The Bildungsroman, or coming-of-age story, deals with the transitional period of adolescence. Although initially conceived in the novel form, the Bildungsroman has since found expression in various media. This thesis expands the scope of the genre by describing the “sonic Bildungsroman,” or coming-of-age album, and exploring a few key examples of this previously undefined concept. Furthermore, the record as a medium affords musicians narrative agency critical to their identity development, so this project positions the coming-of-age album squarely in the tradition of the Bildungsroman as a tool for self-cultivation