Well, this isn't really a concept album, but I've always loved the idea of having an indie musical. This synopsis I've been writing for the past few months, I think it needs a lot of work and backstory, but it's a nice first draft, anyway.
SONG 1: “Ready to Die” by the Unicorns
Sebastian, an extremely gifted yet socially awkward, depressed, introverted college freshman, is standing on a bridge, about to jump, in a college far from home alongside four people directly from his past back home (he is imagining them). The five are:
Ezra, his best friend from high school.
Emily, his ex-girlfriend who in real life committed suicide a week before. Sebastian always loved her, even when she treated him poorly.
Kenny, a constantly inebriated acquaintance who once embarrassed him at a party sophomore year, setting the ball rolling towards Sebastian’s introversion.
Peter, a former best friend who Sebastian formed a band with in high school. Once the band broke up, they stopped being friends. He is very sarcastic and generally shares Archie’s pessimistic viewpoints.
(I always imagine them serving as the instrument players in every musical number Sebastian is involved in, but that's probably a little unrealistic.)
The four manage to convince Sebastian to get off the bridge, but do so by convincing him that he could die of many, many things anyway, which freaks Sebastian out even further.
SONG 2: “I Don’t Wanna Die” by the Unicorns
Eventually, it is Emily who calms Sebastian down. They had been together for a year before Sebastian left for the university. Sebastian believes that Emily died because of him, furthering his disdain for going to the university instead.
SONG 3: “Everybody’s Happy Nowadays” by the Buzzcocks
Meanwhile, Laura is a much happier student also attending the university Sebastian is at, and happens to be in a couple of the same classes as Sebastian. She, however, is currently in a relationship with Lloyd, Sebastian’s roommate, albeit one she knows is about to end. She finally confronts Lloyd in a state of bitter sarcasm.
SONG 4: “Lloyd, I’m Ready to be Heartbroken” by Camera Obscura
At the beginning of class, however, Sebastian notices Laura and is struck with attraction. As he tries to talk to her at the end of class, however, he is overcome by anxiety and embarrasses himself in front of her (unbeknownst to him, she doesn’t really notice this, and doesn’t even realize he’s in her class until he finally talks to her and makes an impression). Sebastian, however, goes back home, seeing this event as more of the usual.
SONG 5: “It Is Not Meant to Be” by Tame Impala
Meanwhile, Sebastian’s scientific research with the university is gaining considerable ground in the scientific world, especially with NASA, who recently discovered that global warming may make their planet uninhabitable much quicker than they realized. Luckily, a planet has been discovered that could provide life, and Sebastian’s work in creating mass-produced spaceships that could escort almost all of the population has NASA’s attention. They meet with Sebastian to talk to him about his ships. Sebastian becomes worrisome at the thought of the pressure of what he has created.
Later, Sebastian and Laura are invited by their respective roommates, Lloyd and Carli, to a party. Both of them are unsure of whether to go due to their current relationship troubles.
SONG 6: “Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go to the Party” by Courtney Barnett (sung by both Sebastian and Laura at the same time)
Both reluctantly agree to go. Laura shows up before Sebastian, and we cut to the scene with her sitting alone on the couch. Sebastian finally arrives with Lloyd, and is greeted by the host of the party.
SONG 7: “Swingin’ Party” by the Replacements
Sebastian finally sees Laura and is struck with attraction. At the moment, he argues with his four imaginary companions during the entirety of song 8. Finally, he takes a large swig of alcohol and walks over to Laura. At first, he stumbles in conversation, but eventually he loosens up.
SONG 8: “Party Talk” by Craft Spells
end of Act I
Act II is opened with Laura in her room alone. She mentions that it has been three months since she and Sebastian first met, and that she is clearly very smitten.
SONG 9: “It Is You” by Natalie Prass
Meanwhile, NASA has just completed Sebastian’s prototype of a mass-produced spaceship. Both Emily and Peter are pessimistic of the finished work and try to convince Sebastian to tell the NASA official that there are things wrong with that. Sebastian tells them to go through with it anyway. Emily warns that there are people inside testing the spaceship whose lives may be at risk. Sebastian tells her this is the only way to know what works and what doesn’t, and that the escape pods can release the pilots if necessary. Laura arrives at the site and is hopeful that the prototype is successful so Sebastian can finally spend more time with her.
Unfortunately, the prototype is destroyed during launch, although the pilots make it out safely. This destroys Sebastian, who has to go back to the drawing board and come up with another spaceship in 6 months.
SONG 10: “Easy Way Out” by Low Roar
Later, the two are together in Laura’s dorm, where Laura is attempting to comfort him. Sebastian reassures Laura that he’ll try his hardest to be by her side through this mess, and Laura reciprocates.
SONG 11: “Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing” by the Magnetic Fields
Regardless, the weight of Sebastian to come up with another spaceship in such a short amount of time takes its toll, and he soon finds himself getting progressively darker on life, as his four companions continue to argue with him. Eventually, he goes out to the bar and drinks himself away.
SONG 12: “The Lord’s Favorite” by Iceage
Sebastian nevertheless continues to relentlessly work on his prototype. The continued regression of his mental state and his overall inability to let go of his companions begins to rub off on his relationship with Laura. After all, he continues to blame himself for Emily’s suicide; what would make this relationship have a more positive end result? He breaks up with her, and he is left all alone with his work. Sebastian wants to get her back, but what would be the point given all of his mental problems?
SONG 13: “You’ve Got Her in Your Pocket” by the White Stripes
Months have passed, and Sebastian has another prototype sent over to NASA. Yet, Sebastian still is unhappy with himself, and wants to change for Laura, but he knows he cannot. Thus, he finds himself back on the bridge. This time, he jumps. Laura finds this out through her friends, who talk about it in a bit of a joking manner. Laura’s heart sinks.
SONG 14: “Tropic of Cancer” by Panda Bear
Laura rushes to the hospital, where thankfully, Sebastian survives and is watching his prototype on the TV, albeit with multiple injuries. They confess their love for one another as the TV announcer says…
SONG 15: “Ladies and Gentlemen We’re Floating In Space” by Spiritualized