. It was directed and written by Bush, and her creativity and talent overcame the low-budget nature of the film. It even got a Grammy nom for Best Long Form Music Video.
Photo by Richard E. Aaron
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